Sports
NFL playoff power rankings: Top 4 quarterbacks remaining in the postseason
There are four teams remaining in the NFL playoffs – all with hopes they will reach the Super Bowl with victories next weekend.
The San Francisco 49ers will host the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game, and the Baltimore Ravens will welcome the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
The 49ers are back in the conference title game after last year’s debacle against the Philadelphia Eagles that saw multiple injuries affect the offensive side of the ball. The Lions are in the conference title game for the first time since the 1991 season. A lot has changed in the organization since then.,
The Ravens are hosting their first conference title game ever. A win would mean the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since the 2012 season. The Chiefs have now made six consecutive conference title games, which have yielded two Super Bowl rings since the 2019 season.
Before the games kick off, take a look below for the list of the top remaining quarterbacks.
4). Brock Purdy, 49ers
Brock Purdy, #13 of the San Francisco 49ers, looks to pass as he warms up prior to an NFL divisional round playoff football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium on Jan. 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy may be leading the best team left in the NFL postseason, but out of the four quarterbacks remaining in the playoffs, he is ranked last going into the conference championships.
Purdy’s 59% completion rate, 252 passing yards and touchdown pass against the Green Bay Packers did not do enough convincing. He had one touchdown pass in the team’s 24-21 victory. He has a whole host of weapons, including Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
McCaffrey showcased just how dangerous he could be as he scored two rushing touchdowns. Purdy threw a touchdown pass to Kittle that helped eke out the win. However, there is definitely room to change the minds of naysayers with a big game against the Detroit Lions as if leading San Francisco on a game-winning drive was not enough.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan praised Purdy.
“There was times that we were all off at times,” Shanahan said, via Yahoo Sports. “… I thought everyone who had a few plays that stuck out, that either ended a drive or it was why we didn’t get a first down — same thing on defense, even on special teams — but everyone who did do that stuff made a huge play at the end in all three phases to get us back into it.
“Brock, he made some big plays in this game, missed a couple — but leading us down on that last drive and getting the win, that’s all you can ask for.”
3). Jared Goff, Lions
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, #16, throws the ball during an NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has been here before. He has led Detroit on an improbable run to the conference championship game and has a matchup against the 49ers – one of the best teams in the league. Goff has NFC title game experience as he led the Los Angeles Rams to a victory over the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 game.
Now, Goff is on a new team and is one win away from getting back to the Super Bowl. Goff’s big game experience could be a difference maker against the 49ers. He had 287 passing yards and two touchdown passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Lions’ 31-23 win.
“It’s exciting,” Goff said of getting back to the NFC Championship. “We joked in there after the game. Ironically, the last time a lot of us played in it was against each other. It was me with the Rams against (Lions head coach Dan Campbell) with the Saints. (Lions linebacker Alex) Anzalone was there. (Lions defensive coordinator) Aaron Glenn was there. Yeah, so it’s exciting.
“And not just for me, but for our whole team and it’s something that we’ve – it’s not, I don’t want to say this arrogantly, but we expected to win the first game, we expected to win this game and now we get to go to a game we expected to be in against a really good team at their place and we’re going to come into it expecting to win. It’ll be a tough game, but It’ll be fun.”
2). Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs, dodges Micah Hyde, #23 of the Buffalo Bills, during their AFC Divisional Playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 21, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
For the sixth consecutive time, Patrick Mahomes has led the Chiefs to a conference championship. Mahomes and the Chiefs might be seen as the perennial favorites to make the Super Bowl once again, but this season has been a little bit different.
Kansas City was ninth in yards gained and 15th in points scored. It was the first time they finished outside the top 10 in points scored since the 2016 season, when Alex Smith was still the starting quarterback. There has been far more trials and tribulations in 2023 for the Chiefs, but they have come out with victories at home against the Miami Dolphins and on the road against the Buffalo Bills.
The pressure will be mostly off Mahomes as all eyes will be on Lamar Jackson as he tries to break through and lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl. He may be able to take advantage and win the game.
“There’s no weakness there,” Mahomes said of the Ravens’ defense. “It’s going to take our best effort. Defense, offense, special teams, they do it all. It’s always a great challenge, and that stadium is going to be rocking, so we’re excited for the challenge.”
1). Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Lamar Jackson, #8 of the Baltimore Ravens, celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on Jan. 20, 2024 in Baltimore. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was the MVP favorite after the season and proved Saturday night against the Houston Texans that he is more than capable of taking the team to the next level as the best quarterback left in the postseason.
Jackson had 152 passing yards and two touchdown passes as well as two scores on the ground. Baltimore showed no ring rust. Baltimore is also hosting the AFC Championship for the first time in its history. Jackson has the chance to do it all in front of the home crowd.
He said he was motivated a little bit with the knack on him being that he only had one playoff win.
“I saw it. Yes, I see it, but it is what it is,” Jackson said. “I don’t really care about what people say. I’m trying to win day in and day out. Every time I’m on that field, I’m trying to play to the best of my abilities. Those guys just had our team number in the past, but it’s a different team. Like I’ve been saying, we just have to stay locked in on what’s ahead of us.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
Charles Barkley scolds sports fans for getting wrapped up in Olympic hockey frenzy
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Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley sounded off on the frenzied reactions to the U.S. men’s hockey team getting invited to the White House by President Donald Trump.
Trump talked to the Olympic gold medal-winning team immediately after they defeated Canada in overtime last weekend. He said they would be invited to his State of the Union address and added that he needed to invite the women’s team as well or he would be “impeached.”
Charles Barkley sits courtside against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA Cup game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 21, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Trump critics took the joke as a shot at the women’s team, which sparked questions from NHL and Professional Women’s Hockey League reporters as the players returned to their respective club teams.
“I’m proud of the United States men. I’m proud of the United States women. You should have invited both of them to the White House, but it shouldn’t have been disrespect, misogyny,” Barkley said on the “Steam Room” podcast. “Like, yo, man, why do y’all have to mess everything up? Everything isn’t Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal. That’s why we got this divided, screwed up country. Stop it man. Because, you know, the public, they’re idiots. They’re fools. They can’t think for themselves. I know y’all say stuff to trigger them. Y’all say stuff and y’all know they’re going to be fools.”
Barkley lamented that the average person would get riled up over the supposed controversy.
The U.S. team poses for a group photo after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026. (Luca Bruno/AP Photo)
“We don’t have to fall for stupidity. But we do – that’s my point. These people out here are stupid. They need something to trigger them. Just because they want us to be stupid. We don’t have to be stupid. He should have invited both teams to the White House. Simple as that. Guys who didn’t want to go shouldn’t have to explain why they didn’t go.”
The former Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns star made clear he would go to the White House regardless of whether Trump was in office.
“I’ve said this before, I’m not a Trump guy. But if I got invited to the White House, I would go. I’m not a Trump guy – I want to make that clear. But I respect the office,” Barkley said. “He’s the president of the United States. But if guys don’t want to go, I understand that too. It doesn’t have to be a talking point. It doesn’t have to be un-American.
Megan Keller (5) celebrates with a flag alongside Cayla Barnes (3) of Team United States after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the women’s gold medal match against Canada on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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“I just wish y’all would stop falling for the stupidity.”
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Sports
Prep talk: Birmingham’s Slava Shahbazyan celebrates winning state wrestling title
Three years ago, as a 14-year-old freshman, Slava Shahbazyan made it to Bakersfield for the state wrestling championships.
“It was good to get experience that young,” he said.
Then came Saturday night when he had a breakthrough moment, winning the state 165-pound championship as a 17-year-old senior for Birmingham High.
“It means everything to me,” he said. “It took four years.”
Shahbazyan, who transferred from Chaminade after his sophomore year, is set to attend Stanford and still in the hunt to be valedictorian at Birmingham. Coach Jimmy Medeiros said he was close to winning last season before finishing fourth.
“He got a lot better,” Medeiros said.
Shahbazyan has been wrestling since he was 8. “My father loves wrestling,” he said.
Two St. John Bosco wrestlers, Jesse Grajeda at 144 pounds and Michael Romero at 150 pounds, also won state titles.
Here’s the link to complete results.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Deion Sanders mourns loss of Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder: ‘One of my favorites’
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Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, the team’s head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday with a social media post.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
Ponder was 23 years old.
Details of Ponder’s death are not yet known.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
Ponder, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal caller, joined the Buffaloes and “Coach Prime’s” program in 2024 after spending time at Bethune-Cookman before making his way to Boulder.
Last season, Ponder played just two games for the Buffaloes while serving in his backup role. He recorded two rush attempts and one pass attempt.
The Opa Locka, Fla., native also received tribute from a fellow quarterback with the Buffaloes, Colton Allen.
Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGN)
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
Ponder was going to be a part of Colorado’s spring practices, which are set to begin on Monday. It’s unknown if Sanders will postpone the start due to Ponder’s passing.
Ponder also received a tribute from the University of Central Florida.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tate/AP Photo)
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“Our prayers are with Dominiq and the Ponder family along with all in the Colorado football program,” the university’s football account on X wrote.
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