Top 5: Worst QB starts over the past decade

The NFL is accustomed to poor quarterback play here and there. However, these five games showcased disastrous performances from the quarterback positions. Let’s take a look at the five worst quarterback starts in the past decade.

5. Max Brosmer, Minnesota Vikings

Nov 30, 2025: at SEA

Some may think this is recency bias, but this showing may go down as the worst start in the 2025-2026 season.

With fellow rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy out with a concussion, Brosmer was tasked to lead the Vikings to a win against one of the best defenses in 2025.

Brosmer, the Roswell, Georgia native, threw a combined four interceptions in his 30 passing attempts. One of his interceptions was thrown to Ernest Jones IV and went viral as Brosmer threw the ball up in desperation as he was being tackled.

The former Minnesota Golden Gopher was unable to put up any points on the Seahawks’ stout defense, as Seattle won handily, 26-0.

4. Luke Falk, New York Jets

Oct 6, 2019: at PHI

In the same year Sam Darnold was diagnosed and sidelined with mononucleosis, backup quarterback Trevor Siemian stepped in.

In his first start with the Jets, Siemian suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Browns. This gave Luke Faulk the starting quarterback position for a couple of weeks until Darnold was healthy.

After three straight losses to start the season, the Jets faced the 2-2 Eagles, a game that would go down as one of the worst games I’ve personally watched.

Faulk threw only two picks, but he was sacked nine times, one of which was a strip sack that was returned for a touchdown by cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

The Jets lost … 31-6. No surprise there.

The Green and White finished the season 7-9 and didn’t fire head coach Adam Gase until the end of the 2020 season.

3. Mike Glennon, New York Giants

Jan 2, 2022: at CHI

The six-team journeyman played his last season with the Giants in 2021. This was also the same season he recorded one of the worst stat lines in modern NFL history.

Glennon was 4/11, 24-yard passing and two interceptions. Not to mention his four fumbles, two of which became turnovers. The former Wolfpack quarterback ended the day with a horrendous 5.3 passer rating.

Glennon never led a drive more than 36 yards against the Bears, as the Giants were crushed 29-3.

2. Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets

Sept 25, 2016: at KC

Ryan Fitzpatrick, the most recent quarterback to bring the Jets a winning season, had a very rough day in week three against Kansas City. Fitzpatrick went 20/44 for 188 yards on the day and an astonishing six interceptions.

You read that right. Six interceptions, one of which turned into a pick-six. The Jets lost the game 24-3 and later finished last in the AFC East with a 5-11 record.

Since the 2016 season, the Jets haven’t finished second in the division … Not once.

1. Nathan Peterman, Buffalo Bills

Nov 19, 2017: at LAC

To no one’s surprise, Nathan Peterman holds the top spot on the list. Peterman has thrown multiple interceptions in games before, but none like this.

In 2017, Peterman finished the day 6/14 for 66 yards and five interceptions … in the first half alone. That’s right, he threw one more completion than interception in two quarters of play.

Peterman’s 0.6 quarterback rating is 0.1 points worse than his second-worst appearance . Peterman’s Bills lost, by a solid 30 points, as current Jets Quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, took over for Peterman in the second half and put up serviceable numbers.

This game has gone down as one of, if not the worst showing by a quarterback ever.

Vinny Jones is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email vtj5006@psu.edu