Who were the best quarterbacks, for better or worse, at Week 17?
On the last day of the regular season, we had some very high performances among the quarterbacks, and in return, we didn’t have as many really miserable performances as in other weeks. Only one quarterback posted a one-digit QBR total.
We list – as always, in alphabetical order – the quarterbacks who stood out the most, positive or negative, in the NFL on the last day:
Cinco quarterbacks already raise
The Bills ended the season with one of the most resounding wins of the day, and Allen was decisive, like a true MVP contender, in the beating over Miami. Allen completed 18 of his 25 pass attempts for 224 yards with three touchdowns and an interception to make Buffalo the best team heading to the Wild Card Round. His overall QBR was 88.0, the third highest on the day.
It was a lot of fun to see Herbert finish his season on such a positive note: 22 complete of 31 tries for 302 yards with three touchdowns without interceptions at Arrowhead Stadium, although the Chiefs are not using their full arsenal. While the Chargers were already out, these kinds of road experiences are invaluable to a young quarterback who needs as many reps as possible in the year. His (6.1 was the fifth highest QBR Total of the week. Overall, naming the new NFL rookie touchdown pass record, at 31, is quite valuable.
For the second year in a row, Jackson managed to amass more than 1,000 rushing yards this season and became the only quarterback in the history of the league to accomplish this feat more than once. While his overall numbers dropped in his second year as a full-time starter, there is no doubt that he has had more setbacks this season, and yet he still has the Ravens in the postseason. Against Cincy, he completed 10 of 18 passes for 118 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, and carried the ball 11 times for 97 yards, to become one of two quarterbacks to total QBR over the last date. 90 scored. The real test comes against the Titans, a team against which they collect two consecutive defeats, including playoffs.
If it is true that Newton will no longer wear the Patriots uniform, then at least he had to say goodbye with his best performance. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 242 yards with three touchdowns without interceptions, ran 11 times for 79 yards and caught a 19-yard touchdown pass in the final game. Newton has been the target of multiple critical acclaim throughout the season, much of it passable, but there’s no denying that he also had one of the NFL’s most limited rosters.
There was no better way to end a regular season that would likely lead Rodgers to his third MVP title than with a 19-for-24 performance for 240 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. In addition, he took off with the highest Total QBR of the day, a 92.2, making him the best in this area for the entire campaign, with an 84.4. No one threw more touchdown passes than Rodgers’ 48, which is why it’s just as amazing that he threw just five interceptions this year.
Five quarterbacks down
One of the smallest Total QBRs all season was Allen in Week 17, 3.1, the product of six completes from 21 tries for 48 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions against Baltimore. The 2.29 yards per pass attempt is the lowest I remember for a game this year. The only thing that can be saved for Cincy here is that Joe Burrow is expected to be completely healthy by the time the next season kicks off.
If he played for a more media market, there would be much more negative talk of Bridgewater, after going 4-11 as a starter in Carolina this year. In Week 17, he completed 13 of 23 passes for 176 yards without touchdowns against two interceptions, and suffered two fumbles. He apparently has the full support of head coach Matt Rhule, but he definitely needs to raise his bar.
Dalton completed just 29 of 47 pass attempts for 243 yards with no touchdowns and interception, but he was also fired six times, knocking out Dallas in a game that had to win, yes or yes. After what has been seen this year, it’s hard to think Dalton will have a real chance to compete for a starting position in another franchise.
The Darnold era may not be completely over in New York, but the reality is that it seems more likely with the change of head coach and a second overall pick in the draft, coupled with the talent available in the position. If so, Darnold will be starting off for the Jets with 23 completes of 34 tries for 266 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and his second of three league seasons completes less than 60 percent of his shipments. For the first time in his career, he also threw fewer touchdowns (nine) than interceptions (11).
Despite finishing 6-3 as a rookie, there is no doubt that Tagovailoa’s worst performance came this week 17, as he completed just 35 of 58 passes for 361 yards with a touchdown and three costly interceptions against the Bills that hit the door to Miami. locks. It was a hard lesson for the rookie, who now has to learn a new offensive system in 2021 after the resignation of attack coordinator Chan Gailey.