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Brant Henson ranks all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks. Who are the top quarterbacks in the NFL? Which NFL teams have elite quarterbacks? Which teams will continue to struggle at the position?
Week 3 came and went and once again we saw a mixture of some great quarterback play and some awful quarterback play. Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins nearly broke an NFL record by dropping a 70-point bomb on the Denver Broncos, while Justin Fields and the Bears struggled to do anything at all against Kansas City.
A number of signal callers are dealing with injuries, as Derek Carr (shoulder) and Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) both exited their Week 3 losses and Anthony Richardson (concussion) and Bryce Young (ankle) both missed Week 3 altogether.
How does the quarterback landscape fare heading into Week 4? Let’s take a look.
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1. Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been playing out of his mind through the first three weeks of 2023, hitting a true peak in Week 3 as he went 23-for-26 through the air for 309 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 70-point performance. Tagovailoa has earned the right to the number one slot in these quarterback power rankings and looks to be on his way to an MVP-level season.
This is a WILD coincidence.
Tua Tagovailoa in Weeks 1-3 the past two seasons:
2022 2023
W-L 3-0 3-0
Comp/att 72/101 72/101
Pass TD-INT 8-2 8-2The same EXACT numbers. pic.twitter.com/ZgBtihuASM
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 25, 2023
2. Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs dismantled the Chicago Bears on Sunday, winning 41-10 with Taylor Swift in the house. Mahomes completed 24-of-33 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns in the dominant performance. He has a test against a tough New York Jets defense next week on Sunday night.
Patrick Mahomes on Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce: “I knew I had to get him the ball.”#ChiefsKingdompic.twitter.com/iXBAXHBzdk
— FirstSportz NFL (@FirstSportz_NFL) September 25, 2023
3. Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts has the Eagles sitting at 3-0, again looking like one of the premiere teams in the league. While he did throw two interceptions against Tampa Bay on Monday night, he also threw for 277 yards and a touchdown and added a touchdown on the ground. He will look to keep the perfect record next Sunday against Washington.
4. Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert and the Chargers finally got their first win of the season on Sunday, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 28-24. While Herbert lost one of his star weapons in Mike Williams (ACL) for the season, he looked great passing the ball and got Los Angeles back on track with a much-needed win. Herbert went 40-of-47 for 405 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
5. Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen operated in typical gunslinger fashion on Sunday, completing 20-of-32 passing attempts for 218 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Allen is tied for third in the league for the most interceptions thrown on the season with four. He will take on Miami next week in a highly-anticipated divisional matchup.
6. Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been highly efficient this season, making plays when called upon. Purdy threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns while completing 67.6% of his passes in Thursday night’s victory over the New York Giants. He does not have to make big plays often in the system he plays in, but plays more than effective football and has still never lost a regular season game in his career.
7. Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was more effective on the ground than through the air in the 22-19 overtime loss to the Colts. Jackson completed 22-of-31 passes for 202 yards and scrambled for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. He is pivotal to Baltimore’s success and if he stays healthy, his ability to make plays with his legs should keep the Ravens in any game.
8. Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins leads the NFL in passing yards with 1,075, but also has an 0-3 record after Sunday’s close loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Cousins has been airing the ball out this season, averaging 46 passing attempts per game. Minnesota will look to get their season rolling in Week 4 against the 0-3 Carolina Panthers.
#NFL Top 10 Passing Yard Leaders #Vikings Kirk Cousins - 1,075 #Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa - 1,024#Chargers Justin Herbert - 939 #Rams Matthew Stafford - 910 #Texans CJ Stroud - 906#Lions Jared Goff - 819 #Chiefs Patrick Mahomes - 803#Broncos Russell Wilson - 791#Patriots… pic.twitter.com/JIo6JWPNu4
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) September 26, 2023
9. Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks
After a poor Week 1 showing, Geno Smith has been back to the player he was during last season’s breakout. Smith threw for 296 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 37-27 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, putting him tied at ninth in the league in passing yards with Brock Purdy and Trevor Lawrence.
10. Jared Goff - Detroit Lions
Jared Goff has been sneaky great over the last season and a half in Detroit. He led the Lions to a win on Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons, completing 22-of-33 passes for 243 yards with a touchdown and an interception and is fifth in the league in passing yards. A big game looms on Thursday night as Goff takes on the Packers in a battle for first place in the NFC North.
11. Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow did not look great passing the ball again on Monday night, but looked improved from his first two outings of the season in Cincinnati’s first win of 2023. Burrow went 26-for-49 for 259 yards and an interception, battling through his nagging calf injury. He will look to get the Bengals back to .500 against a struggling Tennessee team.
12. Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers
Green Bay may have found its next star quarterback in Jordan Love. Love navigated a 17-point deficit and led a comeback to defeat New Orleans 18-17 at Lambeau, throwing a touchdown dart to Romeo Doubs to take the lead with under three minutes remaining in the game. Love and the Packers take on the division rival Detroit Lions in a highly-regarded Thursday Night Football matchup this week.
13. C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans
Through the first three weeks the Houston Texans have not been afraid to let their rookie quarterback rip it, and C.J. Stroud has not disappointed. Stroud collected his first NFL win on Sunday as the Texans took down the Jacksonville Jaguars handily. He went 20-for-30 for 280 yards and two touchdowns and is now fourth in the league in passing yards. Stroud and the Texans take on the Steelers next Sunday.
CJ STROUD 🚀 Tank Dell
THE TEXANS ARE COOKING 👀
pic.twitter.com/d5T4oJHOXe— PFF (@PFF) September 24, 2023
14. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams
Stafford had a strong start to the season but struggled on Monday night against Cincinnati, throwing two interceptions in the loss. Stafford is fourth in the league in passing yards with 910 through three games, but has only thrown two touchdowns opposed to four interceptions. He will look to get back in the win column against the Colts next Sunday.
15. Deshaun Watson - Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson played his best game as a Cleveland Brown on Sunday in the 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans. Watson completed 81.8% of his passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns in the win and showed flashes of his old Houston self. If he keeps playing at that level, Cleveland will be a dangerous team.
16. Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence has struggled over the past two weeks in losses to Kansas City and Houston. Lawrence went 27-for-40 for 279 yards with a touchdown and an interception and was outplayed by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in the 37-17 beating. He will look to get back on track this week against the Atlanta Falcons.
17. Mac Jones - New England Patriots
Mac Jones was able to put his first win of the season on the board on Sunday, with New England beating the New York Jets 15-10. Jones went 15-for-29 for 201 yards and a score, along with a grab of Sauce Gardner to help establish the case that he is a dirty player. Jones will look to lead the Patriots to .500 against the Dallas Cowboys next week.
𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: #Jets CB Sauce Gardner posted a view showing #Patriots QB Mac Jones grabbing his "private parts" on Sunday.
Sauce wrote: "Posting this so I don’t get fined lol"pic.twitter.com/raVfl9lK0L
Mac Jones has developed a bit of a reputation as a dirty player. https://t.co/6ghj8emVn9
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 25, 2023
18. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott struggled against the Arizona Cardinals in a 28-16 loss on Sunday, completing 25-of-40 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the end zone to seal the deal for Arizona. After a hot start to the season, the Cowboys severely cooled off and Prescott struggled to make plays when needed.
Former Eagle Kyzir White to Dak Prescott:
“YOU BUM!”
White had the game clinching interception of Dak pic.twitter.com/FVcEKApxio
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) September 25, 2023
19. Russell Wilson - Denver Broncos
It didn’t matter how well Russell Wilson played on Sunday, as his defense did nothing to help in the 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Wilson’s stats have not looked awful this season, as he is seventh in the league in passing yards (791), but he has struggled to make big plays and Denver is sitting at 0-3.
20. Joshua Dobbs - Arizona Cardinals
Journeyman quarterback Joshua Dobbs is making a name for himself after a thrilling 28-16 upset win over the previously undefeated Dallas Cowboys. Dobbs was efficient passing, completing 17-of-21 passes for 189 yards and a score, and also scrambled for 55 yards. While he may just be a bridge quarterback for Arizona, he is also auditioning for the rest of the league and was very impressive in the win.
Run Dobbs Run 🏃♂️@josh_dobbs1 x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/GeDsDcACGy
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 24, 2023
21. Daniel Jones - New York Giants
Daniel Jones has struggled to score against good defenses, as he was largely inefficient against both Dallas and San Francisco this season. Jones completed 22-of-32 passes for 137 yards and an interception on Thursday night. Jones will look to turn his performance around as the Giants take on Seattle next Monday night.
22. Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield struggled to get the ball moving against a stout Philadelphia defense on Monday night. He went 15-for-25 for 146 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 25-11 loss. Tampa is now 2-1 and faces a 2-1 Saints team in a battle for the top of the NFC South next week.
23. Gardner Minshew II - Indianapolis Colts
Gardner Minshew II is now 1-0 as the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts after game-managing to a win over Baltimore in overtime on Sunday. Minshew completed 27-of-44 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown on a strike to running back Zack Moss. Anthony Richardson (concussion) may return this week but if he does not, Minshew will be ready against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4.
24. Kenny Pickett - Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett played well against a soft Las Vegas secondary on Sunday night, going 16-for-28 for 235 yards and two touchdowns after a rough first two weeks. While his performance should be taken with a grain of salt given that this was a weak secondary, Steelers fans had to be feeling a bit better after Pickett’s ugly start. His next opportunity to move up the rankings comes Sunday against the Houston Texans.
25. Jimmy Garoppolo - Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played poorly in the Sunday night loss to Pittsburgh, throwing three interceptions and eventually exiting the game with a concussion. Garoppolo was heavily fixated on receiver Davante Adams, completing 13 passes his way for 172 yards and two touchdowns. It remains to be seen if he clears concussion protocol in time for Week 4 against the Chargers, as veteran Brian Hoyer would likely start in the event that Garoppolo misses.
Jimmy Garoppolo is now in concussion protocol pic.twitter.com/ohFYcRoe2i
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 25, 2023
26. Sam Howell - Washington Commanders
Sam Howell had a rough outing against the Buffalo Bills, throwing an ugly four interceptions in a 37-3 loss. The second-year quarterback started hot against Arizona and Denver, but folded when up against a tougher defense. He plays another tough defense next week against divisional opponent Philadelphia.
27. Jameis Winston - New Orleans Saints
Jameis Winston was forced into action in Week 3 as Derek Carr (shoulder) went down with an injury. Winston will likely start again in Week 4 although Carr has not yet been ruled out and is listed as day-to-day. While he did not turn the ball over at all, Winston did not put up any points and the Saints choked away what was a 17-0 lead in the third quarter. He will revert to the bench once Carr is healthy.
28. Justin Fields - Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields could not get anything going against the Chiefs, continuing his 2023 struggles. Fields went 11-for-22 for 99 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the blowout loss to Kansas City. He led the team in rushing with 47 yards. Chicago fans are beginning to grow impatient with Fields, and if he continues to struggle it will be interesting to see what the organization does if they have a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
29. Andy Dalton - Carolina Panthers
Andy Dalton started in place of Bryce Young (ankle) against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and attempted 58 passes in his Carolina debut. He threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns but ultimately lost the game 37-27. Dalton showed why he is one of the best backup quarterback options in the league on Sunday, but he will ultimately return to the bench once Young is healed up.
Andy Dalton finds DJ Chark for the TD and the Panthers have the lead! 👀
(🎥: @NFL) pic.twitter.com/rBH0Uipyze
— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) September 24, 2023
30. Ryan Tannehill - Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a tough outing against the Cleveland Browns, completing 13-of-25 passes for 104 yards in the 27-3 loss. Tannehill is in a tough situation with a bottom-tier offensive line and limited weapons, and if Tennessee keeps losing it is likely that they turn to a younger option between Malik Willis and Will Levis.
31. Desmond Ridder - Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Ridder was forced to throw against the Detroit Lions, who have a stout run defense and led the whole game on Sunday. Ridder went 21-for-38 for 201 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Atlanta has been finding success without having to lean on Ridder early this season, but struggled to get anything going offensively in the 20-6 loss. Ridder and the Falcons take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4.
32. Zach Wilson - New York Jets
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson did not turn the ball over against New England but ultimately struggled to put together a competent drive in the 15-10 loss. Wilson completed 18-of-36 passes for 157 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the loss. The 24-year-old quarterback has had a tough time putting points on the board over the course of his career, but teammates and coaches continue to publicly back him despite clear frustrations on the sidelines.
THIS IS GETTING REALLY BAD:
On the #Jets sideline running back Michael Carter was screaming at his position coach and all in HIS FACE with multiple players involved trying to hold him back.
Star receiver Garrett Wilson was also screaming and yelling at QB Zach Wilson
😳😳😳… pic.twitter.com/KcgXoC0I81
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 24, 2023
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