QB Report Cards for 2026 NFL Week 9

NFL quarterbacks are on the move, both literally and figuratively.

The Baltimore Ravens already traded for Jacoby Brissett to fill in for the injured Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. While Brissett got up to speed, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano took the reins of Baltimore's offense for at least one game.

The Indianapolis Colts' Daniel Jones and Las Vegas Raiders' Kirk Cousins have been rumored a potential trade targets before Tuesday's deadline. The Arizona Cardinals' Gardner Minshew II, Cleveland Browns' Shedeur Sanders and Philadelphia Eagles' Joe Milton III moved into their respective starting lineups for the first time this past weekend.

The Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow and Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love continue to move up and surpass others amongst this season's the MVP race.

All of this movement, potential or otherwise, is exactly why Bleacher Report grades every quarterback performance each week of the NFL season to track how the position changes throughout the campaign.

Arizona Cardinals: Gardner Minshew II

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Score: 17-3 loss vs. Seattle Seahawks

Stat Line: 21 of 30 for 166 yards

The Arizona Cardinals' decision to make a midseason switch at quarterback was only a matter of time. Gardner Minshew II providing a spark when called into a game was another expected outcome. However, Minshew's capabilities when asked to actually start are suspect.

The Seattle Seahawks also had a backup-turned-starter in the lineup. Drew Lock outplayed Minshew. Granted, the Seahawks defense is a completely different animal compared to the Dallas Cowboys unit that Minshew faced a week earlier. Even so, the Cardinals made the move with expectations of getting something different at the game's most important position. Instead, a prepared opponent led to yet another defeat.

Minshew did have his throwing arm and wrist bent back just before halftime. He finished the contest, but the potential injury could open the door for rookie Carson Beck to eventually enter the lineup—whether Minshew is available or not.

Grade: D

Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr.

AP Photo/Doug Benc

Score: 34-17 loss vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Stat Line: 20 of 31 for 162 yards, a touchdown and an interception; three carries for 50 yards

Initially, Michael Penix Jr. provided the Atlanta Falcons offense with boost when he took over as stater in Week 3. The Falcons immediately won two games. Since then, Atlanta lost four of its next five and the warts found within Penix's game have surfaced.

Specifically, the third-year signal-caller has performed horribly when pressured. According to ESPN Research (h/t Marc Raimondi), Penix has completed 18 percent of his passes when pressured. He completed only one of nine attempts when facing the Cincinnati Bengals' oncoming rush.

"We know what happened on that field. We know that's not who we want to be this season," Penix told reporters. "We have to put that on display if we want to win football games. We have to play our football, and if we do that, we will love the results."

Grade: D

Baltimore Ravens: Joe Fagnano

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Score: 33-10 loss vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stat Line: 10 of 18 for 60 yards and two interceptions

Joe Fagnano made his first career and likely last start of the 2026 season during Thursday Night Football against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Baltimore Ravens indicated exactly how much they wanted to rely on the undrafted free agent when the team's offense opened the contest in a wildcat formation, with Derrick Henry behind center.

The Ravens brought in Jacoby Brissett for a reason, and Fagnano did nothing during a spotlight opportunity for the organization to second-guess its path without Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley in the lineup.

"[Brissett is ] going to bring his experience and the time he's spent in the league, I think that will bode well for us," left tackle Ronnie Stanley told reporters. "But there's a lot of things that we need to fix on our end. I don't think anyone can just come in and fix all of the problems."

Grade: F

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Score: 26-21 loss vs. Denver Broncos

Stat Line: 28 of 39 for 276 yards, three touchdowns, an interception and a fumble lost

Bryce Young can't help the fact officials replayed a turnover on a previous play after the Carolina Panthers already snapped the ball. The quarterback also can't help the fact his tight end accidentally deflected the ball that turned into a miraculous end-zone interception. He can't even help the fact his left tackle was beaten and the Denver Broncos' Nik Bonitto swiped the ball from behind to create a fumble.

Young did play well enough for the Panthers to earn a fourth-quarter lead only to see it slip away after the game turned on that fateful interception. Despite another setback, the Panthers still technically sit atop the NFC South standings, even with a 3-5 record.

"Yeah, of course, (this) hasn't been the most fun stretch, but we're in the middle of the season," Young told reporters. "There will be ebbs and flows. We always have to have that next play, next day, next week mentality, and I'm super fortunate to be in a locker room like this."

Grade: B

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Score: 27-24 win vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stat Line: 22 of 37 for 279 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions

The lyrics to Metallica's King Nothing feel appropriate after Caleb Williams' performance Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Then it all crashes down and you break your crown
And you point your finger, but there's no one around

The Bears escaped with a victory despite every effort to give away the game. However, the movement to anoint Williams the NFL's next great quarterback may have been a tad premature.

To be fair, Williams has been exceptional for stretches this season. But he made three terrible decisions Sunday that resulted in interceptions. A fourth came off a deflection. How Williams responds coming out of this contest will be the most telling aspect of his potential ascension toward superstardom.

"I'm going to throw until I can't throw anymore," Williams told reporters. "That's how I live. I work my tail off to be in this position. I'll never not throw the ball. I could throw a hundred picks in one game, but if it comes down to it, I'm gonna throw that pass to Colston, or if there's a tighter window I'm going to break it in there."

Grade: D+

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow

AP Photo/Francisco Seco

Score: 34-17 loss vs. Atlanta Falcons

Stat Line: 24 of 29 for 271 yards and three touchdowns; three carries for seven yards and a score

Joe Burrow understands the assignment. More importantly, he can deliver.

"I wanted to come out and put on a show for everybody and show what the excitement of the NFL can be," Burrow told reporters after playing in his first international game. "And the NFL is really all about the stars and players making big-time plays. And so you saw Ja'Marr Chase, you saw me, you see Tee Higgins, you saw a lot of great players out there doing great things. And hopefully people took notice."

During the league's second-ever game in Madrid, Burrow completed 82.8 percent of his passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for another score. In doing so, Burrow became the fifth player in NFL history to produce four touchdowns in a four straight games, according to ESPN Insights.

Grade: A+

Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Score: 23-22 loss vs. New Orleans Saints

Stat Line: 19 of 31 for 297 yards and two touchdowns

The Cleveland Browns followed the same formula Sunday that previously led to a winning record. Against the New Orleans Saints, Shedeur Sanders failed to deliver when it mattered.

Sanders made his first start of the season since Deshaun Watson wasn't cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol until Saturday. Once again, the Browns offense sputtered during the first half. However, Sanders and Co. got things going later in the contest.

Specifically, Sanders provided a different dynamic as a passer compared to Watson. As NFL Researcher noted, the second-year signal-caller completed all three of his deep passes for 154 yards. Comparatively, Watson completed only eight deep passes for 272 yards through the first eight games.

However, Sanders' scramble during the two-point conversion failed to create anything positive.

"Yeah, but all that's on me because I scrambled on that," Sanders told reporters. "... I'd say to even be able to get in that position was amazing and I was truly thankful to get to that point. And the moment never felt big. It always felt the same for me, so that's how I know I'm growing as a person and growing as a quarterback in this league. Yeah, so next time we get in that situation, I will have a better plan on what to do."

Grade: C

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Score: 27-23 win vs. Indianapolis Colts

Stat Line: 21 of 34 for 335 yards, two touchdowns and a fumble lost

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys offense made life extremely difficult on themselves throughout Sunday's contest against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Cowboys committed 14 penalties for 153 yards, which allowed the Colts to remain in the contest despite being outgained by 237 yards. When it was all said and done, the Cowboys placed the ball in Prescott's hands and the quarterback delivered.

"At the end of the day, (it's) a win. That's all I'm trying to do. That's all we can control," Prescott told reporters. "Individually, doing your part, trying to be efficient, disciplined and getting to win. And obviously when you're not as clean as you want to be, disciplined as you want to be, you make it tougher on yourself. Sometimes you can overcome it. Sometimes you can't. Today we did. Yeah, don't want them all to be this close, don't want it like that. But I've said it before, if I can get the ball in my hands with an opportunity to win the game, I'll take it that way."

Grade: B+

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Score: 26-21 win vs. Carolina Panthers

Stat Line: 25 of 37 for 237 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

The Denver Broncos' Captain Comeback did what he almost always does: Lead his team to another victory after trailing in the fourth quarter.

Granted, the Broncos were only down one point entering Sunday's final frame against the Carolina Panthers. Bo Nix and Co. immediately responded with a touchdown drive and didn't need last-minute heroics to secure the team's latest victory.

However, Nix's late-game play is no longer a bug; it's a feature. As CBS Sports' Todd Fuhrman noted, Nix's "9.1 career yards per attempt when down 1-8 pts in fourth quarters is the best in the NFL since 2000" among qualifying quarterbacks. Objectively, Nix is simply a better quarterback when trailing late in games.

"I think we're just comfortable in that moment—when things get close at the end of the game," Nix told reporters. "... I'm just glad we're on this side of winning them and not in a streak of losing them."

Grade: B

Detroit Lions: Jared Goff

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Score: 19-9 win vs. Miami Dolphins

Stat Line: 17 of 25 for 170 yards and an interception

For once, the Detroit Lions offense was able to lean on its defense to do the job, thus reducing the pressure placed on Jared Goff and Co. to perform at an elite level.

"We've cleaned a lot up," head coach Dan Campbell said of the defensive performance. "Guys are trusting what they're being taught, they're executing it and with that execution comes confidence."

Detroit's defensive improvement came at the right time. After a scorching hot start, Goff threw for under 180 yards in back-to-back games. His touchdown-less performance Sunday was his first since Week 12 of the 2024 campaign.

From this point forward, the Lions must do a better job of playing complementary football, especially with an international game next weekend before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' aggressive defense then a big meeting with the Chicago Bears.

Grade: C-

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Score: 45-27 win vs. New England Patriots

Stat Line: 23 of 29 for 372 yards and three touchdowns

No NFL team has asked its quarterback to shoulder more responsibility this season than the Green Bay Packers, and Jordan Love has responded with resounding success.

Love, who currently leads the league with 2,618 passing yards, has dealt with a rotating offensive line and non-existent ground game for the majority of this season. Yet, the quarterback continues to thrive.

During Sunday's outing against the New England Patriots, Love torched the opposing secondary and was particularly effective when pushing the ball down the field. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Love completed six of eight passes of 20 or more air yards for 235 yards and a touchdown. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden became the first Green Bay teammates since Don Hutson and Andy Uram in 1942 to produce 150 or more receiving yards and at least one touchdown reception in the same game, per NFL Researcher.

"Phenomenal," Golden said of his quarterback. "Just being able to play with a guy like that is a blessing."

Currently, Love should be the first name mentioned as the frontrunner for the 2026 MVP award.

Grade: A+

Houston Texans: CJ Stroud

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Score: 44-22 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Stat Line: 21 of 35 for five touchdowns and an interception; two carries for 20 yards

At this point in the season, CJ Stroud has provided a large enough sample size to show he's the Houston Texans' long-term answer at quarterback. Granted, this pressing question shaped the Texans' past offseason, because the organization didn't know whether Stroud was worthy of a mega-contract extension. Clearly, he is.

With Sunday's five-touchdown performance against the lowly Los Angeles Chargers, Stroud is the only quarterback in the league with at least 2,200 passing yards and 16 touchdown passes yet only two or fewer interceptions. His 104.8 quarterback rating also ranks fifth among quarterbacks with six or more starts.

Plus, Stroud handled business against a winless opponent despite being sick entering the contest.

"I don't know what I had, but was not feeling good," Stroud told reporters. "My teammates really helped me. Just to have that type of performance under the weather a little bit was to me a testament to our team and our resilience."

Grade: A

Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Score: 27-23 loss vs. Dallas Cowboys

Stat Line: 20 of 34 for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception

The Indianapolis Colts are now 2-7 and Sunday's loss ended in a manner that's become all too familiar, with a back-breaking interception thrown by Daniel Jones.

The Dallas Cowboys did everything in their power to hand the Colts a victory. Jones and Co. couldn't capitalize. The quarterback's play is a big reason why the Colts have struggled so mightily.

Last season, Jones' decision-making and ability to orchestrate Shane Steichen's offense were impeccable. His regression this season has been eye-opening. Alec Pierce's absence can't explain away everything.

The Colts simply can't threaten a defense beyond 10 yards down the field. Even when Jones attempts to drive the ball vertically, those passes have little-to-no chance of being completed. The issue doesn't fall entirely on the team's remaining wide receivers, either, not when the team still has Josh Downs, Keenan Allen and tight end Tyler Warren on the roster.

Much like the end of his time with the New York Giants, Jones' confidence appears to be shattered. If an opportunity arises to trade Jones, the Colts should leap at a chance to do so, then see what Anthony Richardson Sr. can do for the rest of the season.

Grade: F

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Score: 33-10 win vs. Baltimore Ravens

Stat Line: 16 of 26 for 242 yards and a touchdown

In recent weeks, the Jacksonville Jaguars leaned on running back Bhaysul Tuten. However, the Jags' running game didn't get going against the Baltimore Ravens. As a team, Jacksonville averaged 2.6 yards per game during the Thursday night affair.

Instead, Trevor Lawrence was able to shoulder the offense thanks to some precision throws.

"I just think he was very on when it was really a game," head coach Liam Coen said of Lawrence. "When it was mattering and things were going and it's a back-and-forth football game early on, he was extremely sharp, accurate and played, again, a really solid football game for us."

Jacksonville's signal-caller entered the past weekend's action with the NFL's highest quarterback rating among qualifiers.

Grade: A

Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Score: 35-12 win vs. New York Jets

Stat Line: 23 of 31 for 242 yards, two touchdowns and a lost fumble

The Kansas City Chiefs handled the New York Jets and running back Kenneth Walker III got back on track after back-to-back down performances. However, the state of Patrick Mahomes' throwing arm was the primary discussion point coming out of Sunday's victory.

Rookie David Bailey bent Mahomes' throwing arm backward and caused a fumble. Miraculously, the quarterback finished the contest despite some obvious discomfort. Though the majority of his passes still remained at or near the line of scrimmage.

"From the stories you hear, whenever you can grab the ball and try to throw it, you can't throw," Mahomes told reporters when asked about a potential elbow injury. "Once I threw the football, I knew it wasn't, hopefully, I haven't done the test yet, it wasn't ligament-type stuff, it was more muscle-type stuff."

Grade: B

Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins

AP Photo/Justine Willard

Score: 38-17 loss vs. San Francisco 49ers

Stat Line: 22 of 32 for 216 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions

The clock is ticking and its about to strike midnight for Kirk Cousins as the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback.

The Raiders have now lost five of their last six contests. Cousins only added to the team's problems Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Klint Kubiak tried to excuse Cousins plays to a degree by telling reporters, "When you're in position to throw the ball every down, starting in the second quarter, you're going to throw interceptions."

While true, Cousins still threw a pick-six before the game was out of hand. At that point, the third quarter had just started and the Raiders were down 11 points. Maybe the following two interceptions were a bit more excusable, but that one certainly wasn't.

"When you get behind, you try to get it all back in one play, and it's hard to be patient," Cousins said after the contest. "And I just probably needed to stay a little more patient and be okay with not getting it all back at one time."

Grade: F

Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert & DJ Uiagalelei

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Score: 44-22 loss vs. Houston Texans

Stat Line: Herbert, 13 of 23 for 193 yards, a touchdown and an interception; Uiagalelei, two of seven for 24 yards and a touchdown

As if this season couldn't get any worse for Justin Herbert, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback is now dealing a potential broken finger on his non-throwing hand, which caused him to leave Sunday's contest.

Of course Herbert is banged up after being sacked eight times by the Houston Texans. At this point, the Chargers offense is completely dysfunctional. The group may have finally found the end zone this past weekend, but it was already trailing by 29 points in the fourth quarter.

For all intents and purposes, Los Angeles' season is done after its 0-8 start. The coaching staff is frantic to make changes in any attempt to keep their quarterback upright and healthy. Up until now, that effort has been a complete failure.

"Too many, too many times," Harbaugh said when asked about the sacks. "Making adjustments. Made adjustments at halftime and will continue to do everything in our power to keep him protected."

Grade: D

Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Score: 20-13 win vs. Washington Commanders

Stat Line: 26 of 43 for 228 yards, a touchdown and an interception

When in doubt, throw it to Puka Nacua. The approach is exactly what Matt Stafford did during the Los Angeles Rams' victory over the Washington Commanders. Nacua caught 14 passes on 19 targets for 150 yards. Comparatively, the rest of the Rams' receivers caught 12 passes in total.

"He was awesome," head coach Sean McVay told reporters. "That's one of the things that we want to be able to show as coaches, is show confidence to come right back to you. He made a bunch of plays. We needed all 14 of those catches."

Stafford should be grateful for Nacua, because the reigning NFL MVP doesn't look like the same quarterback this year. His ability to challenge all three levels of the field is erratic. The Rams just hope the 38-year-old still has enough to make one final push toward a championship.

Grade: C+

Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Score: 19-9 loss vs. Detroit Lions

Stat Line: 13 of 25 for 128 yards and an interception; two carries for seven yards

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis was hampered due to a groin injury and it became obvious throughout the meeting with the Detroit Lions.

"It was tight today, you could see it," Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley told reporters. "He wasn't quite able to go full speed."

Willis' seven rushing yards limited an already overmatched Miami offense. As a passer, the Dolphins signal-caller struggled. Willis completed 52 percent of his passes for 128 yards. It's the fourth time this season Miami's QB1 failed to throw for at least 200 yards.

Even with Sunday's performance, the Lions still left Sunday's action with the game's worst pass defense. Yet Willis and his receivers were incapable of doing more.

Grade: F

New England Patriots: Drake Maye

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Score: 45-27 loss vs. Green Bay Packers

Stat Line: 21 of 38 for 299 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions

Unlike Sunday's counterpart, Jordan Love, the New England Patriots' Drake Maye hasn't been as effective with a subpar surrounding cast. Maye has proven he can take on a lot within the team's offensive scheme. At the same time, he begins to press too much and starts with the hero-ball mentality.

This approach has hurt the Patriots, because Maye continued to struggle against the best opposition. When facing top-10 defenses this season, the Patriots' quarterback tends to become a shrinking violet. Maye made numerous poor decisions Sunday and stared down some of his targets, allowing the Packers' defensive backs to make plays on the ball.

"We haven't had a clean, turnover-free game yet," Maye told reporters. "It starts with me. It's one of the biggest differences between winning and losing football games."

Grade: D

New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Score: 23-22 win vs. Cleveland Browns

Stat Line: 21 of 35 for 265 yards and a touchdown; 10 carries for 51 yards

Tyler Shough's age was considered a slight during the NFL draft evaluation process. He spent seven seasons at the collegiate level before finally being drafted in the 2025 class. Now, the 27-year-old starting quarterback brings a certain level of maturity to the New Orleans Saints.

"I think there's an emotional stability, an ability to take away all the things that happened in the past and be present in the moment," head coach Kellen Moore told reporters. "And I think Tyler does a phenomenal job of that."

To Moore's point, the Saints started slowly Sunday but scored touchdowns during their final two offensive possessions (excluding a fourth-quarter kneel-down). During those series, Shough completed eight of 11 passes, including the game-winning touchdown to tight end Juwan Johnson.

Grade: C+

New York Giants: JJ McCarthy & Jameis Winston

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Score: 19-11 win vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Stat Line: McCarthy, 12 of 19 for 127 yards and 22 rushing yards; Winston, six of eight for 71 yards and a touchdown

The New York Giants just keep finding ways to win. The team needed both of its quarterbacks to contribute against the rival Philadelphia Eagles.

JJ McCarthy left the contest after a big hit with what looked to be a hip injury. During McCarthy's absence, Winston led a touchdown drive. McCarthy returned to the field, gutted out the rest of the game and even ran for a first down on 3rd-and-10 to extend a third-quarter drive that resulted in three points.

"It was a big first down and getting it with my legs, by (any) means," McCarthy told reporters. "We were doing whatever we can to win this game, and that was obviously a big play where I needed to step up, and I'm happy we did that."

At 5-2-1, the Giants own a solid lead in the NFC East since no other divisional opponents currently claims a winning record. Keep in mind, Jaxson Dart hasn't played since Wee 2 and McCarthy wasn't even on the team until late September. Even so, New York continues to find a way no matter who's behind center.

Grade: B

New York Jets: Geno Smith

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Score: 35-12 loss vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Stat Line: 18 of 32 for 165 yards

If these grades hinged on physicality, Geno Smith's tackle after Braelon Allen's second-quarter fumble would have easily earned an 'A+' for the effort. However, these grades are based on an individual's week-to-week abilities to play the quarterback position.

In Smith's case, the Jets have lost four straight games and the squad's performance continues to decline. Garrett Wilson didn't play Sunday due to injury, which created a butterfly effect. The Jets offense lost its explosiveness and relied on receivers creating after short pass attempts. Even so, Smith's 56.3 completion percentage and 165 passing yards were his second-lowest outputs of the season.

"We're frustrated with him... he's been doing very well distributing the ball and leading this offense," running back Breece Hall told reporters. "He definitely deserves for us to play better for him."

Grade: C

Philadelphia Eagles: Joe Milton III

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Score: 19-11 loss vs. New York Giants

Stat Line: 18 of 34 for 169 yards and a fumble lost; nine carries for 64 yards

The Philadelphia Eagles started their third quarterback this season to provide a spark. Also, Tanner McKee was dealing with a cracked rib. Enter Joe Milton III. He fared as well as those who proceeded him, and the Eagles lost their seventh straight game.

Milton, who was starting his first NFL game, faced consistent pressure and wasn't able to unleash the cannon strapped to his right shoulder. Instead, the Eagles' quarterback lead his team with 64 rushing yards. The Giants sacked Milton seven times and hit him on 11 different occasions.

"Man, the Giants played great today," Milton told reporters. "They had a great defensive (effort) and great players over there. What they did today was just pressure and play over top."

Grade: D

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy

AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg

Score: 38-17 win vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Stat Line: 17 of 25 for 232 yards, two touchdowns and an interception; seven carries for 40 yards and a score

Prior to Sunday's meeting with the San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes said the following about the opposing quarterback, "[Brock] Purdy is having a heck of a season. You just have to know everything that he's doing. He's an on-time quarterback. You've got to be on your P's and Q's."

Subsequently, Purdy completed 68 percent of his passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. One instance of an imperfect pass led to an underneath defender snatching an interception. Otherwise, the Niners had the game in hand through all four quarters.

A caveat does exist within Purdy's game. His scrambling ability can't be overlooked. His 40 rushing yards Sunday were a season-high.

Grade: B+

Seattle Seahawks: Drew Lock

AP Photo/Kevin Ng

Score: 17-3 win vs. Arizona Cardinals

Stat Line: 19 of 28 for 175 yards and a touchdown

Sam Darnold wasn't available Sunday due to a quad injury. Drew Lock re-entered the Seattle Seahawks' starting lineup and continued his outstanding relief performance from earlier this season.

However, Lock also suffered an oblique injury during the game. He played through the pain and finished the contest. Lock's status for next week's contest against the Las Vegas Raiders is questionable. Even if he doesn't play, Seattle's QB2 already helped the Seahawks win three games this season.

"That dude's a beast, man," safety Julian Love said when asked about Lock's performance. "He's so tough. And, just so cool. Nothing fazes him, no matter what. He's confident, he has swagger. He plays offense like a defensive player. I think that's why all of us really love him, especially on defense."

Grade: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Score: 27-24 loss vs. Chicago Bears

Stat Line: 18 of 32 for 243 yards and two interceptions

Well, Baker Mayfield actually completed a pass this past weekend unlike his previous outing. That's about the only positive coming out of Sunday's primetime matchup against the Chicago Bears.

The Bears kept handing the Buccaneers opportunity after opportunity thanks to five turnovers. Those led to only 10 points. Though a tying touchdown drive came late in the fourth quarter after a Luther Burden fumble. Tampa Bay made its way into the end zone thanks to a couple of Bucky Irving runs.

"We gotta capitalize on [those turnovers]," Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told reporters. "We gotta score points and we can't give them the ball back."

Mayfield's performance provided more bad than good, specifically a pick-six that gave the Bears an 11-point second-half lead.

Grade: D

Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Score: 20-13 loss vs. Los Angeles Rams

Stat Line: 24 of 35 for 274 yards, a touchdown and a fumble lost

Jayden Daniels summed up the Washington Commanders' performance as simply as he could.

"Myles Garrett happened," Daniels told reporters.

Garrett returned from injury to play his second game with the Los Angeles Rams. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year terrorized Daniels throughout the contest. Due to continuing issues along the Commanders' offensive line, Garrett dominated and registered three sacks.

To make matters worse, two of Washington's top three wide receivers—not including Terry McLaurin, who's already out for the season—weren't available due to injuries. The Commanders weren't overly effective or committed to running the ball, either.

Thus, Daniels had a difficult day, particularly during the second half, which is why Washington's halftime lead disappeared.

Grade: C