In Week 2, Saints quarterback Derek Carr and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield were on top of the world.
A week later? Both inhabit our list of worst quarterback performances from Sunday’s NFL action.
Life happens fast for NFL quarterbacks. For these five, Sunday couldn’t end soon enough.
Let’s start with the good: Watson threw a 24-yard touchdown on his first pass against the Giants in a 21-15 loss.
Unfortunately for Watson, basically everything else he did in Week 3 would fall under the categories of “bad” and “ugly.”
Over his next 48 dropbacks, the Browns quarterback accounted for 150 yards, an average of 3.1 yards per dropback.
Watson was sacked eight times and fumbled twice as he was overwhelmed by the Giants pass-rush.
Watson was 21-of-37 for 196 yards and two touchdowns in the defeat. It was the type of unexceptional performance a young, cheap quarterback would be forgiven for, not a veteran making $46M per year.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield
After highlighting the differences with the Buccaneers following Tom Brady’s retirement, Mayfield proved how different the team is with a disastrous game against the previously winless Broncos.
Mayfield was 25-of-33 for 163 yards (4.9 yards per attempt), one touchdown and one interception in the 26-7 loss. He was also sacked seven times, losing 31 yards. The seven sacks were the second-most Mayfield’s taken in a game; he took nine in a 26-14 loss to the Steelers in Week 17 of the 2021 season.
On his first-quarter interception, Mayfield forced the ball to wide receiver Mike Evans, who was double-covered along the sideline on the third-and-four play, and Broncos safety Brandon Jones jumped in front of the pass.
During a recent appearance on the “The Casa De Klub Podcast,” Mayfield revealed his thoughts that the Bucs were “stressed out” with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as their quarterback and that “They wanted me to come in, be myself, bring the joy back to football for guys who weren’t having as much fun.” (h/t Pro Football Focus)
We don’t think anyone in Tampa Bay is having fun after Mayfield’s dud.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr
The Saints faced their first dose of adversity this season in Week 3, and the same Carr who’s struggled under pressure in the past showed up in a 15-12 loss to the Eagles.
Philadelphia did everything to hand the game to New Orleans on a silver platter, including Jalen Hurts committing two turnovers, multiple stupefying decisions from head coach Nick Sirianni and a blocked punt.
However, the Eagles bottled up the Saints’ rushing attack, limiting them to 89 yards on 29 carries (3.1 yards per attempt). Philadelphia gave the league a formula to beat New Orleans. When opponents force Carr to beat them, they win.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson
Outside of deep shots to wide receiver Alec Pierce and some strong runs, Richardson has had a tough go of things early in 2024. Despite getting his first win of 2024 in Week 3 against the Bears, 21-16, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft continued being arguably the league’s biggest boom-or-bust quarterback.
He was 10-of-20 for 167 yards and two interceptions, overthrowing receivers and missing on attempts that are easy layups for quality NFL starters.
Winning covers a lot, but even that can’t mask Richardson’s stinker.
Stroud’s name is in the header, but his disastrous Week 3 game probably said more about the Vikings’ defense, which might be the league’s best.
The second-year quarterback looked more like a rookie than he did all of last season, finishing the 34-7 loss 20-of-31 for 215 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while being sacked four times and losing 42 yards.
Minnesota’s pressure up 17 in the fourth forced Stroud to step up into the pocket and throw an inaccurate pass downfield, resulting in his second interception.
Minnesota’s defense will likely force many quarterbacks onto this list this season. After frustrating Stroud on Sunday, the Vikings are the team no quarterback wants to play.
