The NFC East's quarterbacks provided plenty of entertainment in Week 9. Two starters, Dak Prescott and J.J. McCarthy, led their teams to victory. Two others, Joe Milton and Jayden Daniels, felt the sting of another loss. ThePhiladelphia Eagles and their divisional rivals face very different circumstances as another week approaches.
Prescott enjoyed a much-needed bounce-back performance. Milton faced an uncomfortable introduction to the pressure of playing QB1. Each player's personal stock can fluctuate week to week, so after Jayden Daniels' productive afternoon ended with a loss and J.J. McCarthy improved his record as a starter to 2-0, here's an updated look at how each current starting quarterback is trending.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Grade: Bullish rebound — A sharp recovery after a disappointing stretch.
Prescott completed 21 of 34 passes
for 335 yards and two touchdowns in Dallas' 27-23 victory over theIndianapolis Colts. He didn't throw an interception and finished with a 114.2 passer rating. It was a welcome response after the Cowboys' overtime loss to theArizona Cardinals, when Prescott managed just 195 passing yards and one touchdown.
The performance also reinforced what makes Prescott hard to dismiss when Dallas plays well. He attacked downfield, connected with CeeDee Lamb for 195 yards, and gave the Cowboys the passing production they needed to secure a road win. Prescott did lose a fumble, so the afternoon wasn't spotless, but his overall performance was a substantial improvement.
Joe Milton, Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: Down:— A steep decline in confidence after a difficult first start.
Milton's first start for Philadelphia did little to settle the Eagles' quarterback situation. He completed 18 of 34 passes for 169 yards. He failed to throw a touchdown, and he was sacked seven times in a 19-11 loss to the Giants. He added 64 rushing yards, but a lost fumble and several stalled drives overshadowed his contributions as a runner.
There are circumstances worth considering. Philadelphia's protection struggled, and the offense has had problems well beyond the quarterback position. Still, Milton missed opportunities and couldn't consistently deliver accurate throws. His athleticism adds a different dimension, but Sunday's performance showed that mobility alone won't solve Philadelphia's problems.
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Grade: Holding ground — Productive numbers, but another missed opportunity.
Daniels completed 24 of 35 passes for 274 yards and a touchdown against theLos Angeles Rams. He avoided an interception and posted a 101.4 passer rating, but Washington fell 20-13. Daniels also fumbled and was sacked four times.
The passing production was encouraging, particularly against a Rams defense that made life difficult for Washington's offense. However, the turnover and inability to turn that performance into a victory complicate the evaluation. Daniels showed he can move the offense, but Washington needs more than respectable passing numbers to change its trajectory.
J.J. McCarthy, New York Giants
Grade: Uncertain outlook — An incomplete evaluation with injury concerns.
McCarthy completed 12 of 19 passes for 127 yards without a touchdown or interception before briefly leaving Sunday's game with a hip injury. Jameis Winston took over and completed six of eight passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, helping New York finish off the Eagles.
McCarthy didn't have a disastrous afternoon, but the passing production was limited, and his early departure may have, in part, prevented him from building some offensive momentum. Winston's contribution also gives New York something to consider if McCarthy's availability becomes a concern.
The Week 9 results remind us that quarterback evaluations rarely stay still for long. Prescott has an opportunity to build on his rebound. Milton can author his bounce-back following a difficult first start (after the bye week, of course).
Daniels hopes to turn productive performances into wins, and McCarthy's consistency could become the biggest factor in New York's plans. None of these situations are settled, but the next week will provide another indication of which quarterbacks are moving in the right direction. Trust and believe everyone will be watching.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFC East QB stock watch: Dak Prescott climbs as Joe Milton struggles
