2022 NFL Week 13 QB Power Rankings: Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes up top; Kirk Cousins, Mac Jones on the rise
1 He is playing some of his best football since the 50-touchdown MVP breakout in 2018. It doesn't matter who's playing out wide. He, Andy Reid and Travis Kelce are the modern-day Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Rob Gronkowski. 2 It's Hurts and Mahomes as clear front-runners for MVP right now. The former has been truly remarkable in every facet of the game; not even his biggest fans could've predicted such a leap as a passer. His unmoved demeanor is just a bonus. 3 The work he's put in without Joe Mixon and Ja'Marr Chase is a reminder of his incredibly high floor. Burrow is far and away the biggest reason Cincinnati can even bother thinking about an AFC North title. Now imagine the fireworks upon Chase's return. 4 He's fallen back to Earth a bit over the last month, reverting to some of the erratic tendencies of earlier in his career. And yet without his monster arm and gung-ho approach, the Bills aren't 8-3 with at least the capability of matching a superpower like the Chiefs. 5 He may never be the steady passer we want him to be, both by his own doing and that of his personnel, but few QBs are as critical to their team moving the ball at all. Only 11 players -- not QBs, players -- have more rushing yards than him this year. 6 Just because the Seahawks can't stop anybody on defense doesn't mean his Comeback Player of the Year bid has lost any luster. Even when Kenneth Walker III doesn't have running lanes, Smith has stood tall, stayed accurate and fed his elite wideouts. (+1) 7 The Dolphins have done everything right to ensure his growth, much like the Eagles with Hurts. His timing with such an elite WR duo has helped him easily lead the NFL in yards per attempt (9.0) and completion (12.9). We all eagerly await his first true march toward a playoff run. (-1) 8 If you're just looking at the five-game sample size since his return from injury, Prescott has been one of the best, most efficient signal-callers in the game, completing almost 72% of his throws, averaging 8.2 YPA and two scores per game. Dallas is the wild card contender to beat. (+1) 9 The 49ers offense wasn't necessarily firing on all cylinders in a shutout win over the Saints in Week 12, but Garoppolo has been especially steady as the caretaker of Kyle Shanahan's attack. On top of generally controlling the ball, he's looked a touch spryer than usual while extending plays. (+2) 10 Cousins is still having a slightly down year by his standards, but it doesn't show because of his resolve for such a scrappy contender. His Thanksgiving effort against the Patriots was especially encouraging, as he lasered good balls to all of his top weapons to beat Bill Belichick. (+2) 11 It's the Chargers, not Herbert. It's the Chargers, not Herbert. Keep repeating that, because if not for the young gun's ever-steady spirals, L.A. may well have lost to the Cardinals in Week 12. Strapped to an injury-riddled offense that refuses to air it out, he's found ways to post respectable numbers. (+2) 12 Rodgers was actually gaining steam, showcasing some of that trademark play-extending magic, before hurting his ribs against the Eagles. Green Bay has multiple reasons to let him heal while getting an extended look at Jordan Love, but he's determined to fight while the season hangs in the balance. How much can he freestyle in this condition? (-2) 13 He said this week he'd "rather lose and play than not play at all," which is the right attitude for a QB, but also indicative of this Bucs season. Brady has controlled the ball, but he's struggled to move it consistently as Tampa Bay endures one schematic and injury-related hiccup after another. (-5) 14 Quietly regaining steam for one of the feel-good rebuilding stories of 2022, Lawrence saved some of his sharpest stuff for crunch time, pairing with Doug Pederson to upset the Ravens and give Jags fans genuine hope for the future. When he's on, he's got a zip on the ball like Justin Herbert. (+3) 15 After 11 games of feisty play from Jacoby Brissett, it's Watson's turn in Cleveland. Off-field issues aside, it's fair to wonder how comfortable he'll be, playing for the first time in two years. But the natural mobility and downfield touch should give him a relatively high floor. 16 His performance in a low-scoring loss to the Bengals was representative of his standing in Tennessee: perfectly competent, and perfectly dependent on Derrick Henry, whose inability to roll over Cincy's front left the Titans lukewarm on offense. (-3) 17 He's never been a quitter, you can give him that, and it showed in a shootout win against Seattle, where Josh Jacobs lent a big hand. In general, he's looked more decisive since Josh McDaniels' infamous loss to the interim-led Colts, breathing new life into Vegas. (-1) 18 Imagine if he'd pulled off a Thanksgiving upset of Josh Allen and the Bills in Detroit. Too often this year, Goff's numbers have been boosted by playing catch-up. But he really has put up a fight to keep the Lions scrappy, showcasing brilliant chemistry with Amon-Ra St. Brown. 19 As we roll into December, it's not going to be enough for Jones just to take care of the ball, which he's mostly done under Brian Daboll. He needs to prove he can consistently put the ball into the air, beyond the sticks. Does he have the pieces to do so? (-4) 20 Talk about unmet expectations in Arizona. With each passing week, it feels more inevitable that Murray will have a new coach before long, not solely because Kliff Kingsbury can't get his offense in rhythm, but because Murray doesn't really help, flashing athleticism but struggling to produce within structure. 21 The definition of a borderline wild card QB, Mariota doesn't have the passing acumen to trust in tight spots, or for extended periods, but as long as his legs are in working order, Arthur Smith's Falcons will stick around. (-2) 22 Written off as a near-nuisance for Bill Belichick's own defensively led contender, Jones returned to life on Thanksgiving, picking apart the Vikings for much of a close game. As we saw in his rookie year, when he's got time to read a "D," he can play point guard reasonably well. (+3) 23 He's a safe weekly bet for at least one turnover; his energy is more consistent than his decision-making. But you can't deny his confidence has seeped across the lineup, giving Ron Rivera a spicy contender as long as the one-two punch of Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. is also working. (-1) 24 Hello, QB1. Making his first start of 2022 for Zach Wilson, White did all the little things well, unlocking the Jets' young talent out wide. Better defenses will expose his lack of mobility, but you could do a whole lot worse in New York. His arm talent is visible in the way he drives the ball downfield. (+5) 25 Is it Ryan, or is it the Colts? It's both. The longtime Falcon has been a fighter all year, battling bad circumstances up front and organizationally, but his time has come and gone as a QB capable of transcending so-so setups. (-4) 26 Well, well, well. Darnold returned to bring an actual spark to Carolina's offense, which isn't nothing. He's proven before that one bad swing could send him into a skittish streak, but for now, you love to see that lingering arm talent, which bodes well for D.J. Moore. (+2) 27 Unless he instantly snaps back to his peak Seattle days down the stretch, he's probably headed for a new coach in 2023. Regardless, he and whomever is in charge have to find a way to rebuild his fundamentals and confidence as his once-vaunted elusiveness slips from the repertoire. (-3) 28 Every start for him is just an opportunity to do one thing a little better, because the real test comes in 2023, when hopefully he's got a better line and scheme to maximize his talent. In Week 12, he stayed calm even when the game got tight, flashing pinpoint accuracy in some clutch spots. (-1) 29 If you're Dennis Allen, why are you not experimenting with a return to Jameis Winston or, dare we suggest, a Wildcat-centric
