NFL QB power rankings: The best and worst starters going into Week 15

Ranking after Week 12: N/A (replacing Josh McCown, No. 21)

Record as starter: N/A

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: Most fans thought that Petty would eventually get a chance to start this season, but it took an injury to Josh McCown to make it really happen. The Baylor product came in near the end of last week's game, completing just two out of nine passes for a 39.6 rating. In four games last year, he threw a whopping seven interceptions.

Ranking after Week 12: N/A (replacing Tom Savage, No. 31)

Record as starter: N/A

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: The Texans can't be feeling good about their chances with Yates under center, but at least he isn't much of a downgrade from Tom Savage. The UNC product hit under 54% of his targets in Week 14, and despite throwing for two touchdowns and going interception-free, the result was a 26-16 loss. It would be highly optimistic to expect a better performance this week.

Ranking after Week 12: 28

Record as starter: 4-5

DYAR rank: 31

QBR rank: 31

One thing to know: Siemian didn't do much for Denver in the first half of the season, and it has been the same old story since his Week 12 return from a month-long stay on the bench. Broncos fans can't be happy with his performance, but after watching Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch start games, they're fully aware that he gives them the best chance of anyone in the quarterback room.

Ranking after Week 12: 24

Record as starter: 2-2

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: The Cardinals have a history of stashing effective game managers on their bench, and Gabbert has been exactly that since taking over for the injured Carson Palmer, leading them to a .500 record with an 80.8 passer rating. He's not going to set the league on fire, but Arizona is still reportedly interested in bringing him back next season.

Ranking after Week 12: 30

Record as starter: 0-12

DYAR rank: 32

QBR rank: 30

One thing to know: Kizer delivered an up-and-down performance in Week 14. He completed over 71% of his passes and threw for 3 touchdowns, both career highs, but he also lost the game in overtime with a lazy floater that was picked off in Browns territory. It was a good indication of what to expect the rest of the way — there will still be growing pains, but Kizer is now a much better quarterback than the one we saw in the first six weeks of the season.

Ranking after Week 12: 29

Record as starter: 3-6

DYAR rank: 26

QBR rank: 32

One thing to know: Trubisky certainly hasn't been the best rookie quarterback of this season — that title belongs to the injured Deshaun Watson — but he has demonstrated enough talent to inspire hope among Bears fans. With a 97.3 passer rating on third down, he seems to get better as the pressure grows.

Ranking after Week 12: 25

Record as starter: 3-9

DYAR rank: 29

QBR rank: 28

One thing to know: It's tempting to write off Brissett's terrible Week 14 performance as a snow-induced aberration, but the reality is that he has been mired in a slump for three weeks now. After a 2-3 start, the Colts have gone just 1-7 in their last eight games. The final month of the season could be a long one, even with their easy schedule.

Ranking after Week 12: N/A (replacing Carson Wentz, No. 2)

Record as starter: N/A

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: Foles was electrifying the last time he took the field as the Eagles' midseason replacement under center, posting 9.1 yards per attempt and a 118.7 passer rating en route to the 2014 Pro Bowl. No one is expecting that kind of performance this time around, but if he can be even half the quarterback Carson Wentz was, Philadelphia will be in decent shape.

Ranking after Week 12: 27

Record as starter: 7-6

DYAR rank: 30

QBR rank: 26

One thing to know: The 2012 Super Bowl MVP has been ineffective across the board this year, but believe it or not, the Ravens' offense has exploded for a combined 82 points over the past two weeks, their best stretch of the season by a wide margin. That dominance could continue against the Browns in Week 15.

Ranking after Week 12: N/A (replacing Geno Smith, No. 32)

Record as starter: 2-10

DYAR rank: 24

QBR rank: 22

One thing to know: Without a competent line to protect him, Manning just doesn't have what it takes to power an offense — and it certainly doesn't help that the Giants receiving corps has been ravaged by injuries this year. The Ole Miss product isn't the worst signal caller out there, but with only tenuous job security, there's not much reason to give him a bump on this list.

Ranking after Week 12: 18

Record as starter: 5-8

DYAR rank: 22

QBR rank: 24

One thing to know: Dalton posted a 59.7 passer rating against the Bears in Week 14, leading head coach Marvin Lewis to put in backup A.J. McCarron for the last few snaps. Dalton is clearly good enough to start in the NFL, but whether his skills are worth building an offense around is a much more difficult question. The Bengals will be on the hook for just $2.4 million if they release him after this season, so they may want to come up with an answer soon.

Ranking after Week 12: 16

Record as starter: 8-4

DYAR rank: 25

QBR rank: 16

One thing to know: Mariota may be having a disappointing season, but he still ranks among the league leaders when it comes to politeness. After being scolded by his mother, he apologized for his "rude" behavior during a Week 14 press conference, in which the worst thing he said was that he was "pissed off."

Ranking after Week 12: 26

Record as starter: 6-5

DYAR rank: 21

QBR rank: 25

One thing to know: This Vanderbilt product was far better than Tom Brady on Monday night, throwing for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns en route to a huge 27-20 win over New England. It looks like the Dolphins are going to miss the playoffs, but even if the Cutler experiment goes bust, Week 14 will be remembered as a true highlight.

Ranking after Week 12: 15

Record as starter: 6-5

DYAR rank: 23

QBR rank: 18

One thing to know: At 7-6, the Bills are still alive in the playoff hunt, so it seems more likely than not that Taylor will start on Sunday. If his injured left knee doesn't improve enough, we'll see either the backup Nathan Peterman, who remains in concussion protocol, or the third-stringer Joe Webb, who just threw his first pass in a game since the 2011 season.

Ranking after Week 12: 22

Record as starter: 2-0

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: Four starts into his NFL career, Garoppolo's winning percentage sits at a shiny 1.000. It seems that he brought some of the Patriot Way with him to the Bay Area, as the 49ers have now taken back-to-back games for the first time since 2014. The late-season success won't help them in the draft, but it's hard not to get excited about their young quarterback's future.

Ranking after Week 12: 17

Record as starter: 9-4

DYAR rank: 18

QBR rank: 19

One thing to know: Newton has failed to top 200 passing yards on seven occasions this season, a high number even for a quarterback who does his best work on the ground. On the bright side, he has a chance to post his highest rushing total since 2012 — but that doesn't mean you should expect to see him at the Pro Bowl come January.

Ranking after Week 12: 19

Record as starter: 2-8

DYAR rank: 13

QBR rank: 23

One thing to know: Winston hasn't appeared in a Buccaneers victory since Week 4, but that isn't entirely his fault — he's actually been pretty good since returning from a shoulder injury, completing 67.1% of his passes for 555 yards in two games. But with three brutal division matchups ahead, Tampa Bay could easily finish the year at 4-12. They will have a lot to think about this offseason.

Ranking after Week 12: 20

Record as starter: 9-4

DYAR rank: 16

QBR rank: 13

One thing to know: Jaguars fans have to be pinching themselves. Just as the league was beginning to wonder how in the world Jacksonville was going to survive in the playoffs without a legitimate quarterback, Bortles led them to back-to-back wins, posting a 70.97 completion rate and a 121.5 passer rating in the process. Perhaps most surprisingly, he did it without throwing a single interception.

Ranking after Week 12: 12

Record as starter: 6-6

DYAR rank: 11

QBR rank: 20

One thing to know: Carr was wholly ineffective during last week's crucial division matchup against the Chiefs, completing just 58.5% of his passes and making terrible decisions under pressure, which led to two interceptions. At least one of his predecessors was alarmed — the former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon described the performance as "terrible."

Ranking after Week 12: 6

Record as starter: 5-8

DYAR rank: 15

QBR rank: 12

One thing to know: Several of the Redskins' top skill players have underachieved or become injured this season, and while Cousins has done a good job of making the most of his limited arsenal, he doesn't have much to show for it in the past few weeks. That's too bad, because his upcoming opponents — the Cardinals, Broncos, and Giants — would have provided a cake walk to the playoffs. At least they'll give him a final opportunity to show what he can do before Washington makes a decision on his future.

Ranking after Week 12: N/A (replacing Brett Hundley, No. 23)

Record as starter: 4-2

DYAR rank: 17

QBR rank: 6

One thing to know: Rodgers spent much of the fall impressing fans and teammates with his quick recovery from a broken collarbone, and he has finally been cleared to return for Week 15. His sterling reputation aside, we can't expect too much in his first game back in action, especially against the Panthers' tough defense. But if nothing else, the Cal product will be among the most intriguing players of the final three weeks of the season.

Ranking after Week 12: 14

Record as starter: 7-6

DYAR rank: 10

QBR rank: 10

One thing to know: In just 13 games, Smith has already set a new career high in passing yards, and he's on pace to lead the league in interception rate for the second time in his career. With Patrick Mahomes waiting in the wings, there's still a good chance he'll be out of a job after this season, but at least he's set himself up for a healthy payday.

Ranking after Week 12: 9

Record as starter: 8-3

DYAR rank: 5

QBR rank: 2

One thing to know: The Vikings can practically taste the NFC North crown, and with 2,983 passing yards and a 96.2 passer rating, Keenum has been a huge part of that success. Per ESPN, he has also posted a 120.6 passer rating from outside the pocket, far ahead of the next signal caller on the list. A free agent at the end of the season, he should be in line for a contract that will set him up for life.

Ranking after Week 12: 7

Record as starter: 9-4

DYAR rank: 7

QBR rank: 15

One thing to know: In a clash of breakout stars — as well as the top two picks in the 2016 draft — Carson Wentz and the Eagles defeated Goff and the Rams by a score of 43-35, a thrilling outcome for a much-anticipated matchup. We'll soon see if the big-game atmosphere helped Goff prepare for this Sunday's showdown with the Seahawks, who trail Los Angeles by a single game in the NFC West.

Ranking after Week 12: 13

Record as starter: 7-6

DYAR rank: 14

QBR rank: 4

One thing to know: While Prescott struggled in his first few games without Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield, he eventually figured things out and has been back to his old self over the past two weeks, going interception-free to post a 118.6 passer rating. Jerry Jones rewarded him with heaps of praise, saying, "We've got a better future because he's gone through this period of time without Zeke."

Ranking after Week 12: 8

Record as starter: 8-5

DYAR rank: 12

QBR rank: 8

One thing to know: Wilson will very likely receive MVP support, and his case is heavily reliant on his skills as a rusher — his 482 yards on the ground are more than double the next man on Seattle's roster. As far as advanced stats go, the passing numbers just aren't quite there, especially when compared to those of Tom Brady.

Ranking after Week 12: 11

Record as starter: 7-6

DYAR rank: 9

QBR rank: 7

One thing to know: Stafford played with his fingers taped in Week 14, throwing a pair of interceptions, but there isn't much concern about his status going forward. With Chicago, Cincinnati, and Green Bay on tap, the Lions will face an easy schedule as they make a last-ditch playoff push.

Ranking after Week 12: 10

Record as starter: 7-6

DYAR rank: 2

QBR rank: 14

One thing to know: With four straight victories, the Chargers are quietly surging, and Rivers has been nothing less than the architect of that success, squeezing as much as he can out of his weapons. He's put up an amazing statline over their latest winning stretch: 1,348 passing yards, 8 touchdown passes, a 119.2 passer rating, and not a single interception.

Ranking after Week 12: 3

Record as starter: 8-5

DYAR rank: 8

QBR rank: 5

One thing to know: Ryan hasn't been at his best over the past two weeks, completing 55.36% of his passes for three interceptions and just one touchdown. Luckily for the Falcons, he'll get another week to steady himself before a pair of incredibly important matchups against the Saints and Panthers, which should play a major role in deciding the division.

Ranking after Week 12: 4

Record as starter: 9-4

DYAR rank: 3

QBR rank: 11

One thing to know: The Saints suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Falcons in Week 14, but don't blame Brees. The future Hall of Famer completed nearly three-quarters of his passes for a 103.4 rating, numbers that are completely in line with his season-long standards. He won't reach 5,000 passing yards, but this could still be New Orleans' best season in six years.

Ranking after Week 12: 5

Record as starter: 11-2

DYAR rank: 4

QBR rank: 9

One thing to know: While he hasn't really elevated his game, Roethlisberger is holding steady as one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. He's never going to get over his habit of throwing interceptions, but his corps of skill players, one of the best in the league, can pick him up when he stumbles. Roethlisberger threw for 506 yards in Week 14, and he'll need every bit of that momentum for his showdown with Patriots on Sunday.

Ranking after Week 12: 1

Record as starter: 10-3

DYAR rank: 1

QBR rank: 3

One thing to know: Brady has been hindered by a lingering Achilles injury in recent weeks, but back-to-back lackluster games against Buffalo and Miami weren't nearly enough to dethrone him from the top spot on this list. The Patriots still have the best passing game in the league, and it's not particularly close. Their veteran signal caller could soon add another MVP award to his trophy case.

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