Teddy Bridgewater is having a better season than you think
By Dean Jones
Teddy Bridgewater has a better QBR than:
- Ben Roethlisberger
- Lamar Jackson
- Tom Brady
- Deshaun Watson
- Baker Mayfield
The problems with QBR are well documented. However, until something else comes along it remains one of the primary yardsticks to which a quarterback’s performance is evaluated.
According to Pro Football Reference, Teddy Bridgewater has a current QBR of 73.0, which is No. 13 overall across the league. This is the middle of the pack and is reflective of his standing compared to the premier players at the position, but it is not terrible by any stretch of the imagination.
It’s higher than Ben Roethlisberger’s, who has been under center for the 8-0 Pittsburgh Steelers, and is also 12.1 points better than 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
Things could be better, as tends to be the case on a 3-6 team. But when one considers the lack of time the Carolina Panthers had together before the season began and their strength of schedule – which currently ranks No. 2 in the NFC behind the Minnesota Vikings – then it’s safe to assume that the organization is way ahead of what was expected in year one under head coach Matt Rhule on their way to possibly becoming a contender once again.
The next stage for Bridgewater and the Panthers will be finding the right solutions to come through in tight games. Their four-game losing run might look far different had they successfully got enough points on any of their final drives against high-quality opposition and when they figure this out, Carolina will undoubtedly become a force to be reckoned with.