2025 NFL Quarterback Rankings Week 10: Lamar Jackson Makes Triumphant Return as Indiana Jones Turns into a Pumpkin
The 2025 NFL season is halfway over with nine weeks down and nine to go. The MVP race is all over the place with Patrick Mahomes, Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen, Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield, Drake Maye, and maybe even Lamar Jackson still in the mix after the Baltimore quarterback made his big return to action.
But we do have some quarterback shake-ups with a potential season-ending injury for Jayden Daniels, a concussion for C.J. Stroud, the first bad game for Daniel Jones in Indy, and the return of J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota.
Each week at 365Scores, we are going to rank all 32 NFL quarterbacks from top to bottom. The methodology is to start with our preseason quarterback rankings from July, which were based on a mixture of career value and recent play. Then each week, we will adjust the rankings to account for the latest game to get a sense of which quarterbacks are performing the best in the 2025 season.
Table of Contents
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 9 rank: 1 (0)
We talked about a blueprint to beat Patrick Mahomes back in February, and the Bills did a great job as Mahomes held the ball for over 3.0 seconds on average for the first time this season (3.37 seconds according to NGS).
Mahomes was pressured on 52.6% of his dropbacks after no other defense cracked 30% against him this season, so the addition of Joey Bosa paid off big time in this matchup. They hit Mahomes 15 times according to the official NFL gamebook, one of the highest totals of his career, and the Bills had him throwing deep with his average pass coming 14.4 yards down the field.
Mahomes finished 15-of-34 passing, marking the first time in his career he was under 50% completions. That ends a streak of 141 games to begin his career, the second-longest streak ever and the longest to start a career by more than twice the previous record (Deshaun Watson, 60 games).
One bright spot for Mahomes was converting a 4th-and-17 in the fourth quarter, something we haven’t seen at that point of a game by a team down by two scores in the last 45 years. But the Chiefs again couldn’t get the equalizer in the fourth quarter of a 28-21 loss.
The bye week comes at a good time for the Chiefs (5-4) who need to get healthy up front. Similar to the Super Bowl losses to the Bucs and Eagles, it remains Mahomes’ biggest kryptonite that he loses high-scoring games to top teams when he has multiple offensive linemen gone or out of position as the Chiefs did here with both tackles down.
That’s not really a sustainable blueprint to beat someone, but when it happens for the Chiefs, they’re usually in trouble as most teams would be.
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Week 9 rank: N/A (Tyler Huntley was No. 23)
Lamar Jackson is back after missing three full games, and all seems to be well with the Ravens again after a 28-6 win in Miami. The defense is back on track, and after an early poor throw to shake the rust off, Jackson went to work and threw four touchdown passes against the Dolphins. He’s up to 14 touchdowns vs. one pick this season, but he does need to bring that sack rate (12.6%) down from an astronomically-high number that would be the worst of his career.
Interesting matchup this week with Minnesota as the Ravens (3-5) try to win reclaim the AFC North, which got a little harder with the Steelers upsetting Indy.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Week 9 rank: 4 (+1)
Josh Allen had one of the most patient, efficient games of his career against the Chiefs. He completed 23-of-26 passes, setting a career-high 88.5% completion percentage. He only ran for 19 yards, the first time he didn’t break 30 yards against Kansas City on the ground, but he got the quarterback sneak corrected from January and added two more touchdowns that way.
You would have liked to see Buffalo add an insurance score in the fourth quarter, but Allen made effective use of his tight ends on limited snaps, and the Bills played bullies against the Chiefs in the trenches in a way we’re not used to seeing.
It’s the kind of win that could resonate in January should they meet again, which is far from guaranteed this year.
4. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Week 9 rank: 9 (+5)
It was just the Saints on Sunday, but Stafford has been lighting it up this year. He’s leading the NFL with 21 touchdown passes and 268.4 passing yards per game, and he’s averaging career highs in passer rating (113.2), success rate (54.0%), and ANY/A (8.34).
But let’s see how the next few weeks go with games against the 49ers, Seahawks, and Buccaneers in the NFC.
5. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Week 9 rank: 11 (+6)
Sam Darnold could have stopped at halftime and had the win wrapped up with a perfect game: 16-of-16 passing for 282 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no sacks. I was on board with him having a legitimate season last year before he had the rough finish. But he’s arguably been better this year in Seattle.
Things could get even better after the Seahawks traded for Rashid Shaheed from the Saints, giving Darnold another weapon with serious speed.
6. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Week 9 rank: 2 (-4)
I called it in the MVP discussion last week. “I know all this praise is just setting [Daniel Jones] up for a couple of strip-sack fumbles this Sunday in Pittsburgh.” Sure enough, Indiana Jones had a couple of strip-sack fumbles, and he also threw three interceptions, taking 5-of-6 turnovers by the Colts in his stat column.
It just wasn’t Jones’ day as the running game was shut down, he took 5 sacks, and he had picks of every variety with a deflected ball going to another Steeler, and a play where he just didn’t see the linebacker.
This doesn’t dismiss what he did in the first eight games of the season, but without a track record of success, you can’t really just pencil him down for a bounce-back effort or that this won’t shake his confidence going forward. We’ll just have to see how he responds to his first bad game with the Colts.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Week 9 rank: 6 (-1)
It was looking like a day of Chargering when Justin Herbert started the game with a pick-six and the Titans scored another return touchdown on a punt. But he calmed down and led a victory against the worst team in the NFL. Unfortunately, Joe Alt suffered a season-ending ankle injury, so Herbert has lost both tackles and that’s going to make things difficult going forward, including the next game against the Steelers.
8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Week 9 rank: 5 (-3)
Really a stunning upset as the Lions have been getting the best of Brian Flores’ defense from Minnesota the last few years. Goff’s passing numbers were fine in this game, except he took 5 sacks as running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a horrific day in pass protection. Like the worst for a back in years.
Throw in the running game getting contained (65 yards), and Goff was in a dogfight where the defense couldn’t get him the ball back late in a 27-24 game.
9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Week 9 rank: 3 (-6)
Dak Prescott wasn’t great on Monday night, but his skill players did him few favors with multiple lost fumbles and drops. That’s how you hold the Dallas offense to 10 points in a game. The worst thing Dak did all night was probably take the 4th-and-goal sack to start the game.
But it’s a tough loss as the Cowboys (3-5-1) are likely missing the playoffs again after blowing this chance to get to .500.
10. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Week 9 rank: 8 (-2)
The Falcons have a good pass rush, but Drake Maye has to start learning how to get rid of the ball better. He’s taken 12 sacks and fumbled 3 times in the last two games alone. His sack rate is up to 11.76%, and he’s already taken as many sacks (34) as he did his whole rookie year. These are not the results you want to see in Year 2 after dropping the top offensive tackle with such a high pick.
The fumble before halftime turned what could have been a 17-point lead into only a 7-point lead after giving the Falcons such a short field. Then he went three-and-out in the four-minute offense as well in a 24-23 game, but his defense had his back this time.
Things should get harder in Tampa Bay, so let’s see how Maye responds.
11. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Week 9 rank: 7 (-4)
Few teams and quarterbacks took a bigger stock drop this week than Jordan Love and the Packers. Losing 16-13 at home to the Panthers is bad enough, but he also lost tight end Tucker Kraft to a torn ACL, ending his season. Even if he gets some wideouts back, there’s no replacing that production at tight end with what they have. It’s a big blow.
Then for the game itself, Love had some costly mistakes, and I still have no idea what the decision was on that doomed 4th-and-8. Just kick the field goal. Pointing out Romeo Doubs gave up on the play after he was out of bounds and can’t be the first one to touch the ball doesn’t really do justice to make it look less worse for Love, who should have had a second pick here.
12. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 9 rank: 10 (-2)
It was a bye week for Baker Mayfield, who had himself a good time on the ManningCast on Monday night. He gets a big game against the Patriots this Sunday, a good time to get back in the MVP race with a good performance.
13. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 9 rank: 12 (-1)
The Eagles (6-2) had their bye week at a good time to prepare for the Green Bay defense on Monday night. We’ll see how Jalen Hurts responds in that one after the Eagles had some success against the Packers last year, sweeping them to start and end their season.
14. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 9 rank: 13 (-1)
Aaron Rodgers barely tested the Colts’ defense over 10 yards, but he played a safe and smart game, taking advantage of the six turnovers the Colts gave the Steelers. Still threw a nice touchdown to Pat Freiermuth as the tight ends took centerstage again.
15. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals
Week 9 rank: 17 (+2)
In just his fourth game with the Bengals, Joe Flacco passed for 470 yards and four touchdown passes. Thanks to an onside kick recovery, he was in line to pull off one of the most improbable 14-point comebacks in NFL history, but horrific tackling by the defense gave that away as the Bears won 47-42. Flacco’s second interception with the Bengals was on a woefully short Hail Mary.
The Bengals have scored at least 33 points in three straight games, scoring more each week as Flacco gets more comfortable with these amazing receivers. The problem is the defense may never have been worse.
No matter how you slice it, it’s hard to look at Joe Burrow in the same light ever again when a 40-year-old quarterback who’s never played for this staff can come in after a horrible stint in Cleveland and light it up like this. Flacco is getting the ball out quick too as his sack rate is just 3.9%.
16. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Week 9 rank: 20 (+4)
It sounds like Kyler Murray will get a longer time to heal his foot injury as Jacoby Brissett is doing a great job in his absence. Beating up on the Dallas defense is one thing, but Brissett did the same things against the Packers and Colts the last two games too. He’s on a tear, doing things with this offense in three straight games that Murray never has in seven years with Arizona.
We have a legit quarterback controversy in the desert.
17. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Week 9 rank: 14 (-3)
I wanted to see how Bo Nix would handle the No. 1 scoring defense on the road. He completed 48.6% of his passes and averaged 4.7 yards per attempt, but he still threw two touchdowns, led another fourth-quarter comeback, and had a big scramble on the game-winning drive in the 18-15 win.
Not sure how the Broncos keep getting away with it, but Nix has now led four comebacks this season.
18. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Week 9 rank: 15 (-3)
It’s probably not a coincidence the two best games for Williams this year where he threw at least 3 touchdowns were against the abysmal defenses of the Cowboys and Bengals. But Williams also caught a touchdown against the Bengals before a wild fourth-quarter finish that saw horrible tackling on Colston Loveland’s game-winning touchdown catch in the final minute.
Props to Williams for pointing out after the game they had yet to win a shootout in Chicago with him, but 47-42 has taken care of that.
19. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Week 9 rank: 16 (-3)
Even without his best weapons, Jaxson Dart was impressive in a losing effort against the 49ers, who ripped through his defense with ease. Dart had no turnovers, three total touchdowns, and he led the Giants in rushing yards. He’s going to be a good one if they can just stay healthy and build a defense for him.
20. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
Week 9 rank: 19 (-1)
The San Francisco offense had its best game in weeks with Mac Jones only committing one turnover as they piled up 34 points on the Giants. He didn’t have to do a ton with the ground game producing 159 yards.
21. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Week 9 rank: N/A (Marcua Mariota was No. 27)
Well, it’s season over for Jayden Daniels and Washington. His defense was destroyed by Sam Darnold on Sunday night, and coach Dan Quinn should have known better than to have Daniels in a game with a 31-point deficit in the fourth quarter. He injured his elbow, and the only good news is it wasn’t his throwing arm, so it shouldn’t have any long-term impact on his career.
But 2025 is over for the Commanders (3-6), and there’s no reason to bring Daniels back the rest of this season. Just too many injuries for him and his receivers, and they never fixed the defense from last year.
22. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Week 9 rank: 18 (-4)
C.J. Stroud was knocked out of Sunday’s game with a nasty concussion after a late slide against Denver in the second quarter. His status is unknown going forward but he should be okay. Still, it’s a tough play since the Broncos were struggling in this game, and the Texans had Davis Mills the rest of the way. Maybe they pull it out with Stroud in the fourth quarter. Now they’re 3-5 and likely can forget making the playoffs.
23. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Week 9 rank: N/A (Kirk Cousins was No. 29)
It’s hard to believe Michael Penix has started 10 games and he’s already had his kicker miss a clutch kick in a loss three times. Three different kickers too. This time it was John Parker Romo, who they cut Monday, missing an extra point that would have tied the game late.
Then when Penix got the ball back in a 24-23 game, he had a completion out to midfield before a disastrous early snap led to a grounding penalty that nuked the drive. There were rumors the Patriots clapped to simulate the snap, but that action looked pretty far away from the center. Penix needs to be more aware and gun that ball at the feet of the nearby Bijan Robinson to avoid the penalty for grounding.
But go figures the Falcons would meet their fate against the Patriots in a close loss. I named Penix with DOOM (Destiny of Ongoing Misfortune) for a reason.
24. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
Week 9 rank: N/A (Carson Wentz was No. 28)
He’s only made three career starts, and J.J. McCarthy has two road wins in the division by final scores of 27-24 where he threw two touchdowns and ran for one in each. That’s impressive even if he can go long stretches without producing much. But he set the tone early in this one with two touchdown passes on the first two drives, and he put the Lions away late with a big conversion.
It’s a work in progress but the Vikings obviously have a good foundation of talent to build on with McCarthy.
25. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 9 rank: 21 (-4)
Trevor Lawrence rushed for two touchdowns and led a comeback and game-winning drive in overtime against the Raiders to get the Jags to 5-3. He did this without Travis Hunter available, and the team made a smart move to trade for Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers after an injury to Brian Thomas Jr. For an offense that’s struggled with drops, Meyers is sure handed.
26. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Week 9 rank: 22 (-4)
In case you forgot, Brock Bowers is the best tight end in the NFL now. He caught three touchdowns in his return to perk up Geno Smith’s stats against Jacksonville. Unfortunately, after the Raiders became the first team in NFL history to score a second touchdown in overtime under the new rules, Geno’s game-winning 2-point conversion pass was batted down in a 30-29 loss.
If you look at the play, he threw to the left. But the receiver on the slant on the right was wide open and really should have been the target for a likely win for the Raiders here.
27. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Week 9 rank: N/A (Andy Dalton was No. 31)
Bryce Young returned for the Panthers’ upset win of the Packers, the biggest upset of the 2025 season by point spread (13.5). However, it’s not like he did much with 102 passing yards and a pick as the Rico Dowdle-led running game carried the way.
Young completed a couple of passes for 19 yards on the game-winning drive, and that leaves him with a very interesting split in career record:
- Young is 9-12 (.429) in games with a game-winning drive opportunity in the fourth quarter or overtime.
- Young is 2-13 (.133) in his other starts that didn’t have a game-winning drive opportunity.
That’s not normal at all. Since 2023, Young has seven game-winning drives in games where he didn’t throw for 200 yards. No other quarterback has more than 4 such games.
28. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Week 9 rank: 24 (-4)
The Dolphins never found the end zone against an improved Baltimore defense in a 28-6 loss. Many mistakes were made beyond just what Tua Tagovailoa did, but he didn’t really do anything to elevate the offense either.
29. Justin Fields, New York Jets
Week 9 rank: 25 (-4)
The Jets had a bye week and traded a lot of key defensive players on Tuesday. The trades will help the Jets get better in the future but makes them a worse team now if you can believe that. The Colts traded wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets in the Sauce Gardner deal, and if he couldn’t work out in Indy, I don’t see how he works out with Justin Fields in New York.
30. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Week 9 rank: N/A (Spencer Rattler was No. 26)
If you’re a Saints fan, you should feel encouraged by Tyler Shough’s first start against the Rams. You should feel discouraged about everything else as the rest of the team was terrible. The passing offense was the only respectable part of Sunday’s 34-10 blowout loss.
The moment didn’t seem too big for Shough, who only had one pick and one sack. But some bad news is they traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks on Tuesday, and he was looking like his favorite target to throw to.
31. Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns
Week 9 rank: 30 (-1)
The Browns had their bye week, but I think if Dillon Gabriel doesn’t play well against a Jets defense that just had a fire sale of an already bad unit, you will see Shedeur Sanders against Baltimore in Week 11.
32. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Week 9 rank: 32 (0)
The Titans spotted Cam Ward with two early return touchdowns, which helped them cover the spread against the Chargers (-9.5). But all that means is the offense managed just two short field goal drives of 29 and 40 yards, and he didn’t get a chance at a quarterback sneak from 4th-and-goal at the 1 in the third quarter.
We’re looking for progress and it’s just not there. You know it’s not going well when you’re approaching on a mark by the Dayton Triangles.
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