Injuries, ugly play haunt quarterbacks

Every week we break down the good and bad; for a number of the quarterbacks, you can add ugly to the equation.

Jay Cutler, Nick Foles and Sam Bradford didn’t make it through the day due to game-ending injuries while Ryan Tannehill, Geno Smith, Bradford and Cutler all threw pick sixes before halftime of their games and only three quarterbacks posted gameday QB ratings better than 90, a mark that 12 starters came into Week 7 averaging on the season.

In a season where quarterback play has been at one of the highest levels in some time , defenders seemed to have their day in Week 7.

THE GOOD:

A.J. Green

In a duel between two of the NFL’s elite receivers, the Cincinnati Bengals wideout blew past the Lions secondary on his first catch of the day to score a career-long 82yard touchdown. He’d add five more receptions to bring the total on the day to six for 155 yards in the Bengals’ 27-24 win over Detroit. Calvin Johnson was just as impressive, grabbing nine catches for155 yards and two touchdowns.

THE BAD:

Chris Jones

Tough break, rookie. The Patriots defensive tackle combined with fellow Vince Wilfork replacement Joe Villano to help allow Jets running back Chris Ivory to amass104 yards . His biggest impact however, was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a missed 56-yard-field overtime field goal by Nick Folk that gave the Jets a first down and allowed them to set up 42yard game winner. Jones shoved a fellow defensive player into the Jets offensive formation, a maneuver that became illegal due to a rule change this offseason.

THE GOOD:

Robert Griffin III

The Redskins quarterback finally started looking like the RGIII of his stellar rookie season, utilizing both his arm and legs in Washington’s 45-41 win over the Bears. After overcoming a first quarter interception, Griffin went on to finish the game 18 of 29 for 298 yards and two touchdowns along with 11 carries for 84 yards, making several clutch secondhalf plays along the way.

THE BAD:

Matt Barkley

The fourth-round pick from USC made his regular season debut after Nick Foles left the Eagles’ 17-3 loss to Dallas with a head injury at the end of the third quarter. While Foles hadn’t been good, Barkley was absolutely brutal, throwing an interception on each of his three fourth quarter drives.

THE GOOD:

Devin Hester

Chicago’s special teams star took a punt back 81 yards for a score in the second quarter against the Redskins, giving him his 18th career return touchdown. That milestone tied Deion Sanders’ NFL career record for returns, which "Prime Time" set in his 11th season. Hester, in only his eighth year, will likely own the mark outright by the time he retires.

THE BAD:

Sportsmanship in Carolina

Things got chippy early in the Panthers’ 30-15 win over the Rams and nearly erupted into a full brawl after St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a knee injury on a questionable sideline hit by Carolina safety Mike Mitchell in the fourth quarter. Rams defensive end Chris Long was ejected following one third quarter skirmish and other shoving matches seemed to develop on nearly every series after that, with the Rams receiving five personal foul penalties during the game. Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith taunted Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins after a touchdown and said after the game that he’d “punch him in his (effing) mouth” if he saw him in the streets.