Joe Flacco might start for the Browns. Brock Purdy could deliver payback to the Eagles. Aaron Rodgers could be nearing a return four months after his Achilles injury. It’s just another week in the life of NFL quarterbacks. Here are 10 observations packed with world-class stats, video and analysis on the QB position entering Week 13.
1. The secret to Dak’s MVP campaign
Dak Prescott has been playing like a man possessed since an embarrassing 42-10 loss to the 49ers in Week 5. Since then he’s completed 70 percent of his passes while averaging over 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes per game — a stretch that only five QBs have matched in a seven-game span all-time (Russell Wilson, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady).
What’s been the key? He gave us the secret on the set of Amazon Prime’s postgame show on Thursday, sharing a realization he had after the 49ers game:
“I’ve gotta extend plays more, I’ve gotta use my legs more, and honestly, that’s the way I grew up playing this game, that’s when I feel most free, and so, yea, it’s been a little bit of a conscious effort to use my legs,” he said.
To Prescott’s point, his average time to throw is 2.90 seconds since the loss to San Francisco, up from 2.53 seconds prior. That’s nearly a half-second, which is an eternity for a QB. He has a perfect passer rating (158.3) when taking at least 3.33 seconds to throw in this hot stretch (37-of-47 passing for 7 touchdowns)
Nothing shows the difference quite like this play.
He’s turning back the clock with his legs, getting great protection and separation from his wide receivers. Now we’ll see if he can continue this play in probably the toughest stretch of his career with games against the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins and Lions coming up.
2. Jordan Love’s sidearm throws
What a difference a month makes. The Packers GM didn’t give glowing reviews on Jordan Love a month ago when…
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