Three NFL teams were forced to start backup quarterbacks in Week 3 of the 2015 season.
Not surprisingly, all three teams lost.
Veteran Luke McCown was unable to get the New Orleans Saints in the win column on the road against the Carolina Panthers, former first-round pick and Dallas Cowboys backup Brandon Weeden ran out of gas late against the Atlanta Falcons, and Jimmy Clausen led a Chicago Bears offense that was thoroughly outclassed by the Seattle Seahawks.
We graded all three quarterbacks in their Week 3 starting cameos:
Luke McCown, Saints
CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 27: Luke McCown #7 of the New Orleans Saints directs his team against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The 34-year-old was surprisingly efficient in place of Drew Brees, completing 31 of 38 passes for 310 yards against a stingy Carolina defense. McCown connected on 19 of his first 20 attempts, and the Saints held leads of 10-0 and 16-10. Nine different receivers caught passes from McCown, but his lone interception—a leaping pick from Panthers cornerback Josh Norman in the end zone—all but sealed the deal with just over a minute to play and the Saints down five points. He also mishandled the snap on a PAT attempt. While New Orleans dropped to 0-3, McCown at least gave the Saints a decent chance to win a game on the road against a division rival. You can’t ask for much more from a backup quarterback.
Grade: A-
Brandon Weeden, Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 27: Brandon Weeden #3 of the Dallas Cowboys hands the ball to Joseph Randle #21 during play against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Weeden was rock solid early on against the Falcons, completing his first nine passes as the Cowboys scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions. Things started going down hill for the Dallas backup a series later, when Weeden’s ill-advised attempt to tight end Jason Witten was intercepted. After the pick, the Cowboys were outscored by a 32-7 margin. Dallas gained just 52 yards and didn’t score in the second half as Atlanta rolled. Weeden finished with 22 completions on 26 attempts for 232 yards and one interception, good for a passer rating of 87.8. The numbers looked fine, but he checked down constantly, completing 12 of his passes to running backs and another six to Witten. The Cowboys were 1-of-7 on third and fourth down and ran just 49 plays. Dallas will need better at quarterback to stay afloat minus Tony Romo.
Grade: C
Jimmy Clausen, Bears
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #8 of the Chicago Bears passes the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 27, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Clausen would have produced the worst stat line from a quarterback in Week 3, but Colin Kaepernick’s pick-fest in Arizona saved him the distinction. The Bears still received nothing from their backup in Seattle, as Clausen completed 9 of 17 passes for 63 yards and zero touchdowns. The Bears failed to score a single point and were shutout for the first time since 2002. In fact, all 10 of Chicago’s offensive possessions ended in punts, including six three-and-outs. The Bears ran just three plays in Seahawks territory. No one expected Clausen to go into Seattle and play exceedingly well, but Chicago wasn’t even competitive on offense. If Jay Cutler has to miss more time, the Bears might as well see what they have in David Fales. Clausen is a known commodity. He’s not any good.
Grade: F