New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has clearly been better under center in a year where some of the best signal-callers in the NFL are off to a sluggish start.
Players like Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence not being at their best on the football field has paved the way for others to climb the ladder of the highest-rated quarterbacks in Total QBR.
Buy Patriots TicketsFor those interested in how QBR is calculated, ESPN.com describes the analytical tool as valuing “the quarterback on all play types on a 0-100 scale adjusted for the strength of opposing defenses faced”.
Two weeks into the 2023 season, here’s where Jones and the 15 other quarterbacks in the AFC division stand:
16
Kenny Pickett
Total QBR: 18.8
Week 2 recap
The Steelers defense has looked like a juggernaut early in the season, but there’s no secret that it’s carrying an offense that has been mostly flat with Kenny Pickett under center. He finished with only 15 completions for 222 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the team’s Week 2 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
15
Deshaun Watson
Total QBR: 29.3
Week 2 recap
Deshaun Watson has yet to reach the same levels of greatness during the height of his run with the Houston Texans. With that said, he’s still one of the most talented playmakers in the league when everything is clicking. He ran into a tough Steelers defense in Week 2 that held him to 22 completions for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
14
Ryan Tannehill
Total QBR: 29.4
Week 2 recap
It has been a messy start for Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but at least he didn’t throw an interception in Week 2. After throwing three picks to the opposing defense in the opener, he bounced back with 246 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
13
Trevor Lawrence
Total QBR: 34.4
Week 2 recap
Trevor Lawrence was held without a single touchdown pass in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. That sounds impossible for a player many consider one of the best young, emerging quarterbacks in the NFL. He was held to 22 completions for only 216 yards, while also being the recipient of four sacks.
12
C.J. Stroud
Total QBR: 35.9
Week 2 recap
The Texans didn’t get the win, but rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud threw all over the Colts’ defense. Granted, the Colts got off to an early lead, and the second half was mostly Stroud and company playing catch-up on soft coverages to overcome an 18-point deficit. By the end of the game, the former Ohio State standout had 30 completions for 384 yards and two touchdowns.
11
Zach Wilson
Total QBR: 36.3
Week 2 recap
A season-ending injury to Aaron Rodgers has suddenly thrown Zach Wilson back into the spotlight. He didn’t have much of a shot against a juggernaut Dallas Cowboys defense that sacked him three times and forced three interceptions. The former No. 2 overall draft pick finished the game with only 12 completions for 170 yards, along with five carries for 36 yards.
10
Anthony Richardson
Total QBR: 43.6
Week 2 recap
Anthony Richardson used his legs to hurt the Houston Texans in Week 2 with two rushing touchdowns, but unfortunately for the Colts, he got knocked out of the game early with a concussion. Before the injury, he had six completions for 56 yards throwing and 35 yards on the ground.
9
Joe Burrow
Total QBR: 47.2
Week 2 recap
Joe Burrow is working his way back from an injury that could potentially keep him out for Week 3. His injury issues are showing on the football field with the Bengals dropping their second straight loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Burrow threw for 222 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the loss.
8
Lamar Jackson
Total QBR: 53.1
Week 2 recap
Lamar Jackson has the Ravens off to a strong 2-0 start on the season after knocking off Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. It wasn’t his most prolific performance, but Jackson made more plays when it mattered in a strong effort both through the air and on the ground—237 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with 12 carries for 54 rushing yards.
7
Mac Jones
Total QBR: 55.2
Week 2 recap
The offensive line hasn’t been healthy, and the Patriots’ are still missing an explosive No. 1 receiver on the outside. Yet, Mac Jones under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has looked promising.
Coming off a big Week 1 performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jones came back down to earth a bit with 231 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
6
Jimmy Garoppolo
Total QBR: 57.3
Week 2 recap
Jimmy Garoppolo and the Raiders got blown off the field by the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. It was an ugly showing for Josh McDaniels’ offense with Garoppolo completing only 16 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
5
Justin Herbert
Total QBR: 57.8
Week 2 recap
The Chargers have continued to disappoint by losing back-to-back games. In Week 2, they fell short in an overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans. Herbert finished the game with 27 completions for 305 yards and two touchdowns.
4
Josh Allen
Total QBR: 58.0
Week 2 recap
The scary version of Josh Allen showed up against the Las Vegas Raiders. He was efficient and patient in a 38-10 victory, going 31-of-37 passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns. It was a huge bounce-back performance after a dud of an outing in Week 1.
3
Russell Wilson
Total QBR: 61.5
Week 2 recap
An efficient QBR hasn’t led to more wins on the football field for Russell Wilson and the Broncos. He fell in defeat in an offensive slugging match with the Washington Commanders in Week 2, finishing the game with 18 completions for 308 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, along with rushing for 56 yards on six carries.
2
Patrick Mahomes
Total QBR: 65.9
Week 2 recap
Patrick Mahomes was back to his winning ways with tight end Travis Kelce back on the field in Week 2. Granted, rookie wide receiver Skyy Moore was the true standout offensively for the Chiefs. Mahomes threw for 305 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, along with seven carries for 30 yards in the win.
1
Tua Tagovailoa
Total QBR: 78.3
Week 2 recap
Tua Tagovailoa and the high-flying Dolphins offense looked human against the Patriots, but they still managed to come out of Foxborough with the victory in the first 2023 meeting between the two teams. In a head-to-head meeting with Bill Belichick’s defense, Tagovailoa had 21 completions for 249 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
