Week 11 worst QB performances: Former MVPs struggle in losses

The Falcons (6-5) benched Cousins after Denver scored its final touchdown for 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., who primarily handed the ball to running back Jase McClellan.

While Cousins' job may not be in jeopardy, his performance showed Atlanta is far from being a contender in the NFC, let alone the Super Bowl. After signing him to a $180M contract during the offseason, that's a sobering reality for the Falcons front office.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is prone to believing conspiracies, so let's indulge one of our own. 

The Rodgers starting for the Jets isn't the same quarterback who won four MVP awards with the Packers.

Rodgers must be using a body double. How else could you explain his diminished play, such as this incompletion on a poor throw to an open Garrett Wilson?

What about his end-of-game sack when he looked slow-footed and uncomfortable against three Colts defenders?

Rodgers finished the game 22-of-29 for 184 yards and two touchdowns while also losing 22 yards on three sacks. 

With the loss, he has the worst win percentage among Jets quarterbacks with at least 10 starts since 2018, putting him below former Jets draft busts Zach Wilson (.364) and Sam Darnold (.342).

Those numbers should be worse because they credit Rodgers with New York's Week 1 win in 2023 against the Bills when his Jets debut was curtailed by a season-ending Achilles injury minutes into the game.

The Rodgers era has been an incredible disappointment. While it would be convenient to blame a conspiracy for the Jets' problems, their issues have a rational explanation. 

Rodgers, 40, is an old quarterback coming off a season-ending injury. New York is getting exactly what it should have expected.

Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones

Starting in the place of injured Jaguars starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) for the second week, Jones reminded everyone of how far he's fallen in the Jaguars' worst loss in franchise history.

Jones finished the 52-6 loss to the Lions 17-of-29 for 138 yards (4.8 yards per attempt) and an interception.

The game was out of reach when the former Alabama quarterback turned the ball over, but he failed to get much power on his throw on the run, and Lions safety Kerby Joseph picked off the pass at the Lions' 4-yard line. 

After leading the Patriots to a wild-card berth as a rookie, Jones, the No. 15 pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, struggled in his final two seasons in New England before being traded to the Jaguars in March 2024.

Jones has squandered his opportunity to re-invent himself with a second consecutive poor performance 

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes

Ball security was an issue again for Mahomes after he began the season by throwing an interception in seven consecutive games.

Mahomes protected the ball in Kansas City's previous two games but threw an interception a minute into Sunday's 30-21 loss to the Bills.

He avoided a sack by throwing a wild, errant pass that Bills safety Taylor Rapp intercepted.

Late in the fourth, with Kansas City needing a miracle to keep its perfect season alive, Mahomes was intercepted by Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard.

The three-time Super Bowl MVP finished 23-of-33 for 196 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

It was the fewest yards Mahomes has thrown for in eight career games (including postseason) against the Bills (9-2).

Afterward, Mahomes met Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the field, and mics caught Mahomes telling his rival, "We'll do it again, baby."

The next meeting might be in the playoffs, and if it is, Kansas City will need its star to be much better than he was on Sunday.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson

Baltimore didn't lose 18-16 to Pittsburgh because of Jackson. He was plagued by dropped passes and penalties that wiped out big plays. Running back Derrick Henry fumbled on the game's second offensive play and kicker Justin Tucker, who entered Week 11 with a career-low 78.9 field goal percentage, was 1-of-3 on his attempts.

Heck, even his interception was due to an excellent play by Steelers rookie linebacker Payton Wilson, who ripped the ball from Ravens running back Justice Hill on his way to the ground.

Still, it's concerning that Jackson had his worst game of the season in a high-stakes environment. He finished 16-of-33 for 207 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. 

With several disappointing playoff finishes in recent years, his underwhelming game raises concern that Jackson and the Ravens could come up short when it matters most.