Nothing steers NFL teams quite like quarterbacks. It's po sible, not probable, to win in spite of them. It's preferable, not easy, to land the best New Orleans Pelicans T-Shirts of them. They are, more than anyone else, the ones who shape the football landscape, week in and week out.That's why we're ranking all 32 starting signal-callers throughout the 2022 season: to take stock of the most important players in the game, sorting everyone from the bona fide superstars to the QBs who might be worth replacing.While these rankings don't nece sarily reflect which QBs we'd rather have for the remainder of the year (or their career) -- for example, we still trust over, say, -- they are designed to showcase which ones are performing and positioned best at this moment. Now, without further ado, our Week 17 pecking order:Week 15 QB Power Rankings1 Kansas City Chiefs QB The NFL's Mr. Automatic at the position, Mahomes has now thrown at least 37 TD pa ses in four of his five seasons as a starter. (The other season, he mi sed three games due to injury.) Kansas City isn't a perfect team, but they should be title favorites because of No. 15, who's not only an off-script genius but virtually immune to crunch-time miscues.2 Cincinnati Bengals QB Now squarely in the MVP race with the ' on the mend, Burrow is the closest thing to Mahomes when it comes to boasting an almost-intangible feel for the game. He does not get rattled. He elevates the players around him (even the already-great ones). And he's still throwing some of the prettiest touch pa ses in the NFL.3 Buffalo Bills QB He's a walking fireworks show: explosive for better and worse, but usually for better. Allen is now tied with for the most turnovers (1
by any player this year, but you just can't teach the arm and legs on this guy, both of which were on display in an imperfect yet convincing rout of the in Week 16. (+1)4 Los Angeles Chargers QB Monday night's rout of the was symbolic of the entire year: nothing has come especially easy for he and the , and the numbers just aren't as impre sive as they could or should be, and yet this kid, with such a laser on his shoulder, always pa ses the eye test. Can he elevate L.A. in his first playoff run? (+1)5 Jacksonville Jaguars QB It's no coincidence he's right behind Herbert here: the two are uncannily similar, and not just because they've both got long locks. Lawrence just looks the part, and has some serious zip on outside throws. More importantly, he's delivering for Doug Pederson as the games get more important. Since November, he's thrown 14 TDs and one pick.(+4)6 New Orleans Pelicans Hoodie San Francisco 49ers QB Maybe he'll be exposed at some point, but if we're just going off his sample size as emergency fill-in, well, this kid looks like he could be the ' future. Seriously. The rookie is buoyed by Kyle Shanahan's scheme and weaponry, but he's been accurate, appropriately aggre sive and, best of all, Christian Wood Jersey profe sionally poised in every game. (+6)7 Green Bay Packers QB Nothing has been pretty for Rodgers and the this year. The reigning MVP is still making one too many ill-advised throws while compensating for Green Bay's moving parts. But with the defense now a sisting, he's made sure to save his best precision pa ses for late, controlling the ball in crunch time to keep the Pack alive in the playoff race. (+4)8 Minnesota Vikings QB What a wild year for Cousins, who's been le s efficient but more clutch for one of the most resilient (or fortunate) contenders in the NFL. does a lot of heavy lifting for their offense, and Cousins has big tests ahead with a road trip to Green Bay and an anticipated postseason run, but he's done a lot to win back belief in Minnesota.9 Dallas Cowboys QB Prescott is usually considered a steady hand at QB, prone to doing all the little things well, and consistently. This year, he's been far more unpredictable: either a total knockout, or a total flop. Give him soft coverage, and he'll dice you up. Give him a truly big-game spotlight, and be prepared for some head-scratchers. (+6)10 Chicago Bears QB As a promising year winds down, Fields is slightly reverting to his early-season role, in which he barely moved or pushed the ball downfield. But that's not really his fault. A gifted scrambler whose speed is must-see TV, you just hope he can make it to the finish line as healthy as can be, and that Chicago finally gives him toys in 2023. (-1)11 Seattle Seahawks QB So much for the little flirt with MVP candidacy. Smith's decision-making has taken a big hit in recent weeks as he Solomon Hill Jersey tries to make up for Seattle's shortcomings, whether an erratic ground game one week or absence the next. He still offers all the physical tools from inside the pocket, but the reliability is starting to wane. (-1)12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Much like , his aging counterpart, Brady is trudging through a mostly clunky campaign. He looked maybe the worst he has all year early in Week 16, half-heartedly airing it out against Arizona. But then, inevitably, his arm and focus and vision reach new levels as the buzzer approaches. He cannot quit, and neither can we! (+6)13 Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts will push to return in Week 17, but the Eagles might be wise to let Minshew give it one more go, needing just one win in their last two to secure the No. 1 seed. The spirited backup played fast and loose against Dallas; his two picks were costly but more a credit to suffocating coverage, while he nearly led a comeback spreading the ball around.14 New York Giants QB Where there's a will, there's a way, and Jones has somehow, almost unbelievably, started to take strides throwing the ball with a receiving corps J.J. Redick Jersey of leftovers. It's still hard to properly forecast his ceiling on a limited roster, but at least fans know he's capable of controlling the ball and even extending plays on his own with a solid coaching staff behind him. (+2)15 Detroit Lions QB Good luck to bra s, who will be tasked this offseason with identifying which of Goff's Pro Bowl-caliber numbers are sustainable. The castoff has shown improved confidence working with their deep receiving corps this year, and he belongs as a starter somewhere. Some of his best stuff, however, comes playing catch-up. (-2)16 Las Vegas Raiders QB You wonder if Josh McDaniels, or whomever is running the show, will just start fresh in 2023. Carr is what he is at 31: scrappy, likable and fully liable to crumble down the stretch, as he did in cold weather against the beatable in Week 16. If Las Vegas cuts him to save money, someone will buy, but hopefully knowing his limitations. (+2)17 Carolina Panthers QB Who would've gue sed, after his ugly 2021 debut, that he'd end 2022
by any player this year, but you just can't teach the arm and legs on this guy, both of which were on display in an imperfect yet convincing rout of the in Week 16. (+1)4 Los Angeles Chargers QB Monday night's rout of the was symbolic of the entire year: nothing has come especially easy for he and the , and the numbers just aren't as impre sive as they could or should be, and yet this kid, with such a laser on his shoulder, always pa ses the eye test. Can he elevate L.A. in his first playoff run? (+1)5 Jacksonville Jaguars QB It's no coincidence he's right behind Herbert here: the two are uncannily similar, and not just because they've both got long locks. Lawrence just looks the part, and has some serious zip on outside throws. More importantly, he's delivering for Doug Pederson as the games get more important. Since November, he's thrown 14 TDs and one pick.(+4)6 New Orleans Pelicans Hoodie San Francisco 49ers QB Maybe he'll be exposed at some point, but if we're just going off his sample size as emergency fill-in, well, this kid looks like he could be the ' future. Seriously. The rookie is buoyed by Kyle Shanahan's scheme and weaponry, but he's been accurate, appropriately aggre sive and, best of all, Christian Wood Jersey profe sionally poised in every game. (+6)7 Green Bay Packers QB Nothing has been pretty for Rodgers and the this year. The reigning MVP is still making one too many ill-advised throws while compensating for Green Bay's moving parts. But with the defense now a sisting, he's made sure to save his best precision pa ses for late, controlling the ball in crunch time to keep the Pack alive in the playoff race. (+4)8 Minnesota Vikings QB What a wild year for Cousins, who's been le s efficient but more clutch for one of the most resilient (or fortunate) contenders in the NFL. does a lot of heavy lifting for their offense, and Cousins has big tests ahead with a road trip to Green Bay and an anticipated postseason run, but he's done a lot to win back belief in Minnesota.9 Dallas Cowboys QB Prescott is usually considered a steady hand at QB, prone to doing all the little things well, and consistently. This year, he's been far more unpredictable: either a total knockout, or a total flop. Give him soft coverage, and he'll dice you up. Give him a truly big-game spotlight, and be prepared for some head-scratchers. (+6)10 Chicago Bears QB As a promising year winds down, Fields is slightly reverting to his early-season role, in which he barely moved or pushed the ball downfield. But that's not really his fault. A gifted scrambler whose speed is must-see TV, you just hope he can make it to the finish line as healthy as can be, and that Chicago finally gives him toys in 2023. (-1)11 Seattle Seahawks QB So much for the little flirt with MVP candidacy. Smith's decision-making has taken a big hit in recent weeks as he Solomon Hill Jersey tries to make up for Seattle's shortcomings, whether an erratic ground game one week or absence the next. He still offers all the physical tools from inside the pocket, but the reliability is starting to wane. (-1)12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Much like , his aging counterpart, Brady is trudging through a mostly clunky campaign. He looked maybe the worst he has all year early in Week 16, half-heartedly airing it out against Arizona. But then, inevitably, his arm and focus and vision reach new levels as the buzzer approaches. He cannot quit, and neither can we! (+6)13 Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts will push to return in Week 17, but the Eagles might be wise to let Minshew give it one more go, needing just one win in their last two to secure the No. 1 seed. The spirited backup played fast and loose against Dallas; his two picks were costly but more a credit to suffocating coverage, while he nearly led a comeback spreading the ball around.14 New York Giants QB Where there's a will, there's a way, and Jones has somehow, almost unbelievably, started to take strides throwing the ball with a receiving corps J.J. Redick Jersey of leftovers. It's still hard to properly forecast his ceiling on a limited roster, but at least fans know he's capable of controlling the ball and even extending plays on his own with a solid coaching staff behind him. (+2)15 Detroit Lions QB Good luck to bra s, who will be tasked this offseason with identifying which of Goff's Pro Bowl-caliber numbers are sustainable. The castoff has shown improved confidence working with their deep receiving corps this year, and he belongs as a starter somewhere. Some of his best stuff, however, comes playing catch-up. (-2)16 Las Vegas Raiders QB You wonder if Josh McDaniels, or whomever is running the show, will just start fresh in 2023. Carr is what he is at 31: scrappy, likable and fully liable to crumble down the stretch, as he did in cold weather against the beatable in Week 16. If Las Vegas cuts him to save money, someone will buy, but hopefully knowing his limitations. (+2)17 Carolina Panthers QB Who would've gue sed, after his ugly 2021 debut, that he'd end 2022