A legit starting quarterback is one of the most important parts of building a winning NFL team.
But you also need good depth behind that starter, and some teams have had that this year.
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Per ESPN Insights, teams that started their non-Week 1 quarterback this season are 6-0 in Weeks 2 and 3. We just saw Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum beat the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football,” and the game wasn’t even close.
Heck, Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota beat the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday.
With that in mind, let’s rank the six quarterbacks who have won these games.
NFL: Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons
Aug 14, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
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Normally, Penix Jr. is the Falcons’ full-time starter, but he missed the first two games while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last year.
He returned with a vengeance last Thursday against the Green Bay Packers, finishing with 256 yards through the air, one touchdown, and one interception. Now that he’s healthy, the Falcons’ offense has an identity.
Mariota did a great job running the Commanders’ offense in place of Jayden Daniels this past week. He finished with 183 yards through the air and three touchdowns in a 33-31 win.
This is Mariota’s third season with the Commanders, and he has been a fantastic backup. He makes the right reads and uses his mobility to escape the pocket, throw on the run, or scramble for yards.
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It may feel weird to see Keenum in this spot, but he was electric on Monday night. Bears head coach Ben Johnson was fantastic as a playcaller and allowed Keenum to do his thing, finishing with 247 yards through the air, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
He moved the ball at will against the Eagles’ defense and made some fantastic throws. He has bounced around to several teams during his career and has always been a very capable backup.
Sam Darnold may be back for the Seattle Seahawks, but don’t forget about the job Drew Lock did against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 20.
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He was fantastic, finishing with 235 yards through the air, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also helped beat the Patriots in Week 1, finishing with 187 passing yards and one touchdown.
He has shown he can play well when it’s needed.
Wentz was great against the Packers on Sept. 13 before beating the Chicago Bears on Sept. 20. He has 276 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions this season.
Kyler Murray is back healthy now, but Wentz has shown he can step in for him in short spells.
Winston led the New York Giants to a win over the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday, but he threw for only 118 yards. The Giants’ defense stole the show and delivered a dominant performance.
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Winston has struggled since replacing Jaxson Dart, and the Giants will need him to play better if they want to stay in the playoff race.
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