NFL Playoffs Backup Quarterback Rankings For Divisional Rnd 2025

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Which team is the best minus their starting QB? Not just a backup QB ranking for the NFL Playoffs, but a team ranking that means everything!

Prepare for the intense sports debate that only sibling rivalry can conjure. Seesaw Sports, where Dan Salem and Todd Salem throw down on the NFL, MLB, NBA and more. Only on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate sports.

 

Welcome to the NFL postseason. Teams’ futures will hinge on a smattering of small plays nudging their fortunes in one direction or the other as they attempt to win the Super Bowl. Either that, or their star player will get hurt and end their season early in the NFL Playoffs. However, if said injury were to happen to the starting quarterback, not all backup QBs offer their teams the same chance of surviving. And not all teams offer the same ability to carry a backup QB.

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Last week, to start the postseason, we ranked which backup quarterbacks we’d be most comfortable turning a game over to. As we enter the divisional round, let’s tweak the game a bit. Instead of ranking the backups themselves, which backup quarterback would be best set up for success? In other words, which team has the best overall roster if we took out the starting QB?

Should something happen to the man in charge, here is the definitive order of which teams would be most set up to continue winning regardless in the NFL Playoffs.

 

NFL Playoffs Backup Rankings

 

 

1. Philadelphia Eagles

Todd Salem: I actually think this one is easy. People give Jalen Hurts guff because the rest of his roster is able to cover up so many of his shortcomings. Philadelphia has perhaps the best defense in the league. It has an All-Pro running back, the best offensive line in the game, and a premiere group of pass catchers. There is no area of weakness on this Philly squad, except for maybe coaching and quarterback. It just so happens those are probably the two most important areas of team building, but that’s neither here nor there.

Dan Salem: A superstar running back and very good defense will win you a lot of football games. Even a backup quarterback couldn’t screw this up, because he also gets solid wide receivers. Philadelphia did not throw much in their first playoff game, so we know this is true. They are the top dog when minus their top dog.

2. Baltimore Ravens

Todd Salem: Lamar and Derrick Henry grab all the headlines, and rightfully so. The rest of this Baltimore team, though, is pretty darn good. The Ravens have one of the best o-lines in the league, which explains all the ground success. Though they don’t have the level of defense they found last year, they are also still very good on that side of the ball. A healthy Zay Flowers would lift the skill position corps, but Henry and Mark Andrews do that on their own.

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Dan Salem: A superstar running back and very good defense will yada yada yada. Baltimore is more or less the Eagles of the AFC with a better starting quarterback and better head coach, but they win the same. Minus their QB1, the Ravens are still very good. That said, Lamar Jackson may win the MVP, so they are certainly missing more than almost everyone else without him.

3. Detroit Lions

Todd Salem: If this exercise was offense-only, Detroit would be in the discussion at one. An elite offensive line, pass catchers, and running backs buoy Jared Goff. However, the defense leaves quite a lot to be desired. Without Aidan Hutchinson, this could be the worst unit in the postseason field. That has to knock Detroit down the rankings.

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Dan Salem: Detroit feels like the most complete team to me, yet they are buoyed by their leadership at quarterback. I don’t think a backup would be able to keep this ship running for very long.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Todd Salem: KC gets a bad rap for being Patrick Mahomes and a bunch of crap. That’s because their skill players are on the weaker side, and those are the names everyone knows. Travis Kelce is past his prime, and the receiver room never found someone to lean on. The running back room turned over throughout the season as well due to injury. However, the Chiefs have a great offensive line and great defense (as well as the best coach in the game, if we’re counting that).

Dan Salem: Now we are ranking most valuable players in descending order, with Lamar Jackson being the exception because his team is great without him. I love how the Chiefs have won this year and pulled out a ton of close games. They don’t do that minus Mahomes. This is a completely different team with a backup QB under center.

 

 

5. Washington Commanders

Todd Salem: Like Detroit, this would be an interesting exercise taking the offense alone. Jayden Daniels has been phenomenal, but it is hard to argue that his supporting cast has been carrying a lot of that weight. The offensive line is stellar; as are the pass catchers, led by Terry McLaurin. The running back room is deep and effective, though without a star talent. All that said, Washington sports the only defense still in the field that could challenge banged-up Detroit as the worst. Its strength is probably at linebacker, which is not at all what you want in the modern-day NFL.

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Dan Salem: Washington has solid pieces and a formidable defense, but I’d bet they have a losing record without Daniels at QB. He is everything to the Commanders, well almost everything. Washington would certainly hold it together better than the three teams below.

6. Houston Texans

Todd Salem: This roster feels like the opposite of Washington. Houston’s young QB struggled because his offensive help was weak. The skill players got hurt over and over, while the line didn’t perform. On defense, however, this team can really shine. We saw it in round one. The pass rush is deep, and the secondary has ballhawks.

Dan Salem: I was thoroughly impressed with Houston’s defense in their opening playoff game, as well as their running game. That said, Stroud is in command and is the leader they need. Without the threat of him under center, Houston would not be very good. Almost as bad as our next two teams.

7. Los Angeles Rams

Todd Salem: The skill players are big, big names. The rest of this roster leaves a lot to be desired. The offensive line has been okay. The defense has been worse than that at times. This team is carried by its offensive weapons and Matthew Stafford. Minus Stafford, things would get ugly, even if we like Jimmy Garoppolo as a backup option.

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Dan Salem: What are the Rams without Matthew Stafford? Average at best. Seattle likely wins the NFC West and loses to the Vikings. With Stafford, the Rams are a Super Bowl contender once again.

8. Buffalo Bills

Todd Salem: The skill players in Buffalo are not big names and are not big performers. The offensive line has been good but not great. The defense has been okay, but not even that good. This team, more than any other, is carried by its starting quarterback. If anything were to happen to Josh Allen, and the Bills were actually forced to turn to our main man Mitchell Trubisky, we’d quickly see how true that was.

Dan Salem: Buffalo is where our second MVP candidate resides and he is certainly more valuable to his team. Its 50/50 if Allen wins the award, but the Bills would be a shell of themselves without him.

 

 

Meet our NFL Playoffs Writers:

Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.

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NFL Playoffs Photo Credits: washingtonpost.com and si.com; profootballnetwork.com via Getty Images

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