Injuries forced the four active quarterbacks to miss all or most of 11 combined games through the season's first nine weeks. That is nearly one third of the total games for these four starters. A percentage that grows higher considering Josh Allen is the only one to appear in all his team's games so far.
Lamar Jackson missed essentially five games, with more on the horizon. Baker Mayfield missed three, the same amount essentially missed by Sam Darnold. Each of their teams is in precarious playoff positioning, though the weight of this is not entirely placed on the absence of these quarterbacks.
Nine weeks remain for playoff jockeying to continue. While the quarterbacks and their teams are not exactly out of the race, it will be an uphill climb if all four quarterbacks are to lead their team into the postseason. Buffalo is the best bet at this point in the game, with Allen performing at his usual high-level self.
Josh Allen
Allen currently has the Buffalo Bills (7-1) comfortably sitting in first place in the AFC East. Buffalo not only holds a three-game edge over the New England Patriots in the loss column, the Bills are tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the best record in the league.
Riding a four-game winning streak, Allen and the Bills are averaging nearly 30 points per game this season. Allen is again a main reason for that but the continued rise of James Cook (despite fumbling issues) helps balance out this unit and keeps a bit for wear-and-tear off the quarterback.
Still, Allen has carried the ball for 285 yards this season, scoring nine touchdowns. After a 121-yard day against the Rams in week five, Allen's output has dwindled, totaling only 18 carries for 46 yards.
In the passing game, Allen has passed for 200+ yards in every game this season. One downside is in the interception department, where Allen has thrown at least one pick in five of the last six games.
In eight games this season, Allen has thrown for 2,027 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions, completing 66.1 percent of his passes. He has also been sacked 17 times, with four of those happening against the stellar defense of the Minnesota Vikings.
Favorable opponents are on Buffalo's upcoming schedule, where the Bills should be 9-1 before hosting Kansas City on Thanksgiving Day. In his career, Allen is 5-1 vs Kansas City in the regular season.
Next four weeks: @ NYJ (11/15), vs MIA (11/22), vs KC (11/26), @ NE (12/6)
Lamar Jackson
If not for those pesky injuries, Lamar Jackson might be enjoying another MVP season.
Instead, Jackson has spent more time on the shelf than active in his ninth year as a pro. After missing three games due to an ankle injury, Jackson returned in week eight, only to injure his thumb on a pass attempt during the team's first snap. The injury will keep Jackson sidelined six to nine weeks.
Without Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens (4-5) will turn to their fourth starting quarterback of the season when newly acquired Jacoby Brissett takes the field in week nine. Jackson is 3-1 as a starter this season (or 3-2, if you count the loss where he took the one snap). In the five losses this season, Baltimore averaged only 12 points, so offense is desperately needed for this team.
On the season, Jackson is completing 70.1 percent of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns, and only one interception. He also looked better than last season on the ground, rushing for 144 yards and one score before his injuries.
Jackson will likely not be back in the team's next three games before their bye. In a touch AFC North, Baltimore needs all the wins they can get. The Ravens have a strong chance to go at least 2-1 in the coming weeks, which would put them in decent position for the home stretch and possibly Jackson's return.
Next four weeks: vs LAC (11/16), @ CAR (11/22), @ HOU (11/29), BYE
Sam Darnold
There is a quarterback controversy brewing in Seattle. Okay, that is a drastic, even if the Seattle Seahawks (5-4) are undefeated in games that Drew Lock has started (or finished, as in week one) this season.
Darnold has had his struggles, but not noteworthy enough to cause a controversy. Part of the issue has been lack of a strong complimentary running game, with none of the multiple running backs used cementing themselves as top dog on the depth This season, Darnold has completed only 60.2 percent of his passes for 1,478 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Darnold has also rushed for 72 yards and been sacked 17 times.
The Seahawks already ruled out Darnold for their week 10 game in Las Vegas. A pivotal matchup awaits them after the bye and the team will need Darnold at his healthiest. Especially if they are to return to the playoffs, which at this point in the season is far from a lock, whether it be Drew or otherwise.
Next four weeks: @ LV (11/15), BYE, @ SF (11/29), vs DAL (12/7)
Baker Mayfield
After missing three games, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6) going 1-2 in his absence, Mayfield returned with two victories. In these two games, the Bucs won by a combined score of 59-13, with Mayfield throwing exactly 14 passes.
You read that right. Fourteen. Mayfield went 7-11 for 64 yards in a 43-13 victory over Carolina and 0-3 during a downpour in a 16-0 victory over Atlanta.
Mayfield and the Bucs followed those games up with a 27-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, a game in which the quarterbacks from both teams combined to throw six interceptions.
Mayfield or not, all the Bucs losses have been by seven points or less. In six games, Mayfield has thrown for 922 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 60.5 percent. He has added 80 yards on the ground with one score.
After all that, in a historically bad NFC South, Tampa is only .5 games back of 1st place. There is a good chance the winner of this division wins only seven games this season. Tampa Bay has a strong chance after its bye week to add two more. With the all-pro play of running back Bucky Irving, the Bucs are a wide receiver stepping up and a consistent Mayfield away from returning to the top of the division.
Next four weeks: BYE, @ DET (11/22), vs CAR (11/30), vs LAC (12/6)
Josh Rosen
Enjoying the retired life and, as far as we can tell, has not been injured off the field this season.
Thanks for following along on this journey documenting the careers of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Check here after week 13 for the latest edition!
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
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