Gardner Minshew has etched his name at the top of nearly every statistical category two weeks into the 2024 NFL season. Entering Week 3, both Minshew’s 533 passing yards and 26 first downs through the air tied for second-most league-wide. The Las Vegas Raiders‘ signal caller currently holds the league’s best completion percentage with a mark of 77.5% as well.
Minshew’s exceptional intermediate game – passes 10-19 yards downfield – has been the main reason for his success.
When tossing the football between 10 and 19 yards, the 28-year-old has been the best in the business. His 84.6% completion percentage on such throws ranks second to only Brock Purdy while his 118.8 quarterback rating is tied for third-highest. Minshew has totaled 197 yards on intermediate throws, the third-most league-wide, while being outside of the top 10 in attempts.
The most impressive part: Minshew’s 2.66 average time to throw on intermediate attempts ranks seventh-lowest among all quarterbacks.
Despite averaging less time to throw on intermediate passes than 26 other starting quarterbacks, Minshew has yet to throw a single turnover-worthy pass in 13 attempts.
The bulk of Minshew’s attempts have gone to three-time first-team All-Pro Davante Adams and rookie Brock Bowers. Together, the duo is responsible for eight catches on passes 10-19 yards downfield with 151 receiving yards.
Adams and Bowers have only needed eight targets to haul in eight passes, too. The Las Vegas Raiders stand alone as the only team to have two players with at least four catches record a 100% catch rate through two weeks on intermediate balls. Efficiency at its finest.
Next step for Gardner Minshew: Getting the Las Vegas Raiders touchdowns
Through two weeks, the Raiders have put up six points just three times – only the Steelers, Panthers and Broncos have done so less. Minshew tossed two of Sin City’s three scores while the third touchdown was set up by the passing game.
However, Minshew is also responsible for more turnovers (3) than he has touchdowns (2). Two of these turnovers have come from passes behind the line of scrimmage, being an interception and a fumble. The third came from a deep ball that was picked off.
Not only has Minshew not had a turnover on an intermediate attempt, but he hasn’t had a turnover-worthy play tossing a ball 10-19 yards. Minshew’s 13 attempts in that range stands as the 11th-most league-wide; a ranking that must increase given the effectiveness of such passes.
More than that, Las Vegas ranks 32-of-32 via rushing yards with 98 through two contests. No other team has less than 135. Luke Getsy wishes to run the football in order to set up the pass, but that simply isn’t working; the reverse might serve as a solution.
The Raiders’ offense is at its best when Gardner Minshew is at his best. That happens when Minshew is dishing it less than 20 yards, but more than nine.
Perhaps Getsy has taken note of that as he prepares for Week 3’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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