ESPN Stats & Information takes a look at the best and worst quarterback performances from Week 4 in terms of ESPN's Total Quarterback Rating (QBR).
Ben Roethlisberger: 98.7 Total QBR
It wasn’t just that Roethlisberger (22 of 27, 300 yards) threw five touchdown passes. His Total QBR was helped by the fact the average air yards on his scoring throws was 22.0 yards. Roethlisberger completed 7 of 9 passes for three touchdowns in the first quarter alone, which ended with his Total QBR at 99.1. Roethlisberger provided 9.4 expected points added, second-most in Week 4 (through Sunday).
Matt Ryan: 96.5 Total QBR
Similar to Roethlisberger, Ryan (28 of 37, 503 yards, 4 touchdowns) received credit for relatively long touchdown passes; his average air yards on scoring throws was 19.5 yards. On passes of 10 yards or more downfield, Ryan was 14-of-16 for 415 yards and 3 scores. His Total QBR on such passes was about as close to perfect as a player can get. Ryan produced 10.3 EPA, the most in a game this season -- surpassing Ryan’s 10.1 EPA against the Raiders in Week 2.
Dak Prescott, 84.9 Total QBR
The rookie from Mississippi State was 23-of-32 for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns. The biggest play in terms of EPA was a 4-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first half, which helped the Cowboys make the score 14-14. Prescott didn’t throw an interception. He was sacked twice, but on one of those plays, a penalty on the 49ers reduced the negative impact for Prescott and the Cowboys.
Bottom 3
Cody Kessler: 37.5 Total QBR
A fourth-quarter interception was the biggest negative for Kessler (28 of 40, 223 yards). With the Browns trailing 24-20 in the fourth quarter, Kessler’s pass from the Cleveland 10 was intercepted, resulting in minus-3.1 EPA for the rookie. Later in the fourth, on back-to-back plays from just past midfield, Kessler accumulated minus-2.9 EPA when passes on third and fourth down resulted in a combined minus-1 yard.
Jacoby Brissett: 27.4 Total QBR
The biggest negative for Brissett (17 of 27, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions) was losing a fumble when the Patriots had a third-and-11 from the Bills’ 18 while trailing 13-0 with 5 minutes,11 seconds left in the first half. That produced minus-3.1 EPA. On third downs overall, Brissett was 2-for-5 with 1 sack and a 0.1 Total QBR.
Ryan Tannehill: 16.3 Total QBR
Some of the sources of Tannehill’s Sunday-worst Total QBR aren’t evident when looking at his first-glance stats: 15 completions on 25 passes, one touchdown and one interception. Tannehill was sacked five times. On a second-quarter sack with the Dolphins facing third-and-4 on their 33, Tannehill lost a fumble, resulting in minus-3.6 EPA. With the Dolphins trailing 16-7 in the third quarter, they faced third-and-5 from the Bengals’ 36, but Tannehill lost 9 yards on another sack. That sack produces minus-2.1 EPA.