No. 3 – Russell Wilson (7-2)
Were it not for a play call that will go down as one of the most-questioned in NFL history, Russell Wilson might be our No. 2 quarterback on this list. Since a Divisional round loss to the Falcons in 2012-13, all Wilson did in the playoffs was “win, win, win – no matter what,” until Pete Carroll didn’t put the ball in Marshawn Lynch‘s hands.
Last year’s last-minute Super Bowl loss to the Patriots put to an end a five-game playoff winning streak that included a 43-8 Super Bowl trouncing of the most-prolific offense in NFL history. Wilson hopes he’s started a new streak with a 10-9 win over Minnesota this past week, but if not for a late missed field goal, he’d be looking at the first one-and-done of his NFL career.
Save for a real stinker against the Packers in the 2013-14 NFC Championship Game, in which he threw four interceptions but still won, Wilson has been solid or above in all of his playoff games. His 63.3 passer rating this past weekend was just the second-lowest of his playoff career, and it came with sub-zero temperatures. In six of his playoff starts, he’s had a passer rating above 90, five above 100.
He’s also averaging 5.75 yards per rush in the playoffs on 48 attempts, a better average than Cam Newton. Wilson has had some ball security issues, fumbling six times in nine games, but that’s been the only real knock on him in the playoffs.
Wilson has a tough task ahead of him, having to travel to face the 15-1 Panthers. Carolina has its heart set on proving that Newton is new king of “mobile” quarterbacks, but don’t expect the cool and collected – and most importantly, clutch – Wilson to give up his throne without a fight.
