Week 12 delivered fresh surprises across the AFC, starting with the Cleveland Browns’ steady 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. One quarterback in this matchup grabbed the fans’ attention and suddenly looks like the new No. 1 in the AFC race. And we have two new entries into the NFL Power Rankings all thanks to injuries that opened up spots for them. Let's dive right into it!

16. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns 

In Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, Shedeur Sanders made his first career start, guiding the Cleveland Browns to a 24-10 road win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception.

And although Dylan Sampson did the heavy lifting from Sanders' pass, it was a solid first start for the Browns rookie, marking his first appearance in the NFL Power Rankings.

15. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans 

Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans may have been one of the more forgettable teams this season, but in Week 12, Ward gave the Seattle Seahawks a scare. The rookie quarterback completed 28 of 42 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown, added a rushing score, and accounted for two total touchdowns in a narrow 30-24 loss.

With the playoffs looking like a distant dream, this might be the perfect opportunity for the Titans to develop Ward. Considering his performance against a top team like the Seahawks, he might shine against the Jaguars in the next game.

14. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Geno Smith is in the middle of a nightmare despite passing for 285 yards and a touchdown in the 24-10 loss to the Browns. Although he didn’t throw any interceptions, the Browns sacked him 10 times. The Las Vegas Raiders fired Chip Kelly, and if Smith wants to hold his spot, he needs massive performances.

13. Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets

With Justin Smith finally getting penched, veteran QB Taylor saw gametime after nearly a month. In the 23-10 loss to the Ravens, he completed 17 of 28 passes for 222 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Also, he added 19 rushing yards on five carries.

Despite the team’s struggles, Taylor has quietly proven himself as a reliable, high-end backup over the years. However, the real question is whether he retains the spot come Game Week 13.

12. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars QB had a very mixed Week 12. One the one hand, Trevor Lawrence throw for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Still, four costly turnovers, including three interceptions and a lost fumble, nearly overshadowed his heroics in a 27-24 overtime win over the Cardinals.

This season, he’s completing under 60% of his passes, has 11 interceptions, and carries a passer rating below 80, highlighting his inconsistency despite flashes of brilliance.

11. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Flacco is redefining how fans see veteran stars. In Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco completed 19 of 37 passes for 183 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception in a 26-20 loss to the New England Patriots.

His performance was further hampered by an injury on his throwing hand in the fourth quarter, though he briefly returned to the game after receiving quick treatment on the sideline.

10. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did not play in Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, as the Dolphins were on their bye week. The week before, in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders in Madrid, Tagovailoa had a quiet performance but managed the game well in a 16-13 overtime win.

He completed 14 of 20 passes for 171 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions in the victory. He is expected to return for Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints.

9. Davis Mills, Houston Texans

With CJ Stroud sidelined by a concussion and still not cleared to play, Davis Mills has stepped up, delivering solid performances for the Houston Texans this season. In Week 12, Mills led Houston to a 23-19 Thursday Night Football win over the Buffalo Bills, completing 16 of 30 passes for 153 yards and throwing two crucial touchdowns with no interceptions.

8. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not play in Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season against the Chicago Bears due to a fractured left wrist, with Mason Rudolph starting in his place. Rodgers has thrown 19 touchdowns and accumulated 1,969 yards so far this season. Coach Mike Tomlin expressed hope for Rodgers’s return in Week 13.

7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens 

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are 6-5 after a rough start. The offense has struggled since his return, but a 10-7 record could still win the division. In Week 12 against the Jets, Jackson had a quiet game, completing 13 of 23 passes for 153 yards, no touchdowns, and a 76.9 passer rating, with the Ravens winning 23-10.

6. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts 

Daniel Jones completed 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ 23-20 overtime loss to the Chiefs in Week 12 of 2025. He threw no interceptions, but the offense struggled. Jones has been inconsistent recently, but with Taylor firing on all cylinders the Colts’ 8-3 lead in the AFC South is holding strong.

5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert and the Chargers had a bye in Week 12 of the 2025 season, coming off a Week 11 loss to the Jaguars, where Herbert threw for a career-low 81 yards.

These struggles add to his career-high interception rate and one of his lowest passer ratings, and while he remains a top-5 QB, his performance this year has been just “good,” leaving the Chargers at 7-4.

4. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos 

Coming off a Week 12 bye, Bo Nix and the Broncos came off a Week 11 win against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he threw for 295 yards with no turnovers.

Nix has played very well this year, ranking among the top QBs in the NFL in clutch moments, and much of the Broncos’ 9-2 record is thanks to his leadership when it matters most.

3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs 

Patrick Mahomes threw for a season-high 352 yards in Week 12 against the Colts, though he also tossed an interception and failed to reach the end zone in the Chiefs’ 23-20 overtime win.

Despite that, Mahomes remains one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, especially in clutch moments. While Kansas City has sometimes struggled to push the ball downfield, Mahomes is the driving force keeping this offense competitive in 2025.

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills 

Josh Allen had a tough Week 12 as the Buffalo Bills lost 23-19 to the Texans. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 253 yards, threw two interceptions, was sacked eight times, and didn’t record any touchdowns. As a result, the Bills continue trending toward a Wild Card spot.

1. Drake Maye, New England Patriots 

Drake Maye delivered a season-best performance, throwing for 294 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Patriots’ 26-20 win over the Bengals.

Despite his interception being returned for a score, Maye’s leadership helped secure the victory. Since he's one of the best QBs this year, his numbers have kept the New England Patriots at the top with a 10-2 record.

What do you think of these QBs' performance? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Mohd Mudabbir Ansari

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar