Each week we rank the melanated signal-callers around the league, and this week our top QB is getting his just due for a great comeback season.
Geno Smith Makes First Pro Bowl
The return of Geno Smith was met with a lot of pessimism by Seahawks fans and NFL media all around the league. Replacing Russell Wilson is no easy feat, but Smith has done it with relative ease, displaying some qualities that go hand-in-hand with his newfound maturity. For his efforts the former West Virginia Mountaineers star was just named a Pro Bowl player for the first time in his 10-year career.
This season he’s passed for nearly 3,700 yards, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.
His play even grabbed the attention of Patrick Mahomes, who talked about Geno to local kids in an interview ahead of this weekend’s game.
“First off, every throw he throws is like a perfect spiral. I know that gets taken for granted in this league, but he throws a perfect spiral.
“Every throw.”
Patrick Mahomes Is The MVP Front-Runner
The MVP front-runner continues to show weekly why he’s the best signal-caller in the league. On a Chiefs team that doesn’t always play great defense, KC is 11-3, with those three losses coming by a combined 10 points.
In last week’s overtime win against a tough Texans team, Mahomes went 36 of 41 for 326 yards, two touchdowns and zero interception. He also scored another using his legs to give K.C. the lead late in the third quarter.
This season “Mr Ketchup On Errthang” has passed for nearly 4,500 yards, 35 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. A second MVP is calling the former Texas Tech star.
Mahomes this season (w/ NFL rank):
Rank
Pass Yds: 4,496 | 1st
Pass TD: 35 | 1st
Pass Rtg: 105.0 | 3rd"There's 1 team w/ more victories than the Chiefs. How can that be? They have the far & away best player in the sport." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/QoTYIn0pjJ
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) December 19, 2022
Justin Fields Is Steadily Rising
The dynamic dual-threat has been wowing us football fans weekly with his game breaking abilities. The former Ohio State star has done it with his arm and legs for a rebuilding Chicago Bears team.
Last week he nearly led the Bears to a win over the now-13-1 Eagles, passing for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing for another 95 yards.
This season Fields has passed for nearly 2,100 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for another 1,000 yards even and eight more touchdowns.
Jets and Niners should be kicking themselves for passing on Fields in the 2021 NFL draft.
The #Jets drafted Zach Wilson over Justin Fields.
— Rick Kamla (@RickKamlaSports) December 23, 2022
Jalen Hurts, Eagles
In last week’s tough 25-20 win over the Bears Hurts was his usual cerebral self, passing for over 300 yards and rushing for another 61. But he also had his first multi-interception game of the season. To make matters worse he was injured on a tackle, spraining his throwing shoulder and keeping him sidelined for Saturday’s Christmas Eve showdown in Dallas.
Every pass Jalen Hurts completed after getting his shoulder crushed. Never wavered. pic.twitter.com/DC0IlcBvRX
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) December 21, 2022
Prior to last week’s game Hurts was the MVP front-runner, he’s now second behind the aforementioned Mahomes.
Dak Prescott With Another Moment Of Truth
Prescott was really good early in last week’s 40-34 overtime loss to the Jaguars. But it’s how he finished that folks want to talk about. His pick-six ended the game in overtime. The ball hit his receiver right in the mitts and the ball ricocheted to the nearest defender, who ran it back. Not Prescott’s fault at all, but he had another bad turnover that opened the floodgates to a Jaguars comeback from 27-10 down to a 34-34 tie at the end of regulation.
Dak could use a strong outing against division foe Philly this weekend.
