We’re by way of 12 weeks of the 2021 season, and we noticed some extra uneven play underneath heart. Joe Burrow helped the Bengals grasp 41 factors on the Steelers, Mac Jones continued his stellar rookie marketing campaign, and Tua Tagovailoa impressed within the Dolphins’ fourth straight win. However Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton and Jalen Hurts had loads of points in losses.
On a weekly foundation all through the season, I’ll fee my present confidence in every quarterback’s play. Who’s unstoppable and within the MVP dialog? Who’s struggling and desires to seek out consistency? Who’s rising, and who’s falling, after every week’s sport slate? Which rookies are exceeding expectations, and which veterans are main their offenses to playoff competition? And bear in mind, that is based mostly on the current, not future potential.
True backups won’t be included, although groups with a number of respectable beginning choices may need a number of QBs listed within the rankings. Backups in line to play for injured starters can even be ranked. The listing shall be accompanied every week by a number of the largest takeaways and lingering ideas from the latest performances underneath heart, together with what each the tape and numbers say about a number of the sport’s beginning quarterbacks. Listed here are this week’s QB rankings and a few notes relating to the place.
Final up to date: Dec. 1
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Rankings | Week 12 takeaways
Tannenbaum’s present QB rankings
Largest takeaways from Week 12
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New England’s Mac Jones had a career-high 310 passing yards in Sunday’s win towards Tennessee. He accomplished all 11 of his play-action move makes an attempt for 169 yards, probably the most with out an incompletion since Russell Wilson had 13 in Week 8 of 2020. Jones and the Patriots now have three straight wins by 20-plus factors, and per ESPN Stats & Data, the one different crew/rookie QB to realize that was additionally Wilson, when the Seahawks did it over Weeks 14-16 in 2012.
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The Colts’ Carson Wentz showcased distinctive play on Sunday but additionally had three turnovers within the loss to Tampa Bay. He went 27-of-44 for 306 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble misplaced. The important thing play for him was a 62-yard TD move to receiver Ashton Dulin that traveled 58.2 yards within the air. It was Wentz’ longest completion this season, and he’s liable for the ninth, tenth and eleventh longest completions by air distance league-wide this yr, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats.
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Ravens signal-caller Lamar Jackson threw 4 interceptions in Sunday evening’s win over Cleveland, however he truly excelled underneath stress. He accomplished 4 of 5 passes underneath stress for 60 yards and a landing, and he had a plus-26.9% completion proportion over expectation, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. All 4 of Jackson’s picks got here with out stress and whereas focusing on tight finish Mark Andrews.
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I noticed Joe Burrow in individual on Sunday, calling the Bengals’ win towards the Steelers with ESPN radio. The second-year QB was excellent, as he exploited the Tee Higgins/James Pierre matchup. Burrow was correct, threw with accuracy and anticipation, and performed like a top-flight NFL QB. In line with ESPN Stats & Data analysis, he was an ideal 10-of-10 for 113 yards with a landing on first down, too. Burrow rose to No. 6 in my rankings this week.
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Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts took a step again on Sunday. He made some dangerous choices towards the Giants. In line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, he tried a career-high 39% of his passes into tight home windows (1 yard or much less of separation) on Sunday and went 2-of-12 with an interception on such throws. He has now accomplished a league-low 20% of his tight-window throws for the season. Hurts had an opportunity to nonetheless win the sport however was hit with some premature drops. I am positive the Eagles have been hoping for a extra constant efficiency, and for my part, the jury continues to be out on his viability as a beginning NFL QB.
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Right here comes the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, climbing 19 spots into the highest 15 of my rankings. He deserves it. Tagovailoa accomplished all 19 of his fast passes (lower than 2.5 seconds to throw) for 133 yards and a TD within the Dolphins’ victory over the Panthers. It was probably the most quick-pass completions with out an incompletion in a single sport since 2016, when NFL Subsequent Gen Stats began monitoring them. Tagovailoa is enjoying considerably higher, and it serves as an excellent reminder that not all younger QBs develop on the identical timeline. His progress is intriguing and a giant cause that Miami has gained 4 in a row.
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Matthew Stafford‘s two turnovers (a fumble and an interception) have been pricey for the Rams on Sunday. It was his third straight sport with a pick-six, too. Stafford is the primary quarterback with a pick-six in three straight video games since Matt Schaub did it in 4 straight in 2013. He has as many pick-sixes in his previous three video games as Inexperienced Bay’s Aaron Rodgers does in his whole profession. The Rams look out of kinds proper now, and it begins with Stafford. I am not panicking, but when I am the Rams, I am on the very least involved.
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Carolina’s Cam Newton actually struggled on Sunday. He was 5-of-21 for 92 yards, zero TDs and an interception. His completion proportion of 23.8% is the bottom for a former MVP in a sport with a minimum of 20 move makes an attempt. And in accordance with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Newton’s minus-40% completion proportion over expectation was the second worst in a sport by any QB this season (min. 14 makes an attempt), behind solely teammate P.J. Walker (minus-41% in Week 7). I dropped Newton 9 spots on the board this week.