Three quarterbacks have been benched within the early 1 p.m. ET window, and every could have reached the purpose of no return.
However they weren’t the one ones with regrettable performances in Week 7. Under, we take a more in-depth take a look at the 5 worst from Sunday.
The place do these three groups go from right here? On Sunday, the Jets, Raiders and Dolphins noticed sufficient from their beginning quarterbacks, who mixed to guide their groups to 9 factors on three subject targets.
Fields was pulled at halftime of a 13-6 loss to the Carolina Panthers (4-3) per week after the Jets completed their London loss to the Denver Broncos (5-2) with negative-10 internet passing yards. He was 6-of-12 for 46 yards whereas dropping 21 yards on three sacks in opposition to Carolina earlier than New York turned to backup Tyrod Taylor.
The Raiders (2-5) sunk to the bottom level of the still-nascent Pete Carroll period with a 31-0 loss on the Kansas City Chiefs, the franchise’s worst shutout loss since 2014. Smith, who entered Week 7 with an NFL-high 10 interceptions, was 10-of-16 for 67 yards earlier than being benched for Kenny Pickett.
As for Tagovailoa, he owes his teammates one other apology after making amends earlier this week for throwing them under the bus following final Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. The Dolphins (1-6) fell 31-6 to the Cleveland Browns (2-5), and Tagovailoa’s wretched season continued, with the sixth-year professional going 12-of-23 for 100 yards and three interceptions earlier than being pulled for rookie seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers.
None of those three groups are going to the playoffs this season, so it is sensible for every to start plotting future steps. Per Spotrac, the Jets might save $10M in opposition to the 2026 cap by designating Fields as a post-June 1 reduce.
Smith and Tagovailoa will likely be trickier to deal with. Smith has $18.5M assured in 2026, and one other $8M turns into due on the third day of the 2026 league yr. Tagovailoa’s contract is even more durable to get out from underneath, with $54M assured for 2026 and a $15M choice bonus coming throughout the first three days of the following league yr.
As unhealthy as these numbers look, they don’t seem to be practically as terrible as those generated by the three quarterbacks on Sunday. Las Vegas, Miami and New York have loads of holes to repair, and the three ought to begin by making everlasting adjustments at quarterback.
The Vikings reached the pink zone six instances however solely got here away with one landing in a 28-22 house loss to the Philadelphia Eagles (5-2). Minnesota’s opening drive stalled when middle Blake Brandel’s snap to quarterback Carson Wentz, beginning his fourth recreation for the injured J.J. McCarthy (ankle), sailed over his head, leading to a 32-yard loss.
A holding penalty on one other possession worn out a 4th-and-1 landing, whereas Wentz took a sack and intentional grounding penalty that stored Minnesota out of the top zone on two further red-zone possessions.
The Giants (2-5) experienced one of the most epic collapses in NFL history in Week 7, watching an 18-point lead with lower than six minutes remaining evaporate in a 33-32 highway loss to the Denver Broncos (5-2). The inexplicable consequence was made doable by the second-year Giants kicker, who missed two additional factors, together with one after New York took a late 32-30 lead, permitting Denver to win on a walk-off 39-yard Wil Lutz subject aim.
McAtamney additionally missed a point-after strive within the second quarter, and New York was unable to get the factors again when trying a two-point conversion after taking a 19-0 third-quarter lead. There’s loads of blame to go round for the Giants’ unfathomable collapse, however with a dependable kicker, they’d have received. New York ought to in all probability discover one it may possibly belief.
