Vikings Backup Christian Ponder (40-77, 554 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs), A.J. Feeley (41-75, 392 yards, TD, INT) of the St. Louis Rams and Bengals QB Andy Dalton (136-218, 1,479 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs) are prime examples of successful substitutes for the starters who were expected to play this season for these teams. The Vikings (2-6) and Rams (1-6) may be cellar dwellers in their respective divisions, but their new quarterbacks are performing well under pressure. Dalton's time under center has the Bengals in second place in the AFC North with a 5-2 record, just behind the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers. Dalton even led his team to an impressive 23-20 win over the then-undefeated Buffalo Bills in week 4. Feeley is coming off a performance that helped his team to a momentus first win of the season against the same New Orleans Saints who beat the winless Colts by a score of 62-7 the week prior to facing the Rams. Feeley represents the team's best chance of recovering from their 0-6 start, and he looked impressive in the 31-21 Rams victory. Ponder performed much better than original Vikings Starter Donovan McNabb in two starts so far at QB, culminating in a close shave win over the Carolina Panthers last week. The previous week Ponder kept his team in position to win the game through the entire first half, but a second half collapse against the undefeated Green Bay Packers resulted in a six-point loss for the Vikings. Ponder is steadily improving and is likely to keep his job through the remainder of the season.
Dolphins QB Matt Moore (68-115, 706 yards, TD, 5 INTs), Colts QB Curtis Painter (91-168, 1,123 yards, 5 TDs, 4 INTs, 103 yards rushing, 3 lost fumbles) and Broncos QB Tim Tebow (35-76, 412 yards, 4 TDs, INT, 169 rushing yards, TD) are not so fortunate or formidable as stand ins. Painter and Moore haven't been able to get their teams a win yet, although Moore's had a couple tough back-to-back 3-point losses he looked impressive in. One of them was a week 7 overtime loss to Tebow and the 2-5 Broncos. Tebow followed up that come from behind win with a horrible showing against the Detroit Lions last week. He threw his first interception of the year in the losing effort along with getting sacked 7 times for a loss of 55 yards. These backups just aren't cutting it for their respective teams. Painter might have big shoes to fill in Peyton Manning's absence, but he also has some phenomenal receivers in Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon, so there's no excuse for his lousy play.
The jury is still out on some other quarterbacks thrown into the mix. Carson Palmer (8-21, 116 yards, 3 INTs) decided to retire rather than play another season for Cincinatti, but his NFL days were extended by a late season trade. Palmer became a key backup when he came out of retirement to join the Oakland Raiders in the wake of Starter Jason Campbell's injury. He isn't quite battle tested enough after just one half of play to warrant a comprehensive report card yet, but his experience alone will keep him in the starting role as long as Campbell can't be. He'll have a bye week to adjust to his new team going into his first official 2011 start against Tebow and Denver next Sunday. The Redskins took Rex Grossman out of the starting role in favor of John Beck when the original starter suffered a dismal week 6 self-destruction against the Philadelphia Eagles, throwing 4 interceptions before Beck came in to relieve him. Beck's completed 50 of 85 passes since then, accumulating 604 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. He also has 34 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground. The 3-4 'skins are on a three game losing streak going into a week 9 clash with the surprising 6-1 San Francisco 49ers. Beck will have to put up some big numbers to win this week and quiet his critics.
Former backup Matt Cassell is also turning things around for his team, and the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) recovered from an 0-3 start in recent weeks to enter a three-way-tie for first place in the division. The transition from worst to first is thanks to a bit of luck and Cassell's coolness under pressure. Cassell and the Chiefs pulled off a slick and unexpected win in their Monday Night Football chess match with the San Diego Chargers (4-3) this past week. Though the game could have ended in regulation with a Chargers field goal, the Chiefs recovered a Philip Rivers fumble late in the 4th quarter and put together a phenomenal overtime scoring drive to win the game by a field goal. Cassell is a former pupil of Tom Brady, the quarterback who rose to fame after the Patriots lost Starter Drew Bledsoe early in the 2001 season. Brady went on to the Super Bowl that year and won for his team with a drive that ended in a last second field goal kick. Cassell took the reins from Brady after the phenom injured his knee badly during his 111th consecutive start for the Patriots in the first game of the 2008 season. Brady wound up out for the season, and Cassell's backup play was so impressive that he became an overnight sensation. Brady wound up back in the starting role for the 2009 season, and Cassell landed with the first team he faced as Brady's stand in. Brady and Cassell represent the best results a backup can hope for in stepping into a starting role unexpectedly.
The quarterbacks playing mop up for injured or deposed starters this year could all learn huge lessons from Cassell and Brady. However, even those star QBs had some trouble getting things going in their first major tests in the position. Painter, Tebow, and Moore may still be able to turn things around; and Palmer and Beck just might need another start or two to start shining. Time will tell if they're up for the task.
