It’s Sloppy Joes and chocolate milk, which, in NFL talk, means “a generous number of interceptions.”
NFL quarterbacks are making NFL Sundays look like a middle-school cafeteria, where Sloppy Joes fly off the trays almost as often as the pigskin lands comfortably in defenders’ hands.
Which quarterbacks are most responsible for this lunchroom disaster? Which quarterback will clean up their act, and which quarterback will still be serving Sloppy Joes (extra sloppy)?
Justin Herbert (photo courtesy Bolts from the Blue)
Today’s lunch special: Justin Herbert currently leads the league with 10 sloppy joes. Last year, Herbert only dished out 13 sloppy joes by the end of the 2025 season. Two main questions remain: Will Justin Herbert turn it around? Who is the head chef in the kitchen, Mike McDaniel or Justin Herbert? Is Mike McDaniel trading in his play sheet for an apron, or is Justin Herbert trading in his helmet for an apron? The Chargers need fewer turnovers and more touchdowns. The Chargers play against the Texans. Does Herbert/McDaniel turn the kitchen around over the next few weeks, or is Herbert/McDaniel Sloppy Joe Special here to stay?
Michael Penix, Jr., photo courtesy of the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Extra Sloppy: Michael Penix Jr. Serves Up a Sloppy Joe Slider Special! Imagine winning a football game without completing a single pass. That is exactly what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did Sunday, defeating the Falcons 16-0. Baker Mayfield tried throwing three passes but failed; from there on out, the Buccaneers handed off the ball every play. Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Penix was having a lunchroom disaster of his own. He served up four Sloppy Joes and completed only 8 of 24 passes. The weather had a big impact, making it difficult for both teams. The cold, hard truth is that Tampa Bay adjusted its game plan and pounded the pigskin downfield. The Falcons did not. Whose fault is it? Did Kevin Stefanski set Michael Penix up for failure? No matter the answer, somebody in Atlanta’s kitchen needs to take responsibility. Clean up this mess!
Lunchroom Exit: Not every quarterback is worried about serving another sloppy joe. Some are starting to wonder if they even have a job in the cafeteria. Daniel Jones is feeling tremendous pressure in Indianapolis after a rough start to the season, but the Colts are sticking with him for now. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz has just joined the Minnesota cafeteria. Kyler Murray is sidelined for the upcoming game, giving the reins to Carson Wentz. For Jones, the real question is how long the Colts will stick with him. For Murray, fans are asking: Is Kyler Murray really injured? Or are the Vikings making a change at quarterback?
Bottom line: You’d expect better from players and coaches, especially in the NFL, the pinnacle of football. But, nah! They dribble here, slosh, and smack all around.
