Week 11 of the NFL season brought plenty of entertaining games and a lot of good quarterback play. Two of the headline performances at either end of the spectrum were Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff, with one putting together a top-three performance this season and the other struggling against a tough defense. Let’s break down both performances and the full QB rankings using the PFN QB+ metric.
Our QB+ metric looks at several statistics, including net yards per attempt (nYPA), third-down conversion rate, passing under pressure, and passing from a clean pocket. Additionally, we have quantified performances in clutch situations using statistics from different key scenarios within a game.
By no means is QB+ the perfect metric, and we will continue to develop it throughout the season and beyond. However, when we analyzed it against the past five years, the results were extremely indicative of what we saw on the field while providing enough nuance away from traditional statistics for measuring quarterback play.
All stats are from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.
Week 11 QB Grades
First, you will find a full list of all quarterbacks from Week 11, listed in order of their QB+ grade and score. Below, you will find an analysis of all qualified quarterbacks and the context for their grades.
They will be listed alphabetically by first name rather than by grade or score. This will allow readers to quickly find the QB they are looking for in the writeups.
- Jared Goff A+ (97.2) | DET vs. JAX
- Tua Tagovailoa B+ (87.7) | MIA vs. LV
- Bo Nix B (86.1) | DEN vs. ATL
- Matthew Stafford B- (83.6) | LAR at NE
- Anthony Richardson B (83.2) | IND at NYJ
- Jordan Love B- (81.3) | GB at CHI
- Josh Allen B- (81.1) | BUF vs. KC
- Jalen Hurts B- (80.1) | PHI vs. WAS
- Caleb Williams C+ (79.1) | CHI vs. GB
- Aaron Rodgers C (77.4) | NYJ vs. IND
- Gardner Minshew II C (76.9) | LV at MIA
- Sam Darnold C (76.9) | MIN at TEN
- Geno Smith C (76.6) | SEA at SF
- Patrick Mahomes C (76.5) | KC vs. BUF
- Derek Carr C (76.5) | NO vs. CLE
- Jameis Winston C (76.3) | CLE at NO
- Drake Maye C (75.9) | NE vs. LAR
- Will Levis C (75.8) | TEN vs. MIN
- Brock Purdy C (75.3) | SF vs. SEA
- Justin Herbert C (74.8) | LAC vs. CIN
- Joe Burrow C (74.6) | CIN at LAC
- C.J. Stroud C (74.2) | HOU at DAL
- Jayden Daniels C (73.7) | WAS at PHI
- Kirk Cousins D+ (68.8) | ATL at DEN
- Cooper Rush D+ (68.4) | DAL vs. HOU
- Russell Wilson D (63.5) | PIT vs. BAL
- Lamar Jackson D (63.0) | BAL at PIT
- Mac Jones D (64.5) | JAX at DET
Week 11 QB Analysis
Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (vs. IND)
- Grade: C+
Rodgers started sluggishly in Week 11, but he and the New York Jets offense got back on track somewhat at the end of the first half. They then had a relatively strong second half, but it was not enough to get the win. This was Rodgers’ fifth game with a C grade this season and his eighth with a C or below.
Where Rodgers struggled relatively this week was when passing under pressure, on third downs, and in terms of nYPA. He finished the game with just 184 passing yards and a -0.04 EPA per dropback. The Jets’ season is in danger of slipping away here unless Rodgers can step things up quickly.
Anthony Richardson, IND (at NYJ)
- Grade: B
It was far from a perfect performance from Richardson, but it was certainly a big improvement over what we have seen in recent starts. This is his best QB+ of the year so far, just beating his B- in Week 1 against Houston.
Game Winner.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/hlBHd1sjDE
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 17, 2024
Richardson was impressive in clutch situations, especially late in the game. He backed that up with a 54.5% third-down conversion rate, a positive EPA when under pressure, and acceptable numbers when throwing from a clean pocket. The Jets’ defense is not what it once was, but putting up a strong performance against them on the road is a notable achievement for the second-year QB.
Bo Nix, DEN (vs. ATL)
- Grade: B
Over the previous six weeks, we have seen Nix consistently put together solid performances. In Week 11, he turned that into his best performance of the season. Nix was excellent in most facets of the game, tallying great numbers when throwing from clean pockets and finishing with a third-down conversion rate of 55.6% as well as an nYPA of 8.9.
The only element that Nix struggled with relatively in this game was throwing when under pressure. However, it was his fourth-best performance in those situations, and he did not face many pressured pockets during this game. The growth we continue to see from Nix is exciting, both for 2024 and for the Broncis in 2025 and beyond.
Brock Purdy, SF (at SEA)
- Grade: C
It was an intriguing performance from Brock Purdy, who was excellent when under pressure but struggled mightily when throwing from a clean pocket. Similarly, he converted on 55.6% of third downs but could only manage 5.2 nYPA and 2.5 YAC/CP. Ultimately, it was another loss and his second-worst performance of the season at a time that the San Francisco 49ers simply could not afford.
Caleb Williams, CHI (vs. GB)
- Grade: C+
After three poor performances, it was good to see Williams show some of the signs that we saw just before his bye week. This was Williams’ third-best performance of the season to date and a huge improvement over what we had seen in the proceeding three weeks.
As his grade suggests, Williams’ performance was far from complete. He was league average both when throwing under pressure and from a clean pocket, as were his nYPA returns. A couple of impressive areas of performance were his composure on third downs and his performance in clutch situations toward the end of the first half and in the fourth quarter.
C.J. Stroud, HOU (at DAL)
- Grade: C
Stroud had a perfectly cromulent performance as the Cowboys continued their self-destruction (literally, in the case of AT&T Stadium). Six of Stroud’s 11 games have been in the C grade range this season, though this was technically his fifth-lowest of the 2024 season.
The biggest reason why Stroud didn’t grade out higher was a poor passer rating from a clean pocket. That’s been an issue for the second-year passer in 2024, as he ranks 25th in clean pocket passer rating. Stroud ranked fifth in that category during his rookie season in 2023.
Cooper Rush, DAL (vs. HOU)
- Grade: D+
Rush recorded a D- grade in his first start of the season versus the Eagles last week. So Monday night represented progress … sort of.
Truthfully, it would have been nearly impossible for the Dallas Cowboys offense and Rush to play worse than they did last week. Rush was still the fourth-lowest graded quarterback of the week, nothing to brag about on the report card. The Cowboys’ substitute QB1 had the worst EPA per dropback when pressured (-1.07) of any passer in Week 11, highlighted by a disastrous strip-sack scoop-and-score.
Derek Carr, NO (vs. CLE)
- Grade: C
A C grade may seem somewhat underwhelming for Carr, given that the New Orleans Saints scored 35 points against a good defense. However, there is a lot that goes into his metrics, and they are a little all over the place. He posted a negative EPA when under pressure and had some issues in clutch situations during the game, which both count against him when it comes to our QB+ metric.
There was plenty of good, including a superb performance from a clean pocket, 8.9 nYPA on all throws, and a 0.3 EPA per dropback. The offense’s performance was promising, and they remain very much in the NFC South conversation.
Drake Maye, NE (vs. LAR)
- Grade: C
We continue to see consistency from Maye, who posted his fifth result out of five with a grade between a C- and a C+. There are plenty of promising signs each week, and this week, it was Maye’s ability to stand in the pocket and make plays under pressure. Combining that with solid play out of clean pockets, it is a promising start for the rookie through his first six starts.
Gardner Minshew II, LV (at MIA)
- Grade: C
The Las Vegas Raiders decided to stick with Minshew this week, and he somewhat rewarded them with his best game of the season. It was still far from convincing, and the offense did not look overly threatening, but it was an improvement in his personal performance.
Minshew was very good on third downs, converting 58.3% of opportunities, but there was little else to get excited about. After the 1 p.m. slate, he was already outside the top 10 in clutch situations, throwing under pressure, throwing from clean pockets, nYPA, and EPA per dropback. Minshew continues to be exactly what we expected him to be, a below-average starting option.
Geno Smith, SEA (vs. SF)
- Grade: C
For a large portion of the game, Geno Smith really struggled. His scramble to win the game gave his numbers a late boost, as he finished with nice numbers in clutch situations. However, Smith struggled when throwing under pressure and from a clean pocket throughout the game, and his numbers were far from convincing. He had just 2.7 YAC/Cp and 6.1 nYPA.
Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. WAS)
- Grade: B-
Hurts impressed again with a fourth B- grade or better in his last six qualified starts (minimum 15 pass attempts). His numbers in the game were not all that exciting, with just a 0.09 EPA per dropback and -0.46 EPA when throwing under pressure. He did at least convert 50% of his third-down opportunities and continued to be good in clutch spots during the game.
Jameis Winston, CLE (at NO)
- Grade: C
The Cleveland Browns’ Winston roller coaster continues. Their quarterback showed the typical mix of good and bad. He showed flashes of excellence while also finishing with 395 passing yards and then his usual moments of madness. Third downs were a particular issue, with Winston converting on just 25% of opportunities. The majority of the rest of his numbers were merely league-average for the season.
Jared Goff, DET (vs. JAX)
- Grade: A+
What an impressive performance from Goff, who now has the top two performances this season. His 97.2 against the Jaguars topped the 96.3 that he posted against the Seahawks back in Week 4. His metrics were superb across the board, as you would expect for someone who posted an A+ grade.
Jared Goff finished today with 1.04 EPA per dropback vs. JAX, the highest EPA per dropback amongst QBs this season. He also received an 'A-' QB+ grade per PFN's QB+ metric. 📈
This is Goff's first game with a perfect passer rating this season, and his third game with at least a… pic.twitter.com/Gnob9xwRUH
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 17, 2024
Goff converted an incredible 83.3% of his third-down opportunities, was as close to perfect as you could imagine from a clean pocket, and posted good numbers when under pressure. His 1.04 EPA per dropback was the best single-game performance of the season.
Jayden Daniels, WAS (at PHI)
- Grade: C
It very much feels like teams are starting to get an idea of how to play Daniels as he heads into the second half of his rookie season. This is his third grade of a C or below in the last four weeks and just his fourth of the season. However, it is also worth noting that all three of those games in the last four weeks were against top 10 defenses.
Daniels really struggled when under pressure and was not much better from clean pockets. It is always going to be hard to post good numbers if you are struggling in both of those scenarios. The offense was blunted by the Eagles’ defense, with Daniels having just 5.3 nYPA and a 0.02 EPA per dropback. The Eagles also did a good job not allowing Daniels to take over the game with his legs.
Joe Burrow, CIN (at LAC)
- Grade: C
It took a three-TD deficit to wake up Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense, but in the end, they fell short, especially in clutch time. Burrow had three second-half TDs, two to Jamar Chase, but an ugly first-half and late-game misses resulted in a C, his second-worst score of the season.
On the night, Burrow threw for 356 yards, the third time this season he passed for over 350. Burrow has 12 passing TDs in his last three games, but the Bengals’ playoff hopes are almost gone.
Jordan Love, GB (at CHI)
- Grade: B-
We saw Jordan Love’s second-best performance of the season in Week 11, and the fact that it came against a good Bears defense is worth taking note of. Love was impressive when throwing under pressure, as well as solid from a clean pocket, and finished with a 0.42 EPA per dropback. He was helped by a couple of big runs after the catch and finished with 11.0 yards after the catch per completion (YAC/CP) number and 15.3 nYPA.
Josh Allen, BUF (vs. KC)
- Grade: B-
Josh Allen did a lot well in Week 11, but there was still room for improvement. The highlights were some incredible plays in clutch moments, including the game-clinching win and a fantastic 61.5% third-down conversion rate. He was mostly league-average in terms of the overall passing game, but the Bills could rely on him in the big moments, as they have been accustomed to.
Justin Herbert, LAC (vs CIN)
- Grade: C
Herbert was efficient in the first half against the Bengals, helping the Chargers to a three-TD lead. A poor second half allowed the Bengals to regain the game before a final drive clinched the win for the Chargers, who currently hold the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
Herbert only completed 17 of 36 passes but managed two TDs, both in the first half. His C grade was his third-worst performance of the season.
Kirk Cousins, ATL (at DEN)
- Grade: D+
Atlanta’s offense got exposed by a very good Denver defense on the road at Empower Field. This was Cousins’ second-worst performance of the season, narrowly ahead of his poor performance against the Seattle Seahawks. Cousins struggled in almost every element, and while none stand out as particularly bad, it was the accumulation of issues that resulted in this grade.
Lamar Jackson, BAL (at PIT)
- Grade: D
Jackson continued his unwelcome record of struggles, resulting in a loss for the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson posted his lowest QB+ of the season by quite a distance. He struggled both when passing from a clean pocket and when throwing under pressure, but neither were his worst numbers of the season. However, his 0.21 EPA per dropback was his lowest of the season.
The only thing that should alarm Jackson and the Ravens is that he has struggled against the Browns and Steelers in recent weeks. He still has to play both of them again this season, although the return game will be in Baltimore.
Mac Jones, JAX (at DET)
- Grade: D
We did not expect a huge amount from Jones against the Lions, and he delivered exactly that, as the offense could only manage six points. Jones was bad in almost every situation you can imagine and has now struggled for two weeks running.
However, Jones has been thrown into the fire with limited practice time and against two good defenses. It will be intriguing to see if the Jaguars give him an extended run if Trevor Lawrence misses more time after the bye.
Matthew Stafford, LAR (at NE)
- Grade: B
The Los Angeles Rams had a relatively slow start to Week 11, but the passing offense soon took its stride against a New England defense that has had some troubles this year. Stafford finished with four passing touchdowns and a 0.51 EPA per dropback. He was particularly good from a clean pocket and finished with a 10.9 nYPA, thanks in part to a big catch and run on a touchdown for Cooper Kupp.
Stafford continues to put together inconsistent performances that do nothing to answer any questions about his long-term future as an NFL starter. This was his second B- or above in the last four weeks, but they have been mixed in with a C- and D+.
Patrick Mahomes, KC (at BUF)
- Grade: C
This was a pretty poor performance from Patrick Mahomes in a big spot in Buffalo. He really struggled when put under pressure, with his EPA on pressured dropbacks ranking last in the league this week heading into Sunday Night Football. He did well when throwing from a clean pocket, but the Bills were finally able to put consistent pressure on him, and he wilted.
There is plenty that Mahomes will need to clean up before these two teams potentially meet again in the postseason.
Russell Wilson, PIT (vs. BAL)
- Grade: D
Wilson had put together a promising start to his time as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter, but that came to a screeching halt in Week 11. This performance was somewhat of a surprise as the Ravens’ defense has struggled this year. However, Wilson finished with zero passing touchdowns and a horrible interception when the Steelers were in field goal range in the second half.
Wilson’s performance when under pressure was reminiscent of some of the worst of his game we saw in Denver, and he was not much better from a clean pocket either. Converting just 20% of third-down opportunities meant the Steelers could never take advantage of their defense’s strong performance.
Sam Darnold, MIN (at TEN)
- Grade: C
The Week 11 performance from Darnold was nothing for the Minnesota Vikings to be excited about, but it was better than the mistake-prone performances of recent weeks. League-average game manager performances are all this Vikings team really needs from Darnold in the short term, and for the most part, that is what we got this week.
None of his numbers stood out either for good or bad reasons, and that is ultimately going to be good enough for most teams. The problem with Darnold is whether he can be mistake-free in the playoffs while also doing enough to help this team beat the best the NFC has to offer.
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (vs. LV)
- Grade: B+
Tagovailoa has been superb since his return from a concussion. He was absolutely superb in clutch spots today, and he needed to be for the Miami Dolphins to pull out a win. Tua continued to be impressive on third downs, converting 63.6% of opportunities. His 0.65 EPA per dropback was his best of the season so far, and he is now on pace to finish the season ranked second in season-long QB+.
Will Levis, TEN (vs. MIN)
- Grade: C
The clock is starting to run out for Levis to prove he deserves to be a long-term starter in the NFL. He has now put together five qualified games in a row with a QB+ of a C- or above, but with the top result being a C+ it really demonstrates his window right now. The question for Tennessee will be whether Levis has flashed enough potential to prove he deserves another year.
In this game, Levis set season highs in terms of nYPA, passing yards, and YAC/Cp. However, none of them are particularly impressive in the wider picture of the NFL season, so we have to look at them in the full context.