Week 6 Highs and Lows

WEEK 6 TOP FOUR QB SUPPORT LEVELS:

TEAM	QB	OPPONENT	RESULT	QB SUPPORT
JETS	M. Sanchez	COLTS	WIN	7.195
GIANTS	E. Manning	49ers	WIN	7.015
BUCCANEERS	J. Freeman	Chiefs	WIN	6.35
BILLS	R. Fitzpatrick	Cardinals	WIN	4.95

QB Support was high for New York QBs in week 6. Both Eli Manning and Mark Sanchez were put in positions where it was almost impossible to lose. Manning had to overcome only 3 points, and his team helped him out with over 150 yards rushing. If that wasn’t enough, he also had two possessions that started inside the 49ers’ 20 yard line and one inside their 40. The Giants didn’t need a lot of help from their Pro Bowl QB, which is why 15/28 and 193 yards from Eli was enough for a 23 point win.

Things were not any harder for Sanchez in week 6. Sanchez had to overcome 9 points, but he had 263 rushing yards to help him do that. Additionally, he had drives that began on the Indianapolis 35 and 14 yard lines after his defense forced turnovers. Anyone that doubts that Sanchez had an easy path to victory should be easily persuaded when they look at the final score (35-9 Jets) and Sanchez’ total contributions to the offense (82 yards passing, -1 rushing).

Josh Freeman contributed a lot more for his teams winning effort (333 yards of total offense), but it was mostly unnecessary as his Buccaneer teammates rolled past the Chiefs. The Chiefs put up 10 points, but a fumble recovery that the Bucs defense ran in for score made things even easier for the offense. Freeman needed to only put up more than 3 points on offense. Blessed with 140 rushing yards from his teammates and strong field position, Freeman didn’t need to put in a strong showing. The fact that he did might be why the Bucs didn’t just win, but won by 28 points.

Ryan Fitzpatrick had a much tougher time getting the win, but not for lack of help from his team. After Buffalo’s defense helped by securing a safety, Fitz and his offense were tasked with putting up more than 14 points. His teammates helped with 160 yards rushing, and he had some decent field position a couple of times. Still, the game went to overtime. There, the Bills escaped with a win, but not necessarily because of any great plays from their QB. The defense picked off John Skelton and brought the ball to the Cardinal 6 yard line. A 25 yard field goal two plays later sealed the game.

WEEK 6 HIGHEST SUPPORT LOSER

TEAM

QB

OPPONENT

RESULT

QB SUPPORT

RAIDERS

C. Palmer

FALCONS

LOSS

4.735

Since the top four supported QBs in week 6 all won, I want take just a moment to give a shout-out (or call-out as it may be) to Carson Palmer. His team did just about everything you could ask of them, and he still failed to help them win. The defense picked off Matt Ryan three times, giving Palmer good field position more than once. The Oakland held the Falcons to only 16 points despite a Palmer fumble giving the Falcons the ball on the Oakland 2 yard line. However, a Palmer interception run back for a TD gave the Falcons 7 more points and Palmer couldn’t turn the field position (and the 149 yards on the ground) into more than 20 points.

WEEK 6 BOTTOM FOUR QB SUPPORT LEVELS:

TEAM	QB	OPPONENT	RESULT	QB SUPPORT
SEAHAWKS	R. WILSON	PATRIOTS	WIN	1.520
CHIEFS	B. QUINN	BUCCANEERS	LOSS	1.285
EAGLES	M. Vick	LIONS	LOSS	1.030
COLTS	A. Luck	JETS	LOSS	0.630

Russell Wilson was previously featured in this blog for the high support he received during both wins and losses. The implication was that he, personally, wasn’t doing much to help his team win. That certainly wasn’t the case in week 6. The Seahawks defense may have caused some opportune turnovers, but the end result was that Wilson and the Seahawks had to overcome 23 points, not insurmountable, but not a low number either. Add to that, Wilson didn’t get much help from his ground game (68 yards), and a Zach Miller fumble at the New England 30 yard line killed an otherwise promising drive. Wilson’s 293 yards and 3 TD passes and, to a much lesser extent, his 17 yards of scrambles were definitely a big part of this Seahawks victory.

Brady Quinn and Andrew Luck both struggled in week 6. Neither of them had particular strong games, but they also received very little help from their team. Both had rushing attacks that produced less than 70 yards and defenses that allowed more than 30 points. Meanwhile, neither QB enjoyed particular strong field position. Mediocre QB play and low levels of support makes it unsurprising that the Chiefs and Colts lost their games by 28 and 26 points in week 6.

Michael Vick, on the other hand, managed to keep his team close despite a low QB Support level. Eagles not named Mike Vick rushed the ball for a total of 12 (YES 12!) yards in week 6. The defense allowed 26 points, and Vick did not benefit from good field position. He did not start a single drive with field position past his own 40 yard line. Needing to overcome 26 points without strong field position and with essentially no ground game, Vick racked up over 300 yards through the air and added 59 more with his legs. It wasn’t enough, but it’s hard to blame him for this loss.