NFL Playoffs: Divisional round quarterback rankings
By Joe Romano
8. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
As a member of the Blake Bortles Wikipedia Club and AWL, it pains me to have him as the worst ranked quarterback left in the playoffs. As someone who enjoys watching football, it makes sense.
It is appropriate that the above image is of Bortles scrambling because his legs were his best asset on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. In his first career playoff start Bortles went 12-23 for 87 yards and a touchdown. He scrambled ten times for 88 yards. It was his scrambling at the end of the first half that helped Jacksonville advance far enough into Buffalo’s territory to kick a field goal.
Bortles is also the quarterback on this list that will be asked to do the least in his playoff game. Jacksonville’s plan of attack is to run the ball with Leonard Fournette and play great defense. The quarterback will be asked simply to not lose the game for them.
This will be a rematch for the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers. In the initial meeting, a 30-9 victory for Jacksonville. Bortles finished that game 8-for-14 for 95 yards and an interception. They’ll need a version of Bortles that resembles more his Week 12-15 stretch where he averaged 321 yards passing and had nine touchdowns to only three interceptions to pull off the upset.
It is easy to imagine this Jaguars team with a better option at quarterback being a true competitor to the Steelers and Patriots in the AFC. Until that happens it looks like Bortles will hold that elite defense back this weekend.