Top 5 QB Performances of Week 6

By my count, there were ten quarterback performances worth honoring this past week, so it was pretty difficult to cut things into half. Andrew Luck, Brian Hoyer, Aaron Rodgers, and Jay Cutler deserve strong honorable mentions for just missing the cut, as Hoyer averaged over 12 yards per attempt to help lead his time to a big rivalry win, Luck dropped 370 on the Houston Texans, Rodgers was as clutch as ever, and Cutler was flat-out awesome against the league’s worst pass defense.

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton

I actually thought Cam Newton received just a little bit too much credit for his play last season, because last year was more about becoming more comfortable as a decision-maker and actual quarterback in a more simplified offense that would help him going forward. As expected, Newton has built on the gains made last season, and he’s turned in some remarkable performances this year despite a relative lack of recognition. Newton’s weapons aren’t bad, but they aren’t anything to write home about, and Sunday was the first time all season when his offensive line did a nice job of protecting him.

The result? 37 points in a tie against the Cincinnati Bengals and one heckuva performance from the former Auburn star.Cam dialed up 107 rushing yards and a TD on 17 carries, and he did an efficient job of moving the offense. It wasn’t Newton’s best game due to an average of 6.2 yards per attempt, but his 82.9 ESPNTQBR gives the most accurate representation of how well he played.

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Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco

It was raining points in Tampa Bay on Sunday, and Joe Flacco could have easily put up more than just 48 on the Buccaneers. The Ravens seemed to score at will in the first half, jumping out to an astonishing 38-point lead before pumping the breaks. No matter what kind of pressure the Bucs put on Flacco, it didn’t phase him at all, and the strong-armed QB was unstoppable on deep plays. Last year’s season was clearly an anomaly, as Flacco has a legitimate offensive line and more than just one weapon this season. Steve Smith, Torrey Smith, and even Michael Campanaro and Kamar Aiken (any New England Patriots fans reading this post might remember him) got into the act with touchdown receptions. Flacco is having a fantastic season, and this was a fine performance, albeit against a defense that looked lost.

San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers

Rookie Derek Carr, who was one of my favorite prospects in the draft class, had a fantastic game, taking advantage of the injury to star cornerback Brandon Flowers. But it was Philip Rivers who led his team to victory in the narrow 31-28 game between bitter rivals, as the odds-on MVP showed off his trademark accuracy and efficiency with 312 yards, 9.2 yards per attempt, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Rivers is a weekly lock for this list of five, and he was once again unstoppable on Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick

It looked like St. Louis Rams QB Austin Davis would find his way onto this list after a phenomenal first half, but he looked downright terrible in the second half, whereas the 49ers star quarterback sat back and threw strikes. Kaepernick finished with a whopping 343 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, besting Rivers with an average of 9.5 yards per attempt. The bicep-kissing signal-caller also added 37 yards on the ground on just three carries, and he was instrumental in the team’s 37-13 victory, as Frank Gore averaged just 2.4 yards per carry ahead of rumors that the 49ers considered releasing him in the offseason (largely due to his cap hit).

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady

Tom Brady is really and truly back, and he didn’t show any issues throwing the deep ball against Duke Williams and the Buffalo Bills, as his arm strength is the most criticized portion of his game. Despite in-game injuries to Stevan Ridley and Dan Connolly and the absence of Bryan Stork, Brady was sensational, showing no discomfort against the Bills defensive line, and he carried the offense despite the fact that they had no running game due to Ridley’s injury and the Bills suffocating front seven. Brady threw for 361 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, and averaged 9.8 yards per attempt, and I think he was the best quarterback this week given the circumstances. The man is back, and his incredible 43-yard touchdown pass to Brian Tyms is worth another look.