QB Report Cards for Shedeur Sanders, Every NFL QB in Week 11

Seismic shockwaves are slowly building up with the potential to change the entire NFL landscape.

Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos put away the Kansas City Chiefs during Sunday's action. The Pittsburgh Steelers' Aaron Rodgers and Atlanta Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. suffered concerning injuries, while the San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy returned from one.

The Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield no longer look like MVP candidates. Conversely, Bryce Young finally looked like an elite talent. Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders even got into a game for the first time.

All of these things and more occurred during the Week 11 slate. In order to keep up with the latest happenings around the league, Bleacher Report continues to grade each performance from the game's most important position.

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Score: 41-22 loss vs. San Francisco 49ers

Stat Line: 47 of 57 for 452 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions

Jacoby Brissett produced a historic performance Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, and it didn't matter one bit.

The Cardinals quarterback completed an NFL-record 47 passes during the contest.

"I promise you I can't care less," Brissett told reporters after the loss.

While impressive from a standalone statistical performance, Brissett basically stat-padded, because Arizona was forced to throw the ball since it was down big early in the contest for the second straight week.

Mistakes killed any chance the Cardinals had of putting together anything of substance. Brissett threw a pair of interceptions. Tight end Elijah Higgins fumbled near the goal line. Running back Bam Knight had a 60-yard touchdown called back because of a holding penalty. In total, Arizona committed 17 infractions.

A quarterback throwing for a record amount of completions and 452 yards (without Marvin Harrison Jr. in the lineup) doesn't matter when a team makes that many mistakes throughout a contest.

Grade: C

Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Score: 30-27 loss vs. Carolina Panthers

Stat Line: (Penix) 13 of 16 for 175 yards; (Cousins) six of 14 for 48 yards

The Atlanta Falcons' fifth straight loss is secondary to the Michael Penix Jr. leaving the contest due to injury.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Penix is "believed to have aggravated the same knee injury as earlier in the season." A bone bruise prevented the quarterback from playing in Week 8.

Cousins didn't play well during his only start of the 2025 campaign, with only 173 passing yards in a blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 37-year-old veteran has slipped dramatically, hence last season's benching. The Falcons may be forced to start him, though.

"We will go find out what Kirk does well this week," head coach Raheem Morris told reporters. "(Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson) and those guys will work together depending on what happens with Michael."

Grade: Penix C; Cousins D

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/David Richard

Score: 23-16 win vs. Cleveland Browns

Stat Line: 14 of 25 for 193 yards and two interceptions

The Baltimore Ravens won their fourth-straight contest, and they didn't need Lamar Jackson to be an all-world quarterback in order to so.

During Sunday's meeting with the Browns, the two-time league MVP struggled to get going. Pressure from Cleveland's defensive front led to five sacks and an interception from a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage. (Jackson's second pick ricocheted off his running back's hands.)

Instead, Baltimore relied on Derrick Henry, who ran for 103 yards. Also, the Ravens defense continued to show its improvement by allowing only 187 yards. This type of performance inspires confidence, because Jackson isn't going to play poorly every week. He'll return to form.

Meanwhile, the Ravens reached .500 status and now sit only one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers to sit atop the AFC North.

Grade: D

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Score: 44-32 win vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stat Line: 19 of 30 for 317 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions; six carries for 40 yards and three scores

Josh Allen was simultaneously historically good and somewhat perplexing during Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL's reigning MVP became the first player in league history with three passing touchdowns of 25 or more yards and three rushing score in the same game. He followed himself as the only player to ever throw and run for three scores in a game with no further qualifications.

"The greatest to ever play the position," Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers said of Allen.

While Allen's Superman persona made an appearance, he wasn't perfect by any means. He made two poor decisions that led to interceptions. He inexplicably attempted a 10-yard shovel pass while in his own end zone and within the grasp of a defender. He also threw into bracket coverage during a 4th-and-2 play that led to a tipped-pass turnover.

Overall, the good far outweighed the bad, though, and the Bills won.

Grade: B

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Score: 30-27 win vs. Atlanta Falcons

Stat Line: 31 of 45 for 448 yards and three touchdowns

Bryce Young finally looked like a No. 1 overall draft pick during Sunday's performance against the rival Atlanta Falcons. He provided a career-high 448 passing yards. In doing so, he set the Carolina Panthers' single-game record, surpassing Cam Newton.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Young completed 15 of 20 in-rhythm pass attempts for 302 yards and a touchdown. The figure is the second-most by a quarterback this season. Of note, the third-year signal-caller posted a career-high 212 yards on passes of 10 or more air yards.

With under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter and into overtime, Young finished six of nine passing, led two scoring touchdowns and connected with tight end Tommy Tremble on a 54-yard pass that led to the game-winning field goal.

"He is a baller," Tremble told reporters. "People always doubt him. When they doubt him the most, he always comes through. That's resilience. Not a lot of people in the world can do that kind of stuff. He's one of those dudes."

Grade: A

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Matt Krohn

Score: 19-17 win vs. Minnesota Vikings

Stat Line: 16 of 32 for 193 yards

Caleb Williams hasn't been the most efficient quarterback of late. He's completed just 54.9 percent of his passes over the last three games. Yet the Chicago Bears are 3-0 in those contests and he is the reason why.

Williams has led five game-winning drive this season. To be fair, the second-year quarterback didn't need to do too much Sunday against the Vikings after Devin Duvernay provided a 56-yard kick return to place Chicago in Minnesota's territory, which led to the game-winning field goal.

However, a belief is building within the organization and Williams' presence is a big part of the Bears' 7-3 record.

"Something that I've spoke about before: living in the known," Caleb Williams told reporters. "It doesn't matter when; it doesn't matter how; it doesn't matter who. We've got the guys; we've got the coaches. We live in the known. And so when our moment comes, when their moment comes, whoever it is on the team, we'll make the play."

The performances aren't perfect, but Williams and the Bears coaching staff are learning how to win together.

"... You have to consider Caleb as a rookie, because he wasn't buying in before," a former NFL head coach told The Athletic's Mike Sando. "He is learning how to play. There are a lot of games you are going to play in like the week before (Week 10), when he ran (17) yards for the winning touchdown."

Grade: C

Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Score: 34-12 loss vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Stat Line: 23 of 40 for 199 yards, a touchdown and an interception

The Cincinnati Bengals acquired Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns to serve as a life raft while Joe Burrow tried to get back from a debilitating foot injury.

After an initial boost in Flacco's first start, the Bengals have gone on to lose three straight games. The last two came in heartbreaking fashion because Cincinnati's defense is atrocious. Sunday's effort against the Steelers was something altogether different, because Pittsburgh's defense came to play, flew about the field, caused turnovers and scored two touchdowns by itself.

Flacco's third-quarter interception right to safety Kyle Dugger led to one of those defensive scores.

"I don't know if my arm got hit. I just got hit. I was trying to wrap it around that guy," Flacco told reporters. "Kind of saw him sitting there and felt like there was a lot of room in the middle of the field trying to wrap Tee [Higgins] in there. And maybe it's out in front of Tee or not. I thought there was room in there, and kind of got bumped and couldn't get the ball where I wanted it."

Grade: C-

Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Score: 23-16 loss vs. Baltimore Ravens

Stat Line: (Gabriel) seven of 10 for 68 yards; (Sanders) four of 16 for 47 yards and an interception

The Cleveland Browns were finally forced to play rookie Shedeur Sanders. Unfortunately, the opportunity came because Dillion Gabriel needed to leave Sunday's contest against the Baltimore Ravens because he entered the concussion protocol.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski already confirmed Gabriel will start in Week 12 if cleared by the medical staff.

Sanders did play poorly during his first NFL action. He can't get away with drifting in the pocket or trying to give ground as an escape against pressure.

His performance must be kept in context, though. He wasn't prepared to play. Stefanski also confirmed the Colorado product hadn't taken a single snap with Cleveland's starting offense until the second half of Sunday's game. Of course, he looked out of place and was completely overwhelmed.

Whatever the case may be, neither of the Browns' first-year quarterbacks look like they're ready to run the offense on a regular basis. Cleveland has scored more than 20 points only once this season.

Grade: (Gabriel) D; (Sanders) F

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/John Locher

Score: 33-16 win vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Stat Line: 25 of 33 for 268 yards, four touchdowns and a fumble lost

The Dallas Cowboys dealt with a lot during their bye week. The team had lost its previous two games. Owner Jerry Jones made moves prior to the NFL's trade deadline. Sadly, the death of teammate Marshawn Kneeland also weighed heavily over the entire organization.

Dallas found the strength to respond.

"I have no better peace than being out here on this field," quarterback Dak Prescott said during a postgame interview on ESPN. "I know it's the same for a lot of guys. You have to think about a lot and focus in. It was a blessing being out here. This is where the healing happens for me."

As for the actual performance, Prescott returned to form. He produced four touchdown passes. A fifth bounced off of CeeDee Lamb's hands late in the fourth quarter. Overall, the Cowboys pieced together a complete effort despite difficult circumstances.

"We just came out with a different intensity," Prescott added. "Obviously, we made some changes and got some additions over the bye week through the trades. That just brings a different level of confidence to every man on this team. I think it showed [during Monday's contest]."

Grade: A-

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

AP Photo/Bart Young

Score: 22-19 win vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Stat Line: 24 of 37 for 295 yards

The Denver Broncos have found a winning formula: The defense plays well and slows the opponent for the majority of the contest, and then Bo Nix and the offense find a way to make things happens late in the contest to ensure victory.

Granted, the Broncos' success isn't as simplistic as that, but it's not too far off from what seemingly happens on a weekly basis.

Against the Chiefs, Denver's offense got off to a better start, with field goals during its first two drives. However, the second quarter became a punt-fest, with three-straight stalled drives.

Nix and Co. did much better during the second half with four out of five scoring possessions, including a 10-play, 58-yard drive that resulted in the game-winning score as time expired.

"We've just got a resilient team that just believes we're going to win," Nix told reporters. "At the end of the game, when it's close, that belief goes a long way."

The belief extends to Nix, who has played well down the stretch in multiple contests. In Week 11, the second-year signal-caller outplayed Patrick Mahomes, which is a big reason why Denver won its league-leading ninth contest.

Grade: B

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Score: 16-9 loss vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Stat Line: 14 of 37 for 255 yards, a touchdown and an interception

Jared Goff is in his 10th NFL season. He has never posted a worse completion percentage than he did during Sunday Night Football against the Eagles. His 37.8 percent outing is the ninth-lowest by any quarterback with at least 35 pass attempts since 2005.

Normally, he is the NFL's most efficient operator. He's still top-four overall in completion percentage even after his latest effort.

Goff and the Lions simply had no answer for the Eagles' pressure packages. Detroit can't compete at a high level if its normally potent offense stalls, particularly if it isn't clicking on critical downs. Detroit finished three of 18 between its third- and fourth-down attempts.

"That's just kind of who we are and when it doesn't work, it's going to get questioned by you guys and when it works, it's going to get praised by you guys and it didn't work today," Goff said. "I understand the question, but part of me says once you commit to it, you have to keep doing it. At some point you're going to convert them. Tonight wasn't our night on fourth down and it sucks."

Grade: F

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Score: 27-20 win vs. New York Giants

Stat Line: 13 of 24 for 174 yards and two touchdowns

Jordan Love's toughness cannot be questioned.

He left Sunday's contest with the Giants with a left shoulder injury, but he returned seven plays later and eventually led the Green Bay Packers on a game-winning, fourth-quarter drive.

The Packers quarterback also overcame the loss of his starting running back, Josh Jacobs, to injury and multiple drops by his receivers.

"It was so gritty and tough," head coach Matt LaFleur said of Love's performance. "He was under duress, it felt like, quite a bit, and I thought he did a really nice job of giving guys opportunities to make plays. Certainly had a lot of drops today that we were able to obviously overcome … for his ability to come back and play the way he did, I was really proud of him."

With just over four minutes to play, Love connected with wide receiver Christian Watson between two defenders for the game's final score.

Grade: A

Davis Mills, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Score: 16-13 win vs. Tennessee Titans

Stat Line: 26 of 41 for 274 yards and a touchdown

The Houston Texans are now 2-0 with Davis Mills as their starting quarterback. He is doing everything the team needs right now.

"He's a competitor deep down inside, and he wants to make those plays," head coach Demeco Ryans said of Mills. "Our entire sideline, our team feels that from Davis. We feel his confidence when he's out there knowing that he's going to go to the right spot with the football and make a play."

The critical moment came when Mills provided a perfect hole shot between coverage and connected with Nico Collins for 17 yards on 3rd-and-16 with under 50 seconds left to play. The throw placed Houston in Titans territory and ultimately led to the Texans' game-winning field goal.

Houston did experience stretches where it couldn't move the ball and pieced together a string of punts to end drives. In the end, Mills did enough to ensure the Texans improved to 5-5 and remained in the playoff hunt.

Grade: B

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Score: 35-6 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Stat Line: 14 of 22 for 153 yards, a touchdown and an interception; five carries for nine yards and a score

Trevor Lawrence has thrown for fewer than 180 yards in four games this season, including the last two. His 153 passing yards Sunday were a season-low, yet the Jacksonville Jaguars ran away with the contest, literally and figuratively.

Jacksonville's trio of running backs—Travis Etienne Jr., Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr.—carried the ball 42 times for a combined 183 yards and three touchdowns.

At the same time, the Jaguars saw a different version of Lawrence. He worked through his progressions and viewed the field well. More importantly, he looked looser and freer than he previously did.

"Trevor and I had a good conversation [last week] in terms of just, 'Hey man, cut it loose and let it rip when we do have some of those opportunities,' and, 'Hey man, yes, we don't want to turn the ball over. We want to turn it over on defense and we want to keep it on offense, but we can't be thinking about that or trying to play to not make a mistake at all,'" head coach Liam Coen said.

"... You don't need to be [Michael] Jordan. Point guards, facilitators, distributors, that's what we need, and that's what we talked about."

Grade: B

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Score: 22-19 loss vs. Denver Broncos

Stat Line: 29 of 45 for 276 yards, a touchdown and an interception

For a three-game stretch in October, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs looked like their old selves and appeared to be on the verge of making another surge toward the top of the league.

Instead, they lost back-to-back games against the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos to prove Andy Reid and Co. aren't what they once were.

Mahomes is known for making the critical play, often in spectacular fashion, when the Chiefs need him to shine. He's not doing so this season.

"Just having an opportunity at the end of the game," Mahomes told reporters during a postgame interview after falling to the division rival, "and not coming through."

The two-time NFL MVP somewhat admitted he's not comfortable playing behind the Chiefs' offensive line. The Broncos only sacked him three times but added eight more quarterback hits and multiple pressures. As a result, the quarterback isn't trusting what he sees.

"There's things here and there (to regret), but I think that's the biggest one," Mahomes said.

Grade: D

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Score: 33-16 loss vs. Dallas Cowboys

Stat Line: 27 of 42 for 238 yards, a touchdown and an interception

Geno Smith doesn't stand a chance based on how the Las Vegas Raiders' roster is constructed. The veteran quarterback hasn't helped the situation, either.

The Raiders offense is severely limited. Las Vegas doesn't have the weapons on the outside to threaten defenses. Thus, Smith and Co. can't stretch anything vertically, which condenses space for everyone else in the offense.

Coordinator Chip Kelly tried to take advantage of the talent on the roster Monday by regularly employing 12 and 13 personnel (two and three tight ends). Instead, Dallas' secondary drove on multiple passes.

The Raiders' offensive line makes it even more difficult for Smith based on the pressure it consistently allows. Also, the run game was non-existent during Monday's contest.

These excuses only go so far, though. Smith threw yet another interception. He tried to throw into too tight of a window, which resulted in a tipped pass and a turnover.

Nothing is working offensively for the Raiders, and it starts with Smith.

Grade: D

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/John Raoux

Score: 35-6 loss vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stat Line: 10 of 18 for 81 yards and an interception

Justin Herbert is far too talented to play as poorly as he did Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The onus of the blowout loss shouldn't fall squarely on the quarterback's shoulders, because the Chargers experienced a complete team letdown.

"We just weren't doing anything well," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters. "Offensively, we weren't running the ball well, we weren't protecting, we weren't getting open. Defensively, the same. We weren't stopping the run. We're losing coverage. I mean, go through every phase. We got beat every which way you care to get beat."

Even so, Herbert is the Chargers' best player. He has the ability to shoulder the offense, even if it has significant issues along the offensive line and doesn't get the run game going.

In the grand scheme of things, it's one game. Los Angeles had won its previous three contests. A cross-country trip to play during the early slate may have been an aberration. How Herbert and Co. respond next weekend at home against the Las Vegas Raiders will say a lot about the quarterback and his team.

Grade: F

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Score: 21-19 win vs. Seattle Seahawks

Stat Line: 15 of 28 for 130 yards and two touchdowns

A two-touchdown performance with no turnovers borders on mundane for the Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford.

He has thrown at least two touchdowns in eight of 10 games this season. He didn't need to do anything more against the Seattle Seahawks.

"It was an unbelievable job by our defense," Stafford said during a postgame interview with Fox Sports. "They dominated the game. We did just enough to score."

Four forced turnovers certainly help, particularly when the Rams didn't perform well on offense. Stafford and Co. managed only 249 yards. The unit finished two of 11 on third downs. Seattle actually held a 15-minute time-of-possession advantage.

Stafford had been the NFL's best quarterback for multiple weeks in a row. He took a sharp step back Sunday yet still provided enough for the Rams to improve to 9-2 overall.

Grade: C

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Score: 16-13 win vs. Washington Commanders

Stat Line: 14 of 20 for 171 yards

The Miami Dolphins have won three of their last four games. The streak is serving as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wants to keep head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa together for the 2026 season.

"It is fair to say, these two futures are tied together," Rapoport said.

Tagovailoa hasn't been lighting it up in recent weeks, but he also didn't commit any turnovers Sunday. The Dolphins' offensive attack centered on running back De'Von Achane, who amassed 165 yards from scrimmage.

To Tagovailoa's credit, he did complete four passes for 40 yards during Miami's lone touchdown drive. The 27-year-old wasn't asked to do too much. At the same time, he didn't put his team in any difficult positions. It's the minimum a quarterback can do and their squad still be successful.

Grade: C

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Matt Krohn

Score: 19-17 loss vs. Chicago Bears

Stat Line: 16 of 32 for 150 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions

J.J. McCarthy is a mess mechanically. He's a young quarterback in his first year as a starter and definitely looks like it at times.

No consistency is being provided from the quarterback position with the 22-year-old at the helm. He has outright missed throws and made poor decisions. His footwork is all over the place, particularly when trying to play from the pocket.

As an example, the second-year QB struggles when throwing to his left. When McCarthy doesn't have the room to drive through the ball, he has yet to show enough arm talent to consistently make difficult throws.

The frustration is obviously growing within the Vikings' offense.

"It starts with the pitching and catching," head coach Kevin O'Connell said after Sunday's loss to the rival Bears.

A team can feature wide receivers as talented as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but they don't matter if the quarterback can't get them the ball on a regular basis

Grade: F

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Score: 27-14 win vs. New York Jets

Stat Line: 25 of 34 for 281 yards and a touchdown

While Drake Maye is getting much-deserved MVP consideration, it's the little things he's doing that deserve the most attention.

Many have probably forgotten the left side of the New England Patriots' offensive line is manned by a pair of rookies. But Maye makes the first-year blockers' job easier because he navigates the pocket so well.

The second-year signal-caller understands when to step up and extend plays with simple movement. His ability to do so helped create multiple plays Thursday against the New York Jets, which culminated in 281 passing yards. To that point, 237 of those yards came on dropbacks over 2.5 seconds, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

The turnaround in New England has been impressive. Maybe, the performance should have been expected, though.

"I don't think anything has surprised me," the quarterback told reporters. "When you put the work in—we have good players and good coaches—you're going to get a result that you want."

Grade: A

Jameis Winston, New York Giants

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Score: 27-20 loss vs. Green Bay Packers

Stat Line: 19 of 29 for 201 yards, an interception and a lost fumble; three carries for 10 yards and a score

Jameis Winston is fun and quirky. He's easy to root for as a result. He's also far too inconsistent to be a reliable starting quarterback.

With Jaxson Dart in the concussion protocol, the Giants turned to Winston for the first time this season. He did what he typically does.

He's a gunslinger who will put up yards but often puts the ball in danger, as was evident Sunday. Despite several ill-advised throws, the Packers came away with only one interception.

"Timing and execution is so important in this game," Winston told reporters. "When you don't have the reps with some of your teammates, you've got to capitalize on those moments and continue to work even harder"

Grade: D

Justin Fields, New York Jets

AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

Score: 27-14 loss vs. New England Patriots

Stat Line: 15 of 26 for 116 yards, a touchdown and fumble lost; 11 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown

Justin Fields is who he is. Any hope he would finally develop into something more and become the quarterback many thought he could be as a first-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft have long since passed, hence Aaron Glenn's decision to bench him coming out of Week 11 action.

The 26-year-old is an athletic quarterback, who is a threat as a runner yet doesn't see the field well enough to become a consistent and efficient passer. With Thursday's effort against the New England Patriots, he threw for fewer than 120 yards in four of New York's last five games.

Tyrod Taylor will step in as the Jets' starting quarterback, but the organization probably needs to get a look at rookie Brady Cook before the campaign ends. Otherwise, the entire franchise is hurtling toward a first-round quarterback in the 2026 draft.

Grade: D

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Score: 16-9 win vs. Detroit Lions

Stat Line: 14 of 28 for 135 yards; 10 carries for 31 yards and a touchdown

Each week, questions arise about the Philadelphia Eagles offense and what is or isn't going right. At this point, a fourth-straight victory and the NFC's best record are what really matter.

Jalen Hurts' weekly performance may not be the most aesthetically pleasing. After all, he completed only 50 percent of his passes for 135 yards against the Lions. Philadelphia's offense managed a total of 272 yards, with seven drives ending in a punt. The quarterback did provide the team's only touchdown with another assisted one-yard plunge into the end zone.

The Eagles' latest victory was driven by the team's defense. Yet there's something to say about Hurts and his crew knowing what's needed to claim victory after victory.

"As I watch football today, I saw a lot of teams waiting to lose," head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters. "Our team's waiting to win. Because they know how to win. There's something to be said for that, of knowing how to win."

Grade: C

Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Freed

Score: 34-12 win vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Stat Line: (Rodgers) nine of 15 for 116 yards and a touchdown; (Rudolph) 12 of 16 for 127 yards and a touchdown

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks didn't need to be world-beaters against the Cincinnati Bengals when the team's defense finally decided to show up and shut down a potent offense, even one led by Joe Flacco.

Pittsburgh forced a pair of turnovers. Both turned into defensive scores. No one should expect the Steelers D to do the same every week, but the unit should be relied upon more heavily if Aaron Rodgers isn't in the lineup.

Rodgers suffered what's being called "a slight break" in his left wrist, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. With the 41-year-old quarterback out of the lineup, Mason Rudolph must produce.

The 30-year-old veteran has had plenty of opportunities to show he's more than a backup. He failed to do so. But he knows the system, staff and personnel better than any other NFL QB2.

"I love playing here, this is where I was drafted," Rudolph told reporters. "This is home and yeah, (it was) very, very special."

Grade: B (for both)

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Score: 41-22 win vs. Arizona Cardinals

Stat Line: 19 of 26 for 200 yards and three touchdowns

Mac Jones played well while Brock Purdy recuperated from a turf toe injury.

Jones played well enough that he may even get another starting opportunity down the road with another team, but that's a conversation for another time.

Against the Cardinals, Purdy showed exactly why he's the entrenched as the Niners' QB1.

"Brock's presence in the huddle is just so elite," tight end George Kittle told reporters. "How he talks to the players. He plays with a joy that's so infectious. It's so much fun to play football with him."

Purdy missed the last six games and played in only two of San Francisco's first 10 contests. Yet he didn't miss a beat upon reentered the starting lineup. His ability to orchestrate Kyle Shanahan's offense at the highest level makes him the perfect starting option.

"Not many people have done it better than him," Shanahan said. "He's been as efficient as anyone, he's made as big of plays as anyone, and he's led us to a lot of wins."

Grade: A

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Katie Chin

Score: 21-19 loss vs. Los Angeles Rams

Stat Line: 29 of 44 for 279 yards and four interceptions

Sam Darnold established plenty of good will during his short time with the Seattle Seahawks, so much so that a four-interception performance against the rival Rams won't shake the team's faith in the quarterback's ability.

"Sam has had us in every f--king game," linebacker Ernest Jones IV told reporters after Sunday's loss. "For him to sit there and say, 'That's my fault' — no it's not. Defensively we could have made plays. There were opportunities where we could have got better stops. It's football. We've got his back. If you've got anything to say, quite frankly, f--k you."

Darnold didn't see the field well, struggled to navigate the pocket and allowed bad mechanical habits to reappear, which led to the multiple turnovers.

Despite playing terribly against an aggressive Rams defense, the QB has showed enough that one outing doesn't override his positive play through the majority of the campaign.

Grade: F

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Score: 44-32 loss vs. Buffalo Bills

Stat Line: 16 of 28 for 173 yards, one touchdown and an interception; five carries for 39 yards and a score

Baker Mayfield has taken the field and faced down two elite quarterbacks during back-to-back weeks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB came up on the short end in both contests, though.

Mayfield didn't poorly in either meeting, yet he didn't provide enough to help a Buccaneers squad that surrendered over 800 yards of offense during the aforementioned stretch.

"The fight was there, the toughness. It just came down to not making enough plays," Mayfield said after Sunday's loss to the Bills. "There was definitely a lot more points out there for us today."

Tampa Bay has lost three of its last four, and the upcoming contest against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams won't be any easier.

Mayfield continues to say he could do more. He absolutely could, as evidenced by a poor interception against the Bills. At the same time, the Bucs must play complementary football to have an chance against top-notch competition.

Grade: B-

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Score: 16-13 loss vs. Houston Texans

Stat Line: 24 of 37 for 194 yards, a touchdown and a fumble lost

Cam Ward stared down the NFL's best defense and didn't blink. The Tennessee Titans may not have garnered a victory, but he competed hard. The performance showed progress despite the outcome.

Keep in mind, the Titans lost to the Texans by 26 points in Week 4. Tennessee didn't score at all. Ward completed less than 40 percent of his passes that day and threw an interception.

Granted, this year's No. 1 overall draft pick did lose a fumble Sunday on a strip-sack by Will Anderson Jr. A quarterback can't be fully blamed when the entire pocket crumbles around him.

With the game on the line, Ward led an 11-play, 95-yard drive for the tying touchdown with 1:35 left to play. The series included a gorgeous 39-yard pass to tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and placed Tennessee at Houston's 7-yard line. Two players later, Ward connected with Van Jefferson for the touchdown.

Ultimately, the defense let Tennessee down late in the contest.

Grade: B

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Bernat Armangue

Score: 16-13 loss vs. Miami Dolphins

Stat Line: 20 of 30 for 213 yards, one touchdown and one interception; four carries for 49 yards

Marcus Mariota may have some juice left over from his Heisman Trophy days, but it still wasn't enough to snap the Washington Commanders' current six-game losing streak.

The backup quarterback-turned-starter provided the Commanders with their biggest play Sunday in Madrid, when he ran for 44 yards. It provided a glimpse of the athlete who once warranted a top-two draft pick.

But Mariota's performance in Spain will be remembered for the interception he threw in overtime that eventually turned into the Dolphins' game-winning field goal. The veteran quarterback was late and behind his target.

"They covered our first couple of options well," Mariota told reporters after the game. "I tried to get back side to Zach [Ertz]. Guy undercut it and made a play. Unfortunate there, and give credit to him. He made a good play."

Matt Gay not missing a pair of field goals would have prevented overtime. Mariota can't use that as an excuse, though.

Grade: D