NFL Week 3 has treated us to some impressive QB performances. Tua Tagovailoa just put his stamp on the MVP race. C.J. Stroud, Josh Allen, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy — there are plenty of props to go around.
We have also, however, been treated to a few notable stinkers. Some rotten performances were courtesy of the usual suspects. Others came out of left field. It's only Week 3, so it's too early for sweeping takeaways or genuine panic, but a few Week 3 QBs were bench-worthy.
Despite the early nature of things, we are starting to get a sense of which teams are in for a long season and which teams are on the upswing. There are a few teams for whom record is a poor indicator of potential (the Vikings are a very talented 0-3 team, the Falcons are severely over-accomplished at 2-1), but mostly the standings feel like an accurate representation of the NFL landscape as it currently sits.
Some teams would benefit from an overhaul at the QB position. Some QBs simply need to round into shape, lest they start to feel some heat under their seat.
Here are the QBs we're benching.
NFL QB who deserves to be benched after Week 3: Desmond Ridder, Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are better than expected on defense and blessed with a tremendous set of playmakers on offense. Bijan Robinson looks every bit as advertised (with the exception of a slow Week 3), Tyler Allgeier is a talented RB2, Kyle Pitts has a dream set of physical tools at tight end, and Drake London has WR1 upside.
And yet, the Falcons continue to sludge along offensively. A 2-1 start is nothing to complain about on the surface, but despite a winning start to his career (4-2), it's becoming clear that Desmond Ridder is not ready to quarterback an NFL offense full-time. The Falcons are invested in the Cincinnati product, for better or worse, but his performance over the last two weeks has been highly problematic.
The Falcons only mustered six points in Sunday's loss to Detroit. A lot of credit goes to the Lions' defensive line for pressuring Ridder and completing sealing off the run game, but Ridder continues to miss easy passes and halt Atlanta's momentum with boneheaded mistakes. He completed 21-of-38 passes for 201 yards and zero touchdowns on Sunday. The game effectively ended when Ridder tossed a maddening interception at the two-minute mark in the fourth quarter.
It's still early and the Falcons are tied for first in a winnable NFC South in the Eagles take care of the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, but Ridder looks like the worst arm in the division — heck, maybe the league. For every impressive dart, he leaves a receiver vulnerable over the middle or misses a wide-open man by several feet.
A lot of the buzz around Atlanta centered on the idea that Ridder, while not explosive, at least made the simple plays and operated with poise in the pocket. That has not been the case through three weeks.
NFL QB who deserves to be benched after Week 3: Zach Wilson, Jets
The New York Jets lost a 15-10 snoozefest to the New England Patriots, thanks in large part to Zach Wilson's continued mediocrity under center. The Patriots have a quality defense and Bill Belichick teams are often difficult to throw against, but this isn't a one-off moment for Wilson. He has been below average at every turn.
With a career completion percentage of 55.1 and more interceptions (22) than touchdowns (17), it's a bit curious as to why the Jets continue to invest in Wilson. Obviously, he was supposed to be the backup this season, but the Aaron Rodgers injury thrust the former No. 2 pick right back into the spotlight. He has wilted like a dehydrated flower.
Wilson is a talented athlete with promising mobility and arm strength, but he continues to stumble into turnovers and casual mistakes. He takes way too long in the pocket, an issue amplified by New York's cruddy O-line. It's fair to chalk up 2023 as a gap year while the Jets wait on Rodgers, but there's enough talent on the roster to compete. It's simply a matter of getting a better decision-maker at QB.
There are tempting veterans on the free agent market and, heck, it might be time to give Tim Boyle another look. There's nowhere to go but up for the 1-2 Jets and it's clear as day that Wilson is not capable of leading a winner. He's only 24 years old — patience is a virtue, I know — but it's getting increasingly hard to preach that doctrine when Wilson can't avoid the Mark Sanchez level of memeable mishaps.
NFL QB who deserves to be benched in Week 3: Sam Howell
Sam Howell was a major bright spot for the Washington Commanders during their 2-0 start to the season. He made several impressive throws under pressure and operated successfully in the clutch. The Commanders were rolling toward an upset bid in the NFC East... until the Buffalo Bills came to town in Week 3.
Any preseason concerns about Washington's roster were brought back to the surface during a 37-3 Bills victory, few more prominently than the Sam Howell concern. The second-year QB, who was 3-0 in his career prior to Sunday afternoon, tossed a ghastly four interceptions while completing 19-of-29 passes for 170 yards and zero touchdowns.
It's probably the single worst QB performance of the season to date. It is Howell's fourth career start and there's enough there to preach patience, but the Commanders have to be a bit shellshocked by the UNC product's performance. He just quintupled his career interceptions total and made more than a few Washington fans pull up Jacoby Brissett highlight reels on YouTube.
Brissett is an accomplished vet, the kind of perfectly adequate journeyman QB2 who tends to make young, unproven QBs sweat. The Commanders have no reason to rush progress and Howell's quality performances in Week 1 and Week 2 should carry just as much weight as his stinky Week 3. It's not uncommon for good young QBs to have a rough outing. Howell has better days ahead.
That said... this was a terrible, no good, very bad week for Howell. He can't afford many more performances in this vein.
