Podcast Summary: Tier Ranking Current Playoff QBs

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Dan Patrick Show
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
• Episode: Tier Ranking Current Playoff QBs
• Release Date: December 11, 2024

Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of The Dan Patrick Show, hosts Bobby Skinner and Justin Pennock delve into the intricacies of ranking current playoff quarterbacks. The discussion centers around categorizing quarterbacks into tiers based on their regular-season performances, playoff experiences, and potential to lead their teams to Super Bowl glory.

Tier Categorization Methodology

Bobby Skinner: "I wanted to have fun tiers of like, is this the guy? Or I'm not confident this is the guy or I don't know, it's too early to find out." (02:44)

Justin Pennock: "For me, the A tier is great, you are the reason. B is you should be the reason, but I need you to see you do it first in the playoffs." (03:00)

The hosts agree to categorize quarterbacks from Tier A to Tier D, evaluating their ability to perform under playoff pressure and lead their teams effectively.

Tier A: Elite Playoff Performers

Bobby Skinner and Justin Pennock both place:

• Patrick Mahomes
• Josh Allen
• Matthew Stafford (Skinner's version)
• (Justin initially places Matthew Stafford in a lower tier but acknowledges his elite status.)

Key Quotes:

• Skinner: "Mahomes, Allen, Stafford. There’s no debating that." (08:19)
• Pennock: "I really like Stafford... I just trust Stafford to do it at this stage of their careers." (05:04)

Insights:

• Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are undisputed leaders in Tier A due to their consistent playoff performances and ability to elevate their teams.
• Matthew Stafford is recognized for his clutch performances, with Skinner expressing confidence in his ability to execute game-winning drives.

Tier B: Strong Contenders with Potential

Bobby Skinner's Tier B Includes:

1. Jordan Love
2. Baker Mayfield
3. Jared Goff
4. Lamar Jackson

Justin Pennock's Tier B Includes:

1. Matthew Stafford
2. Justin Herbert
3. C.J. Stroud

Key Quotes:

• Skinner: "Jordan Love showed gutsiness... Baker Mayfield has the moxie." (09:19)
• Pennock: "Justin Herbert is elite but lacks playoff success." (13:24)

Insights:

• Jordan Love and Baker Mayfield are viewed as strong contenders who need their teams to perform exceptionally to advance.
• C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert are recognized for their potential but require consistent playoff performances to ascend to Tier A.

Tier C: Good Quarterbacks on the Rise

Bobby Skinner's Tier C Includes:

1. Jalen Hurts
2. C.J. Stroud
3. Sam Darnold
4. Geno Smith

Justin Pennock's Tier C Includes:

1. Jalen Hurts
2. Jaden Daniels
3. Geno Smith
4. Baker Mayfield
5. Jordan Love

Key Quotes:

• Skinner: "C.J. Stroud is clutch but the Texans' offense has disappointed him." (20:15)
• Pennock: "Jalen Hurts has struggled under pressure despite previous successes." (21:09)

Insights:

• Jalen Hurts and Geno Smith are acknowledged for their skills but face challenges in leading their teams to deeper playoff runs.
• Sam Darnold and Jaden Daniels show promise but lack the proven track record needed to move up the tiers.

Tier D: Quarterbacks with Limited Playoff Impact

Both Hosts Agree on Tier D:

• Russell Wilson
• Sam Darnold
• Bo Nix
• Kirk Cousins

Key Quotes:

• Skinner: "Russell Wilson can be clutch, but I don’t fully believe it in the postseason." (27:00)
• Pennock: "Kirk Cousins is leading the league in interceptions this year." (25:47)

Insights:

• Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins are seen as underperforming in playoff scenarios, struggling to make decisive plays when it matters most.
• Bo Nix and Sam Darnold are considered unlikely to lead their teams to Super Bowl success based on recent performances.

Discussion Highlights and Analysis

• Baker Mayfield's Potential: Both hosts express cautious optimism about Mayfield's ability to lead his team, citing his improved performance and moxie.

  Skinner: "I'm excited to see him in this year's postseason. I think he can win a postseason game." (12:15)

  Pennock: "He's throwing 350 yards in playoff games but needs to avoid interceptions." (12:47)

• Justin Herbert's Elite Status: Despite lacking playoff success, Herbert is recognized for his elite skills and is placed in Tier B as an elite quarterback needing postseason validation.

  Pennock: "He is elite but I need to see him have consistent playoff success." (13:24)

• Lamar Jackson's Challenges: Jackson remains a strong competitor but is scrutinized for his playoff performances, with Skinner expressing the need for him to prove his postseason capabilities.

  Skinner: "Lamar's got to prove himself in the postseason." (16:00)

• Russell Wilson's Decline: Once a top-tier quarterback, Wilson is now viewed with skepticism regarding his ability to perform under playoff pressure.

  Skinner: "I don't fully believe he can handle postseason pressure like before." (27:00)

Conclusion and Final Rankings

Final Tier Rankings:

• Tier A:

  1. Patrick Mahomes
  2. Josh Allen
  3. Matthew Stafford

• Tier B:

  1. Jordan Love
  2. Baker Mayfield
  3. Jared Goff
  4. Lamar Jackson
  5. Justin Herbert
  6. C.J. Stroud

• Tier C:

  1. Jalen Hurts
  2. Jaden Daniels
  3. Geno Smith
  4. Sam Darnold
  5. Russell Wilson

• Tier D:

  1. Kirk Cousins
  2. Bo Nix

Key Takeaways:

• Tier A quarterbacks are the frontrunners with proven playoff performances and the ability to secure victories under pressure.
• Tier B quarterbacks possess strong potential and skill sets but require their teams to perform exceptionally to validate their positions.
• Tier C and D quarterbacks either lack the necessary playoff experience or have demonstrated inconsistent performances, making them less likely to lead their teams to Super Bowl success.

Closing Remarks: The hosts encourage listeners to engage with their rankings and share their opinions, highlighting the subjective nature of quarterback evaluations based on both individual talent and team dynamics.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Bobby Skinner:
  "I wanted to have fun tiers of like, is this the guy?" (02:44)
  "Mahomes, Allen, Stafford. There’s no debating that." (08:19)
  "C.J. Stroud is clutch but the Texans' offense has disappointed him." (20:15)
  "Russell Wilson can be clutch, but I don’t fully believe it in the postseason." (27:00)

• Justin Pennock:
  "Lamar is the type of player where those Lions teams would have been in the playoffs every single year." (05:18)
  "Justin Herbert is elite but I need to see him have consistent playoff success." (13:24)
  "Jalen Hurts has struggled under pressure despite previous successes." (21:09)
  "Kirk Cousins is leading the league in interceptions this year." (25:47)

Timestamps Reference

• 02:44: Introduction to Tier Ranking Methodology
• 03:00: Explanation of Tier Categories
• 05:04: Trust in Matthew Stafford's Postseason Ability
• 08:19: Confirmation of Tier A Rankings
• 12:15: Discussion on Baker Mayfield's Postseason Potential
• 13:24: Analysis of Justin Herbert's Elite Status
• 16:00: Scrutiny of Lamar Jackson's Playoff Performances
• 20:15: Evaluation of C.J. Stroud in Tier C
• 21:09: Critique of Jalen Hurts' Leadership and Performance
• 25:47: Assessment of Kirk Cousins' Interceptions
• 27:00: Debate on Russell Wilson's Postseason Clutchness

Note: This summary focuses solely on the content-rich segments of the podcast, excluding advertisements, intros, outros, and non-essential sections to provide a comprehensive overview of the discussion on quarterback tier rankings.