3 high-profile QBs Commanders’ Taylor Heinicke outperformed in Week 8

Do the Washington Commanders have a quarterback controversy? If you asked us after the team’s “upset” win over Green Bay in Week 7, we’d say it was a little premature. After the Commanders stole a win in Indianapolis on Sunday, though, it’s probably fair to say this is Taylor Heinicke’s job until further notice.

Heinicke wasn’t perfect, and his fourth quarter interception almost cost Washington the game, but the quarterback did what he always does: show excellent command of the offense, rebound from adversity and extend plays with his legs.

And most importantly, Heinicke continued peppering Terry McLaurin with targets and it was that trust in McLaurin that led the Commanders to victory.

For the game, Heinicke went 23-of-31 for 279 yards and a touchdown and interception apiece. He averaged an impressive 9.0 yards per attempt and tied for the team lead in rushing with 29 yards on six carries. A chunk of those rushing yards were picked up on the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone, but Heinicke outperformed a handful of high-profile quarterbacks this weekend. That’ll happen when you lead a fourth quarter comeback and score the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds, but Heinicke delivered a complete performance in a must-have game for Washington.

Commanders’ Taylor Heinicke outperformed these star QBs in Week 8

3. Joe Burrow

The Bengals are such a tough team to figure out. Just when you think they turned a corner following wins over the Saints and Falcons, they go out and get embarrassed in primetime against the Jacoby Brissett-led Browns on Monday night.

The Browns have actually had Joe Burrow’s number since he was drafted and Week 8 was no different, as the former No. 1 overall pick struggled without his top receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who’s expected to miss multiple games with a hip injury.

The Bengals didn’t score their first points until the fourth quarter when they were trailing 25-0, so it was pretty much garbage time at that point.

Burrow’s final stats look good on paper, but they’re deceiving, as Cincinnati’s passing game was anemic without Chase. No receiver topped 50 yards and running back Joe Mixon finished with the most catches on the team with seven, which tells you all you need to know about how lifeless the passing game was.

The former UDFA vastly outperformed the former No. 1 overall pick and a popular MVP shout before the season, and it wasn’t even close.