Everyone has a bad day at the office, including NFL quarterbacks. But for some, Sunday was a nightmare.
From another horrific Bryce Young outing to dual problematic games from last year's two NFC Championship Game quarterbacks, here are the five worst quarterback performances from Week 2.
1. Panthers QB Bryce Young
Watching the second-year Panthers quarterback is a miserable experience. In Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Chargers, he had arguably his worst NFL game. Young finished 18-of-26 for 84 yards and an interception.
But as frustrating as he is to watch, playing with Young must be even harder. Wide receiver Adam Thielen was visibly frustrated when Young failed to see him break open for what could have been a large gain.
Adam Thielen heads the sidelines with visible frustration pic.twitter.com/S9WMTV8yG9
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) September 15, 2024
Panthers reporter Sheena Quick observed that Young's attempt to have a sideline conversation with wideout Diontae Johnson was unsuccessful, perhaps a sign that even his teammates' patience is growing thin.
After that series, it appeared that Bryce Young was trying to talk to Diontae Johnson who either did not hear him or didn't want to talk.
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) September 15, 2024
Young made a terrible decision on his interception, throwing into double coverage.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 15, 2024we'll take that
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Young has only started 18 games in the NFL, but his job security is already in doubt. No No. 1 overall pick has looked as bad as Young since former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, and the numbers back it up.
Per ESPN's David Newton, the Panthers are the first team to have four consecutive games with fewer than 150 passing yards and no touchdown passes since the 2009 Raiders when Russell was their starter.
The Panthers are the first team to have 0 passing TDs AND throw for less than 150 yards in 4 straight games since the 2009 Raiders. JaMarcus Russell started all those games for the Raiders.
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) September 15, 2024
2. 49ers QB Brock Purdy
As it turns out, Christian McCaffrey made Purdy relevant. The Niners QB struggled in the spotlight with McCaffrey (strained calf) injured and was outmatched by his 2023 backup, Sam Darnold.
Minnesota played with the lead for most of the game, forcing San Francisco into a pass-heavy script. That allowed Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores to blitz Purdy aggressively, and the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft was shaky as a result.
Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Purdy was blitzed on 20 of his 44 dropbacks and was sacked a career-high six times.
The Vikings blitzed Brock Purdy on 20 of his 44 dropbacks (45.5%). Didn't all come on blitzes, but overall he was pressured 13 times and took 6 sacks -- the most in his career.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 15, 2024
Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice shared that Purdy was 5-of-8 for 47 yards and an interception against the blitz.
Brock Purdy vs. the blitz today: 5/8, 47 yards, 1 INT, 4 sacks, pressured 7 times, via @NextGenStats.
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 15, 2024
On his interception, Purdy forced the ball into a tight window, and it bounced into Vikings defensive back Josh Metellus' arms, setting Minnesota up at the Niners' 10-yard line. The Vikings scored a touchdown on the next play to go up by 13 in a game they won 23-17.
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024ope! ope! ope! @Vikings with a huge INT
: #SFvsMIN on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/O2GN2DEXqz
Purdy didn't handle McCaffrey's absence or the Vikings' pressure well. San Francisco's loss revealed how much must go right for him to thrive.
3. Lions QB Jared Goff
Goff had several opportunities to be the hero in Sunday's game against the Bucs, which ended in a 20-16 loss. The Lions' final three drives reached as far as the Tampa Bay 27-yard line, but the offense came up short on each possession.
Goff finished 34-of-55 for 307 yards and two interceptions, including arguably the ugliest of Week 2.
oh no lions fans… jared goff pic.twitter.com/bXQ98XNmHr
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) September 15, 2024
With a defensive lineman bearing down on him, Goff threw directly between four Buccaneers defenders, preserving Tampa's four-point lead.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, Goff's inefficient outing is sobering.
4. Colts QB Anthony Richardson
Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, was outplayed by backup Packers quarterback Malik Willis, a 2022 third-round pick (No. 86 overall), in a 16-10 Green Bay win.
The second-year pro's accuracy issues from his time in college at Florida showed up against the Packers, with Richardson finishing the game 17-of-34 (50 percent) for 204 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Richardson's first-quarter interception sailed over wide receiver Alec Pierce's head.
2 games & 2 INTs for McKinney.#INDvsGB pic.twitter.com/D169tBGqv8
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 15, 2024
He showed poor vision on his second interception, forcing the ball to a blanketed Michael Pittman Jr. when rookie Adonai Mitchell was open on the outside.
AD Mitchell wide open with the comeback route. Anthony Richardson throws to the extremely covered Michael Pittman Jr. next to him instead pic.twitter.com/Ogs6lkR0qT
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 15, 2024
The game ended with a whimper when Richardson's Hail Mary attempt was intercepted short of the goal line.
Hail Mary attempt... and the @Packers WIN! #INDvsGB pic.twitter.com/KPoLwtuhZA
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
5. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence lost Sunday's battle of former Clemson national champions to Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, prompting fresh questions about the former No. 1 overall pick's place among the league's best quarterbacks.
Rainy conditions didn't do the Jags quarterback any favors in the 18-13 loss, but those don't absolve him from his ugly game. Lawrence was 14-of-30 for 220 yards, losing his seventh consecutive game as a starter.
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) September 15, 2024Longest active QB losing streaks
Sam Howell 8
Trevor Lawrence 7
Daniel Jones 6 pic.twitter.com/qe0m5WFN6H
More must-reads:
- Panthers QB Bryce Young has historically bad day vs. Chargers
- Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has brutal quote about state of team
- The 'Super Bowl starting QBs' quiz