NFL’s Top QBs after Week 15: PFF, QBR, Passer Rating Formula

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The following scores are “good” through December 22, 2021.

There is a healthy fight within the stat community on which quarterback metric is most coherent. Passer rating is bashed as too antiquated. When used to compare quarterbacks from eras of yesteryear, passer rating is indeed skewed and inflated. But touchdowns, passing yards, interception, and completion percentage will never be wholly irrelevant.

ESPN’s QBR is said to factor in more intangible-type ratings. It can be interpreted as a more detailed and comprehensive version of passer rating and then some.

Pro Football Focus uses its grading system to assess the x’s and o’s of each game and pump out a yearly score.

The following scores and rankings are weighted. Passer rating accounts for 20% of the score, QBR at 40%, and PFF at 40%. Skill position players and players with menial pass attempts were excluded.


31. Zach Wilson (NYJ), 45.4

PFF = 58.0, QBR = 22.5, P-Rating = 66.4

30. Davis Mills (HOU), 49.0

PFF = 53.6, QBR = 27.9, P-Rating = 82.2

29. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), 49.7

PFF = 57.9, QBR = 31.7, P-Rating = 69.3

28. Justin Fields (CHI), 50.4

PFF = 64.2, QBR = 25.3, P-Rating = 73.2

27. Sam Darnold (CAR), 53.6

PFF = 62.6, QBR = 35.9, P-Rating = 71.3

26. Jared Goff (DET), 56.4

PFF = 59.8, QBR = 36.3, P-Rating = 90.0

25. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), 58.1

PFF = 59.7, QBR = 40.0, P-Rating = 91.4

24. Baker Mayfield (CLE), 60.5

PFF = 67.7, QBR = 38.7, P-Rating = 90.1

23. Taylor Heinicke (WAS), 61.2

PFF = 62.2, QBR = 46.0, P-Rating = 89.9

22. Daniel Jones (NYG), 62.3

PFF = 71.6, QBR = 41.8, P-Rating = 84.8

21. Lamar Jackson (BAL), 65.5

PFF = 70.3, QBR = 50.0, P-Rating = 87.0

20. Teddy Bridgewater (DEN), 67.2

PFF = 73.5, QBR = 47.1, P-Rating = 94.9

19. Matt Ryan (ATL), 67.6

PFF = 75.8, QBR = 48.2, P-Rating = 90.3

18. Jalen Hurts (PHI), 68.2

PFF = 80.9, QBR = 46.7, P-Rating = 85.8

17. Russell Wilson (SEA), 68.5

PFF = 72.5, QBR = 49.3, P-Rating = 99.0

16. Ryan Tannehill (TEN), 68.8

PFF = 78.9, QBR = 51.4, P-Rating = 83.4

15. Carson Wentz (IND), 70.4

PFF = 70.2, QBR = 58.2, P-Rating = 95.3

14. Dak Prescott (DAL), 70.6

PFF = 80.2, QBR = 47.3, P-Rating = 98.1

13. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA), 71.1

PFF = 74.4, QBR = 56.3, P-Rating = 94.3

12. Derek Carr (LV), 71.8

PFF = 78.9, QBR = 53.4, P-Rating = 94.6

11. Mac Jones (NE), 72.4

PFF = 81.5, QBR = 52.2, P-Rating = 84.6

10. Jimmy Garappolo (SF), 72.5

PFF = 76.6, QBR = 54.3, P-Rating = 100.7

9. Patrick Mahomes (KC), 72.7

PFF = 75.7, QBR = 58.2, P-Rating = 95.8

8. Josh Allen (BUF), 75.0

PFF = 81.9, QBR = 57.7, P-Rating = 95.9

7. Joe Burrow (CIN), 75.9

PFF = 90.4, QBR = 49.0, P-Rating = 100.7

6. Kirk Cousins (MIN), 76.1

PFF = 87.0, QBR = 52.3, P-Rating = 101.9

5. Kyler Murray (ARI), 76.3

PFF = 83.5, QBR = 56.2, P-Rating = 102.3

4. Matthew Stafford (LAR), 80.8

PFF = 82.4, QBR = 65.7, P-Rating = 108.2

3. Tom Brady (TB), 81.7

PFF = 90.0, QBR = 64.1, P-Rating = 100.4

2. Justin Herbert (LAC), 81.9

PFF = 89.2, QBR = 66.2, P-Rating = 99.1

1. Aaron Rodgers (GB), 82.8

PFF = 84.6, QBR = 67.3, P-Rating = 110.4

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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