Aaron RodgersAndy ReidNFL

2025 NFL Quarterback Rankings Week 12: The Chiefs Are Failing Patrick Mahomes in a Down Year for Quarterback Play

Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar19/11/2025 - 12:00 pm
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs yells before the game against the Denver Broncos
(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season saw all the home teams win in the five big matchups between winning teams. But it wasn’t a banner week for the top-ranked quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes in Denver, and it was especially a rough Sunday for Sam Darnold and Jared Goff, who carry a stigma of not getting it done in big games for good reason.

Similar to last week, just four quarterbacks hit a 75.0 QBR in Week 11, and Bryce Young was close to making it five after a career day. But Dak Prescott is now the new leader in QBR at 75.1, a mark that wouldn’t even rank in the top 30 seasons since 2006 as quarterback play isn’t very high this year, a topic we’ll briefly touch on right away in the rankings below.

Each week at 365Scores, we are going to rank all 32 NFL quarterbacks from top to bottom. The methodology is to start with our preseason quarterback rankings from July, which were based on a mixture of career value and recent play. Then each week, we will adjust the rankings to account for the latest game to get a sense of which quarterbacks are performing the best in the 2025 season.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Week 11 rank: 1 (0)

Regardless of the fact that scoring is up a little this NFL season, it wouldn’t be hard to argue that quarterback play is down around the league. Even in a year where it doesn’t feel like he’s dominated because the Chiefs are 5-5, Patrick Mahomes is still leading an offense that ranks No. 2 in yards per drive, No. 3 in points per drive, and Mahomes is No. 3 in QBR (72.7), and No. 4 in EPA/dropback per NFL Pro.

But there is a paradigm shift going on with offenses in the NFL these days, and the Chiefs are not part of it. In fact, they’re becoming a relic.

Kansas City is an offense that works almost exclusively in shotgun, relying on the quarterback to make things happen with his legs after the first read as Mahomes’ scrambles were a big part of his early-season efficiency. But even those runs have dried up as he was stuck throwing the ball 48 times to one scramble and just 13 handoffs in Denver against the best pass rush in the league in a game the Chiefs never trailed by more than 7 points. Somewhere, Donovan McNabb just had PTSD from the days of Andy Reid avoiding the running game in Philadelphia.

But there’s a reason the Andy Reid coaching tree is diminishing around a league that wants people mentored by Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan instead. At this point, people who worked for Nick Sirianni (Shane Steichen, Kellen Moore) and Dan Campbell (Ben Johnson) might also be in higher demand.

Things can be cyclical in the NFL, and the trend now is something old: A return to more running plays, more plays with the quarterback under center instead of the shotgun, the phasing out of RPOs, more play-action passing, more 13 personnel with three tight ends, and more scheming of open receivers downfield instead of chucking up prayers.

Which direction are the Chiefs going? Further away from the rest of the NFL. Running the ball even less than usual, and Mahomes is throwing deeper more often than in 2022-24, and results have been mixed, if not downright poor if the target isn’t Tyquan Thornton, who can catch a 61-yard bomb in Denver and never get another target the rest of the game. Thornton is averaging an elite 12.4 yards per target this season, a number that dwarfs the subpar averages for Rashee Rice (7.2) and Xavier Worthy (6.2).

Mahomes is 14th in EPA/dropback using play-action (+0.14), which can’t hold a candle to the numbers for lesser quarterbacks like Sam Darnold (+0.54) and Jared Goff (+0.45). Meanwhile, Mahomes is No. 4 without play-action (+0.17) and ahead of those quarterbacks. Instead of more “Easy” buttons for this offense like we see around the league so much now, it’s “Bail us out, Mahomes” that the Chiefs rely on this year.

And he just hasn’t been able to do it enough this year. Sunday was another example in a 22-19 loss in Denver, another team that played the Chiefs well last year and didn’t get the win because of a blocked 35-yard field goal.

In a virtual must-win game to stay in the AFC West race where All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain II was out for Denver, you would think the Chiefs, after a bye week, would have a quick passing game prepared to negate Denver’s strong pass rush and utilize their wide receiver speed.

Instead, they had Rashee Rice running whatever this route is as they went bombs away on the opening drive for a quick punt after Denver used up half the quarter to get a field goal.

There’s just no real plan for the Chiefs right now despite the talent they think they have. If treating Xavier Worthy as Mecole Hardman 2.0 isn’t bad enough after the way he played last postseason, they’re using Rashee Rice, who had a costly drop before halftime in this game, like he’s Deebo Samuel. Except they forgot he doesn’t break tackles like Deebo. Seriously, how do you go to this personnel grouping with TE3 Robert Tonyan, Kareem Hunt out wide, and Rice at running back on a crucial fourth-quarter drive?

Who are you fooling, and how is this any better than having Rice, Worthy, Kelce, Thornton, and Hollywood Brown running curl routes and letting Mahomes from an empty backfield throw to the most open guy quickly? Run-and-shoot this league with this receiving room. Why are you calling all this cutesy stuff when you have the speed advantage of a full arsenal of weapons to utilize and a quarterback who used to run the Air Raid in college?

This feels like the least serious Chiefs team ever, and just like two weeks ago in Buffalo, they went to third-string rookie back Brashard Smith (after another poor shotgun snap) on a crucial play in the fourth quarter that really should have been switched to a run:

Mahomes’ biggest mistake came in the third quarter when he forced a pass in the red zone that was picked off on 3rd-and-long (not enough air) when he should have just eaten the ball and settled for a field goal. Of course, he was only facing 3rd-and-14 because right tackle Jawaan Taylor still doesn’t know how to line up properly and cost the offense a 1st-and-goal from the 2 situation on that series as the Chiefs were up to their penalty tricks again.

It’s just not a good team right now that is flailing against the better competition their schedule keeps throwing at them. They’re the only winless team (0-5) in close games this year, and it’s the first time they’ve ever lost five straight one-score games with Mahomes.

Still, he led a go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter with Travis Kelce still showing he’s the most reliable target in this offense. That’s not a good sign when the 36-year-old tight end continues to outperform the young wideouts, who were a no-show in this game.

That’s also two blown leads in the fourth quarter for the Chiefs this year, something they did twice in 2023-24 combined. Now with the Chiefs at 5-5 and the Colts (8-2) up next after their bye week, Sunday is probably another game where the offense is going to have to play at a very high level and win the game on their terms instead of relying on a defense that historically doesn’t finish the job enough.

Can they figure it out in time to save their season, or are they really just going to waste Mahomes’ first year of his 30s by missing the playoffs? The margin for error is razor thin as seemingly every other AFC contender keeps winning the close games the Chiefs keep losing in 2025.

Even if the Chiefs won out from here, they still need to consider some serious changes for 2026 as they stand to get left behind in the new NFL. It’s one thing to live on the margins, but it’s another to keep living in the past.

Adapt or fade away.

2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Week 11 rank: 3 (+1)

Similar to the Rams’ big showdown in Philadelphia in Week 3, Matthew Stafford had a pretty quiet day against the Seattle in the battle for NFC West superiority. He was only 15-of-28 for 130 yards, and his running game had 119 yards. His defense picked off Sam Darnold four times, including setting Stafford up for touchdown drives of 3 and 25 yards. Otherwise, the Rams only had one long drive for a 74-yard touchdown march.

Yet, Stafford is the MVP favorite going into Week 12 and I’m still not ready to buy it. We talked about the double standards last week, and in 2023, Brock Purdy threw 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions with big yardage in key NFC wins against the Cowboys and Eagles. However, he threw four picks on Christmas night against Baltimore and that killed his MVP campaign, which many were still opposed to because of the Kyle Shanahan factor.

So, why is it any different when Stafford has games like this against the main competition like the Eagles and Seahawks where he plays a pretty modest role? I don’t get it. He also had another 1-yard touchdown pass in this one to Davante Adams, which is great because otherwise that duo was 0-for-7 the rest of the game, including a chance to ice it late.

Instead, the Seahawks drove for a 61-yard field goal that was missed. Between that kick and the Rams’ field goal that was blocked in Philadelphia, the Rams could easily be 2-0 or 0-2 in the biggest games of the year. They’re 1-1 with neither Stafford performance deserving much praise.

We’ll see how he fares on Sunday night against the Buccaneers, a Todd Bowles defense that Sean McVay has usually planned well for.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Week 11 rank: 5 (+2)

It was a wild game for Josh Allen against Tampa Bay as he started with a horrific interception right out of early 2023 before he threw another one later. But between a combination of short fields, a huge YAC touchdown to Ty Johnson, some great deep throws, and his red-zone rushing he ended up with six total touchdowns and a game-winning drive along the way for a 44-32 final.

Even with the short fields, Allen passed for 317 yards for the first time since Week 1. I said in the NFL picks last Friday that this is what the offense needed to get back to, especially against a top run defense like the Buccaneers. Let Josh Allen run the offense with reckless abandon and make things happen. More good than bad will result from it. The turnovers don’ t matter as much if you’re scoring six touchdowns.

We need to see more of this minus the horrible pick to start the game.

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Week 11 rank: 2 (-2)

For the first time in his NFL career, Lamar Jackson had a game with 0 touchdown passes and multiple interceptions (2). That’s a hell of a streak (109 starts including playoffs) to end without doing that for so long, but it did see a backup running back (Keaton Mitchell) tip a pass for a pick-six, and Jackson’s second interception was also deflected at the line.

But I’d be a little more worried about him getting sacked 4 times by Myles Garrett (5 times overall). Garrett is a beast, but Jackson’s abysmal sack rate stands at 11.8% this season. The Ravens were able to come back and win against Cleveland’s lifeless offense, but it’s not a good sign when you’re pulling out trick plays with Mark Andrews on the Tush Push for a 35-yard rushing touchdown just to get past the lowly Browns.

Not good in the sense that the Ravens (5-5) likely need a ton of wins to make the playoffs by winning the AFC North over Pittsburgh. They may not get there with Sunday’s version of Lamar, but we know he can do better than this.

5. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Week 11 rank: 6 (+1)

The Colts (8-2) had their bye week and what an opportunity Sunday will be for Daniel Jones in Arrowhead against the Chiefs (5-5). That one should have a playoff atmosphere if the Chiefs have any fight left in them. The Chiefs have been terrible at pressuring quarterbacks, but Jones has taken 12 sacks in the last two games (15 in the last three) after an incredibly low sack rate to start the year. That should be the main thing to watch as Steve Spagnuolo has to send some good blitzes to try to make him panic and turn the ball over.

We’re going to talk about quarterbacks below like Sam Darnold and Jared Goff not passing the tests in big games, but Jones is in the same category with the same rightful skepticism due to his past. Sunday is a huge one for him and the Colts.

6. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Week 11 rank: 4 (-2)

Hands down, the most disappointing quarterback performance of the season has to be Sam Darnold against the Rams. We knew this team swept him last year, but he had major offensive line issues in those games, especially the playoff loss with 9 sacks. He also saw his team give up 30 points in the first one on the road.

But on Sunday, Darnold didn’t need to press that much. The Rams weren’t that great offensively at all, and yet two of his four interceptions set them up with very short fields for touchdowns. Darnold wasn’t even under siege against that pass rush, and he managed to take no sacks on 44 throws.

But even on the final drive when he had a chance to be the hero, it wasn’t good quarterback play. Yes, he had to drive a long field after an incredible punt, but his time management was poor, and he should have been able to get a field goal closer to 50 or 55 yards instead of the 61-yard attempt they had to settle for, which wasn’t even close. But I don’t blame the kicker – Jason Myers isn’t Brandon Aubrey – for that one.

The good news is Darnold gets another shot at the Rams on a Thursday night in Week 16 in what could be another big one if the Seahawks keep winning. But at this point, it’s hard to trust him to deliver. Swept against the Lions and Rams last year. Could be swept again by the Rams this year.

7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Week 11 rank: 9 (+2)

Had to expect a big game from Dak Prescott on Monday night against the Raiders. He responded with 4 touchdown passes in the first Dallas game since teammate Marshawn Kneeland took his own life two weeks ago, something Prescott has dealt with in his family with his brother five years ago. Prescott led an explosive offense with George Pickens looking better than ever.

Prescott now leads the NFL in QBR this season after Sam Darnold’s dud in LA. But with the Cowboys about to play the Eagles, Chiefs, and Lions, it’s going to be hard for the team to have any hope of being in the playoff picture unless Prescott is lights out the rest of the season.

8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Week 11 rank: 10 (+2)

Drake Maye played well against the Jets on Thursday night. He’s only taken a single sack in each of the last two weeks, so that’s the best thing to see him work on after too many sacks to start the year. Not much more to say about an easy win over the Jets as a 12.5-point favorite.

It gets even easier next week as the Bengals take the worst scoring defense in the NFL since 1966 to face New England. But I’d still predict Baltimore (Week 16) to be the game where we see Maye have his first 300-yard passing game in the NFL.

9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Week 11 rank: 7 (-2)

Jared Goff is not beating those big-game allegations, which usually include outdoor games in cold weather. Against an improved Philadelphia defense, Goff completed a career-low 37.8% of his passes (14 of 37) in a 16-9 loss.

One week after Goff directed eight straight scoring drives in Washington, he led the Lions to 9 points on 12 drives in Philadelphia. Ouch. Much like the Seattle fans should feel bad about having Sam Darnold in these spots, Detroit fans may have to face the fact that you can’t trust Goff in games like this either as the Lions had a shot to be the No. 1 seed again this year. Now they’re 6-4 and aren’t even a lock to make the playoffs.

We can give them credit for lighting up Baltimore early in the season in good weather when the Ravens were playing poorly. But the fact is this team has lost three road games against the Packers, Chiefs, and Eagles and never scored more than 17 points in any of those games.

Not ideal.

10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Week 11 rank: 8 (-2)

Justin Herbert began his 35-6 loss in Jacksonville with an intentional grounding penalty on the first play of the game, and it really didn’t get much better from there. After a couple of field goals in the first half (and one huge sack taken), Herbert went scoreless in the second half and left the game early with the score so one-sided.

Herbert threw for just 81 yards on 18 attempts, the first time he threw for under 125 yards in a game where he played over 50% of the snaps in his NFL career. His only interception came right after the Jaguars went up 28-6 in the fourth quarter, so he wasn’t the main problem they lost this game. But he was vastly ineffective on Sunday and will need to be much better going forward as the Chargers (7-4) fight for the playoffs.

The bye week comes at a great time for Herbert to heal up after taking a lot of hits without his offensive tackles.

Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

11. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Week 11 rank: 11 (0)

Jordan Love had to temporarily leave the Giants game with an injury, so that’s part of why he only completed 13 passes in the comeback win. But almost half of them were highlight-worthy plays, including a sweet 17-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Christian Watson with 4:02 left.

12. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 11 rank: 12 (0)

The good news is the Buccaneers scored 32 points in Buffalo and Baker Mayfield finally started scrambling some again for the first time in a month. But the Bills scored more and Tampa lost another game as Mayfield was just 16-of-28 passing for 173 yards with a couple of turnovers.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we learn he’s been playing with some serious injury as the offense has been banged up all year, and it’s curious why he stopped scrambling after the big play against the 49ers a month ago.

Tampa (6-4) can’t rest though with the Rams up next Sunday night. Another tough challenge on the road.

13. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Week 11 rank: 13 (0)

It’s a good thing Jared Goff couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn on Sunday night, because Jalen Hurts and the offense really struggled again. He didn’t attack a defense missing most of its starters in the secondary with his weapons down the field much, relying on horizontal throws and trying to establish the run. Hurts was only 14-of-28 passing for 135 yards. He’s still thrown just one interception all season but has had 5 fumbles, including two in the last two weeks.

The Eagles are also starting to get stopped and called for more false starts on the Tush Push, so that play is losing some of its impact. But the Eagles are still 8-2 and in line for a No. 1 seed despite the offensive inconsistency. 

14. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Week 11 rank: N/A (Mac Jones was No. 19)

Brock Purdy returned to action from turf toe for the first time since Week 4, and yeah, you forget how this guy likes to put the ball in harm’s way from time to time. However, Purdy avoided any interceptions in Arizona, threw 3 touchdowns, and it sure helps when you have touchdown drives with lengths of 1, 70, 52, 14, and 45 yards.

We’ll see Purdy and the 49ers on Monday night against the Panthers in a game that’s bigger than anyone could have imagined before the season started.

15. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 11 rank: 14 (-1)

With his 42nd birthday coming up in two weeks, Aaron Rodgers is certainly starting to look like one of the oldest quarterbacks in NFL history. One of the defining traits of quarterbacks near the end like this is that resistance to wanting to get hit at all as it gets so much harder to recover. Rodgers has shown that the last few weeks, and he still left Sunday’s game with a slight break in his non-throwing wrist.

Fortunately, Pittsburgh’s defense scored two return touchdowns and Mason Rudolph was able to hold down the fort in another win for the team. But we’ll see if Rodgers can go against the Bears, the team he “owns” in his career, or if it’ll be Rudolph in another important game with Baltimore on the Steelers’ heels.

16. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Week 11 rank: 20 (+4)

Maybe a real growing up moment for Bo Nix on Sunday as he could have put a big nail in the coffin of the Chiefs’ AFC West dominance. Steve Spagnuolo has yet to figure out how to defend the kid, who threw for 295 yards with a minimal running game to support him. He led a couple of scoring drives in the fourth quarter, including another game-winning drive that saw him convert a 3rd-and-15 with ease as the Chiefs didn’t pressure. Then a big throw up top to set up the winning field goal, which wasn’t blocked this year.

Nix would be 3-0 against Spags had that field goal not been blocked at Arrowhead last year. His eight fourth-quarter comebacks in the first two seasons tie Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson for the most in NFL history (playoffs included).

It’s not always pretty for Nix, but he’s kind of got some Russell Wilson meets Joe Flacco to him, and with Denver’s pass rush and home-field advantage, that might be enough to pull off an improbable run this season. They’ve already come back in the fourth quarter to beat last year’s two Super Bowl teams.

17. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Week 11 rank: 16 (-1)

It was a pretty quiet day for Caleb Williams, who threw for 193 yards (second game under 200 this year) and completed a season-low 50% of his passes in his second look at the Vikings. Even the latest comeback/game-winning drive for the Bears was set up 100% by the long kickoff return and some runs as Wiliams showed his handoffs were crisp and nothing more.

But again, the Bears are winning the games they always lost under Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields, so you can’t complain much yet at 7-3. But you would like to see him step up his game in the earlier quarters and avoid so much drama.

18. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Week 11 rank: 18 (0)

The Cardinals lost 41-22 to the 49ers and were never really in the game, but what an all-time great game in garbage time for Jacoby Brissett. He completed 47 passes, which is a new regular-season record. He only tied the overall NFL record since Ben Roethlisberger had 47 completions in a playoff game. But Brissett finished 47-of-57 for 452 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and somehow no sacks in all of that.

He turns 33 in a few weeks, but he should have a job for several more years in the NFL after what he’s doing in Kyler Murray’s absence. It just hasn’t mattered since the Cardinals have been blown out early the last few weeks after losing in the final minute for a month straight earlier this year.

19. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Week 11 rank: 17 (-2)

After Joe Flacco threw a touchdown on the opening drive in Pittsburgh, it looked like we might get a repeat of last month’s shootout with Aaron Rodgers. But after Flacco took a hit by T.J. Watt to the side after an awkward delivery, he was never the same and finished with 199 yards. He also threw a killer pick-six late in the third quarter, then watched tight end Noah Fant fumble a pass for another return touchdown in a blowout win for Pittsburgh.

20. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Week 11 rank: 23 (+3)

With the Falcons at 3-7 and Michael Penix Jr. on injured reserve with a knee injury, there may be no hope in seeing him again this season. It’s a shame because Sunday was one of his best games in building a 21-7 lead before leaving the game and watching the lead evaporate in another loss.

Throw in yet another season-ending injury for his career, which has seen several of those going back to college, and DOOM (Destiny of Ongoing Misfortune) is a most appropriate nickname for Penix.

21. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Week 11 rank: 22 (+1)

Just a ho-hum, game manager type of win for Tua in Madrid, Spain. He was 14-of-20 for 171 yards, took 3 sacks, no turnovers, led a game-tying touchdown drive, then the defense’s pick off Marcus Mariota in overtime set up the all-runs field goal to win it.

22. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Week 11 rank: 29 (+7)

Can Bryce Young play Atlanta every week? For a quarterback who was injured during the game, had one 200-yard passing game all season, it really didn’t make sense that he’d throw for a career-high 448 yards in a comeback win. The Falcons have played decent defense at times this year, so that was a real letdown to let a quarterback who hasn’t been hitting big plays carve them up like this.

The Panthers are 6-5, and if the Buccaneers lose to the Rams on Sunday night, Carolina will have a shot at tying the NFC South lead record with a win over the 49ers on Monday night. Either way, Monday night is probably the biggest game for the Carolina Panthers since the 2017 playoffs.

23. Davis Mills, Houston Texans

Week 11 rank: 24 (+1)

It’s possible we’ll see C.J. Stroud (concussion) back on Thursday night against Buffalo, but it’s also possible we’ll see Davis Mills for the third week in a row. Surprisingly, that’s not the worst thing in the world as he’s led two game-winning drives in that time for the Texans, who are back to 5-5 and still in the playoff hunt.

To beat Buffalo, you really need to run the ball this year. Houston doesn’t do that well, but oddly enough, Mills and Mac Jones (49ers) are the only quarterbacks this year to throw over 40 passes for over 270 passing yards in back-to-back wins this season.

Would be wild to see him outplay Josh Allen if he gets a shot to start Thursday. But he’s doing what a backup asked to start should do.

24. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 11 rank: 25 (+1)

The Jaguars crushed the Chargers in a 35-6 win where Trevor Lawrence was in game manager mode with 162 total yards of offense as his running backs piled up over 180 yards. But he didn’t take a sack and converted a couple of key third downs in the second half to blow the game open.

25. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Week 11 rank: 21 (-4)

You can stick a fork in the Commanders (3-8) after a sixth-straight loss. Neither team wanted to win the game in regulation with bad plays at the goal line on fourth downs. But with Marcus Mariota getting the ball first in overtime, the unfavorable situation in my view, he saved his worst throw with a pick that basically set up the Dolphins to win the game on a field goal.

Just playing out the string from here. No need to bring Jayden Daniels (elbow) back for this.

26. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Week 11 rank: 26 (0)

The Saints (2-8) had their bye week. With the Falcons and Dolphins up next, rookie Tyler Shough has a chance to build on his Carolina win and put some good games in the record books to drum up higher expectations for 2026.

27. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Week 11 rank: 28 (+1)

Same crap, different week. The Raiders can’t really block well for Geno Smith, who took 4 sacks against Dallas, and he also had a wild throw for an interception in scoring territory in Monday night’s 33-16 loss. The Raiders are 2-8 and Smith’s season peaked on opening day with that win in New England that feels like eons ago.

But it’s wild that the team used the No. 6 pick on Ashton Jeanty and almost never used him in Monday night’s game. Leaving Smith out to dry at this point.

28. Jameis Winston, New York Giants

Week 11 rank: N/A (Jaxson Dart was No. 15)

You have to give it up for Jameis Winston giving his new team close to the full Jameis Winston experience in one start after Brian Daboll was fired. His 1-yard touchdown run gave the Giants a fourth-quarter lead the defense couldn’t hold up. But Winston managed to turn the ball over twice in the final minute, including a big interception on 3rd-and-6 from the Green Bay 14 that he didn’t necessarily need to do with time and a down remaining.

I’d like to see Jaxson Dart back as soon as possible. Jameis is who we thought he was.

29. Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns

Week 11 rank: 30 (+1)

In hindsight, the Browns very well still could have lost to the Ravens if Dillon Gabriel didn’t leave with a concussion. He was only 7-of-10 for 68 yards with 26 of those yards on one play. The defense really built the 10-point lead with the sacks and pick-six.

However, I have little doubt he would have played better than rookie Shedeur Sanders, who finished 4-of-16 passing for 47 yards, 1 interception, 2 long sacks, and he ran 3 times for 16 yards. The Browns were held scoreless on their five second-half drives with Sanders.

Go figure, but it sounds like Sanders will get his first NFL start in Week 12 against the Raiders, the team many thought would take him in the draft given his connection to minority owner Tom Brady. The sacks won’t go away for this Cleveland offense with Sanders in there, and I’m afraid he’ll force more picks than Gabriel too. But let’s see if he can maybe open things up with a few more big plays down the field.

30. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

Week 11 rank: 27 (-3)

It’s been five starts now and things have arguably been getting worse for J.J. McCarthy. In his second look at the Chicago defense, he again waited until the fourth quarter to really do anything. But while the 85-yard touchdown drive to take the lead was nice, where was that the rest of the day? Chicago had a big kick return and that led to the game-ending field goal.

McCarthy converting a fourth down followed by four more straight completions to get the touchdown is reassuring that he can be the guy with the game on the line. But at this point, he’s trending closer to Kenny Pickett with cooler face paint than a legitimate franchise quarterback.

Alas, it’s only been a handful of games.

31. Justin Fields, New York Jets

Week 11 rank: 31 (0)

Leave it to Justin Fields to have his best drive on a run-heavy, likely scripted touchdown drive to start the game in New England. After that, it was a struggle to move the ball as Fields passed for 116 yards, the first time this year he finished a game between 55 and 200 yards. But it’s still another loss in a game that was winnable with a real NFL quarterback.

32. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Week 11 rank: 32 (0)

The goal was to see improvement out of the bye week, and while a 16-13 loss to Houston wasn’t ideal, Cam Ward did at least show some improvement against the No. 1 scoring defense that beat him 26-0 earlier this season.

Ward led his team in rushing (33 yards), didn’t throw any picks, and he led a 95-yard game-tying touchdown drive the last time he touched the ball. He did it with short passes, he did it with a 20-yard scramble, he did get a DPI penalty on third-and-long but converted another with a deep pass, and he threw the red-zone touchdown. Not going to fault him for the defense giving up a game-winning drive to Davis Mills.

Unfortunately, another tough defense (Seahawks) awaits this week, so it’s unlikely we’re going to see that big breakout game from Ward in Week 12.

Related Articles:

Tags
Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar19/11/2025 - 12:00 pm