Bengals’ Jake Browning Stands in Elite QB Company After Breakout Game vs. Jaguars

Before this NFL season, Bengals quarterback Jake Browning was just another backup.

Sure, he was beloved by some—namely Washington fans. Browning steered the Huskies to the College Football Playoff in 2016 with 43 touchdown passes against nine interceptions, garnering a sixth-place finish in the Heisman voting for his efforts. That was a long time ago, however, and Browning had proven to be little more than a practice-squad warm body in the pros ...

... until Monday evening! In Cincinnati’s dramatic 34–31 overtime win over the Jaguars, Browning was a dynamite 32 for 37 with 354 passing yards and a touchdown.

The game landed Browning in elite company as one of only six quarterbacks in the past 20 years to complete at least 85% of his passes in a game while recording 350-plus passing yards.

The list of QBs with 350+ Pass Yards and 85% comp pct in a game over the last 20 years

▪️Tom Brady
▪️Peyton Manning
▪️Drew Brees
▪️Justin Herbert
▪️Lamar Jackson
▪️JAKE BROWNING pic.twitter.com/qwCyelhAoX

— NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) December 5, 2023

Every other quarterback on the list—Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson—has made the Pro Bowl at least once. Coincidentally, Jackson won the Heisman Trophy at Louisville in Browning’s stellar ’16 season.

Browning’s performance has kept the Bengals solvent in the playoff race for now, but Browning’s road only gets harder from here: the Colts, Vikings, Steelers, Chiefs and Browns loom to close the season schedule.