# How is an NFL Quaterback's Passer Rating Determined **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-an-nfl-quaterbacks-passer-rating-determined/374347 "2006-09-27T12:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-an-nfl-quaterbacks-passer-rating-determined/374347/1 "2006-09-27T12:49:38Z")
All I know that a passer rating in the low 60’s is pretty bad, and one in the upper 150’s is downright phenomenal. Everything else, such as how the number is calculated, etc., has so far eluded me. Any help, please? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-an-nfl-quaterbacks-passer-rating-determined/374347/2 "2006-09-27T12:56:35Z")
The NFL explains here: [http://www.nfl.com/news/981202qbrate.html](http://www.nfl.com/news/981202qbrate.html) Or you can just plug in the numbers: [http://www.primecomputing.com/](http://www.primecomputing.com/) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-an-nfl-quaterbacks-passer-rating-determined/374347/3 "2006-09-27T13:10:58Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] The NFL explains here: [http://www.nfl.com/news/981202qbrate.html](http://www.nfl.com/news/981202qbrate.html) Or you can just plug in the numbers: [http://www.primecomputing.com/](http://www.primecomputing.com/) [/QUOTE] You and I must be talking about different things. That explanation on the NFL page made it look like a rating of 2.0+ is Hall-of-Fame worthy, yet Kurt Warner, in a bad season, scored 67.4. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-an-nfl-quaterbacks-passer-rating-determined/374347/4 "2006-09-27T13:27:33Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie] You and I must be talking about different things. That explanation on the NFL page made it look like a rating of 2.0+ is Hall-of-Fame worthy, yet Kurt Warner, in a bad season, scored 67.4. [/QUOTE] Oh, never mind. I missed a step. Please ignore what I just said. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-an-nfl-quaterbacks-passer-rating-determined/374347/5 "2006-09-27T15:35:26Z")
Wiki looks to be about the best reference source for this question. [Passer Rating](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qb_rating). The most important distinction to remember is that it’s an efficiency rating, meaning rates are more valued than sum totals. In most cases this accurately highlights a superior performance, but it doesn’t always capture the full picture. The Wiki article does a good job of summarizing the pros and cons. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-an-nfl-quaterbacks-passer-rating-determined/374347/6 "2006-09-27T15:41:53Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie] You and I must be talking about different things. That explanation on the NFL page made it look like a rating of 2.0+ is Hall-of-Fame worthy, yet Kurt Warner, in a bad season, scored 67.4. [/QUOTE] That link was correct, just a reasonably poor description. Read the last paragraph carefully and you’ll see that it indeed describes the correct system showing the expected results. The Wiki article is still far superior in detail and clarity.