At this point of the NFL calendar, we’ve separated the wheat from the chaff.

The divisional round includes star quarterbacks young and old, headlined by Most Valuable Player candidates Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen facing off in Buffalo with a trip to the AFC championship game on the line. In the NFC, Jayden Daniels has shown how quickly and significantly a great rookie quarterback can alter a franchise’s trajectory.

But how do all of these stars stack up? Here are our quarterback rankings entering the second round of the postseason:

1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens

— Basic stats: 66.7% completion, 4,172 pass yards, 41 pass TD, 4 INT, 915 rush yds, 4 rush TD, 10 fumbles, 23 sacks

— Completion percentage over expectation: 4.6% (5th)

— Success rate: 52.4% (4th)

— QBR: 77.2 (2nd)

— Expected points added per play: 0.296 (2nd)

— PFF grade: 94.8 (1st)

It might seem silly to put a player with a 3-4 postseason record over a three-time Super Bowl champion aiming for an unprecedented third straight title, but these rankings reflect the present day. And right now, nobody is playing the position better than Jackson.

The two-time MVP is coming off a career year, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 900 in a single season and the first to throw 40 or more touchdown passes and four or fewer interceptions. A third MVP Award might be on the way, putting him in rare company alongside Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Jim Brown.

The only thing left for Jackson to do is win a ring. He got off to a good start Saturday, completing 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 81 yards on 15 carries in a 28-14 win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. He might need to be even better to lift Baltimore to its first Super Bowl title since the 2012 season.

2. Josh Allen, Bills

— Basic stats: 63.6% comp., 3,731 pass yds, 28 pass TD, 6 INT, 531 rush yds, 12 rush TD, 5 fumbles, 14 sacks

— CPOE: 0.8% (20th)

— Success rate: 52.2% (6th)

— QBR: 77.5 (1st)

— EPA/play: 0.321 (1st)

— PFF grade: 92.5 (3rd)

Like Jackson, Allen is an elite offense by himself because of his overwhelming athleticism. His ability to scramble and extend plays without taking sacks is rivaled only by Jackson, and his 12 rushing touchdowns speak to how hard his 6-foot-5, 237-pound frame is to stop near the goal line. He has a pretty good arm, too, throwing with impressive power and touch to unlock nearly every area of the field. He’s always been a big play waiting to happen, but he’s cut down on the turnovers and negative plays to keep Buffalo’s offense moving at an incredibly efficient pace.

Allen is also looking to make his first Super Bowl appearance. His only trip past the divisional round came in January 2021, when he beat Jackson and the Ravens in Orchard Park, N.Y., before losing to the Chiefs in the AFC title game. If he gets past Baltimore, he’ll likely need to take down this next quarterback in the postseason for the first time.

3. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

— Basic stats: 67.5% comp., 3,928 pass yds, 26 pass TD, 11 INT, 307 rush yds, 2 rush TD, 2 fumbles, 36 sacks

— CPOE: 2.6% (16th)

— Success rate: 50.9% (9th)

— QBR: 67.7 (8th)

— EPA/play: 0.165 (10th)

— PFF grade: 85.8 (7th)

Mahomes has become the new gold standard because of his postseason dominance, going 15-3 with three Super Bowl MVP Awards. But at least in terms of quarterback play, he’s perhaps been surpassed by the raw talent of Jackson and Allen.

That’s not to suggest Mahomes is having a bad season. The numbers are far below the two-time MVP’s lofty standards, but he’s mastered a formula that has the Chiefs riding a league-record 16-game winning streak in one-score games. His ability to consistently keep the chains moving and make plays outside the pocket — despite having subpar receiving talent around him — has reached a legendary level. It seems that no matter the players around him, Kansas City will always be in contention.

4. Jayden Daniels, Commanders

— Basic stats: 69% comp., 3,568 pass yds, 25 pass TD, 9 INT, 891 rush yds, 6 rush TD, 5 fumbles, 47 sacks

— CPOE: 3.5% (10th)

— Success rate: 49.4% (13th)

— QBR: 70.5 (4th)

— EPA/play: 0.202 (6th)

— PFF grade: 90.1 (5th)

A rookie ranking this high? That’s how good Daniels has been this season, and the legend only grew after leading Washington to its first playoff victory in 19 years.

Do all of the following quarterbacks on this list have more impressive resumes? No doubt. But Daniels has that unexplainable “it” factor that has lifted the Commanders from the basement of the league into a legitimate contender. His poise, particularly in gotta-have-it moments, has infused his team with so much confidence. Washington converted 20 of 23 fourth-down opportunities during the regular season, by far the highest rate in the league, and then went 3 for 5 in the wild-card round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Daniels will face the biggest test of his young career when he takes on the top-seeded Lions in the divisional round. Based on what he’s shown so far, it would be foolish to count him out.

5. Jared Goff, Lions

— Basic stats: 72.4% comp., 4,629 pass yds, 37 pass TD, 12 INT, 56 rush yds, 0 rush TD, 6 fumbles, 31 sacks

— CPOE: 5.7% (3rd)

— Success rate: 54.1% (1st)

— QBR: 68.5 (6th)

— EPA/play: 0.292 (3rd)

— PFF grade: 81.8 (12th)

From being shipped out of Los Angeles to leading a revival in Detroit, Goff has been on a fascinating journey. But will it have a storybook ending?

This season has been the 30-year-old’s best, showing impressive command of coordinator Ben Johnson’s offense and a newfound confidence to rip throws over the middle of the field. Sure, he has perhaps the league’s best offensive line protecting him, a dynamic combination at running back and a two-time All-Pro at wide receiver, but he’s been much better than the game manager he was labeled as early in his Rams career.

If he can lead the once-lowly Lions to the Super Bowl, they’ll build a statue for him outside Ford Field.

6. Matthew Stafford, Rams

— Basic stats: 65.8% comp., 3,762 pass yds, 20 pass TD, 8 INT, 41 rush yds, 0 rush TD, 6 fumbles, 28 sacks

— CPOE: -0.7% (28th)

— Success rate: 50.5% (11th)

— QBR: 64.9 (12th)

— EPA/play: 0.118 (16th)

— PFF grade: 76.0 (20th)

Stafford’s production has dropped off since his incredible debut season in Los Angeles that ended with a Super Bowl title, but he’s still got plenty of juice left in that right arm.

The 36-year-old is a renowned trick-shot artist, throwing sidearm and no-look passes that few other players can complete let alone try. But his feel for the game is just as impressive, using subtle movements and arm angles to unlock passing lanes.

When receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are healthy, Stafford has taken his game to a level that few others can match, making him a dangerous opponent. If he gets hot at the right time, the Rams could very well represent the NFC in the Super Bowl again.

7. Jalen Hurts, Eagles

— Basic stats: 68.7% comp., 2,903 pass yds, 18 pass TD, 5 INT, 630 rush yds, 14 rush TD, 9 fumbles, 38 sacks

— CPOE: 7.5% (1st)

— Success rate: 50.2% (12th)

— QBR: 65.5 (10th)

— EPA/play: 0.161 (12th)

— PFF grade: 76.3 (19th)

Perhaps Hurts is a victim of his own success. An MVP-worthy season and trip to the Super Bowl in 2022 created a high bar to clear for a quarterback who might not be better than the 10th to 15th best in the league in any given season. And that’s fine, because the Eagles don’t necessarily need him to be Superman.

What Hurts provides with his legs, particularly on the tush push or “Brotherly Shove,” makes him a valuable playmaker in the running game. That’s been amplified by the presence of Saquon Barkley, allowing Hurts to be an efficient, low-volume passer.

While there have been awkward moments with wide receiver A.J. Brown — who is reading passages from his favorite book on the sideline for inspiration — Hurts has been a reliable performer and could silence plenty of critics with a strong postseason finish.

8. C.J. Stroud, Texans

— Basic stats: 63.2% comp., 3,727 pass yds, 20 pass TD, 12 INT, 233 rush yds, 0 rush TD, 6 fumbles, 52 sacks

— CPOE: -1.7% (31st)

— Success rate: 42.4% (30th)

— QBR: 50.1 (24th)

— EPA/play: -0.007 (27th)

— PFF grade: 77.8 (T-16th)

Stroud hasn’t taken the second-year leap many expected after his outstanding rookie debut, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good quarterback. When you look at his surroundings, including a slew of wide receiver injuries, questionable play-calling and an offensive line that has struggled to keep him upright all season, it’s understandable why he’s experienced a sophomore slump.

But Saturday’s wild-card win over the Chargers served as a reminder of why he could become a superstar sooner than later. His scramble and 34-yard completion after a botched snap on third-and-16 from the shadow of his own goal kept the drive alive and led to a touchdown that sparked a 23-0 avalanche.

Houston’s defense is playing championship-caliber football under coach DeMeco Ryans, and if Stroud reaches his full potential against the Chiefs, there could be a huge upset in Kansas City.

©2025 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.