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NFL Encyclopedia / Stats & Analytics

Passer Rating, Explained

What is passer rating?

Passer rating is the NFL's official quarterback statistic, a formula on four per-attempt inputs: completion percentage, yards, touchdowns and interceptions. Each is scaled and capped, the four are averaged and multiplied to a 0-to-158.3 range. A rating above 100 is a very good season; 158.3 is perfect and requires at least 77.5 percent completions, 12.5 yards per attempt, a touchdown on every eighth throw and no interceptions.

Updated Sept. 16, 2026.

Passer Rating right now

Through Week 1, Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) leads all quarterbacks with 20+ attempts at a 150.6 passer rating, better than 99.3% of qualifying starts through the same week since 1999. Cooper Rush (Atlanta Falcons) is last at 51.9. A perfect rating is 158.3.

Passer rating, 2026 through Week 1 (20+ attempts)

#QuarterbackTeamRatingCmp/Att, Yds, TD, INT
1Trevor LawrenceJacksonville Jaguars150.618/23, 245, 4, 0
2Jaxson DartNew York Giants134.223/29, 230, 3, 0
3Josh AllenBuffalo Bills130.520/29, 334, 2, 0
4Lamar JacksonBaltimore Ravens127.117/24, 324, 1, 0
5Caleb WilliamsChicago Bears124.121/29, 269, 2, 0
6Jalen HurtsPhiladelphia Eagles122.214/25, 203, 3, 0
7Drew LockSeattle Seahawks113.316/22, 187, 1, 0
8Bryce YoungCarolina Panthers110.323/37, 361, 3, 1
9C.J. StroudHouston Texans106.726/38, 274, 2, 0
10Brock PurdySan Francisco 49ers105.625/34, 205, 3, 1
11Geno SmithNew York Jets104.019/24, 215, 0, 0
12Jacoby BrissettArizona Cardinals103.127/37, 277, 1, 0
13Baker MayfieldTampa Bay Buccaneers98.823/28, 216, 0, 0
14Deshaun WatsonCleveland Browns97.716/22, 205, 1, 1
15Jared GoffDetroit Lions96.726/39, 206, 2, 0
16Joe BurrowCincinnati Bengals89.525/35, 254, 1, 1
17Tyler ShoughNew Orleans Saints89.235/55, 410, 3, 2
18Kirk CousinsLas Vegas Raiders88.221/30, 160, 3, 2
19Jordan LoveGreen Bay Packers88.121/42, 387, 2, 1
20Patrick MahomesKansas City Chiefs86.015/27, 184, 2, 1
21Jayden DanielsWashington Commanders85.918/34, 164, 2, 0
22Dak PrescottDallas Cowboys84.822/34, 175, 2, 1
23Justin HerbertLos Angeles Chargers83.717/27, 209, 1, 1
24Aaron RodgersPittsburgh Steelers83.424/40, 221, 1, 0
25Cam WardTennessee Titans80.219/32, 140, 1, 0
26Daniel JonesIndianapolis Colts72.819/31, 166, 1, 1
27Bo NixDenver Broncos69.217/28, 131, 1, 1
28Malik WillisMiami Dolphins66.915/27, 220, 0, 1
29Matthew StaffordLos Angeles Rams61.215/25, 155, 0, 1
30Drake MayeNew England Patriots54.923/33, 178, 1, 3
31Cooper RushAtlanta Falcons51.912/22, 143, 1, 2

How passer rating works

The formula dates to 1973 and was designed so that a 66.7 rating was average and 100 was excellent. Passing has gotten so much more efficient that the league average now sits above 90, which is why a 100 rating today is closer to good than great. The scale never moved; the league did.

Each of the four components is computed per attempt, converted to a 0-to-2.375 scale, and capped there, so no single strength can carry the rating. The four are summed, divided by six and multiplied by 100. The caps produce the strange maximum of 158.3 and mean that a quarterback with a 78 percent completion rate and one with an 85 percent rate score the same on that component.

Passer rating's blind spots are the reason the newer stats exist: it does not see sacks, scrambles, drops, air yards or game situation, and it double-counts a touchdown pass (yards, completion and touchdown all move). It remains the number in every box score and the one the league's records are kept in.

Passer Rating example in the NFL

Aaron Rodgers' 2011 season, 122.5, is the single-season record: 68.3 percent completions, 9.2 yards per attempt, 45 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on 502 attempts. Peyton Manning's 2004 (121.1) is the only other season above 120.

How It's Calculated

Passer rating = ((a + b + c + d) / 6) x 100, where a = ((Cmp/Att) - 0.3) x 5, b = ((Yds/Att) - 3) x 0.25, c = (TD/Att) x 20, d = 2.375 - ((INT/Att) x 25), and each of a through d is capped between 0 and 2.375. Minimum 0, maximum 158.3.

What is a perfect passer rating?

158.3. It requires hitting every component's cap on the same day: completions at 77.5 percent or better, 12.5 or more yards per attempt, at least one touchdown per 8 attempts, and zero interceptions. It has happened roughly 80 times in NFL history, on a minimum of 20 attempts.

What is a good passer rating?

In the modern NFL, league average is about 90. A season above 100 is top-ten, above 110 is top-three, and above 120 has happened twice. In the 1970s a 90 rating would have led the league.

Passer rating vs QBR: what is the difference?

Passer rating is a fixed formula on four passing inputs, 0 to 158.3. QBR is ESPN's 0-to-100 rating built on expected points across every play, including sacks and runs, weighted by situation. They agree on most quarterbacks; QBR sees more, passer rating is transparent.

See It In Action

Category: Stats & Analytics. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.

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