Analysis

10/25/23

23 min read

NFL Week 8 Quarterback Power Rankings: Herbert Begins to Tumble

By Derrik Klassen

Film Analyst

After last week's offensive tire fire across the league, quarterbacks fought back in Week 7. 

This week, we saw some of the best performances from a handful of quarterbacks across the league. Patrick Mahomes put on a light show with Travis Kelce against the Chargers. Lamar Jackson revved up his MVP case with a completely dominant performance vs an up-and-coming Lions defense. 

Jalen Hurts and Kirk Cousins showcased their best ball of the season in primetime. Hell, even Mac Jones battled back from a rough stretch to have his best game of the season to upset the Bills. 

This was a much-needed "mouthwash" week for quarterbacks around the NFL. 

Week 8 Quarterback Rankings

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Previous Rankings: 1 

Patrick Mahomes was exquisite against the Chargers on Sunday. Save for one or two weird misfires, Mahomes was lights out. Andy Reid called a beautiful game to abuse the second level of the Chargers defense, and Mahomes executed to near perfection. 

Mahomes was also in peak form under pressure. When things got tight in the pocket, he had no issue stepping up or around bodies to get throws off. Mahomes bailed from the pocket to make a handful of sweet plays, too. 

The reigning MVP converted two huge third downs via scramble and found Marquez Valdes-Scantling for multiple explosive plays when in creation mode outside the pocket. 

The Chargers aren't exactly the '85 Bears, but this is a good game for a young Kansas City Chiefs offense to build on. 

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Previous Ranking: 2 

Even the best quarterbacks aren't prone to getting Bill Belichick'd. 

That was the story for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills offense on Sunday. The Patriots crushed the pocket on Allen constantly and didn't give him much time to unleash his arm down the field. 

Allen did an awesome job finding outlets and beating the blitz with quick passes, but that wasn't enough to string together enough scoring drives to outduel a Patriots offense that randomly had their best day of the season. 

Allen didn't have one of those S-tier games we know he can, but he was good. The final result just wasn't indicative of that—no reason to move Allen from his spot. 

3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Previous Ranking: 3 

Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your enemies — if you wish. 

Lamar Jackson will win MVP. 

What we saw from Jackson on Sunday was special. Jackson was untouchable in the pocket and calm as ever surveying the field. Jackson was almost flawless in his operation against the Lions, whether in rhythm or outside the pocket. He couldn't step a foot wrong; every throw was on the money, no matter how short or far. 

The real kicker is that the offense around Jackson finally lived up to the billing. Jackson has been going Super Saiyan all year, but it wasn't until this week's game that the coaches and players around him made good on that. 

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken pieced together a beautiful game plan, and all of the Baltimore Ravens' skill players delivered, even down to guys like Nelson Agholor and Patrick Ricard. 

>> READ: Lamar's MVP Campaign Begins

4. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Previous Ranking: 5 

The Jacksonville Jaguars offense is in a weird spot, but that's no fault of Trevor Lawrence. 

Lawrence has been exceptionally efficient this season. He's automatic in the 1-10-yard area. Lawrence knows how to pinpoint a defense's weakness pre-snap and plays with all the snappy timing and arm talent necessary to execute at a high level. 

The issue is that's all the Jaguars offense has right now, and we saw that on Thursday against the Saints. Lawrence completed just two throws beyond 15 yards. We know Lawrence can make every throw on the field consistently. The Jaguars haven't found the right ways to make those throws available. 

Calvin Ridley was supposed to provide an answer, but the Jaguars are mildly misusing him. Ridley has been solid, and he's cleared up space underneath because of his vertical presence, but he hasn't actually delivered many explosive moments down the field. 

The Jaguars need to do a better job of getting him off press coverage and giving him free releases so Lawrence can uncork it to him down the field more often. 

>> READ: Lawrence, Jaguars Can Get Even Better

5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Previous Ranking: 4

Two things can be true at once: There's a lot wrong with the Los Angeles Chargers offense outside of the quarterback, and Justin Herbert is playing some of the worst ball of his career. 

The Chargers offensive line is still a problem. They've tried to throw down the field more this season, but the poor protection inhibits their ability to do it. The Chargers’ receivers also don't have juice. 

Keenan Allen is a good player, and Josh Palmer isn’t a bad role player, but nobody on the roster has threatening speed or playmaking ability. It's a slow, constipated offense with below-average line play. 

However, Herbert has underperformed as an individual over the past two weeks. This week's loss to the Chiefs wasn't as bad as the meltdown against the Cowboys the week before, but Herbert isn't as sharp and accurate as he typically is. 

I need to see Herbert struggle (relatively) for more than two weeks before moving him, but I am mildly concerned. 

6. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Previous Ranking: 6 

The Los Angeles Rams lost again, but Matthew Stafford is still the primary reason this young roster is even in games to begin with. 

Stafford was dealing early in the game, per usual. He spammed throws to Puka Nacua all over the field. Stafford found Nacua on the crossing routes they usually hit and a gnarly downfield shot on the left sideline. 

Stafford wasn't perfect, though. The interception he threw to T.J. Watt was a head-scratcher. The Steelers used a fairly routine zone coverage, and Stafford just threw it right into Watt's zone, perhaps in disbelief an edge rusher could make up so much ground in space. 

But, like I said, Stafford is why the Rams are in these games. He's playing football at a high level and taking the chances necessary for a relatively weak roster to punch above its weight. 

7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Previous Ranking: 7 

The Dallas Cowboys’ bye week came at the perfect time. After the whiplash of the 49ers blowout and the win over the Chargers, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys could use the breather. 

We'll see how they fare coming out of the bye against a nameless but feisty Rams defense. 

8. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Previous Ranking: 8 

Jalen Hurts needed that Sunday night game. 

After an up-and-down start to the season, Hurts played his best game of the year against the Dolphins. A pesky interception ruins the box score, but that was a wonky play at the line of scrimmage. That's not the kind of interception where you worry the quarterback will make the same mistake again. 

Aside from that, Hurts was dealing. He kind of avoided the middle of the field, which has always been his M.O., but he was dicing the Dolphins up outside the numbers to every level of the field. 

Hurts also came through at the end with a dagger to A.J. Brown in double coverage. Brown ran straight down the field through a double team, and Hurts hit him in the breadbasket, setting the Philadelphia Eagles up for a touchdown to seal the game. 

That's what we want to see more of from Hurts. Hopefully, the continued growth and comfort of new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson will get this out of Hurts more often moving forward. 

9. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

Previous Ranking: 9 

Geno Smith had a typical Geno Smith day against the Cardinals. 

The Seattle Seahawks didn't need Smith to throw a ton of passes. He only threw the ball 24 times. Smith was throwing lasers to the intermediate and deep portions of the field when he had his chances, though. Smith remains one of the most fearless quarterbacks in the league, and his arm lets him capitalize on that. 

Of course, that aggression sometimes extends into recklessness. Smith threw a pick outside the pocket in the red zone because he tried fitting a ball into a window that didn't exist on the sideline. The defender in Smith's face disrupted the throw a bit, and the ball wobbled right into a Cardinals defender's hands. 

That's the game with Smith. He pushes the envelope in the same way all the best quarterbacks do. Sometimes, it bites him, but in the aggregate, all the big-time throws Smith makes more than makeup for the occasional mistake. 

10. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Previous Ranking: 10 

The Miami Dolphins’ offensive line gave Tua Tagovailoa no shot to operate properly on Sunday night. 

It's not just that Tagovailoa was under pressure all the time. It's that all the penalties and procedural issues made for a clunky operation. Add that on top of all the TFLs they surrendered in the run game, mainly to Haason Reddick, and you end up with a bad Dolphins offensive line constantly in unfavorable clear pass situations. 

The Dolphins could not run their offense normally, and Tagovailoa suffered for it. Now, I do think Tagovailoa still bears some responsibility. He's not talented enough to make up for any of what went wrong around him, and I do think that's an issue. 

But we've seen what this offense looks like with decent offensive line play, and I'm willing to give Tagovailoa the benefit of the doubt that things will return to normal if players up front get healthy. 

11. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Previous Ranking: 11 

The Cincinnati Bengals should be thanking the football gods for the early bye they got in Week 7. Joe Burrow has already looked healthier the past two weeks, but another week to take things slow and try to work out the kinks in the offense could do wonders. 

However, the Bengals get the 49ers out of the bye. If any defense is going to test Burrow's health and stress the limitations of this offense, it's the 49ers. 

12. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Previous Ranking: 12 

No, Justin Jefferson, no problem. 

Kirk Cousins was a monster on Monday night. Time and time again, he ripped throws into tight windows over the middle of the field. Cousins' receivers regularly helped him with tough catches, namely rookie Jordan Addison, but he gave them chances at a rate you don't see even the best quarterbacks pull off most weeks. It was truly Cousins at his best. 

The thing is, Cousins does that sometimes. He's been playing for over a decade and has a hell of an arm. Every so often, that experience and arm talent come together in beautiful harmony. That's not to take anything away from Cousins, but to say this kind of game, the particular way he went about it, is always on the table for him. 

He'll do this two or three more times this year, just as he'll have two or three complete meltdowns. Cousins is who he is. We just got to see the best version on Monday night.

>> READ: Cousins, Vikings Defense Provide Blueprint for Success

13. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Previous Ranking: 13 

Sound the alarm — batten down the hatches. 

It's "Jared Goff plays out in the elements" season. 

Goff completely melted down in a windy environment in Baltimore on Sunday. Typically, a worse quarterback outside and on the road anyway, Goff lost himself. 

He threw a wobbler on the game's first drive, and things continued that way until about the fourth quarter. The entire performance was a blend of wobbly throws, scared throwaways under pressure and the occasional underneath completion. 

These are the games that make you worry about Goff. In a dome or perfect weather, he's a baller. But Goff becomes a different quarterback when things get a little challenging in the weather department. 

For now, I won’t drop Goff for one game, but this is a trend I will keep an eye on for the rest of the season. 

14. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Previous Ranking: 14 

C.J. Stroud was already cooking through the first six weeks of his career. Now, coming out of a Week 7 bye, Stroud can kick things into overdrive and establish himself as one of the NFL's best. 

15. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Previous Ranking: 15 

That's two weeks in a row where Brock Purdy has melted down in some capacity. 

In fairness, Purdy was around his usual standard for three quarters. He was making tough, on-time throws over the middle and giving the offense some juice with his legs. 

Some of the chunk plays he was delivering were absolutely necessary since the San Francisco 49ers run game couldn't get going. 

But when the chips were down in the fourth quarter, Purdy crumbled. The constant oscillation between Minnesota's drop-eight coverages and blitzes eventually reached Purdy. He melted down in the fourth quarter, constantly bailing pockets and losing any semblance of accuracy. 

Purdy's first interception came on a five-man pressure where his left guard got shoved into his lap, while his second interception was against a drop-eight coverage in which Purdy tried to fit a window that was never there. 

Chances are Purdy, and the 49ers will be fine. Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams will return, and the Monstars will get to work again. We're seeing some of the chinks in the armor with Purdy, though. 

He's less effective than his numbers suggest. There's a reason I've never brought myself to rate him as anything more than average, and we're starting to see why. 

16. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

Previous Ranking: 16 

So many of the New Orleans Saints' games have gone exactly like it did on Thursday against the Jaguars. 

The basic formula is this: Derek Carr and the Saints offense do nothing for three quarters, then suddenly Carr decides to sling it down the field without hesitation. 

Some weeks, that works great. It was enough to beat the Titans and Panthers in the first two weeks. Other weeks, the deep throws don't connect, or it's too little, too late. The Week 6 game against the Texans was the former, and this week's loss to the Jaguars was the latter. 

To be clear, Carr isn't a terrible quarterback. He's accurate enough and knows how to play within the offense. It's just that getting him into “Attack Mode” before its desperation time late in the fourth quarter is like pulling teeth. 

17. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

Previous Ranking: 17 

After a bit of a downturn the past couple of weeks, things stabilized for Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos offense a little on Sunday. 

Wilson wasn't as explosive as he could be, but he played a clean game. There were hardly any points during last season when you could say that. He completed 20-of-29 passes, didn't throw any picks and only took one zero-yard sack. 

Again, that's not sexy, but finding stability with Wilson is what this whole Sean Payton thing is about. 

18. Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders

Previous Ranking: 18 

Jimmy Garoppolo didn't play against the Bears on Sunday, but we all saw how bad they were without him. For whatever there is to say about Garoppolo's ceiling, he's at least a competent quarterback who knows how to move the ball (slowly) down the field. 

The Las Vegas Raiders didn't get any of that with Brian Hoyer behind center. We'll see if Garoppolo is a go for Week 8, but for now, he's staying on the list. 

19. Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

Previous Ranking: 20

Desmond Ridder did the thing again. The same thing he did last week; it just looked different, and they didn't lose the game this time. 

Ridder played about 80 percent of a good game by NFL starting quarterback standards. He was making all the right throws and dealing under pressure. He was throwing some absolute lasers down the field to give the offense some pop. 

Hell, Ridder was even using his legs effectively in the red zone again, scoring the team's only touchdown of the day. 

But my word, Ridder could not hold onto the football. Ridder fumbled three times in this game. All three of them came in the red zone, and the Atlanta Falcons lost all three of them, including a near-rushing touchdown in which Ridder got the ball popped out mere inches from the goal line. 

I realize how ridiculous it sounds, but I do think the bizarre turnovers will go away. At least to a degree that they are not completely nuking the game every week. And when that happens, all the normal stuff Ridder is doing on a down-to-down basis will start to shine. 

20. Mac Jones, New England Patriots

Previous Ranking: 23

Mac Jones is back? Kind of? 

After two of the worst games any New England Patriots quarterback has played in my lifetime, Jones rebounded well against a Buffalo defense missing many of its stars. 

Jones didn't do anything spectacular, but he played the game we know he can play. Jones was decisive with his pre-snap reads, on time with his throws and largely accurate to the first two levels of the field. 

Jones didn't even attempt a single throw beyond 20 yards, but with how sharp he was operating in the 1-20 yard range, there was no need for it. 

The Jones we saw on Sunday was the player we know he can be. It's not flashy — and not even top-10 material — but it's more than good enough to win games and hang with competitive teams. I want to see Jones' rebound last for more than a week before I move him up too much, but it's a good sign that he looked back to normal. 

21. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Previous Ranking: 21 

Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen had Baker Mayfield's head spinning. One of the more aggressive quarterbacks for the first six weeks of the season, Mayfield was reduced to a quick game and checkdown merchant. 

Mayfield threw 42 passes on Sunday. Only nine of those throws were beyond 10 yards, and only two were completed. Mayfield couldn't find any of the crossing routes or sideline comeback routes he's had access to in this offense. 

Like I said, Nielsen deserves a lot of credit for that. He does an awesome job of mixing up his coverages and using well-timed blitzes. Those blitzes are particularly a problem for Mayfield, who doesn't have the size to hang in collapsing pockets. Nielsen also has his players playing like bats out of hell when they're flying downhill to tackle.

Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will probably be fine against defenses that aren't as well-coached. 

22. Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants

Previous Ranking: 24 

Tyrod Taylor is stable. He knows how to get the ball out, throw with decent accuracy and drop the occasional go ball in the bucket. 

Taylor isn't a game-changer, especially without the athleticism he had early in his career, but he's at least giving this offense a chance and not drowning in negative plays. That's more than Daniel Jones was doing through the first month or so. 

23. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Previous Ranking: 22

Jordan Love wasn't as bad as the box score looks. Love was finding throws in the underneath area and playing a cleaner game than he had in the two weeks before the bye. Green Bay's main issue continues to be the youth at all the skill positions and the injuries on the offensive line. Love just doesn't have the experience to overcome those problems yet. 

That said, we've got to see some carry potential out of Love at some point. It's one thing to look competent at times and have flashes, but there needs to be real moments of Love putting the team on his back to justify the Green Bay Packers moving forward with him. We haven't seen enough of that yet. 

24. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

Previous Ranking: 19 

I don't know what to do with Deshaun Watson. Early in the year, he looked kind of fine with flashes of good, but he spent the last couple of weeks injured before playing in Week 7. 

And while Watson played in Week 7, the whole experience was odd. He looked terrible and threw one of the worst picks you'll see all year before being taken out for a potential concussion. Watson was eventually cleared, but the Cleveland Browns never put him back in the game, instead favoring backup P.J. Walker. 

So, I don't know what to make of Watson. He's barely played the past month, and he was a disaster on Sunday. Maybe things will turn around at some point; who knows? 

25. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers

Previous Ranking: 27

I still don't know what to make of Kenny Pickett, either. 

For about three quarters, Pickett did a whole lot of nothing against the Rams. He was crumbling against the Rams' blitzes and couldn't make any throws outside of his usual sideline 50/50 balls to George Pickens. 

But as the game went on, the Rams called off the dogs a little bit, and Pickett came into form. Pickett didn't play nearly as well as the numbers suggest, but he did make one key third-and-8 throw to Diontae Johnson to extend the drive that let the Pittsburgh Steelers tie the game early in the fourth. With the way the Steelers' defense played in the second half, that was all Pickett needed to do for the win. 

I'm still dubious about Pickett. He doesn't make enough throws within structure outside of the sideline balls to Pickens, and I'm not sure I trust some of his fourth-quarter success to hold up. 

26. Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

Previous Ranking: 25

Enough of the sacks. Enough! This can't keep happening. 

For the seventh week in a row, Sam Howell took at least four sacks in a game. Howell was sacked six times for a whopping 52 yards by the Giants defense. Granted, if any defense is geared to wreaking havoc on this exact quarterback, it's this one, but Howell still has to be better than that. 

Normally, Howell at least makes up for the sacks with some explosive stretches as a passer, but that didn't happen on Sunday. 

27. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Previous Ranking: 26

The Carolina Panthers had a much-needed bye in Week 7. After all, they are the only winless team in the league. Bryce Young has been slightly trending upward lately, so perhaps the bye-week boost can help him level up again. 

28. Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts

Previous Ranking: 28 

You can not play more of a roller coaster game than Gardner Minshew had against the Browns. 

On one hand, Minshew was throwing some absolute beauties. He held the ball and searched for throws down the field, plenty of which he found. With a little help in the YAC department from his skill players and a good run game, that was enough to put points on the board sporadically. 

On the other hand, Minshew was addicted to making the worst plays imaginable. The downside to all of Minshew's downfield heroics was the sacks he kept taking. Minshew was sacked four times. 

He coughed up the ball on three of those sacks, and one got returned for a touchdown. Minshew also threw an interception to Denzel Ward on a rollout — the kind of interception where the quarterback just forgets where a defender is supposed to be. 

Minshew is supposed to be a little more stable than this, but this is what you get with backup quarterbacks sometimes. 

29. Josh Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals

Previous Ranking: 29 

Josh Dobbs was all over the place against the Seahawks. 

To his credit, Dobbs made a handful of sweet throws. That's been a theme with him all season. The arm talent is quietly impressive, and he's playing with all the confidence in the world because he knows he's got house money. 

Against this Seahawks defense, though, Dobbs couldn't find any way to be consistent. The Seattle pass rush had him throwing from a solitary confinement cell all game long. Pair that with the Seahawks secondary slowly coming into form, especially with the emergence of Devon Witherspoon, and this was just never a game Dobbs had a chance in. 

30. Zach Wilson, New York Jets

Previous Ranking: 30 

Zach Wilson and the New York Jets had their bye in Week 7. The Jets get the Giants in Week 8, so we'll see if the extra practice time can help Wilson deal with the Giants' blitz-heavy approach. 

31. Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans

Previous Ranking: 31 

Malik Willis didn't play this week, thanks to the team's Week 7 bye. Hopefully, the extra cushion and prep time will allow Willis to show some stability in his first start of the season. 

However, coach Mike Vrabel did say both Willis and rookie Will Levis could play in this week's game, which is something to keep an eye on.

32. Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears

Previous Ranking: 32 

Credit to Tyson Bagent for picking up the dub in his first career start. No matter the opponent, that's a tough thing to do. 

Though Bagent didn't do much to create offense, he didn't start any fires. Bagent completed just more than 70 percent of his throws, didn't throw any interceptions and only took one sack. 

Of course, only throwing an average of 2.5 yards down the field helped him out there, but simply letting the offense do its thing is all you can ask for an undrafted rookie backup, and Bagent delivered. 

That said, Bagent did nothing to suggest he should move up this list.

Derrik Klassen is an NFL and NFL Draft film analyst with a particular interest in quarterbacks. Klassen’s work is also featured on Bleacher Report and Reception Perception. You can follow him on Twitter (X) at @QBKlass.

Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Anthony Richardson, Arizona Cardinals See More

Derrik Klassen

Film Analyst

Derrik Klassen is an NFL and NFL Draft film analyst with a particular interest in quarterbacks. Klassen's work is also featured on Bleacher Report and Reception Perception.

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