Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is in the books, and it wasn’t a pretty start for Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears, who were blown out by the Green Bay Packers.
When evaluating quarterback play, a trusted metric is ESPN’s Total QBR rating, which does more than take into account statistics. Because, as we know, stats can lie.
Buy Bears TicketsAccording to ESPN, Adjusted Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) “values the quarterback on all play types on a 0-100 scale adjusted for the strength of opposing defenses faced.”
So where does Fields and other NFC quarterbacks, including the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, Lions’ Jared Goff and Packers’ Jordan Love, rank following Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season?
Here’s how the 16 starting NFC quarterbacks stack up:
16
Daniel Jones, Giants
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 8.4
Week 1 recap
Jones and the Giants were blown out, 40-0, by a dominant Cowboys defense. Jones completed 15-of-28 passes (53.5%) for 104 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked seven times and fumbled twice.
15
Bryce Young, Panthers
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 14.5
Week 1 recap
Young and the Panthers suffered a 24-10 loss to their division rival Falcons. In his first start, Young completed 20-of-38 passes for 146 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He added three rushes for 17 yards.
14
Joshua Dobbs, Cardinals
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 21.6
Week 1 recap
Dobbs and the Cardinals blew a second-half lead in a 20-16 loss to the Commanders. Dobbs, starting in place of an injured Kyler Murray, completed 21-of-30 passes for 131 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. But he did have three fumbles, two of which were lost.
13
Justin Fields, Bears
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 21.6
Week 1 recap
Fields and the Bears were blown out by the Packers, 38-20, including a brutal second half outing. Fields completed 24-of-37 passes for 216 yards with one touchdown. He added nine carries for 59 yards. Fields committed two costly turnovers: a fumble and pick-six, which was the icing on an already-embarrassing loss.
12
Desmond Ridder, Falcons
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 28.8
Week 1 recap
Ridder and the Falcons defeated the division rival Panthers, 24-10. Ridder wasn’t asked to do much — he completed 15-of-18 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked four times.
11
Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 36.3
Week 1 recap
Hurts and the Eagles escaped with a 25-20 win over the Patriots. Hurts completed 22-of-33 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown. He added nine carries for 37 yards. Hurts was sacked three times and lost a fumble.
10
Geno Smith, Seahawks
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 44.4
Week 1 recap
Smith and the Seahawks were blown out by their division rival Rams, 30-13. Smith completed 16-of-26 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t have any turnovers but was sacked twice.
9
Sam Howell, Commanders
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 45.4
Week 1 recap
Howell and the Commanders battled back to defeat the Cardinals, 20-16. Howell completed 19-of-31 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Howell was sacked six times and lost one fumble.
8
Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 54.9
Week 1 recap
Cousins and the Vikings were defeated by the Buccaneers, 20-17. Cousins completed 33-of-44 passes for 344 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also lost two fumbles.
7
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 61.7
Week 1 recap
Mayfield and the Buccaneers upset the favored Vikings, 20-17. Mayfield completed 21-of-34 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t commit any turnovers.
6
Jared Goff, Lions
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 61.9
Week 1 recap
Goff and the Lions pulled a huge upset over the Chiefs, 21-20. Goff completed 22-of-35 passes for 253 yards with one touchdown. He didn’t turn the ball over in a mistake-free performance.
5
Derek Carr, Saints
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 62.6
Week 1 recap
Carr and the Saints escaped with a 16-15 win over the Titans. Carr completed 23-of-33 passes for 305 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked four times.
4
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 72.6
Week 1 recap
Prescott and the Cowboys obliterated their division rival Giants, 40-0. Prescott didn’t have to do much, thanks to his dominant defense, completing 13-of-24 passes for 143 yards. He didn’t account for any touchdowns, but he also didn’t turn the ball over.
3
Jordan Love, Packers
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 73.3
Week 1 recap
Love and the Packers embarrassed the Bears, 38-20. Love completed 15-of-27 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns. He didn’t commit any turnovers and was only sacked once.
2
Matthew Stafford, Rams
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 88.9
Week 1 recap
Stafford and the Rams destroyed the Seahawks, 30-13. Stafford completed 24-of-38 passes for 334 yards. He didn’t account for any touchdowns but also didn’t turn the ball over.
1
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 91.3
Week 1 recap
Purdy and the 49ers dominated the Steelers, 30-7. Purdy completed 19-of-29 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked three times and lost one fumble.
