If you wanted to compare NFL QBs to cars, Browns QB Jameis Winston is a Hummer H2 on the field. Discontinued in 2009 due to inefficiency with gas, seeing a Hummer on the road in the modern day is like going into a time portal to a period almost two decades ago. After the latest masterclass (disasterclass?) in efficient quarterbacking by Winston in the Browns’ Monday Night Football loss to the Denver Broncos, it’s clear to see that Winston is a QB from a different time, lost in an era of uber-efficient QB play.
Jameis Winston threw for 497 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions on Monday, two of which turning into pick-sixes. So if you really want to count it, he threw six touchdowns on Monday. Four for his team, two for the other team. His 668 total passing yards combined with interception yards is the most in NFL history, passing Vinny Testaverde in 200 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Jameis Winston threw for 497 yards tonight. The Broncos also had 171 interception return yards against him.
The 668 combined passing yards plus interception return yards off of his passes is the most by any QB in a single game in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/OKPzK6fK9Q
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) December 3, 2024
I think what makes Winston such a time capsule into a different era of QBing is a combination of the aggressiveness downfield in every single throw, combined with that aggression not always being a good thing. His 9.3 average Air Yards per target is tied for second in the NFL, only behind Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson. Winston simply doesn’t throw checkdowns, something that I can appreciate on the field. As the RPO game and hyper-efficient offenses have thrown the ball shorter in order to gain yards after the catch against 2-high shells, the prototype of trebuchets launching flaming stones downfield like Winston is going out of style.
Among some of Winston’s modern playstyle parallels, you think of guys like Green Bay’s Jordan Love and Tennessee’s Will Levis. Both of whom are in the top five when it comes to Air Yards per target, followed by another guy in this style, Minnesota’s Sam Darnold. These guys will have some incredible throws in tight windows, but make some really bad choices with the ball based on what happened with the high level completions. Winston will have two or three super high level downfield passes, then follow it up with some of the worst turnovers you’ll ever see. On the potential game-winning drive, Winston threaded the needle for a deep out to Elijah Moore to move the chains. A bonkers throw to take and make, but with Winston’s arm strength he has the talent to make that throw.
He followed it up with this on the VERY NEXT PLAY:
We need to cherish these moments from Winston, whose reckless abandon downfield creates some really frustrating moments, but will also give you some incredible throws and highlights you can take to the bank. There are few in the NFL like him, and few in the college ranks coming up that will be like him.
He even might’ve created a new variant of the triple option!
On the field, Winston is unique, one of the last of a dying breed of QB play. Let the Hummer H2 roll.
