Yes, a fourth in Sam Darnold is still active every week. His role as backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers is cemented. Especially as quarterback Brock Purdy and the Niners are scoring over 30 points per game.
Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Baker Mayfield have their teams off to a combined 9-3 start. Each are playing well, and their teams are currently atop their respective divisions.
Aspects of what have plagued the trio in their careers, from untimely turnovers to batted balls, and multiple injuries to key players, are still present. However, they have risen above these and are off to fast starts, posting impressive numbers through the season's first four weeks.
Josh Allen
A shaky start to the season for Allen and the Buffalo Bills is not what was envisioned. Sure, it was a road game against the New York Jets, a team pulsating with excitement around the arrival of Aaron Rodgers.
Even after Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon after only four snaps, the Jets found a way to pull off a 22-16 overtime victory over the Bills.
Contributing to the loss was the somewhat careless play of Allen. Allen was sacked five times and had four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) in going 29-41 for 236 yards.
Suffice to say, it's been smooth sailing for Allen and the Bills since.
In three straight victories, Buffalo is averaging 41 points per game. The most recent was a 48-20 division shellacking of the Miami Dolphins, who were fresh off scoring 70 points the previous week against the Denver Broncos.
Allen has settled down, with only one turnover since game one. He's only been sacked four times in the three wins and the offense is clicking from top to bottom. Allen has been smooth, finishing two of those games with a completion percentage over 80.
He was at 84 percent against Miami, throwing for 320 yards and four touchdowns.
On the season, Allen is completing 74.8 percent for 1048 yards. He has nine touchdowns against four interceptions and is doing work on the ground, too. This aspect hasn't been too heavy of a burden so far this season but Allen has 16 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
The way the Bills are playing, they look unstoppable. NFL games have their surprises and close games, but Allen and the Bills could very well be 8-1 after these next five weeks if their solid play continues.
Weeks 5 - 9: vs JAX in London (10/8), vs NYG (10/15), @ NE (10/22), vs TB (10/26), @ CIN (11/5)
Lamar Jackson
In his sixth season, the hope for Jackson was not only for his own health but that the Baltimore Ravens finally had a full complement of players to help the offense.
That dream ended, or was delayed, in week 1 with the torn Achilles suffered by running back JK Dobbins. Since, the Ravens have continued to take hits and lumps on the roster.
Running backs have been banged up, missing games, or parts of. In Baltimore's one loss, they were down to Melvin Gordon after injuries to Gus Edwards and Justice Hill (both are back). And the receivers took a hit, with Odell Beckham Jr. missing time, though rookie Zay Flowers has impressed, leading the team in receptions (24) and yards (244).
Jackson has been controlled and conservative in the passing game, nipping at Allen's heels in completion percentage (74.3). Jackson has also thrown one interception, in week 1, and has thrown for 794 yards and four touchdowns.
His impact continues to be in the ground game, where Jackson has again forced to be the main option. Yards per carry are under six but Jackson has 220 yards and four touchdowns. In Baltimore's lone loss, a bad-weather affair to the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson ran for 101 yards but also had a fumble, one of three he's lost on the season.
Jackson and the Ravens have a slightly tougher upcoming stretch than the Bills do. Baltimore takes a tour of the NFC, with three games against that conference. A 3-2 or 4-1 stretch should position the Ravens well in an up-for-grabs AFC North.
Weeks 5 - 9: @ PIT (10/8), vs TEN (10/15), vs DET (10/22), @ ARI (10/29), vs SEA (11/5)
Baker Mayfield
Fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have been expecting the worst in the quarterback picked to replace Tom Brady. Instead, through four weeks, they have been treated to the best version of Baker Mayfield.
Old struggles did appear in parts of the Bucs loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. But protection and ball control have highlighted Mayfield's 3-1 start with the Tampa Bay franchise.
The schedule hasn't been exactly the toughest, with the three teams Mayfield defeated holding down a combined 3-9 record. Mayfield has been handling business, including last Sunday's division victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Mayfield is delivering the best completion percentage (69.6) of his career, a good six points better than his career-best during his rookie season. He already has one 300-yard game to his credit, his first since a week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021
Mayfield has tossed for 882 yards and seven touchdowns, with only two interceptions.
He's also been active in the ground game, an area where the Bucs struggle. Mayfield has 23 carries for 61 yards.
After a bye week, Tampa Bay and Mayfield will face some adversity alongside some winnable games. One of those circled matchups is against Allen and the Bills. Another 3-1 stretch might be a lot to ask for but even going 2-2, the Bucs should be in a good spot in the NFC South.
Weeks 5 - 9: BYE, vs DET (10/15), vs ATL (10/22), @ BUF (10/26), @ HOU (11/5)
Sam Darnold
One of Darnold's main issues in staying employed as a starting quarterback has been his ability to stay healthy. When he's been out on the field for long stretches, he's shown the ability to lead and even win a few games.
Darnold will likely remain in the no. 2 spot in San Francisco, barring a major injury to Purdy. Purdy, who is coming off a 20-21, 283-yard performance, has thrown for 1019 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in four games this season. (It also helps the Niners have Christian McCaffrey, who scored four touchdowns in Sunday's victory over the Arizona Cardinals).
Darnold has seen mop-up action in three weeks, notching four carries for negative four yards. (The beauty and disgust of taking a knee, friends).
Weeks 5 - 9: vs DAL (10/8), @ CLE (10/15), @ MIN (10/23), vs CIN (10/29), BYE
Josh Rosen
Josh Rosen remains unsigned. Not sure if he's looking to keep playing. I imagine he has no plans to give up on the dream yet and hey, maybe he can go the Colin Kaepernick route and write a letter to the New York Jets inquiring about leading their practice squad.
Be sure to check in after week 9 to see how these five quarterbacks are progressing along.
photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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