NFL Week 16 Quarterback Grades

Another hectic week of this NFL season has ended, and it was probably the best week of year. The high-stakes matchups are increasing, the playoff picture is slowly becoming clearer and the contenders are playing their best ball. Signal-callers are heating up as well, and they’re trying their best to carry their teams to a playoff berth. Let’s grade those signal-callers from this past week, and see how they’re doing in the midst of the final playoff push.

Sam Darnold: B

Darnold’s recent shortcomings against LA were cause for concern for Seattle’s first-seed aspirations. Following his second interception, another loss against the Rams seemed to be inevitable. Darnold didn’t let the primetime lights blind him though, and he rose to the occasion when his team needed him most. He wasn’t perfect by any means, the offense at times struggled to even gain a first down. Nevertheless, he got the job done, and now has his team in the lead for the NFC’s top seed.

Matthew Stafford: A

An unfortunate outcome for Stafford, who’s efforts weren’t enough to get his team the win. Even without Davante Adams, the MVP front-runner was on-point for most of Thursday night. He threw for 457 yards and scored three passing touchdowns, with one of them being a potential game-winner in OT. The only gripe with Stafford’s performance is the late fourth quarter, when Seattle’s elite defense kept him scoreless. Though the team as a whole faltered,

Marcus Mariota: B-

In a moot season, Mariota has done well serving as a backup. He was having another solid outing against Philadelphia prior to leaving the game due to injury. He did only attempt 14 passes, but he kept the ball out of harm’s way and even led the team to game-tying score. Not much to say regarding his performance, he simply continues to do his job.

Jalen Hurts: B+

In order to become the NFC East’s first repeat champ in 21 years, Hurts didn’t have to do anything extravagant. Sure, it didn’t start off perfect, he initially missed some throws and his ball placement wasn’t the best. However, the Eagles leaned on Saquon Barkley, and Hurts took the role of a game-manager. He did great in that role, completing 22 of his 30 attempts for 185 yards and two TDs. Overall, a very respectable performance.

Caleb Williams: B

Chicago’s sophomore signal-caller struggled initially, as Packers DC Jeff Hafley was bringing the heat. At one point in the fourth quarter, Williams was blitzed on 47.1 percent of his dropbacks, leading to his 55.9 completion percentage. Although it was shaping up to be a repeat of the two teams’ first meeting this season, Williams shined when he orchestrated an improbable comeback. He hit on big play after big play, leading his team to two consecutive touchdown drives to finish the game. The touchdown throw to DJ Moore in particular will be etched into Bears fans’ minds for the rest of their lives.

Jordan Love: B

The main concern with Love going forwards is the injury sustained in this game. Prior to the concussion, Love kept mistakes to a minimum and lead two field-goal drives. With the way Chicago’s defense has been playing, it was going to be a tough battle no matter what, so his 77 yards were a good start for what could’ve been a winning performance.

Malik Willis: B+

Whenever Willis has stepped in for Jordan Love the past two years, he’s delivered. Against Chicago it was no different, and Willis showed great control of the offense. He passed for 121 yards on 9 completions, and had 10 rushes that amounted to 44 yards. What stands out especially is his lone touchdown throw to Romeo Doubs, which was a perfect lob in the heavy Chicago wind. Unfortunately, one of the biggest plays of the game was his fumble in OT, which led to the loss.

Dak Prescott: A-

Prescott and the offense were humming to start. Three scoring drives in a row set the scene for what looked like was going to be a shootout. Prescott was throwing dimes left and right. He was the only reason the Cowboys had a shot in this game. Then, once the second half commenced, the Chargers defense locked Prescott up. He (and by extension, the offense) felt stuck in neutral, and the momentum completely switched to LA’s favor.

Justin Herbert: A+

For the first time in a while, Herbert was kept upright throughout this game. That top-notch protection led to arguably his best performance of the season. Herbert spread the ball around, and was especially dangerous when throwing deep, connecting on three of his five pass attempts longer than 25 yards. He was a nightmare against Dallas, and has his team in the race for the AFC West title.

Jaxson Dart: D-

Dart’s first completion of the match came when there was 1:47 left in the first half. It didn’t get better from there, and the former Rebel was completely nullified through the air. Additionally, his rushing ability, which was his calling card earlier in the year, didn’t see any positive results either. It’s not like he didn’t have opportunities either, he attempted 14 passes, and the Giants had just two less minutes of possession. Brian Flores is one of the best defensive coordinators the league has to offer, but ending the game with just 33 yards through the air is downright unacceptable.

J.J. McCarthy: B-

McCarthy didn’t provide as much of a sample size in this game as you’d hope. Though, in the two quarters he did play, he showed command of the offense. He was able to make some great throws, despite his supporting cast failing to hold their end of the bargain. Drops, terrible protection and deflected INTs haunted McCarthy and the offense. The o-line’s struggle proved to be notably costly. McCarthy left the game after a huge hit caused by Brian Burns, who was left completely unblocked.

Max Brosmer: C+

Going from facing Mike MacDonald and his squad to the Giants defense must have caused whiplash for Brosmer. Wouldn’t you know, he didn’t throw four INTs this time around. While he didn’t do anything impressive, he kept the Vikings alive. He minimized turnovers and completed seven of his nine pass attempts.

Quinn Ewers: C+

For a seventh round rookie, Ewers faired well. Granted, he wasn’t against the toughest of opponents, but 260 yards and a 66 completion percentage is pretty decent. His two interceptions look bad, but one of them was off of an unfortunate deflection, and the other was an amazing play made by Bengals CB Jalen Davis. If Ewers continues to show solid play, he’ll solidify his job as backup.

Joe Burrow: A+

Not the scariest of opponents, but a classic performance nevertheless. Burrow was on fire against Miami, and could not be stopped. After Evan McPhearson kicked a field goal with six minutes left on the first half, Burrow went on to lead the offense to five straight touchdown drives. He threw the ball all over the field with major success, and hopefully had some fun.

Bryce Young: A+

There was a lot on the line for Carolina in this match. Their chances to reach the playoffs would plummet with a loss, making a victory crucial. Their former first overall pick stepped up, and continuously made clutch plays. In and out of structure, he was balling, throwing beautiful passes to Tetairoa MacMillan and extending plays with his legs. The Panthers will play the Bucs again, and if Young keeps it up, they’ll make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Baker Mayfield: B-

Tampa Bay kicked off the game with a very run-heavy approach, having Mayfield doing little. Unfortunately, the tides changed and the Bucs were forced to throw the ball more. Mayfield did fine, completing 18 of 26 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He was also doing some damage on the ground, totaling 49 yards on four scrambles. However, what most people will (rightfully) pay attention to is the late-game interception, which marked his third game in a row with a pick. You can justify the INT by saying it stemmed from miscommunication between Mayfield and Mike Evans, but his performance still left more to be desired.

Tyler Shough: A

Shough continues to impress, and seems to have solidified the QB spot for New Orleans heading into next year. The highlight of his performance was a touchdown pass in the third quarter to Chris Olave which extended the Saints’ lead. Shough displayed great poise, completing great passes and not being afraid to take a hit. Yes, it is the Jets defense, but the throws he made would’ve been good against anyone.

Brady Cook: C-

Two turnovers and eight sacks ultimately doomed the Jets. Cook could barely get into any rhythm and was harassed constantly by the opposing team’s rushers. As a UDFA, this isn’t much of a surprise, and he did string a few decent plays together in the second half. He’s obviously not a franchise caliber player though, and it’s a question whether or not he will start this upcoming week.

Shedeur Sanders: C+

Neither of the two interceptions on Shedeur Sanders’ statline were his fault. One of them was caused by a deflection after Quinshon Judkins failed to secure the pass, and the other was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Regardless, Sanders didn’t perform all that well against Buffalo. His issue of holding on to the ball for too long came to bite him, as he was sacked on a key fourth down. To his credit though, Sanders did keep the game tight for most of the afternoon.

Josh Allen: B

It was an oddly pedestrian day for Allen, though it makes sense considering the right foot injury. It was only the third time this season Allen didn’t have a rushing or passing TD. Buffalo instead mostly leaned on James Cook, who sprinted for 117 yards in Cleveland. Allen did well as a complementary piece to the run game, logging no turnovers and 130 yards. The Bills will be facing Philadelphia this week, so he’ll be a lot busier next time around.

Cam Ward: A+

For the first time in 412 days, the Titans won a game in their home stadium. Their rookie QB shined in the affair, and has shown rapid improvement in the past few weeks. Cam Ward had his highest passing season of the year at 122.3, and led the Titans to 21 points on offense. He excelled in and out of structure, a skill he’s displayed throughout the year, and one that will be very intriguing for head coach candidates. Overall, it was the best game of his young career, and hopefully one of many for Titans fans.

Chris Oladokun: B-

The former seventh round pick was unexpectedly put in charge of the Chiefs offense following Gardner Minshew’s injury. Despite the Titans going through an abysmal season, they can still be a challenge for an unexperienced QB like Oladokun. He did well all things considered, even if he failed to produce a touchdown drive. For a third string QB, you expect them to simply manage the game and avoid putting the team in compromising situations. He met those expectations, even if it didn’t amount to much.

Bo Nix: B-

What was showing signs of being a high-stakes shootout eventually simmered down to a blowout. Nix started off hot, completing a beautiful rainbow pass to Courtland Sutton for a score, but it just wasn’t Denver’s day. Missed opportunities were the name of the game for the Broncos, and Nix had his fair share of them. There were some inaccurate throws, but Jacksonville’s defense also did a great job at limiting his options. The fourth quarter interception stings though, as it looked like he had a wide open man for the first down over the middle.

Trevor Lawrence: A+

The Broncos defense would be the biggest test for Lawrence’s recent hot streak. Needless to say, he passed that test with flying colors. Jacksonville’s QB was consistently getting the ball out just in time and placing it in just the right place. He consistently worked on the line, and operated the offense at an elite level. If this is the Trevor Lawrence that the Jaguars will be getting week in and week out, they have a chance to do something special.

Jacoby Brissett: C-

In what was a moot game, Brissett had his worst display since taking over for Kyler Murray. He just barely eclipsed a completion percentage of 50, and recorded his lowest passing yardage total through 10 starts. His disappointing performance was capped off with a fittingly bad interception. The attempt was poorly telegraphed, and it sealed the win for Arizona.

Kirk Cousins: B-

While he wasn’t able to replicate his vintage performance from last week, Cousins mustered up another good statline. Yes, the early INT hurt, but it was on fourth down, and was due to a slip by Drake London. Cousins kept the ship steady otherwise for most of the afternoon. He helped Bijan Robinson reach 2000 scrimmage yards by connecting with him 7 times for 92 yards, and leaned on Robinson in the run game as well.

CJ Stroud: B

It was nearly an unfortunate outcome for Houston, but Stroud made his best plays when it mattered most. Similarly to many other QBs this week, Stroud maintained the role of a game manager, and fell short of 200 yards despite 35 attempts. There were some key misses here and there, but he was able to rally his team to the win, which is what matters most.

Geno Smith: B+

Smith returned following a one week absence and almost led his team to an unexpected win against the dominant Texans defense. Key word here is almost, as the early pick six he threw proved to be costly at the end. Still, it’s impressive what Geno Smith did. He stood tall in the pocket in the face of pressure, and delivered a 200 yard performance, whilst also scoring two TDs.

Jared Goff: A

Due to the state of the game having the Lions down two scores for most of the contest, Goff attempted a season-high 54 pass attempts. He racked up 364 yards and three touchdowns, going blow for blow with Pittsburgh. Furthermore, he’d have an even better statline if not for a few timely penalties in the final minutes. Goff has been pulling above his weight the past three weeks, throwing for 1,007 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero turnovers. Despite that, Detroit only has one win, a sign that he is far from being the problem.

Aaron Rodgers: B+

Rodgers turned back the clock against the Lions on Sunday and delivered a crucial win for Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes. Against the Lions’ injured secondary, the Steelers allowed Rodgers to air the ball out more often than usual. The veteran attempted a season-high 41 passes, and connected on 27 of those passes for 266 yards. He kept it simple though, and only tried to throw it over 20 yards four times.

Lamar Jackson: B

Prior to leaving the contest, Jackson showed great control of the offense and was working well in tandem with Derrick Henry. While it was clear he still hadn’t returned to his MVP form, he brought stability and looked comfortable in the pocket. Jackson exited the match after suffering a back injury, he was designated as out shortly after. Baltimore is on the brink of elimination, and if Jackson doesn’t heal up, it’s game over for the Ravens.

Tyler Huntley: B

The offense was still effective with Tyler Huntley stepping in for Lamar Jackson. He was a calming presence, and kept the attack on schedule. The Ravens scored two touchdowns in the second half, and had firm possession of the lead. Huntley wasn’t the cause of the collapse, as the game-management of the final two quarters were detrimental to the victory.

Drake Maye: A-

With the comeback win in Baltimore, Drake Maye put himself back into the MVP conversation. It started off rough, as Maye threw an interception that ended a ten play, near six minute long drive. Most importantly though he rebounded, and crawled back from an 11 point deficit. That was thanks to him leading a pair of touchdown drives, and remaining poised despite the pressure. He also extended his highlight reel of deep shots, and connected with rookie Kyle Williams for a beautiful touchdown.

Philip Rivers: B+

The unexpected return of Philip Rivers is looking stranger by the day, especially considering the fact that he’s held his own quite well. The 44 year old looked sharp, and was managing the offense with excruciating detail. He’d change plays, make the right reads and deliver his passes to the right spots. The fourth quarter pick six hurts, but it is not indicative of Rivers’ performance. Like a vintage Philip Rivers game, he did well enough for the win, but his defense sure didn’t.

Brock Purdy: A+

Mr. Irrelevant went nuclear against Indianapolis. San Francisco’s first three drives all ended with touchdowns to different receivers. Add on two more pass TDs, Purdy had the first five touchdown game in his career, and dominated the Lou Anarumo’s unit. His one interception was off of a deflection by Kayshon Boutte, and it was in a situation where he shouldn’t have been passing in the first place. Purdy had thrown five touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his five MNF appearances entering this game. Instead of letting the narratives haunt him, he thrived under the Monday Night lights.