A few high-profile NFL quarterbacks put up stinkers in NFL Week 12, which also provided a big opportunity for some young studs to shine.
With plenty of performances on either extreme, we’re taking a look at the best and worst quarterback performances from Sunday’s action.
Best: Sam Darnold, New York Jets
The Jets laid waste to the Oakland Raiders in stunning fashion, blowing out the AFC West club by the score of 34-3. Young Sam Darnold had plenty to do with the victory.
The second-year quarterback has been hot in recent weeks and continued his strong play Sunday. Completing 20-of-29 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns, Darnold added another score on the ground as New York improved to 4-7 on the season and won its third straight game.
Worst: Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
One day after being fined more than a game check for his part in the Myles Garrett incident, Mason Rudolph played so poorly he was benched.
Going against an embattled and winless Cincinnati Bengals squad that hasn’t been dangerous on defense all year, Rudolph could not get anything going offensively. Leading drives that ended with punt, interception, punt, field goal, punt, end of half, punt, Rudolph was pulled in favor of Devlin Hodges early in the third quarter.
Adding insult to injury, Hodges promptly threw a touchdown pass that ended up being the game-winner for the Steelers.
Best: Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Sundays haven’t been fun days very often for Baker Mayfield and the Browns this season. But on Sunday they got a shot at the Miami Dolphins and took full advantage of the opportunity.
Mayfield was on fire and got plenty of help from his teammates. He and Odell Beckham Jr. connected on their first touchdown since Week 2. That was just one of three touchdown passes as Mayfield finished with 327 passing yards and the Browns romped, 41-24.
Worst: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
How poorly did Derek Carr play Sunday against the New York Jets, you might ask? Mike Glennon replaced him…in the third quarter. Jon Gruden had enough of Carr and benched his highly-paid star quarterback in a game the Raiders ultimately lost, 34-3.
Now for the raw numbers: Carr completed just 15-of-27 attempts for 120 net passing yards, and he threw a brutal interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Best: Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers
One week after a career-worst performance against the Atlanta Falcons, Kyle Allen played perhaps his best game in a losing cause against the Carolina Panthers.
Allen completed 23-of-36 passes for 256 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers. He played well enough to win, and the Panthers might have pulled off the upset if not for an unbelievable missed field goal by Joey Slyle late in the fourth quarter.
Worst: Dwayne Haskins, Washington Redskins
Washington won on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. But you’d be hard pressed to say Dwayne Haskins did a heck of a lot to contribute to the 19-16 victory.
The rookie continues to take his lumps. He completed well under half his passes (13 of 29) for 144 net passing yards. Haskins also turned the ball over twice — once on a fumble and once through the air.
If not for an incredible kickoff return for a touchdown by Steven Sims Jr., the Redskins would have lost this game.
Best: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Both quarterbacks in the Panthers-Saints game were slinging it well. Not surprisingly, Drew Brees found plenty of success against a soft Carolina pass defense on Sunday, and thanks to a tremendous final possession, his team came out victorious, 34-31.
The savvy veteran completed 30-of-39 passes for 311 yards with three touchdowns, one interception and an incredible finish on the game-winning drive. On that drive, he completed 6-of-7 passes for 62 yards before spiking the ball with seconds remaining — leading to the game-winning field goal.
Worst: Brandon Allen, Denver Broncos
All the explosiveness Brandon Allen brought to the Denver offense in recent weeks did not travel with the Broncos to Buffalo this weekend. The former sixth-round pick out of Arkansas played exceedingly poorly on the road as Denver was blown out by the score of 20-3.
Completing just 10-of-25 passes, Allen netted an incredible 49 yards through the air when you take into account his four sacks for 33 yards. He also threw into traffic in the red zone on a pass that was ultimately picked off by Tre’Davious White. That turnover killed a promising drive when Buffalo led by just six points late in the second quarter.
Best: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Playing as close to a perfect game as you’ll see at the NFL level, Ryan Tannehill sparked a huge 42-20 win for the Titans over AFC South rival Jacksonville to improve to 6-5 on the season.
Tannehill completed all but four of his 18 attempts, going for 259 yards and two touchdowns.
The former Miami Dolphins first-rounder also pitched in plenty on the ground, rushing for 40 yards and two more touchdowns in the blowout victory.
Worst: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
Playing without multiple starters, including receivers Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor, Carson Wentz had perhaps the worst game of his professional career Sunday at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
The game was very winnable, thanks to poor play by Russell Wilson and a stellar effort by Malcolm Jenkins and the Philly defense. Unfortunately, Wentz self-destructed time and time again. The high-priced franchise centerpiece was so off target in this game that he literally would have missed the barn with a handful of rice.
All told, Wentz was responsible for four turnovers — two fumbles lost and two interceptions in a game the Eagles lost by one score, 17-9.