The regular season is where legends are made, but the playoffs? That’s where they’re defined. Unfortunately for some quarterbacks, the postseason has been less about glory and more about groans from fans.
These are the guys who could light up the stat sheet in September but wilted when the games mattered. Whether it was bad luck, brutal defenses, or bad timing, these quarterbacks never quite figured out the secret to January football.
15. Andy Dalton
Dalton was a model of consistency in the regular season, but that magic never followed him into January. Four playoff starts, four ugly losses, and a whole lot of Bengals heartbreak.
14. Jeff Garcia
Garcia had moments of brilliance in the regular season, but the playoff stage often proved too big. Despite multiple chances, he never made a deep postseason run.
13. Jay Cutler
Cutler had the arm and the swagger, but the playoff success never materialized. One NFC title game appearance is all he could muster before injuries and inconsistency got in the way.
12. Kirk Cousins
You like that? Well, not when it comes to the playoffs. Cousins has had a few chances to flip the narrative, but usually came up short when the lights were brightest.
11. Carson Palmer
Palmer put up some monster numbers in the regular season, but the postseason always seemed to expose his flaws. His 2015 NFC Championship performance was particularly tough to watch.
10. Dave Krieg
Krieg had a solid career with numerous playoff appearances, but they rarely led to meaningful outcomes. Turnovers and early exits were unfortunately the theme of his postseason résumé.
9. Daunte Culpepper
With all the weapons he had, you’d expect more playoff success. Instead, Culpepper’s postseason efforts were defined by frustration and missed opportunities.
8. Tony Romo
Romo could light up a scoreboard in October but often melted down in January. Costly mistakes at the worst moments doomed several promising Cowboys seasons.
7. Lamar Jackson
Lamar is electric in the open field, but his playoff resume still leaves a lot to be desired. Three wins in several appearances have fans wondering when he’ll finally break through.
6. Steve Grogan
Grogan led some good Patriots teams, but he never looked comfortable in the playoffs. A mix of tough matchups and underwhelming performances sealed his postseason fate.
5. Matt Ryan
Yes, he went to a Super Bowl, but we all know how that turned out. Beyond that infamous collapse, Ryan’s playoff record is marked by early exits and missed opportunities.
4. Alex Smith
Smith was the king of the checkdown and regular-season efficiency, but the playoffs weren’t kind. Despite some gutsy efforts, he never quite got over the hump.
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3. Andy Reid–Era Donovan McNabb
McNabb made a bunch of playoff runs but couldn’t cash in when it mattered most. The Eagles were always good but never great when it came to finishing the job. Yes, the expectations were very high, but they left Philadelphia waiting for their ring.
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2. Philip Rivers
Rivers had the talent, the stats, and the trash talk—but not the rings. Too many promising Chargers seasons ended in heartbreak during the playoffs.
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1. Dak Prescott
For all the hype, the postseason results haven’t been there. Dak’s playoff story so far is defined by stalled drives, early exits, and endless “what could have been” debates.
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