NFL News & Analysis

NFL Week 13 Analytical Quarterback Rankings: Dak Prescott moves into the top spot, Bryce Young falls below Zach Wilson

2T8C0BE Charlotte, NC, USA. 19th Nov, 2023. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers in the NFL matchup in Charlotte, NC. (Scott Kinser/Cal Sport Media) (Credit Image: © Scott Kinser/Cal Sport Media). Credit: csm/Alamy Live News

Dak Prescott lights up the Commanders: The Cowboys quarterback completed 22 of his 32 pass attempts for 331 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Commanders on Thanksgiving, earning a league-best 95.3 passing grade.

Jalen Hurts punished the Bills downfield: Hurts generated 1.586 EPA per play on his 10-plus-yard pass attempts, the best mark of Week 12.

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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Quarterback is the most important position on the field, but we can often get stuck in their most recent blunders or successes, making it difficult to come up with an objective ranking.

This analysis utilizes a statistical technique called Bayesian Updating. With Bayesian Updating, we can use individual results to project PFF grades and expected points added (EPA) per play. You can find a more detailed explanation of the analysis in our Week 2 quarterback rankings.

Here is how the league's quarterbacks stack up after Week 12.

Most efficient passer: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Prescott is playing the best football of his career. He completed 22 of his 32 pass attempts for 331 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Commanders on Thanksgiving, earning a league-best 95.3 passing grade.

The Cowboys quarterback generated 0.608 EPA per dropback, far and away the best mark of Week 12.

Click here to see Week 12 QB grades


Most explosive passer: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts generated 1.586 EPA per play on his 10-plus-yard pass attempts, the best mark of Week 12. He completed six of eight such attempts for 111 yards and three touchdowns, and one of his incompletions was due to a drop by his receiver.

Click here to see PFF's passing-by-depth report


Best under pressure: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Prescott finished 7-of-8 (87.5%) for 127 yards and one touchdown under pressure in Week 12. He averaged 15.9 yards per pressured pass attempt and moved the chains five times in total.

♦ Click here to see PFF's passing-under-pressure report


Best out of the pocket: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys quarterback was just that good in Week 12. Bailing from the pocket eight times in the game, Prescott completed six of his seven passes for 133 yards and one touchdown. He recorded one big-time throw, no turnover-worthy plays and averaged 19.0 yards per pass.

His 93.7 passing grade on throws outside the pocket was more than 10 grading points higher than the next-closest signal-caller.

Click here to see PFF's passing-by-concept report


Quick passes: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pickett did not throw any touchdowns on passes that took less than 2.5 seconds from snap to pass, but he did post the highest PFF grade (93.4) on those throws in Week 12.

Pickett finished third in EPA per play (0.387) on quick passes and moved the chains on 12 of his 25 pass attempts.

Click here to see PFF's time-to-throw report


 

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