QB Watch Week 10

From the Desk of Eagles Outsider Barry Bowe

SIX QUARTERBACKS

Six of my quarterbacks played in Week 10:

Sam Bradford
Mark Sanchez
Nick Foles
Marcus Mariota
Jameis Winston
Johnnie Manziel

SAM BRADFORD

Sam Bradford fans would like to believe that he continued to trend upward last Sunday against the Dolphins. But that’s hard to determine because Bradford never finished the game.

When he left the game with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter – from the combination of a separated shoulder and concussion symptoms – he’d completed 19 of 25 passes (76%) for 236 yards and one TD – with no INTs. But at that point, the Eagles hadn’t scored since the first quarter and they’d seen their 16-3 first-quarter lead dissipate to 16-13.

Yes, Sam Bradford hooked up with Josh Huff in the first quarter on a remarkable two-yard pitch-and-catch. But other than that, his numbers looked hollow to me – much like his play all season.

How injured is he?

Don’t ask Chip Kelly – he’s not talking. But ESPN’s Ed Werder tweeted this:

So I don’t expect to see Bradford play this week or next. And if Mark Sanchez plays well, I hope I’ll never see Bradford play another game in an Eagles uniform.

MARK SANCHEZ

So Mark Sanchez replaced Bradford – his first action of the season. And he looked good early. So good that I started texting my favorite son Ed:

Sanchez shoulda been playing weeks ago.

But I decided not to hit SEND – not yet.

And Sanchez continued to look good so I held off sending.

And then Sanchez was driving the Eagles toward the winning score. I was ready to hit SEND – but still held off. And then Sanchez threw the fatal interception – and I quickly deleted.

In less than a half, Sanchez went 14-for-23 (61%) for 156 yards – but no TDs and that one horrible INT.

It’ll be interesting to see how Sanchez plays this week and whether or not his play will kick San Bradford to the curb.

THAD LEWIS

With the probability of Sam Bradford’s not dressing in Week 11 against the Buccaneers, third-string quarterback Thad Lewis might dress for the first time as the backup for Mark Sanchez.

NICK FOLES

I’ve made it no secret that I believe Nick Foles is a franchise quarterback and that trading him for Sam Bradford was a mistake – and that’s before we factor in the second-round draft pick.

But my Nicky Football has not been playing well. I record every Rams game and watch it several times and I’ve come to three conclusions:

He seems to be late on his deliveries.
He’s missing open receivers.
Several passes have been dropped.

But Jeff Fisher has been so intent to play a game of field-position and to rely on a strong defense that he’s continually ham-stringing Foles with third-and-longs and making poor play-calls. Screen passes don’t work well on third-and-twelve.

In taking a 37-13 thrashing against the Bears in Week 10, Foles went 17-for-36 (47%) for 200 yards – with no TDs and one INT. So Fisher is benching Nick Foles in upcoming Week 11 versus the Ravens on the road – deciding to go with three-year journeyman Case Keenum who’s won two games in ten starts with the Houston Texans.

Yes, Nick Foles could play better – but Jeff Fisher still can’t coach very well. But I’ll be watching to see how Fisher calls his plays with Case Keenum at quarterback.

MARCUS MARIOTA

Marcus Mariota was on the down-phase of his up-and-down rookie season versus the Panthers last Sunday. He was a lackluster 16-for-24 (67%) for just 185 yards – no TDs and one INT.

However, I’m looking for the up-phase tonight in Week 11 versus the Jaguars. So much so that I’m picking the Titans to upset the Jags in Jacksonville where the Jags are 3-point favorites.

JAMEIS WINSTON

I’ve made it no secret that I believe Jameis Winston will never be more than an average NFL quarterback. And for 59 minutes of his Week 10 versus the Cowboys, he made me look like a prophet:

He went 22-for-39 for 264 yards.
He threw no TDs.
He threw two costly INTs.
Trailing 6-3 with just over one minute remaining, on third-and-goal at the four yard-line, Jameis Winston fumbled at the goal line. DeMarcus Lawrence recovered the loose ball in the end zone for the Cowboys and an apparent touchback that would for all intent and purpose end the game with a Cowboys win and a Bucs loss.

But there was a penalty for defensive holding and the Bucs retained possession of the ball.

Winston scored on a keeper on the next play to snatch victory from the proverbial jaws of defeat.

I still don’t think Winston is very good – but I’m afraid that he and the Bucs will come into Philly this week and help the Eagles find a way to lose.

JOHNNIE MANZIEL

Johnnie Manziel’s performance in last Sunday’s 30-9 trouncing is a perfect example of statistics sometimes being meaningless.

Manziel went 33-for-45 for a career-high 372 yards – more than double his previous high of 182 yards in Week 1 in a 24-13 loss to the Jets.

But he didn’t move the Browns into the end zone until the fourth quarter on the short end of a 24-3 score.

In my opinion, Manziel will never be a front-line starter in the NFL and he causes too many distractions to keep as a backup.

The Browns are on their Bye Week – so we’ll have to wait to see if Josh McCown will be physically able to play in Week 12 – or if Manziel will make his third straight start.

But it doesn’t matter who starts or what team they play, the Browns are a bad football team with not many wins in them.