Will Brady, Patriots bounce back?
QB has tough matchup against Bills’ defense
Each week during the NFL season, USA TODAY will assess everyone’s favorite topic: quarterbacks. Who’s hot? Who’s not? Who has the most exciting matchups? This week’s QB Hot Sheet:
Five to watch this week
1. Drew Brees, Saints: New Orleans can clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a victory, but Brees has posted just two passing touchdowns with three interceptions in his last three games. He’s still a surgical passer, who will be going up against a Steelers defense that just stifled Tom Brady. 2. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: He has thrown eight interceptions in his last five games and is tied for the league lead with 15. Although two turnovers against the Patriots didn’t prove to be fatal, he has to protect the ball better against an aggressive Saints’ defense that’s getting better.
3. Nick Foles, Eagles: Philly fans have to commend Foles for providing a boost again Sunday against the Rams after Carson Wentz (back) went down with injury. The Eagles’ playoff hopes are alive, though a victory against the Texans is a must. Foles likely needs to be efficient again to make that happen.
4. Tom Brady, Patriots: He’s still putting up solid numbers, but this hasn’t been the crisp, precise campaign we’ve come to expect from Brady. He missed some wide-open targets in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers, and his usual magic in the final two minutes wasn’t there. Some suggest he’s starting a long-expected decline. Against the Bills’ top-ranked passing defense (187.4 yards per game allowed), Brady will get his shot to prove the doubters wrong. 5. Josh Johnson, Redskins: Last weekend’s performance might be an aberration, but Johnson was effective with his arm and his legs against the Jaguars. Now, even though reaching the playoffs will be difficult, Washington is one game back of the division-leading Cowboys and level with the Eagles. A matchup with a Titans team that’s tied for first in scoring defense (18.1 points per game) should be a telling barometer for Johnson and the Redskins.
Three trending up
1. Mitchell Trubisky, Bears: Outdueling Aaron Rodgers is an impressive accomplishment for any quarterback, and Trubisky’s efficient day clinched the Bears’ first division championship in eight seasons.
2. Sam Darnold, Jets: The bright spot for New York in a loss to the Texans, Darnold showed steady signs of continued development in his efficient performance: pocket awareness, accuracy and sharp decision-making. 3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens: Jackson has converted Baltimore into a ball-controlling, run-first offense, which means it looks like Joe Flacco is all but done with the Ravens.
Three trending down
1. Case Keenum, Broncos: Regardless of whether changes come to Denver’s coaching staff, it’s clear Keenum isn’t a long-term answer. He went 4 of 14 for 30 yards with two interceptions and two sacks when he faced pressure against the Browns, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s not close to good enough for a team that looked like it could make a late playoff push.
2. Josh Rosen, Cardinals: He typically has been running for his life throughout his rookie campaign, but another forgettable day (59.1 percent completion rate, 132 passing yards and two interceptions before being benched against the Falcons) adds to what’s turned into a lost season. 3. Eli Manning, Giants: Getting blanked at home is always rough, but the Titans limited Manning to 5.2 yards per attempt, the worst mark in Week 15.
Season rankings
1. Patrick Mahomes (last week: 1),
Chiefs: Although they lost to the Chargers, Mahomes was again effective. He might not wind up with the season passing TD record, standing 10 shy of Peyton Manning’s 55, but a league MVP wouldn’t be a bad consolation.
2. Brees (2): A fourth interception in four games and no TDs against the Panthers didn’t help his case for the top spot. 3. Philip Rivers (3), Chargers: The two picks against the Chiefs were a blemish, but Rivers was spectacular down the stretch to erase a 14-point deficit in the last five minutes of the game. 4. Russell Wilson (5), Seahawks: He had an efficient day against the 49ers (74.2 percent passing, 227 yards, two scores), but penalties and defensive lapses doomed Seattle. 5. Andrew Luck (4), Colts: He didn’t throw any TDs in a shutout win over the Cowboys, but that was more because of how effective Indy was on the ground.