This week’s edition of the 32 Observations is the beginning of a stretch where you'll find each edition having a theme. This week’s theme is passing — we’ll look at the 32 starting quarterbacks in the league in various situations. This will use the Week 3 starting quarterbacks with the exception of Jacksonville as Blaine Gabbert has been named the starter going forward.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Only 12.6% of E.J. Manuel’s drop-backs have been play action passes which is the second lowest rate in the league. However, when he does use play action passes his yards per attempt is 11.6 — the highest for a QB not named Manning.
Miami Dolphins: On intermediate level passes (passes in the air between 11 and 20 yards), Ryan Tannehill has an Accuracy Percentage of 78.5%; the league's second best figure.
New England Patriots: On passes that are in the air for 10 yards or less, Tom Brady has only been accurate on 73.3% of his passes; the third-worst rate in the league.
New York Jets: When throwing to the right, Geno Smith has 330 passing yards which is the most of any quarterback. He has completed 16 of 25 passes when throwing to the right, and has two touchdowns.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: On third down passes, Joe Flacco has gone 27-of-43 for 366 yards. His yardage total is 50 more than any other passer.
Cincinnati Bengals: When Andy Dalton is not under pressure, he completes 85.2% of his passes (fourth in the league). When he is under pressure, he only completes 47.4% (third-worst).
Cleveland Browns: When Brian Hoyer was under pressure, he was sacked more often (3) than he completed a pass (2). This led to a NFL QB Rating of 0.0 when under pressure compared to 86.1 when he was not.
Pittsburgh Steelers: When Ben Roethlisberger is throwing to the middle of the field, he has an Accuracy Percentage of 81.4%. When throwing to the outside he has an Accuracy Percentage of 48.9%. The 32.4% difference is the largest difference in the league.
AFC South
Houston Texans: In the first half of games, Matt Schaub only has 295 passing yards which puts him in the bottom quarter of the league. In the second half of games he has 497 yards which is the fifth-most in the league.
Indianapolis Colts: In the first three quarters, Andrew Luck has an Accuracy Percentage of 78.6% which is the fifth-best rate in the league. In the fourth quarter his Accuracy Percentage drops to 63.2% which is the seventh-worst rate in the league.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Of Blaine Gabbert’s 121 passing yards, 98 have come from yards after the catch. That is 81% of his yards which is the highest rate in the league. The league average is 46.3%.
Tennessee Titans: In his game against the Chargers, Jake Locker had a PFF Rating of +4.1, the highest rating he’s had in his career.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning has had 13 of his 122 passes dropped which is the highest amount in the league. That is 10.7% of his passes which is also the highest rate. The league average is 6.1%
Kansas City Chiefs: In a case where perception meets reality, Alex Smith has had his passes go in the air for 10 yards or less on 82.9% of his passes; the highest rate in the league.
Oakland Raiders: On deep passes, Terrelle Pryor has three completions for 143 yards — an average of nearly 48 yards per completion which is the best for those with at least two deep completions. However, his Accuracy Percentage on deep attempts of 30.8 is amongst the lowest in the league.
San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers has an Accuracy Percentage of 88.4% on third down passes which is the highest rate in the league. He has been accurate on 23 of his 26 passes.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: When Tony Romo only has 5 yards or fewer to go for a first down, he has completed 22 of 24 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns and his Accuracy Percentage of 95.8% is the second-best rate in the league. However, when he has 6 or more yards to go, he has only been accurate on 72.9% of passes which is below league average.
New York Giants: When Eli Manning throws the ball at least 20 yards down field, he has nearly as many completions to opponents (3) as he does his own team (4).
Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick has only been accurate on 43.8% of his third down passes which is the lowest rate in the league. In comparison he is 68.7% accurate on first and second downs.
Washington Redskins: In the first three quarters, Robert Griffin III has completed 50 of 83 passes for 544 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. In the fourth quarter he has completed 38 of 57 passes for 431 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler has been under pressure on 37.6% of his drop-backs, which is very similar to last year where he was under pressure on 37.5%. The difference this year is he has only been sacked on 7.3% of plays he has been under pressure (the second-lowest rate in the league), where last year he was sacked on 19.9% (sixth-highest).
Detroit Lions: When throwing to the middle of the field, Matthew Stafford has 859 yards which is over 100 more than any other quarterback. He has done this by completing 60 of 79 passes. In comparison, he only has 161 when throwing to the left or right, completing just 17 of 35 passes.
Green Bay Packers: In Week 3, Aaron Rodgers had a QB Rating of 64.5, which is the lowest he’s had in a single game since the 2010 Conference Championship game against Chicago.
Minnesota Vikings: On passes that are in the air for 10 yards or less, Christian Ponder has been accurate on 81% of his passes. On passes that are in the air for 11 or more, he has only been accurate on 43.8% of his passes.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: When Matt Ryan passes the ball within two seconds of the snap, he has been accurate on 33 of 35 passes. That is an Accuracy Percentage of 94.3% which is the highest in the league. When he takes 2.1 seconds or more, his Accuracy Percentage drops to 69.3% which is very close to the league average.
Carolina Panthers: Of Cam Newton’s 580 passing yards, only 164 have come after the catch. That is 28.3% of his passes which is the lowest rate in the league. The league average is 46.3%.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees has had 300 passing yards in each of his last eight games. He has 75 total 300 yards games which is eight behind Peyton Manning for the most all time. He is also one game away from tying his record of most consecutive 300-yard games at nine.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Oddly enough, Josh Freeman has been more accurate when there is pressure on him at 68% than when he does not have pressure on him at 54.6%.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: On 43.5% of his passes, Carson Palmer has thrown the ball in the air for 10 yards or more which is the second-highest rate in the league. All three of his touchdowns have come on these passes.
St. Louis Rams: When throwing to the left, Sam Bradford has only been accurate on 50% of his passes. He has completed 9-of-18 for 58 yards. However, when throwing to the right, he is accurate on 75% and has completed 28-of-40 for 244 yards.
San Francisco 49ers: When Colin Kaepernick is not under pressure he has a QB Rating of 93.3, but when he is under pressure it is down to 6.6.
Seattle Seahawks: Of Russell Wilson’s 664 passing yards, only 14 of them have come on passes that were thrown to targets who were behind the line of scrimmage. That is 2.1% of his yards which is the second-lowest rate in the league.
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