NFL quarterback rankings, Week 14: Justin Herbert’s crisis

The Los Angeles Chargers might miss the playoffs again, and quarterback Justin Herbert is soon to be taking on criticism. Is it justified?

Our 2022 FanSided NFL quarterback rankings go live each Wednesday morning throughout the regular season, and we use a sliding scale incorporating current and past performances, with the former meaning more as the year goes on.

NFL quarterback rankings

32

Kyle Allen

Last Week: 32 Houston Texans

2022 stats: 416 yards | 59.0 comp % | 2 TD | 4 INT | 5.3 YPA | 3.4 QBR

Allen has been brutal, failing to throw deep, complete passes or keep the ball away from the other team.

31

Jon Wolford

Last Week: NA Los Angeles Rams

2022 stats: 390 yards | 61.3 comp % | 1 TD | 3 INT | 6.3 YPA | 20.5 QBR

Is this about to be Baker Mayfield’s new job?

30

Tyler Huntley

Last Week: NA Baltimore Ravens

2022 stats: 187 yards | 84.4 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 5.8 YPA | 74.3 QBR

Huntley is a good athlete who can complete short passes, but will that be enough to keep Baltimore afloat until Lamar Jackson returns?

29

Brock Purdy

Last Week: NA San Francisco 49ers

2022 stats: 276 yards | 63.0 comp % | 2 TD | 2 INT | 6.0 YPA | 55.0 QBR

Purdy needs to hand the ball off, throw to George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, and not make huge mistakes.

28

Sam Darnold

Last Week: 29 Carolina Panthers

2022 stats: 164 yards | 57.9 comp % | 1 TD | 0 INT | 8.6 YPA | 71.1 QBR

Darnold has been a colossal disappointment to this juncture of his career, but he’s getting another abbreviated chance with Carolina.

27

Russell Wilson

Last Week: 28 Denver Broncos

2022 stats: 2,558 yards | 60.1 comp % | 8 TD | 5 INT | 7.1 YPA | 35.0 QBR

The worst contract in NFL history? Too early to say, but it’s not looking good.

26

Matt Ryan

Last Week: 25 Indianapolis Colts

2022 stats: 2,875 yards | 67.8 comp % | 13 TD | 13 INT | 6.7 YPA | 44.9 QBR

Ryan has turned the ball over more than any other quarterback this season, and he was benched at midseason.

25

Mike White

Last Week: 27 New York Jets

2022 stats: 684 yards | 62.4 comp % | 3 TD | 2 INT | 8.0 YPA | 46.5 QBR

White wasn’t nearly as good in Minnesota as he was in beating Chicago, but the Jets are clearly more explosive with him at the helm.

24

Marcus Mariota

Last Week: 23 Atlanta Falcons

2022 stats: 2,219 yards | 61.3 comp % | 15 TD | 9 INT | 7.4 YPA | 55.5 QBR

It might be time to see what Desmond Ritter can do. Mariota just isn’t doing enough for the offense.

23

Mac Jones

Last Week: 26 New England Patriots

2022 stats: 1,963 yards | 68.1 comp % | 7 TD | 7 INT | 7.3 YPA | 35.4 QBR

Jones struggled against the Bills on Thursday night. He doesn’t have much help, but he also isn’t elevating anybody.

22

Kenny Pickett

Last Week: 24 Pittsburgh Steelers

2022 stats: 1,797 yards | 65.2 comp % | 4 TD | 8 INT | 6.1 YPA | 45.9 QBR

Pickett has stopped throwing interceptions. There are some encouraging signs for his future, including good accuracy and some mobility in the pocket.

21

Daniel Jones

Last Week: 22 New York Giants

2022 stats: 2,365 yards | 66.0 comp % | 11 TD | 4 INT | 6.8 YPA | 55.2 QBR

Jones didn’t throw an incompletion until there were less than two minutes remaining in regulation. That said, he didn’t make big plays, resulting in a tie.

20

Taylor Heinicke

Last Week: 21 Washington Commanders

2022 stats: 1,444 yards | 61.8 comp % | 9 TD | 5 INT | 6.8 YPA | 42.9 QBR

Heinicke won’t blow you away with numbers, but he makes important throws and his teammates are clearly all-in with him.

19

Andy Dalton

Last Week: 20 New Orleans Saints

2022 stats: 2,252 yards | 66.9 comp % | 15 TD | 7 INT | 7.5 YPA | 53.1 QBR

Dalton deserved a better fate than a late loss to the Buccaneers. He did more than enough for the Saints to come away with a win.

18

Kyler Murray

Last Week: 19 Arizona Cardinals

2022 stats: 2,359 yards | 66.3 comp % | 14 TD | 7 INT | 6.1 YPA | 51.1 QBR

Murray needs to build some momentum for next season. This has been a disastrous campaign for he and the Cardinals.

17

Ryan Tannehill

Last Week: 17 Tennessee Titans

2022 stats: 2,117 yards | 64.9 comp % | 11 TD | 4 INT | 8.0 YPA | 55.2 QBR

Tannehill had nothing going against the Eagles, losing 35-10. This week, an opportunity to bounce back with the Jaguars coming in.

16

Deshaun Watson

Last Week: NA Cleveland Browns

2022 stats: 131 yards | 54.5 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 6.0 YPA | 28.5 QBR

Watson was terrible in his return from an 11-game suspension. That said, because of his talent, he starts in the middle of these rankings.

15

Trevor Lawrence

Last Week: 15 Jacksonville Jaguars

2022 stats: 2,834 yards | 65.6 comp % | 17 TD | 6 INT | 6.8 YPA | 53.8 QBR

Lawrence had a scary moment in the third quarter against the Lions, leaving with an ankle injury. Luckily, he appears to be alright. Time to finish strong.

14

Aaron Rodgers

Last Week: 16 Green Bay Packers

2022 stats: 2,864 yards | 64.3 comp % | 22 TD | 9 INT | 6.8 YPA | 41.9 QBR

Rodgers continues to own the Bears. He hasn’t owned many other teams this season, but Chicago remains under his stewardship.

13

Kirk Cousins

Last Week: 13 Minnesota Vikings

2022 stats: 2,933 yards | 64.6 comp % | 18 TD | 9 INT | 6.5 YPA | 51.5 QBR

Cousins struggled against the Jets, who gave him fits with corners D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner. That said, he’s been a clear positive for the 10-2 Vikings.

12

Jared Goff

Last Week: 12 Detroit Lions

2022 stats: 3,022 yards | 64.9 comp % | 19 TD | 7 INT | 7.5 YPA | 60.4 QBR

Goff has been prolific this season, helping the Lions stay on the periphery of the playoff race. Can he help pull a miracle finish?

11

Justin Fields

Last Week: NA Chicago Bears

2022 stats: 1,896 yards | 61.7 comp % | 13 TD | 10 INT | 7.5 YPA | 58.6 QBR

Fields has been incredibly fun to watch. Yes, the Bears are terrible and Fields has thrown too many interceptions, but his talent is undeniable.

10

Justin Herbert

Last Week: 6 Los Angeles Chargers

2022 stats: 3,339 yards | 66.7 comp % | 20 TD | 7 INT | 6.5 YPA | 56.6 QBR

Herbert needs to start winning more. The Chargers are poorly coached and the defense stinks, so it’s not fair to completely blame him for Los Angeles’ 6-6 mark. However, if you’re an elite quarterback, you score more than 20 points against the Raiders.

9

Derek Carr

Last Week: 11 Las Vegas Raiders

2022 stats: 2,980 yards | 62.3 comp % | 20 TD | 8 INT | 7.2 YPA | 60.0 QBR

Carr has been underrated most of his career, and that remains true. The Raiders are making a late run, largely because of the offense. He’s a leader, and a winner in an annually tough spot.

8

Tom Brady

Last Week: 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2022 stats: 3,332 yards | 66.2 comp % | 16 TD | 3 INT | 6.4 YPA | 52.2 QBR

Brady has struggled at times on a horrific Bucs offense, but he still pulls victories out of the fire. Tampa Bay is a pedestrian team, but who wants to face Brady in January?

7

Geno Smith

Last Week: 9 Seattle Seahawks

2022 stats: 3,169 yards | 72.7 comp % | 22 TD | 6 INT | 8.1 YPA | 64.8 QBR

Smith is more than a good story. He’s becoming a terrific quarterback. Few signal-callers can claim the stats he’s put forth this season.

6

Dak Prescott

Last Week: 7 Dallas Cowboys

2022 stats: 1,563 yards | 67.9 comp % | 13 TD | 7 INT | 7.4 YPA | 59.2 QBR

Prescott has an elite team around him, and he’s beginning to take off. The Cowboys are loaded defensively and have ample offensive weapons. True Super Bowl contenders.

5

Tua Tagovailoa

Last Week: 2 Miami Dolphins

2022 stats: 2,859 yards | 68.1 comp % | 21 TD | 5 INT | 9.0 YPA | 77.4 QBR

Tagovailoa struggled against the 49ers, especially after the first play was a 75-yard touchdown pass. The Dolphins need him to be better on secondary reads at times. That’s the only knock.

4

Josh Allen

Last Week: 5 Buffalo Bills

2022 stats: 3,406 yards | 64.1 comp % | 25 TD | 11 INT | 7.7 YPA | 75.1 QBR

Allen was awesome in New England, making one highlight-reel play after the next. Most importantly, no interceptions.

3

Joe Burrow

Last Week: 4 Cincinnati Bengals

2022 stats: 3,446 yards | 69.1 comp % | 25 TD | 8 INT | 7.8 YPA | 59.0 QBR

Burrow was fantastic against the Chiefs once again, only throwing six incompletions with two touchdowns. The Bengals own Kansas City, and Burrow has dominated his head-to-head matchups with Patrick Mahomes.

2

Jalen Hurts

Last Week: 3 Philadelphia Eagles

2022 stats: 2,940 yards | 68.1 comp % | 20 TD | 3 INT | 8.2 YPA | 69.2 QBR

Hurts vaulted himself towards the top of the MVP conversation as the Eagles continue to roll, scoring 75 points in their last two games.

1

Patrick Mahomes

Last Week: 1 Kansas City Chiefs

2022 stats: 3,808 yards | 65.7 comp % | 30 TD | 8 INT | 8.1 YPA | 78.5 QBR

Mahomes was decent against the Bengals, making some very difficult throws under duress. That said, the MVP race tightened up with Kansas City falling on the road.