We saw some spectacular quarterback play Sunday. We also saw some not-so-spectacular stuff.
At home with the Steelers, Kenny Pickett continued to struggle through his second season, as can be seen in his worst miss of the day of Pittsburgh’s 20–10 loss to the Jaguars. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes played through the flu and authored what can be argued as his worst performance in the NFL, failing to score a touchdown while also giving away three turnovers.
However, there was plenty of good under center as well. In Washington, Jalen Hurts threw four touchdowns, two of which went to A.J. Brown. We take a look at how Brown has become one of the most quarterback-friendly receivers in football, reeling in an impossible catch at the front corner of the end zone.
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Patrick Mahomes’s telling fumble
The Chiefs had a disastrous Sunday in Denver, and their usual star quarterback led the charge. Despite Mahomes’s typical brilliance, he struggled against the Broncos in a 24–9 loss, falling to the franchise for the first time in his career.
Perhaps it was the flu, or perhaps it was a distrust in most of his receivers. The good news? The flu will pass. The bad news? His receivers are here to stay.
On this play, the Broncos were leading 14–6 with 48 seconds left in the first half. Kansas City had possession on first-and-10, on Denver’s 19-yard line. The Chiefs came out in one of their favorite sets, a 3x1 formation with receiver Skyy Moore (No. 24) isolated on the back side. Denver was in a quarters look, rushing four.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
At the top of his drop, Mahomes had nowhere to go on the left side. The Chiefs were trying to get Moore open on a dig route against star corner Patrick Surtain II (No. 2), and they actually succeeded. The problem? Mahomes isn’t looking at Moore, but instead is looking to the field side.
Over there, all three potential pass-catchers were blanketed.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
By the time Mahomes looked backside to Moore, the receiver’s window was shrinking, and the pocket was beginning to collapse. At that point, Mahomes should have taken the sack. It was first down; the Chiefs had timeouts; and they would have still been able to take a few shots in hopes of a touchdown.
Instead, Mahomes tried to climb a muddled pocket and then throw late. The result is a strip sack, and one of his three turnovers on the afternoon.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
It’s impossible to know for sure, but Mahomes didn’t look confident throwing to Moore, who has had issues with drops this season. Regardless, if Kansas City’s offense is going to find itself, Mahomes needs to show more trust in his wideouts, even when they haven’t fully earned it.
On the Mahomes fumble in Denver, it appears he was reading the field side, then came back to Skyy Moore on a dig route.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) October 31, 2023
However, by the time Mahomes saw him, it was a shrinking window and he didn't seem to trust it.
Bad timing and hesitation showed up all over KC's tape. pic.twitter.com/tMekD5rT2a
Kenny Pickett’s big incompletion
The Steelers were hoping for a big jump in production for Pickett in his second year. It hasn’t happened yet, with only five touchdown passes against four interceptions. Pittsburgh is 4–3 and, despite having one of the league’s best defenses, is stuck with a low ceiling. We’ll take a look at why below.
On this play, the Steelers were trailing the Jaguars 6–0 in the second quarter with 4:05 remaining. It was third-and-goal at Jacksonville’s 5-yard line, and Pittsburgh had already driven 93 yards on 10 plays.
The Steelers came out in an empty set with three receivers to the right and two tight on the left. The Jaguars mirrored with man coverage and two safeties playing inside while rushing four.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
On the snap, Pickett looked right, presumably to push safety Rayshawn Jenkins (No. 2) with his eyes. Pittsburgh had the perfect play call for Jacksonville’s defense, running a rub route up top. And tight end Connor Heyward (No. 83) did a great job of drawing his defender away from the middle while also picking corner Montaric Brown (No. 30).
This left Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson (No. 18) wide open on the slant for a walk-in touchdown.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
After looking Jenkins off, Pickett came back to the left just as Johnson was breaking into the clear. Jenkins was leaning right, giving the second-year quarterback ample space to fire a dart. Instead, Pickett waited a beat too long before throwing; by that time, the pass rush was becoming a moderate factor, and he didn’t step into the throw despite having space to do so.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
The result is terrible form and a pass multiple feet behind Johnson. Pittsburgh drove the entire field but ended up with three points instead of an easy seven.
This is a brutal miss by Kenny Pickett. Walk-in touchdown for Deontae Johnson. Perfect play call by Matt Canada.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) October 31, 2023
Pickett simply needed to step into the throw and be on time. He did neither, and it ends up errant and late.
You can see the frustration at the end from Johnson. pic.twitter.com/F4NNHVPqX6
A.J. Brown’s absurd touchdown snag
Nobody has been more dominant over the past six weeks than Brown. In that span, he has set a record with each performance totaling at least 125 receiving yards. On Sunday against the Commanders, he put up 130 yards while also giving us a highlight-reel touchdown.
In the second quarter at FedEx Field, Philadelphia trailed 14–3 with 34 seconds remaining before halftime. The Eagles had a first-and-10 at Washington’s 16-yard line.
On the play, Philadelphia comes out 4-wide, two to each side, with running back D’Andre Swift standing next to Hurts. The Commanders were in single-high zone coverage. With Brown (No. 11) matched up wide left against corner Ben St-Juste (No. 25) and no help over the top, Hurts immediately knew where he was going with the ball.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
Hurts took a quick three-step drop and launched for the pylon. The Commanders must have felt good about the 6'3", 200-pound St-Juste being able to handle Brown’s size (6'1", 226 pounds). But in this situation, not giving help is a questionable choice at best from coordinator Jack Del Rio.
That said, St-Juste was in excellent coverage. He played Brown’s inside shoulder, using the boundary as a second defender. Hurts threw it, anyway, giving Brown a chance to make a play on the ball.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
Hurts made a perfect throw, putting the ball high and away on a back-shoulder attempt. It was going to either be a circus catch or an incompletion. And even with St-Juste in perfect position, you can guess which one it was.
Screenshot from NFL+ all-22
A.J. Brown's touchdown grab from last week is ridiculous. Ben St-Juste had absolutely perfect coverage, and it made no difference.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) October 31, 2023
The bigger question is why would you leave Brown in single coverage with 34 seconds left and the Eagles down 14-3? Seems like a bad idea. pic.twitter.com/jpcYHAgq66
