Week 16 brought a mixed bag of quarterback performances. The Saturday games were excellent, but Sunday brought puzzling quarterback play. Particularly, Drew Lock and Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled mightily in Week 16.
Many quarterbacks are playing for their 2025 roster spots and starting jobs right now. Some of the guys on this list are not doing anything to ensure that they have a job next season.
With so much at stake for these players, no one can afford to have bad performances at this point in the season. The NFL is all about what you have done recently, and you need to leave a good recent impression in the minds of coaches and general managers. Let's see who played the worst in Week 16.
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10. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray finished Week 16 strong, but it was his early performance that landed him on this list. Murray threw an interception and committed a fumble while also throwing for 202 yards and a touchdown. Murray added an impressive touchdown with his legs.
Murray's inconsistencies have been a problem for the Cardinals all season. It led to a loss to the Panthers this week. He will need to ensure that he turns things around next season as the Cardinals hope to make a legitimate playoff push.
Why does Kyler Murray refuse to be good. pic.twitter.com/vhgXA0vo9x
— Chuck Bass (@ChuckFBass) December 22, 2024
9. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford was not horrible in Week 16, however something was just a little off. He only threw for 110 yards and one touchdown. He threw one interception as well.
Wins are all that matter in the NFL and the Rams did just that against the Jets. With the Seahawks losing, the Rams are now in pole position in the NFC West. They completely control their own destiny.
8. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith ends up back on this list after throwing two interceptions against the Vikings this week. His picks included a back-breaking interception as the Seahawks were attempting to drive down the field and tie the game.
Smith's interceptions have sunk the Seahawks on multiple occasions this season. If you cut out those mistakes this week, the Seahawks probably would have won the game.
7. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
It turns out that a couple of solid weeks from Rodgers may have been a bit of a mirage. Rodgers lost a fumble in Week 16 and missed several relatively easy throws. The Jets' offense was only able to muster up nine points in a loss to the Rams as a result.
Rodgers' last couple of weeks of greatness may have given the Jets something to think about in the offseason. However, there are still two more weeks to play and the wheels could fall off again.
6. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Russell Wilson has been hot lately but he has landed on this list in Week 16 after committing two horrible turnovers against the Ravens. Wilson's fumble at the goal line in the first half completely changed the tone of the game and started the Steelers' demise.
The Steelers now find themselves fighting for playoff positioning with the Ravens. They still control their own destiny, but they will need Wilson to start playing like he did earlier in the season.
5. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud played poorly in a very important game for the Texans in Week 16. He threw two interceptions against the Chiefs to push his total to 11 on the season. Multiple interception games have become all too familiar for Stroud this season.
The Texans have wrapped up their division and are likely to receive the No. 4 seed in the AFC. However, this team does not look like a team poised to do much in the playoffs. Stroud lost another target when wide receiver Tank Dell went down as well. Things do not look good for the second-year signal caller.
4. Mason Rudolph, Tennessee Titans
The Titans did not solve their interception issues by inserting Mason Rudolph in the lineup. Rudolph ended up throwing three interceptions as the Titans lost to the Colts.
Rudolph did nearly bring the Titans back in this game. However, the 38-30 final score is closer than the game actually was. Rudolph will need to pick up his play if he wants to land a job in 2025. He is essentially auditioning at this point.
3. Kenny Pickett, Philadelphia Eagles
Kenny Pickett took over for an injured Jalen Hurts in the first half in Week 16. The game completely changed from there as the Commanders hung around long enough to ultimately win the game.
The Eagles struggled without Hurts. Pickett threw an inexcusable interception and the running game suffered without the threat of Hurts. The Eagles are now in a tough position to receive the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Eagles fans: “can we score ?”
Kenny Pickett : pic.twitter.com/4FTfD2ITcS
— 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯 (@xJahstin) December 22, 2024
2. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns
Dorian Thompson-Robinson started off Week 16 in a solid manner. The wheels fell off in the second half against the Bengals. DTR took five sacks and turned the ball over three times in this game.
Thompson-Robinson did nothing to prove that he has evolved since his flurry of poor starts last season. The Browns just want to find out if they have a developmental prospect but this quarterback is not providing much encouragement.
Do the browns need to be investigated for tanking for starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson? pic.twitter.com/c7eMkiJyfl
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) December 22, 2024
1. Drew Lock, New York Giants
Drew Lock was pretty awful in Week 16. He turned the ball over three times. Two of those turnovers were returned for touchdowns. The Giants had no answers for the Falcons.
Lock was plugged into the lineup after a recent roundtable of quarterbacks in New York. It's anybody's guess if he will still be the starter next week. For now, he looks overmatched.
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