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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Three weeks into the 2021 NFL season, and we’ve got shuffles in our quarterback power rankings up and down the top 10.
The first move you’ll notice is that Baker Mayfield fell into the top 10. He didn’t play badly against the Bears as he completed 19 of 31 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown in a 26-6 win.
But Mayfield’s abandonment has nothing to do with him. Josh Allen was just much, much better in Week 3. Allen threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns against Washington, pushing him back into the top 10 after a slow start put him on the outside to start.
Here is my ranking of the top 10 quarterbacks after week 3, as well as the next five in alphabetical order. If a player was in the top 10 last week, their previous ranking will be in brackets next to their name:
Next five
* Joe Burrow, Bengals
* Derek Carr, Raiders (6)
* Justin Herbert, Chargers
* Baker Mayfield, Browns (10)
* Ryan Tannehill, Titans
10. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (7)
Season statistics: 53-87 (60.9%), 761 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT.
If I’m being honest, I was agonizing over the decision between Jackson and Derek Carr for last place. Both are well worth a spot in the top 10. But it shows how good the quarterback game is right now.
Jackson was 16-for-31 with 287 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Lions. But Jackson was in the throes of drops, especially from Marquise Brown. You also can’t say enough about how his pass to Sammy Watkins was the 4th and 19th to set up Justin Tucker’s 66-yard winning goal.
Carr was also excellent against the Dolphins. But what Jackson did in a defining moment for the second game in a row earned him that last spot.
If I were to expand those rankings Carr would be No.11 followed by Justin Herbert at 12 and Mayfield at 13. But it’s been a great year for the quarterfinals, and a big game from Mayfield can get him straight back into the Top 10.
This week: At the Broncos.
9. Josh Allen, Bills (next five)
Season statistics: 79-127 (62.2%), 802 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 INT.
Week 1 seems like an aberration for Allen, and the last two weeks are closer to the norm. Sunday’s victory over Washington was the first time this season that he has completed more than 59 percent of his passes.
The good news is that the bills will pass vulnerable defenses over the next three weeks. They host the Texans followed by prime-time road games in Kansas City and Tennessee.
These last two will be more difficult, especially the one against the Chiefs. But these are also chances for Allen to supplement his statistics.
This week: Home against the Texans.
8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (9)
Season statistics: 86-111 (77.5%), 878 yards, 6 touchdowns, 2 INT.
Prescott continues to perform well on his return from an ankle injury that ended the season last year. He was brilliant against the Eagles again on Monday night, going 21 for 26 for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
A healthy Prescott gives the Cowboys a great opportunity to win the NFC East. They have a one-game lead over Washington and Philadelphia, as well as a quality win over the Chargers.
Improved defense under Dan Quinn has helped tremendously. But getting Prescott back was essential, and he’s shown exactly why so far.
This week: Home against Panthers.
7. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (5)
Season statistics: 63-86 (73.3%), 895 yards, 7 touchdowns, 0 INT.
Wilson had good numbers against the Vikings when he threw for 298 yards on 23 of 32 attempts. But he only had one touchdown in Sunday’s 30-17 loss.
Seattle entered the red zone once, and Wilson and company only had the ball for 24:07. The problem, in addition to the limited possession time, was to finish the practices with points. The Seahawks failed to score for the entire second half.
Things don’t get any easier with a road trip to San Francisco this week.
This week: A 49ers.
6. Kirk Cousins, Vikings (8)
Season statistics: 88-119 (73.9%), 918 yards, 8 touchdowns, 0 INT.
Cousins and the Vikings eventually entered the winning column with a 30-17 victory over Wilson and the Seahawks. He was 30-for-38 for 323 yards and three touchdowns, continuing his sensational start.
So far this season, Cousins has thrown for 300 yards twice, three touchdowns twice and has had a quarterback rating over 120 each of the last two games. The Vikings are 1-2, but Cousins is one of the main reasons they had a shot at winning either of the first two games.
Sunday’s game against the Browns is set to be very intriguing as his team take on former quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski.
This week: Home vs. Browns.
5. Aaron Rodgers, packers
Season statistics: 60-88 (68.2%), 649 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT.
Rodgers looks like his old self and has taken a huge leap to fifth in this week’s standings. He was bad in Week 1 and as good as he was against the Lions in Week 2, he was expected to play well.
His game against the 49ers was great as he threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns. But he saved his best for last, leading his team to 47 yards in the final 37 seconds to set up a Mason Crosby winning basket as the Packers won, 30-28.
This clutch drive is one of the main reasons it took the leap to No.5.
This week: Home against Steelers.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Chefs (3)
Season statistics: 78-111 (70.3%), 940 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT.
Even though the Chiefs are 1-2, Mahomes is still posting good numbers. The problem has been costly interceptions in each of the last two games.
In week two against the Ravens, it was a falling interception that gave Baltimore the momentum to come back and win, 36-35. Against the Chargers on Sunday, he knocked down Travis Kelce, allowing Alohi Gilman to intercept the ball. Justin Herbert found Mike Williams on the next drive for the eventual winner of the match.
Mahomes threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the 30-24 loss. But his interceptions at bad times are worrying for a quarterback who has avoided them for most of this career.
This week: To the Eagles.
3. Kyler Murray, Cardinals (2)
Season statistics: 76-102 (76.5%), 1,005 yards, 7 touchdowns, 4 INT.
Sunday’s 31-19 win at Jacksonville was a two-half story. Even though Murray rushed for their only touchdown of the game in the first quarter, Arizona had just seven points in the first half.
Murray started the offense in the second half as he led them to three straight goals following an interception in the opening practice of the third quarter.
He finished by completing 28 of 34 passes for 316 yards and rushing for just 19. It was a good game, but not enough to get past Tom Brady.
This week: At Rams.
2. Tom Brady, Buccaneers (1)
Season statistics: 97-141 (68.8%), 1,087 yards, 10 touchdowns, 2 INT.
Brady didn’t have a bad game against the Rams by any stretch of the imagination. He completed 41 of 55 passes for 432 yards and a touchdown, and he also rushed for a touchdown. The problem was, Matthew Stafford was much better in the Rams’ 34-24 win. But we’ll get to Stafford later.
The Rams just kept the Buccaneers at bay in the second half, sending Brady and company 2-1.
This week: Among the Patriots.
1. Matthew Stafford, Aries (5)
Season statistics: 66-94 (70.2%), 942 yards, 9 touchdowns, 1 INT.
If there was a September MVP, it would belong to Stafford. Looks like he played in Sean McVay’s offense for 10 years.
Stafford completed 27 of 38 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns as he and the Rams beat the defending Super Bowl champions at home.
Only Russell Wilson has a better quarterback rating than Stafford’s 129.8.
This week: Home against Cardinals.
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