Finally, the NFL playoffs are here after four months of entertaining football. The postseason is about clutch plays, unforgettable moments, and games fans will be talking about for decades. Quarterbacks, in particular, are often remembered for their playoff triumphs, or their downfalls. And while every quarterback is under the microscope this time of year, these five have a little more at stake than the rest of the field.

5. Bo Nix – Broncos

Bo Nix and the Broncos quietly made their way to the AFC’s top seed this year, powered by a menacing defense and a knack for coming up big in clutch moments. Still, Denver does not carry the respect of a typical No. 1 seed, and I think that starts with Nix. The jury is still out on whether he is truly a quarterback you can win a Super Bowl with. This postseason will go a long way toward answering that question. If Nix really is the guy in Denver, he needs to show it now, when the lights are the brightest.

4. Drake Maye – Patriots

Drake Maye broke out this year as the league’s newest superstar quarterback. And with superstardom comes expectations to perform when the games matter most. Maye is new to the postseason, making his first career playoff start against the Chargers. Sunday marks his first real opportunity to stake his claim as one of the game’s best and to show that the Patriots are back in full force.

3. Sam Darnold – Seahawks

This postseason is the perfect chance for Sam Darnold to finally shake the reputation of his early career and silence the narrative that he cannot win big games under pressure. Darnold has no excuses this time. He has what may be the best defense in the league behind him, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and a collection of explosive weapons that few teams can match. The responsibility is squarely on Darnold to get it done.

2. Justin Herbert – Chargers

The time is now for Herbert and the Bolts. Despite the eye-popping stats and jaw-dropping plays that have become routine for him, Herbert has still yet to win a playoff game in his career. This is his third crack at it, and the challenge is a difficult one, going on the road to New England is never easy. But if Herbert truly wants to be viewed as the elite quarterback his numbers suggest, he has to start winning when it matters most.

1. Josh Allen – Bills

Without question, Josh Allen has the most at stake this postseason. With the Chiefs out of the picture, Buffalo’s long-time kryptonite is gone. Allen has done just about everything in this league, except win a Super Bowl. Every all-time great quarterback has at least one Super Bowl appearance, and Allen now has a golden opportunity to further cement his legacy. The pressure is on in Buffalo. Let’s see what they do with it.

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