Week 9 NFL QB Power Rankings
Nov 2, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) passes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati defeated Jacksonville 33-23. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
25. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (± 0)
Bortles is having difficulties with turnovers in his rookie season. His slow release can be attributed to that – that’s a mechanical issue rather than a decision-making one. Bortles has had at least one turnover in every game this season. He and the Jags’ offense did manage to keep the game interesting against the now 5-2-1 Bengals, but still didn’t do enough to win.
26. Zach Mettenberger, Tennessee Titans (± 0)
No movement for Mettenberger coming off a bye week. In the game he started two weeks ago, he showed more promise at the QB position since Jake Locker’s Week 1 win against Kansas City.
27. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings (+4)
After a horrific start where Bridgewater missed wide open receivers down the field, he stepped up at the end of the first half. I think he was more confident in his arm after the touchdown pass at the end of the first half. In the second half, he stood tall in the pocket and delivered strikes, while absorbing hits from the Redskins’ front seven. Excluding a meager start, Bridgewater played his first complete, turnover-free game since the win against Atlanta.
28. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (± –)
Griffin looked excellent for the first 20 minutes of the game. Then everything fell apart – he was holding the ball too long, taking sacks, and making inaccurate passes. The Redskins’ offensive line is well below average outside of left tackle Trent Williams, and Griffin knows that – Colt McCoy and even Kirk Cousins had no issues getting rid of the ball. Washington could have at least tied the game had Griffin made an accurate pass to Pierre Garcon on the last offensive play of the game for the Redskins. The difference in the game turned out to be those seven points the Vikings got after a bad interception by Griffin right before the end of the first half. Jay Gruden is darn right about the jury still being out on the quarterback position.
29. Michael Vick, New York Jets (± –)
Fact: Vick put up more points against the Chiefs than Tom Brady did. Among all starters, Vick didn’t have a single turnover all day, and completed 75 percent of his passes. So why isn’t he higher? Remember, these rankings are cumulative, so I have to include last week’s game and the game against San Diego. Vick still ranks last in passer rating and completion percentage among all quarterbacks.
30. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Houston Texans (-3)
Anytime a quarterback completes less than half of his passes, it’s not a good sign. Stats are almost never an accurate performance indicator, but they are in this case. I’m indifferent towards a quarterback change in Houston, as Ryan Mallett may or may not be better than Fitzpatrick – time will tell. The Texans might be upset they missed Teddy Bridgewater by one pick.
31. Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2)
Glennon was looked terrific on some throws; he looked atrocious on others. There was no in-between for him against Cleveland. He’s playing behind a porous offensive line, but he can still get rid of the ball more quickly. Earlier this week Glennon said that he’ll be benched in favor of Josh McCown – based on games earlier this year and last season, I think that’s the wrong move. If Glennon does eventually regain the starting job, he’ll have to step up significantly in order to keep it.
32. Brandon Weeden, Dallas Cowboys (± –)
Aside from the one garbage-time drive at the end of the game, Dallas’s offense was only able to muster three points. Weeden had trouble connecting with his receivers – he didn’t have a completion to a wide receiver until the second half. He blew a few chances to go ahead by throwing untimely interceptions. I do think Dallas can beat Jacksonville without Tony Romo, but things could go south quickly if Dallas’s star quarterback is unable to return quickly.