Sage Rosenfels column: Week 7 was a busy one for backup QBs
Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.
I'll always hold a special place in my heart for backups. While starters get all the publicity and financial security, the backups live on the edge of the football team. They're a snap away from becoming the starter, and some are a bad game away from looking for a new job (possibly not in the NFL).
Here's a look at the backup quarterbacks who were front and center Sunday:
Matt is Moore than Cutler
Entering his 11th year in the NFL, Matt Moore has seen a thing or two. In 2007, he was a rookie backup in Carolina. He was thrown into action and played in nine games. In 2010, he opened the season as the starter for the Panthers, who won only two games. John Fox and his staff were fired and Moore left in free agency to the Miami Dolphins. He's been there ever since.
In his first season, Moore backed up starter Chad Henne. In week 4, Henne broke his arm and was replaced by Moore. The Dolphins began the 2011 season 0-7 before winning six of their final nine games. Moore was named the Dolphins' MVP, and Miami rewarded him by ... using its first-round pick in 2012 on Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Over the next four seasons, Moore played sparingly. He re-signed with the Dolphins going into 2016 and played the best football of his career during the final four games. Not only was his 105 QB rating better than Tannehill's, he showed his toughness and grit in the Dolphins' playoff loss at Pittsburgh.
This year, Tannehill was again made the starter before getting hurt in the first preseason game. Even though he played as well or better than Tannehill the previous season, he was again passed over for recently retired signal-caller Jay Cutler.
On Sunday, Cutler injured his ribs early in the second half, and Moore entered the game down 21-14. As the Dolphins entered the fourth quarter down two touchdowns, Moore made a perfect throw to Kenny Stills for a touchdown to begin Miami's comeback.
The play was signature Matt Moore. Faced with a third-and-7 from the 28-yard line, the Jets brought an all-out "cover 0" blitz in an attempt to sack the Dolphins out of field-goal range. Moore had multiple options but he knew he wouldn't have much time, as there were seven blitzers and only six blockers.
Rather than being conservative and throwing the ball quickly, probably resulting in a completion short of the first down, Moore backed up to buy time for Stills to get to his proper route depth. Because of the cover 0 blitz, all Jets defenders had inside leverage on the Dolphins' receivers, using the sideline as their only extra "defender."
Moore held on to the ball until the last second, then put plenty of air on the throw to allow Stills to separate from his defender, resulting in a Dolphins touchdown.
More often than not, this is the type of play Moore has made as an NFL quarterback. He has never been shy to take a shot downfield, even if that aggressive style can have its drawbacks. Now in his 11th season, he has matured as a decision-maker. He still takes risks, but is more calculative and protective of the football.
At heart, he's a gunslinger, but head coach Adam Gase has harnessed his playmaking skills and added an element to his game he didn't have before: game management.
It looks like the Dolphins will be without Cutler for a few weeks, giving Moore another chance as an NFL starter. If he continues to win in what may be the toughest division in football, the AFC East, he should remain the starter once Cutler is healthy.
Moore has always believed in himself, and his Dolphin teammates have had faith in him for the last seven years. It's time for the Dolphins' coaching staff and management to get on the Matt Moore train. He may be inconsistent, but he gives the Dolphins a chance to win every week. I'd like to see him get a chance to prove he's a legitimate NFL starting quarterback.
Just in Case
I've stated my case for Case Keenum as the starting quarterback in Minnesota. He's 4-2 as a starter for the first-place Vikings, and he didn't play poorly in the two losses.
Yes, the Vikings have one of the best defenses and special teams units in the NFL, but this Vikings offense has been solid this season. Despite losing Dalvin Cook to a torn ACL, their running game has come to life. Keenum has also been a dangerous quarterback running bootleg passing plays called by offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
That threat can cause defensive ends to chase the quarterback up the field on the bootleg fakes, opening up huge lanes for running backs. This is exactly what occurred Sunday on a 35-yard run by Latavius Murray. If Sam Bradford was in the game, the Ravens defensive end would have stayed home to play the run, and Murray would've been stopped for a minimal gain.
This highlights how a mobile quarterback and a creative offensive coordinator can help their team run the football.
Though the Vikings continue to win, the conversation about when Teddy Bridgewater will take the reins is well underway in Minnesota. All Keenum can do is state his case each week by leading his team to wins. He may not be the type of quarterback who blows you away with his huge arm or highlight-reel throws, but winning football games is the stat that matters most. "Just in Case" Keenum is getting it done up north.
Brett ain't Brett - or Aaron
After 25 years of Hall of Fame-quality quarterback play, Green Bay fans got a rude awakening to what life is like without Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre.
Though I think Brett Hundley will improve as this season progresses, his first shot as an NFL starter fell flat. He completed less then 50 percent of this throws for only 87 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He was effective as a ball-carrier, but running quarterbacks don't regularly win football games.
Hundley will probably have the rest of the season to prove to the Packers, and other franchises, that he can be an NFL starter. Rodgers has a chance to come back for the final couple games of the regular season, but if the Packers are already eliminated from the playoffs, there will be no need to put the league's best quarterback at risk.
Rodgers' injury highlights two things for the Packers:
1. The fact that he's this offense's lynchpin. In the seven-and-a-half quarters Rodgers has been absent, Green Bay has passed for less than 250 yards. While they ran the ball well Sunday, their passing game has been lackluster.
2. How weak Ted Thompson's roster is without its Hall of Fame quarterback. We're seeing that in plain view. Conversely, Minnesota lost its starting quarterback after Week 1 and is in first place in the NFC North.
Man for man, the Vikings' roster is much stronger and deeper than Green Bay's. They have a half-dozen pro-bowlers on defense and found a veteran quarterback in free agency that can win football games.
Green Bay is a below-average team without Rodgers, and a playoff team with him.
49ers try out their rookie
C.J. Beathard had an up-and-down afternoon in his first opportunity as the starter in San Francisco.
Having a rookie quarterback get the nod this early in the year wasn't what Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch had planned, but the 49ers' offense has been mostly pitiful with Brian Hoyer at the helm. Beathard showed some positive signs, completing 58 percent of his passes for 235 yards and running for a touchdown, but the 49ers need their quarterbacks to play great, even though they're working with a roster with below-average talent.
Beathard should improve with every start, but it may not be enough to win many football games this year.
Arizona cools down
The Cardinals could be without Carson Palmer, who will undergo surgery for his broken arm this week, for the rest of the season. This opens the door for Drew Stanton to again lead Arizona in the final stretch.
Stanton played well in Bruce Arians' offense in 2014, going 5-3 as a starter. If he fails to ignite the Cardinals' offense, though, Arians could go to their other backup, Blaine Gabbert. Arizona is one of a few teams that carry three veteran quarterbacks.
That insurance policy might pay off, but only if Stanton or Gabbert can keep them in the hunt in the NFC West. At 3-4, the Cardinals look like an early favorite for a top-10 pick in the draft. This could mean the end of the Palmer era in Arizona, as this crop of college quarterbacks is deep with talent.
Rocky mountain low
Sunday was the low point of the Denver Broncos' season. They lost at the L.A. Chargers, who previously hadn't won a home game. More importantly, they were shut out for the first time in 394 games.
Trevor Siemian hasn't played badly this season, but this Broncos team needs a spark. Is it time to give the ball to backup Paxton Lynch, who was a first-round pick last year? Siemian's greatest strength is his short- and mid-range accuracy. He isn't a quarterback who makes big plays with his arm.
Conversely, Lynch is a big athlete with a huge arm. He's raw and untested, but the Broncos need to try something else if they want to keep up with the Chiefs and Raiders in the AFC West.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)