With the NFL playoffs here, quarterbacks fall under an intense microscope. Sometimes they pass the tests but other times, they fail, and fail emphatically, which is what we’re looking at right now.
These quarterbacks produced 10 of the worst games in the history of the NFL playoffs.
Frank Filchock vs. Chicago Bears, 1940 NFL Championship Game
No list would be complete without a player from this game, as the Chicago Bears defeated the Washington Redskins 73-0 in the NFL Championship Game.
Sammy Baugh started the game for Washington, passing for 102 yards and two interceptions, eventually giving way to Frank Filchock. Filchock completed only 7-of-23 passes for no touchdowns and five interceptions. That translates to a passer rating of 3.6.
The 73-0 is the most lopsided loss in NFL playoff history, and don’t bet on that record being broken any time soon. A loss that bad can’t be put on any one person, but Filchock’s performance certainly contributed to the rout.
Tony Eason vs. Chicago Bears, Super Bowl XX
Bold prediction time. Both starting quarterbacks in this year’s Super Bowl will complete a pass at some point.
Okay, maybe that doesn’t seem like such a bold prediction but 30 years ago, it didn’t happen. Tony Eason actually reached the Super Bowl before his fellow Quarterback Class of 1983 members John Elway and Jim Kelly, who would represent the AFC in seven of the next eight Super Bowls. While Elway and Kelly lost all of those games, they fared much better than Champaign Tony.
The Patriots lost 46-10, which was at the time the most lopsided loss in Super Bowl History. Eason was 0-6 and was sacked three times before giving way to Steve Grogan.
Jim Everett vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1989 NFC Championship Game
While his opposite number, Joe Montana, played a virtually flawless game, Jim Everett had a rough afternoon in San Francisco.
Everett was 16-of-36 with no touchdowns and three interceptions in a 30-3 loss. He became so shell-shocked by the constant pressure from San Francisco’s pass rush that at one point, Everett fell to the grass, conceding a sack despite not being touched, giving us this beauty a few years later.
This was also the last playoff game for the Los Angeles Rams, as they would not reach the postseason until their 1999 Super Bowl run, which came in St. Louis.
Daunte Culpepper vs. New York Giants, 2000 NFC Championship Game
The Minesota Vikings were beaten into submission in this one, losing 41-0.
The New York Giants scored on their opening drive, recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and scored on the first play of the next possession. So, Daunte Culpepper was down 14-0 from the get-go and was forced into throwing the ball before he ever stepped on the field.
The loss certainly can not be blamed solely on Culpepper, but he didn’t help matters any. Culpepper was 13-of-28 for only 78 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. Just a brutal performance from a guy who was one of the most promising quarterbacks in the game at the time.
Brett Favre vs. St. Louis Rams, 2001 NFC Divisional Round
One of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, Brett Favre has had many great postseason memories. This, however, was not one of them.
The Green Bay Packers received the opening kick and were eventually forced to punt. Sadly, that was one of their better possessions on the afternoon. Favre threw a pick-six on the second pass of Green Bay’s next drive. Unfortunately for Favre and Green Bay, it would not be his last.
Favre finished the day 26-of-44 passing for 281 yards and two touchdowns, which doesn’t look bad. Unfortunately, he also threw six interceptions, with three of them getting returned for a touchdown, leading to a 45-17 loss.
Peyton Manning vs. New York Jets, 2002 AFC Wild Card Round
Another legendary quarterback in a not-so-legendary performance. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts were shut out 41-0 by the New York Jets.
Unlike Favre against the Rams, Manning did not throw a pick-six, but that’s about the only thing that went his way. He finished the game completing 14-of-31 passes for 137 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.
This game also moved his playoff record to 0-3.
Jake Delhomme vs. Arizona Cardinals 2008 NFC Divisional Round
Things started well for the Carolina Panthers, who received the opening kick, marched down the field and scored a touchdown to go up 7-0 against the Arizona Cardinals.
It got much, much worse from that point on.
Jake Delhomme finished 17-of-34 with 205 yards passing, one touchdown, and five interceptions, losing 33-13 at home to a team that would end up in the Super Bowl.
While Delhomme was never mistaken for a Hall of Fame quarterback, he had some nice seasons for the Panthers in the 2000’s, even leading them to within minutes of a Super Bowl win. But his days as a good starting quarterback ended with a dismal performance in this game.
Matt Cassel vs. Baltimore Ravens, 2010 AFC Wild Card Round
In Tom Brady’s stead, Cassel was 10-5 as a starter in 2008 for the New England Patriots and 10-5 two years later for the Kansas City Chiefs.
His performance against the Baltimore Ravens, however, was dismal. Cassel completed half of his passes, going 9-of-18 with only 70 yards passing, no touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The Chiefs did lead early but after that never stood a chance against the Ravens, who beat Kansas City 30-7, outscoring the home team 27-0 after the first quarter.
Tim Tebow vs. New England Patriots, 2011 AFC Divisional Round
The 2011 was a Cinderella season for Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. But after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an overtime thriller in the Wild Card Round, the glass slipper was broken into about 5 million pieces against Tom Brady and the Patriots.
The Pats jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter, forcing Tebow and the Broncos into a pass-happy offense. By the time the dust had settled, Tebow didn’t have any turnovers, but was only 9-26 with no touchdowns. Worse, he had only five rushing attempts for 13 yards and again, no scores.
Denver lost 45-10 in what would turn out to be Tebow’s last start as an NFL quarterback.
Brian Hoyer vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 2015 AFC Wild Card Round
Our most recent entry was a doozy. To be completely fair to Brian Hoyer, the Kansas City Chiefs led throughout, literally scoring on the opening kick (watch here). Because of this, he was forced to throw 34 passes, which is way too many for a quarterback like Hoyer.
His performance was beyond terrible. Hoyer finished the game completing 15-of-34 passes for 136 yards with four interceptions, one lost fumble, and no scores — a historically bad game.
Brian Hoyer: First postseason QB with less than 150 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT since Kerry Collins in the Super Bowl 35 loss to the Ravens.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 10, 2016
By the time the game was winding down, the home fans in Houston were chanting for Brandon Weeden, something that should never happen in an NFL game.