Opinion: The three worst games by an NFL quarterback ever

In the modern day of the NFL, quarterback play has skyrocketed to unbelievable levels.

From gunslingers with cannon arms like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, to mobile threats with unmatched athleticism such as Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, the talent at the quarterback position is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

What happens, however, when a player doesn’t have these traits? What if an all-time legend falters during a Sunday afternoon game? What if a signal caller, despite being NFL-caliber, is just bad at his job?

We’ve seen this many times throughout football history, but it takes a special performance to crack the list of worst games by a quarterback of all time.

Rex Grossman: Week 6, 2006 vs. Cardinals

14/37, 144 passing yards, 4 INTs, 2 fumbles lost

The Chicago Bears entered a Monday Night Football contest against the 1-4 Arizona Cardinals with a perfect 5-0 record, largely thanks to Rex Grossman.

Grossman threw 11 touchdowns to just three interceptions in the first five weeks of the season, leading the offense to large scoring outbursts. The Bears scored 37 points against the Seahawks in Week 4, followed by a 40-point explosion versus the Bills.

That fateful Monday night, however, Grossman would not be as fortunate.

The Cardinals lead 20-0 at halftime, with Grossman throwing two picks while also fumbling twice in Chicago territory.

In the third quarter, Grossman was able to go without a turnover, but fell back into first-half form with two fourth-quarter interceptions.

Yeesh. Six total turnovers. What an unfortunate way to get your first loss of the season.

Right?

Wrong. Chicago won this game 24-23.

The Bears got on the board with 7:24 in the third quarter via a Robbie Gould field goal, making the score 20-3.

Arizona responded with a field goal, but at the end of the quarter, a strip sack on Matt Leinart was returned for a touchdown by Bears defensive back Mike Brown, cutting the deficit to 13 heading into the fourth quarter.

The score remained the same until the 5:20 mark, when Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher forced a fumble that was returned by Charles Tillman for another defensive touchdown.

Now just a six-point game, Arizona was forced to punt on the ensuing drive. Electrifying rookie returner Devin Hester received the kick, darted straight through the Cardinals' defense and scored the eventual game-winning touchdown 83 yards later.

For those keeping track at home, the Bears won this game without a single offensive touchdown. Despite a truly awful performance from Rex Grossman, the Bears emerged victorious.

If only these other all-time stinkers could have had the same fate.

Peyton Manning: Week 10, 2015 vs. Chiefs

5/20, 35 passing yards, 4 INTs

The 2015-2016 season was a bad year for Peyton Manning.

Yes, the Broncos won the Super Bowl, but it was far from Manning’s doing. He threw for just 2,249 yards, 9 touchdowns, and a ghastly 17 interceptions in only 10 regular-season games.

No performance, whether from this season or his illustrious career, went as poorly as Week 10 of 2015.

Manning was suffering from a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot, but tried to muscle out a match against Kansas City.

Entering this game, Manning was three yards away from becoming the all-time passing yards leader in NFL history. With a win, he would also have recorded the most wins by a quarterback in league history.

On the third play of the game, Manning threw an interception. He would break the yards record with a four-yard completion to Ronnie Hillman on the next drive, undoubtedly the highlight of his day.

This completion was just one of five he would throw this day. Well, nine if you count the throws caught by Kansas City defenders.

Manning was benched while down 22-0 midway through the third quarter. He finished the game with a 0.0 passer rating, the lowest possible score.

Denver lost 29-13. Manning played in just one more regular-season game while nursing his injury.

Thankfully, his legacy can be remembered by him riding off into the sunset after a Super Bowl victory, not by a dreadful afternoon in November.

Nathan Peterman: Week 11, 2017 vs. Chargers

6/14, 66 passing yards, 5 INTs

Entering Week 11, the Buffalo Bills needed an offensive spark.

Sitting at just 5-4, they made a quarterback change, switching from veteran Tyrod Taylor to backup Nathan Peterman.

Peterman, a rookie from the University of Pittsburgh, was set to make his first career NFL start against the 3-6 Chargers.

Peterman got the scoring started early. On the sixth play of the game, the Buffalo rookie threw a 59-yard… pick six. Chargers lead 7-0.

That’s okay. Early jitters. On the next drive, Peterman took a shot over the middle towards receiver Brandon Tate.

It was intercepted again.

Maybe let’s stay away from throwing the ball for now. The Chargers missed a field goal, and two plays later, Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy ran in a 27-yard touchdown, tying the score at 7-7.

On the next drive for the Bills, Peterman threw an interception. On the drive after that, he threw another. Buffalo punted on their next two possessions, and with 0:41 left in the first half, Nathan Peterman threw his fifth and final interception of the game.

This was only his last interception of the game because it was the last pass he threw. The Bills were losing 37-7 at halftime, and Peterman was benched for Taylor.

In one half of football, Nathan Peterman completed six passes to Bills receivers and five passes to Chargers defenders. This is the Mona Lisa of bad quarterback games.

Brendan Kern is a second-year majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email bwk5372@psu.edu