RANKING THE 25 BACKUPS WHO'VE THROWN PASSES IN 2015
(Sorry, Ryan Mallett: If you miss the plane, you're off the list)
1 MATT HASSELBECK
COLTS
Salvaged a seemingly lost season. His 4--0 record and 64.7 completion percentage have Indy atop AFC South.
2 BROCK OSWEILER
BRONCOS
Two starts, two wins, including OT thriller over Pats. But 11 sacks in nine quarters show a lack of pocket presence.
3 RYAN FITZPATRICK
JETS
Jumped to QB1 because of a sucker punch. By no means a Pro Bowler, he still has 20 TDs and has N.Y. in playoff hunt.
4 JOHNNY MANZIEL
BROWNS
He's been electrifying at times but lacks support of his coaches. Needs to be consistent, keep out of trouble.
5 LUKE MCCOWN
SAINTS
Completed 81.6% of passes in only start, a close loss to now 11--0 Panthers. Jumps several spots for his Verizon ad.
6 T.J. YATES
TEXANS
Try to ignore the 46.7 completion percentage. Played in two games this season, and Houston won both.
7 KELLEN CLEMENS
RAMS
Six attempts, five completions, including 19-yard TD to Keenan Allen—highest TD percentage in NFL.
8 MATT MOORE
DOLPHINS
Tied for NFL's highest completion percentage—meaning, he hit on his only throw, for 14 yards. Can't knock it.
9 CHASE DANIEL
CHIEFS
Perfect (2 for 2), like Moore, but for only four total yards. Alex Smith has quieted any calls for Daniel's promotion.
10 AJ MCCARRON
BENGALS
Last member of the perfect completion percentage club. First (and only) NFL pass: three-yard completion Sunday.
11 SEAN MANNION
RAMS
Third-round pick went 6 of 7 for 31 yards in mop-up debut Sunday. Could get more looks soon as Rams' season dies.
12 BLAINE GABBERT
49ERS
QB rating of 91.0 in best three-game stretch of career. Alas, 49ers are 1--2 since he took over for Colin Kaepernick.
13 MIKE VICK
STEELERS
This isn't the Michael Vick Experience of old, but his two wins in three relief starts kept the Steelers in the playoff hunt.
14 LANDRY JONES
STEELERS
Led upset win over Cardinals—then, Sunday, became first QB since '03 to throw multiple INTs in four or fewer attempts.
15 EJ MANUEL
BILLS
So-so in two starts (vs. Bengals, Jags): three TDs, three INTs. But those losses dinged the Bills' playoff hopes.
16 CASE KEENUM
RAMS
Played through a Week 11 concussion, then lost a costly fumble. Little value in playing through pain these days.
17 DAN ORLOVSKY
LIONS
Absolutely meh in two relief outings. But, really, we still remember when he ran out of the back of the end zone in '08.
18 MATT MCGLOIN
RAIDERS
Only PT came against the Bengals' No. 1 defense: 74.2% completions, but only 142 yards in a blowout loss.
19 SHAUN HILL
VIKINGS
If not for Adrian Peterson, he'd have squandered a lead after being handed the reins late against the Rams.
20 MARK SANCHEZ
EAGLES
Same old problem: 4.4% INT rate is highest for any QB not named Peyton or Romo (minimum 56 attempts).
21 ZACH METTENBERGER
TITANS
Two starts, zero wins, 14.8 rating, nine sacks. No quarterback has this many passes (74) without a single 25-yard completion.
22 DREW STANTON
CARDINALS
Mopped up in a blowout win over the Lions and went 1 of 4—worst completion percentage in the league.
23 MATT CASSEL
COWBOYS
For the cost of a fifth-round pick (Bills), Dallas bought itself a guy who can't, for the life of him, find All-Pro WR Dez Bryant.
24 JIMMY CLAUSEN
BEARS, RAVENS
With just six first downs on 184 passing yards in seven quarters of relief, he had Bears crying for Cutler's return.
25 BRANDON WEEDEN
COWBOYS, TEXANS
More telling than the fact he couldn't win in three starts with loaded offense: He was benched for Matt Cassel.
PHOTO
COURTESY OF VERIZON (MCCOWN)
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REINHOLD MATAY/USA TODAY SPORTS (MCCARRON)
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KEVIN HOFFMAN/USA TODAY SPORTS (MANUEL)