Impressive passing performances continue to be the early-season trend through Week 3 – with another Sunday of double digit 300-yard days for NFL Quarterbacks. This week’s real QB story, however, is the road effort turned in by several Quarterbacks – some for wins vs. divisional opponents:
Joe Flacco – Baltimore
Many of the complaints heard about Joe Flacco during his first three years in the NFL have centered upon his perceived lack of major offensive output or an ability to carry the load for the Ravens’ offensive unit. Well, Sunday at the Rams was a different kind of day for Flacco. Let’s ignore the Rams’ status as a poor defensive unit and the 21 incompletions thrown by Flacco, and focus instead on some positives. Flacco showed an ability to get his team out in front early (three 1st quarter TD passes) and make it stick, he distributed his 27 completions to seven different Ravens, and Baltimore was able to make play selection that resulted in a run:pass ratio of a bit over 1:2.
Matt Stafford – Detroit
Enough cannot be said about Matt Stafford’s emergence in 2011. Sunday’s victory over a divisional foe packed with a veteran-filled roster caps a 3-week run in which the Lions have notched two impressive road wins. More importantly, the 3-0 start for a franchise that has had losing in its DNA for nearly 20 years is reflective of Stafford’s calm in the pocket and good decision-making.
Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh
There is no motivator like a divisional beat down such as that which the Steelers suffered at the hands of the Ravens in Week 1 and that’s why there’s little surprise that despite his unique “not always pretty” style Roethlisberger has led his team back to 2-1. The sloppy mistakes (namely, fumbles) aside, Roethlisberger and the Steelers are building a lot of excitement for the Baltimore rematch, Sunday night, November 6th in Pittsburgh.
Matt Hasselback – Tennessee
Most honest NFL fans can admit they did not expect much when the Titans signed Hasselback to a free-agent contract during the off-season. He appeared to be on the downside of his NFL career, yet he has been more than a pleasant surprise as a first-year Quarterback playing for a first-year head coach. Hasselback has thrown 37+ passes per game and has protected the ball well, with a completion percentage just shy of 70% for a Titans team that is a surprise at 2-1.
Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buffalo
There have to be times when a Bills-Patriots matchup has to a bit surreal for Ryan Fitzpatrick. He played his college ball at a place unusual for an NFL starting Quarterback – Harvard – with the fishbowl of Patriots and Tom Brady media coverage as a backdrop. Well, if he has any jitters as a result, he did not show them Sunday. Fitzpatrick threw the ball a bit more than Chan Gailey would probably prefer (40 attempts), but made some big plays and avoided critical miscues while leading the way to a huge divisional win vs. New England.
