NFL Analysis
12/4/24
15 min read
2024 NFL Week 14 QB Power Rankings: Josh Allen Makes MVP Push, Kirk Cousins Struggles
Welcome to Week 14 of the quarterback rankings.
These are not your typical quarterback rankings, which is why you might see some differences from what you’d expect to see in a ranking system that was built off a box score or reputation.
As a reminder, our new grading system combines the skill set rankings (how good a quarterback is in a vacuum) and production (based on a composite of EPA per play and success rate from TruMedia) for the 2024 season.
The hope is that the mix of the skill set rankings and the production rankings will give a more complete picture of what is actually happening on the field during the 2024 season.
The skill set rankings are from me, watching and grading each quarterback in the individual categories. If you feel like I hate your favorite quarterback, those are the rankings you should be looking at and yelling at me for.
The skill score is then combined with the production score to get the full rankings.
The full rankings, including each individual skill set, will be at the bottom of this article. If you liked the old rankings, you can filter by Skill Score. If you're more interested in production, you can filter by that, too.
Each week, we’ll be ranking the league’s 32 starting quarterbacks. That means if a quarterback switch is made, it will be reflected in the rankings. With the production rankings, we’ll start ranking new quarterbacks after their first start or if an official move is made.
With that out of the way, here are the new quarterback rankings heading into Week 12. All stats provided by TruMedia unless noted otherwise.
Week 14 Quarterback Rankings
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens 
Skill Score: 9.70 | Production Score: 7.38 | Ranking Score: 8.54
Lamar Jackson had to go into hero mode for much of the game against the Eagles. There were not many easy openings, and Jackson had the entire weight of the offense on his shoulders.
He made some plays with his legs and get the Ravens into scoring position multiple times, but some missed field goals prevented Baltimore from making the game closer.
2. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Skill Score: 9.10 | Production Score: 7.86 | Ranking Score: 8.48
Jared Goff continues to perfect the distributor role in the Detroit offense. Against the Bears, his average depth of completion was just 3.9 yards past the line of scrimmage, but he’s putting the ball in the right spots to get the most out of the plays.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Skill Score: 9.70 | Production Score: 6.96 | Ranking Score: 8.33
On Sunday night, we got a classic Josh Allen game. He was effective on passes and easily had the highest EPA per play of the week (0.79), with a 60 percent success rate.
It helps when he gets credit for a passing and receiving touchdown on the same play. Allen also added a rushing touchdown and a well-placed fade to Mack Hollins in the end zone. We’re getting the best of all Allen worlds without much of the downside.
4. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Skill Score: 9.20 | Production Score: 6.66 | Ranking Score: 7.93
Jayden Daniels was back to matching his early-season peak performances against Tennessee. He was decisive and efficient with his passes and, more importantly, was back to scrambling.
That had been one of the big issues and an indicator that something wasn’t right during the past few games. However, with Daniels seemingly more comfortable, the big plays showed up again while the negative plays disappeared.
5. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Skill Score: 9.30 | Production Score: 6.52 | Ranking Score: 7.93
Without much of a run game, Tua Tagovailoa has been asked to do a lot for the offense. There are a lot more straight dropbacks while having to take a little more time to let something develop.
The offense is still excellent in rhythm, and Tua has been better out of structure, but the Packers barely blitzed and still pressured Tagovailoa on 32.7 percent of his dropbacks and sacked him five times.
6. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Skill Score: 9.74 | Production Score: 6.06 | Ranking Score: 7.90
Patrick Mahomes has gotten by most of the year with a high success rate but limited big plays. The game against the Raiders was the opposite, with one of his lowest success rates of the season (38.7 percent), and he was hit 12 times.
There will still be enough good from Mahomes to keep something in the offense working, but issues at receiver and tackle have made things harder as the season progressed.
7. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Skill Score: 9.46 | Production Score: 6.26 | Ranking Score: 7.86
Joe Burrow is tied for third with seven games of at least 20 dropbacks and 0.10 EPA per play. He’s 2-5 in those games. The rest of the league is 97-30. Only Drake Maye (0-2), Daniel Jones (0-2), and Aaron Rodgers (1-2) have multiple 0.10 EPA per play games with a losing record.
That’s where we are with Burrow. He’s needed to be nearly perfect in every game to outscore his own defense and that’s been a tough task.
8. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Skill Score: 9.08 | Production Score: 6.31 | Ranking Score: 7.70
Jalen Hurts was mostly fine against the Ravens and only had 19 pass attempts. He had seven rushing attempts and a 71 percent success rate on the ground, so most of his value came from those plays — including a Tush Push touchdown.
He’s thrown more over the middle of the field and has been better on the run, which opened up more paths for the passing offense to produce.
9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Skill Score: 9.08 | Production Score: 6.30 | Ranking Score: 7.69
There was a bit of all sides of Baker Mayfield against the Panthers. When he could stand in the pocket and deliver quickly, we’ve seen the kind of effective quarterback he’s been for most of the season.
But we also saw the jumpy quarterback who tried to do too much on his two interceptions. He was also sacked four times, trying to extend plays on three of them.
10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Skill Score: 9.32 | Production Score: 5.87 | Ranking Score: 7.60
Jordan Love continually looks more comfortable in this offense and with his movement. He’s often looking for the big play down the field, and while these plays can be hit or miss, there’s enough in the other parts of the offense, between his short passing game and the run game, to keep the offense on schedule.
He was fourth in EPA per play and second in success rate this week.
11. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Skill Score: 9.38 | Production Score: 5.70 | Ranking Score: 7.54
The Vikings blitzed Kyler Murray on more than half of his dropbacks, and those plays caused enough chaos to mix Murray up.
He had been one of the league’s best quarterbacks under pressure, but the looks Minnesota threw out did a lot to impact Murray’s play. Still, Murray only took one sack and was effective enough when not under pressure but ended up throwing two interceptions in desperation mode.
12. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Skill Score: 9.10 | Production Score: 5.77 | Ranking Score: 7.44
Brock Purdy struggled in the snow, but there’s not much to take away from that game.
Once the run game wasn’t an option to stay in the game — plus the loss of Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason — there wasn’t much Purdy was going to be able to do on offense. He ended up with a 22.7 percent success rate, the lowest of the week.
13. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Skill Score: 9.52 | Production Score: 5.16 | Ranking Score: 7.34
It took a bit for the Rams to pull away from the Saints, but Matthew Stafford had a productive game throughout, mostly avoiding negative plays while Kyren Williams ran for more than 100 yards. Stafford was under center on 76 percent of his plays and used play-action 40 percent of the time.
That’s a much different look than what the Rams have done with Stafford, but he pulled it off. Even without much mobility, Stafford can still be weaponized on boots out of the under-center play-action.
14. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
Skill Score: 9.00 | Production Score: 4.85 | Ranking Score: 6.93
We broke down his interceptions in 1st & 10 this week, and there’s not much else to say.
Kirk Cousins’ quality of play has dropped during the past few weeks, with the lowest EPA per play over that span (-0.37). It's not just the lack of mobility. That had been covered up well enough. Against the Chargers, there was no zip on any throw, which made everything difficult to complete.
15. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Skill Score: 9.04 | Production Score: 4.65 | Ranking Score: 6.85
We didn’t just see one of the best games of this version of Russell Wilson; the win against the Bengals was one of the best games of any version of Russell Wilson.
It was one of his best success rates of his career, and he accomplished it by taking some of the easy stuff — throws to the middle of the field and checkdowns.
16. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Skill Score: 9.04 | Production Score: 4.42 | Ranking Score: 6.85
Sam Darnold’s just been the same kind of quarterback all season. Against the Cardinals, he was hit eight times and sacked on five of them. Yet, at the end of the game, he made some throws that got the Vikings into a position to win the game.
His best throw came early in the fourth quarter on a deep out to Jordan Addison that perfectly fit in over a defender for a 17-yard gain.
17. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Skill Score: 9.32 | Production Score: 4.00 | Ranking Score: 6.66
Geno Smith is a quarterback whose line play has impacted his game. Early in the season, Smith performed in spite of the blocking in front of him. But in trying to lift the offense during the past few weeks, he’s led himself into some pressure.
There were just seven passing first downs against the Jets. But with the development of Jaxon Smith-Njigba as an explosive downfield option, the Seahawks have enough talent to get by.
18. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Skill Score: 9.58 | Production Score: 3.63 | Ranking Score: 6.61
After more than a month of playing great football, Justin Herbert had his roughest game in a while against the Falcons.
He was pressured on 42.9 percent of his dropbacks — an absurd rate against a team that hasn’t been able to rush the passer at all this season — and without many places to go with the ball, Herbert was brought down five times. More than half (56.3 percent) of Herbert’s completions failed to produce positive EPA.
19. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Skill Score: 8.86 | Production Score: 4.26 | Ranking Score: 6.56
Derek Carr is now good for one deep touchdown to Marquez Valdes-Scantling per game. That feels like an insane thing to type, but that’s where we’re at in this Saints season.
Without Taysom Hill for the rest of the year, that might be the best option they have.
20. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Skill Score: 9.14 | Production Score: 3.64 | Ranking Score: 6.39
Drake Maye keeps getting better despite his surroundings. While he took a few sacks, he’s more often able to manage the pocket and create a play.
An extreme example is his 41-yard scramble. He’s finding throwing lanes and throwing receivers open. His day could have looked even better if Hunter Henry had simply dropped a pass at the goal line instead of letting it sit off the ground to get intercepted.
21. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Skill Score: 9.58 | Production Score: 3.13 | Ranking Score: 6.36
C.J. Stroud had negative EPA for the ninth time this season. That’s the most for a quarterback this season in games with at least 20 dropbacks.
He’s still playing well, but that offensive environment has not been conducive to getting the best production out of him this season.
22. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
Skill Score: 8.78 | Production Score: 3.71 | Ranking Score: 6.25
Jameis Winston threw for 497 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions — two of them pick-sixes. He can throw a team into or out of a game, and he did both on Monday night.
His decision-making is still something that holds down the throws he can and is willing to make.
23. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Skill Score: 9.04 | Production Score: 3.38 | Ranking Score: 6.21
Bo Nix, like Winston, showcased his range of pros and cons on Monday night. Last week, we mentioned how Nix was already one of the league’s most willing seam throwers. That was the case on the touchdown to Marvin Mims. He also showed how pressure can still impact him with quick feet and an inconsistent base.
It was all there. It’s better production than it was at the beginning of the year — and he’s moved up in the skill score because of it — and even in a game like this where there were some flaws, they weren’t fatal. He finished 10th in EPA per play this week despite being 28th in success rate.
24. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Skill Score: 9.16 | Production Score: 3.22 | Ranking Score: 6.19
Despite the chaos overall in Chicago, Caleb Williams continues to showcase a high level of play and improvement since the offensive coordinator switch was made. He can still get into trouble taking a sack he shouldn’t, but he’s been better at getting the ball out in rhythm and allowing that to help him extend plays later.
Hopefully, the promotion of Thomas Brown to interim head coach will not impact the stricture that has been working during the past two weeks.
25. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Skill Score: 9.12 | Production Score: 2.81 | Ranking Score: 5.97
This was an Anthony Richardson game when the film again did not match the raw box score, but it did show up in the advanced metrics. Richardson averaged 0.20 EPA per play, the eighth-best of the week and third-best of his career.
There are still some plays left on the field — every Adonai Micthell target is frustrating in one way or another — but at his best, he’s made up for it with the plays he can make that other quarterback can’t, and that was evident near the goal line against New England.
26. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
Skill Score: 8.86 | Production Score: 2.95 | Ranking Score: 5.91
Things not currently an enigma: the state of Aaron Rodgers’ play.
It’s bad and getting worse. It’s difficult to write about Rodgers because nothing has changed. It’s still the same offense, trying to hit these timing plays when the timing isn’t there. Screens are the only thing working for Rodgers at the moment. He was 2-for-11 on those of 10 or more air yards against the Seahawks.
27. Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders
Skill Score: 8.52 | Production Score: 2.78 | Ranking Score: 5.65
Aidan O’Connell had a fine day against the Chiefs, handling their blitzes and getting the ball out. He’s had stretches where his accuracy and decision-making can keep the offense on schedule, but it’s still a low ceiling when that happens.
There were a few nice throws, including a slot fade to Brock Bowers that O’Connell made from a clean pocket.
28. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Skill Score: 8.74 | Production Score: 1.94 | Ranking Score: 5.34
Bryce Young has been a different quarterback since he returned to the lineup. The way he leaves the pocket under pressure has been a complete switch from panicking and bailing to a more controlled rollout.
Because of that, he’s made more plays from that position. He’s been one of the best quarterbacks at avoiding sacks across the past few weeks and put up 0.17 EPA per play under pressure against Tampa Bay while being pressured on 44 percent of his dropbacks.
29. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
Skill Score: 8.60 | Production Score: 1.49 | Ranking Score: 5.05
This was one of those games where Will Levis’ big-throw hunting came up empty more often than not. He had a 10.4-yard aDOT but completed under 50 percent of his passes and took eight hits while holding onto the ball.
Part of that was due to how quickly the Titans fell into a hole and were forced to pass. Regardless, that’s not the type of situation you want Levis to play in.
30. Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Skill Score: 8.62 | Production Score: 1.28 | Ranking Score: 4.95
After Trevor Lawrence left the game, Mac Jones came in and produced some oddly big plays. He had 0.32 EPA per play, which was the fifth-best mark of the week, but just a 37.1 percent success rate, which was 24th.
He didn’t take a sack and threw two touchdowns, including a 22-yarder to Parker Washington on a fourth-and-8. However, that throw was well high and required quite an adjustment and a defensive back on the ground for it to have been completed.
31. Cooper Rush Dallas Cowboys
Skill Score: 8.56 | Production Score: 1.31 | Ranking Score: 4.94
The pivot for the Cowboys and Cooper Rush has been to get the ball out insanely quickly. His average time to throw against the Giants was 2.08. That basically eliminates the threat of pressure.
He can then get the ball into space and how the Dallas receivers can make a play. Against the Giants, 61 percent of his passing yards came after the catch.
32. Drew Lock, New York Giants
Skill Score: 8.60 | Production Score: 0.30 | Ranking Score: 4.45
Drew Lock might have shown why the Giants were willing to start Tommy DeVito over him, even holding out hope that a not-100-percent DeVito could make the Thanksgiving start.
Lock struggled for most of the game and even had an ill-advised pick-6 on a screen pass. He was just announced as the starter for a second game this week against the Saints with DeVito still limited in practice.
Week 14 Full Quarterback Rankings
