Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury has opened the door for the rest of the AFC.
The Chiefs quarterback has won a Super Bowl with a bad ankle, so it’s not like this is absolutely going to sink him. The Chiefs have a challenging schedule ahead — versus Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos — and it’s possible they lose all three games if Carson Wentz starts them. That could catapult Buffalo into the top seed in the AFC. As the Bills just showed in Detroit, they’re the best team in the NFL right now.
Mahomes will almost definitely be back for the playoffs — and likely sooner. But when he does return to the field, it’s very possible that his recovery won’t be complete. Between that complication and a potential fall in the seeding, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl chances might grow grim.
So much depends on Mahomes’ ankle.
Welcome back to the QB Stock Market, where we weigh the most recent performances with 30% importance, while applying 70% to the rest of 2024. One question holds importance above all others: What have you done for your team lately?
Previous weeks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (↔)
There is no comparison for Josh Allen. Not anymore.
We used to compare him to Ben Roethlisberger. One of his comps — during the draft process — was actually Jake Locker. That didn’t age well. Then Patrick Mahomes was the point of reference. None of the comparisons made much sense. Now, we know there isn’t one.
I get that Allen doesn’t have a championship to his name. He has yet to get on his feet in the conversation about greatness. But he’s currently the Best Player on the Planet. And he’s putting himself into the Best Of All Time conversation alongside guys like Dan Marino.
You can only hope that’s not where the conversation ends.
Allen’s career could be on the verge of change — a movement from “best” toward “greatest.” But with the regular-season MVP close to being locked up for Allen, it’s natural — at least for me — to start thinking about Super Bowl MVP. Allen has four wins in the regular season over Mahomes — Buffalo is the only team to beat Kansas City since Christmas Day of last year — but is 0-3 in the postseason. The Bills, of course, are 0-4 in the Super Bowl. The next eight weeks present as good of a chance as any for Allen to change that legacy.
At this point, anything less than a title will be a big disappointment.
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (↔)
3. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (⬆️ 1)
Let’s take another look at Goff’s numbers versus the Bills:
38/59
494 passing yards
5 passing TDs
Zero turnovers
It still doesn’t quite compute that the above stat line was a losing one. But it was. Goff did all that despite 25 quarterback pressures, and with an average time to throw of 2.9. The Bills’ secondary is banged up, but their defense — on the whole — doesn’t slouch. This was one of the best individual performances of Goff’s career.
And still, it’s something of a failure. It wasn’t close enough to perfection.
We can scrutinize the end of the game — including coach Dan Campbell’s indefensible decision to try an onside kick with 12 minutes left. But Goff is probably going to study the beginning of the game, which was actually when the Lions fell into a hole they couldn’t lift themselves out of. Detroit punted on both of its first two possessions, while the Bills scored touchdowns on each of theirs. That’s why Campbell kept referring to “urgency” in his postgame comments. Because Detroit lost this game in the opening 13 minutes.
The AFC’s elite is in a different class than the NFC. The Lions just learned that. And if they’re going to make it to the Super Bowl, it’s a valuable lesson for when they see (in all likelihood) the Bills, Chiefs or Ravens.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (⬇️ 1)
5. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (⬆️ 4)
6. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (↔)
7. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (⬆️ 6)
8. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (⬇️ 3)
9. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (⬇️ 1)
10. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (↔)
11. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (⬆️ 3)
12. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (⬇️ 5)
This was the performance everyone feared from Russ.
Without receiver George Pickens, and with the offensive line allowing Wilson only 2.38 seconds to throw, the Steelers’ offense looked like crap. Wilson, in particular, was extremely unproductive. He failed to elevate this offense in any meaningful way. Not as a passer. Not as a runner.
He finished the game with a -10.7 EPA. It was Denver Russ, not DangeRuss.
What this game told me — more than anything — was that the Steelers don’t exactly know how to game plan without Pickens. And that’s a really nice compliment to the receiver. It’s fitting that this offense stalled so badly against the Eagles, because the sans-Pickens phenomena reminded me of what Philly looked like earlier this season without A.J. Brown.
Pickens is expected back as soon as next week. And much of what makes them successful this year is what should allow them to do well in the postseason: great defense, powerful run game, explosive passing game. But without just one of those elements, the Steelers’ game plan came undone. That should concern them for the postseason.
13. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (⬆️ 5)
14. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (⬇️ 2)
15. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (⬇️ 4)
16. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (⬆️ 4)
17. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (⬆️ 4)
18. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (⬇️ 2)
Nix should thank his lucky stars that he put up this stinker of a performance against Anthony Richardson, who put up a stinker of his own. Nix’s EPA was -11.2 on Sunday. Richardson’s was -14.3. The first two interceptions were simple teach tape: Don’t do that. Just … don’t. The third interception was the correct read, but he was late and the ball wasn’t thrown hard enough.
Things really got interesting at the end of the third quarter. The Broncos responded to Nix’s interceptions, at first, by calling a higher volume of horizontal routes. And it wasn’t working. The Colts knew the Broncos were going to dink and dunk. So, Nix had to keep trying vertical.
This is actually when Nix started to impress. Things didn’t totally click into place, but he did just enough to get the Broncos into the lead in the fourth quarter. Then his defense showed up to help him slam the door shut with a fumble-return touchdown.
Nix can’t keep doing this if the Broncos want to make a legit playoff run. But it’s fun to watch him play fearlessly, even when he’s thrown three interceptions and even when he’s trailing. The Broncos shouldn’t have fallen into a hole against the Colts. That was Nix’s fault. But Nix played a vital part in digging them out.
19. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (⬇️ 4)
20. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (⬆️ 6)
Rodgers was substantially smarter than the Jaguars defense.
He looked lively, with an eye and willingness to rush the ball.
He looked like a guy who still cared a lot about football — and the New York Jets.
He was multiple steps ahead of Jacksonville, which has allowed the most passing yards per game (264.3) and the sixth-most points per game (26.9). On third-and-5 and the game tied with just 1:22 remaining, Rodgers audibled into a simple mesh concept that stumped the Jaguars defense and busted its coverage. Davante Adams — who had already scored two touchdowns — was wide open. He picked up 41 yards to set up the game-winning score. But I suppose this isn’t new in 2024. We have seen Rodgers’ mental game remain at its peak.
What we haven’t seen: Rodgers’ downfield passing. It was outstanding, and it might have looked even better if Adams and Allen Lazard hadn’t both failed to haul in a deep throw. The Jets actually left a lot of yards on the field. Even with those missed opportunities, Rodgers had good vibes after the game.
“If you’re supremely competitive, you love dominating. That’s what it’s all about. Today was one of those good feelings,” Rodgers said Sunday.
Will he go chasing that feeling?
For better and for worse, the Jets’ future hangs in the balance as Rodgers decides whether to play again in 2025. I don’t really think he still has it. But games like this might lead Rodgers to believe he does. That might mean he gives it one more try in New York next year.
21. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (⬇️ 2)
22. Drake Maye, New England Patriots (⬆️ 1)
23. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (⬇️ 6)
24. Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys (⬆️ 7)
25. Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars (⬆️ 5)
26. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (⬆️ 3)
27. Desmond Ridder, Las Vegas Raiders (new)
28. Tommy DeVito, New York Giants (new)
29. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (⬇️ 7)
30. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (⬇️ 3)
Titans coach Brian Callahan did not speak highly of Levis after his three-interception performance on Sunday. Bear with me — Callahan’s diss is masked in coach speak.
“Our team fights like crazy. They work hard, they practice hard, they do things the right way. And they fought in that game until the very bitter end of it,” Callahan said. “So, you want to give those guys that are fighting the feeling that they’ve got a chance in that game and not give the ball turned over too often. Those are the things I’ve got to manage with the football team in general. And then manage with Will on top of it.”
Translation: Levis was losing the game for us, so we got him the heck outta there.
We’ve seen a lot of surprising resurgences from QBs this year. Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson both had bad weeks, but they seem to have done enough to keep themselves in the driver’s seat for QB1 for their respective franchises.
But I’m not so sure that Levis will get the chance in 2025. The Titans might as well ride Levis out for the rest of the year. Beyond that, it’s probably over.
The Titans must be eying the QB market for the coming offseason. Now, I don’t really like what I see: Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold and maybe Russell Wilson? That’s a tough sell when it comes to veterans. The 2025 draft class isn’t pretty either, particularly if the current draft order holds. There’s a good chance that the Titans stay around the No. 5 pick overall, so they’d likely have to trade up to get a shot at Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward.
It must be a scary feeling in Tennessee.
Levis ain’t it — and this will be a tough offseason to find a new QB.
31. Jake Haener, New Orleans Saints (new)
32. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns (⬇️ 8)
Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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