There is no quarterback controversy in Seattle. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll made that clear after his team’s win on Monday night over the Eagles, just in case it wasn’t already obvious. While Drew Lock deserves credit for leading them through their game-winning drive, these last two starts for Lock have proven that he’s nowhere near the level of quarterback that Geno Smith is right now – despite having superior velocity, range and athleticism. Carroll says Smith will play next week against the Titans.
Aside from the kind of decision making we saw him employ against the 49ers, Lock’s biggest issue on the field is accuracy. For his career he’s completed less than 60% of his pass attempts and against the Eagles he missed several passes badly – including an overthrow that would have been an easy touchdown for Tyler Lockett. Lock continued to miss right through that last drive, on which he only completed half of his 10 passes, of which three were in danger of being picked off.
This week’s QB rankings illustrates the lesson even further. While Smith ranks just outside the top 10 in completion percentage over expected (2.7%), Lock is near the bottom of the league at -5%. That’s not even good enough to crack the top 40 this year. Here’s how the top 32 quarterbacks stack up in this stat going into Week 16.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew II (10) walks the sideline Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, during a…Nov 5, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent (17) passes against the…Oct 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8)celebrates a game-winning touchdown with…Sep 10, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) in action against the…Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) scrambles against the Atlanta…Dec 17, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) acknowledges the crowd…Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders assistant strength and conditioning coach Deuce Gruden…Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) leaves the field after the Titans beat the Patriots at…Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) walks off…Sep 18, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) warms up before the…Oct 22, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is tackled…Sep 17, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) passes against the…Nov 5, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the…Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) throws a touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins (10) during their…Nov 13, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) celebrates with Chicago Bears…New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) leaves the game with an injury against the Miami…Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) takes a drink Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, during a game…Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) in action during the…Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) looks toward Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) while…Oct 23, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) walks on to the…Aug 13, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes against…Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass against…BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 05: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball against…Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to pass against Detroit Lions during the first…Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott (4) eats a turkey leg after…SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 18: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws the ball in…Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins passes during the first half of an NFL football game against…Nov 5, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs with the ball…Nov 19, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the first quarter…Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to pass as Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm…Nov 23, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan stands on the…Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) throws in the second quarter during a Week 14 NFL…
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