Yesterday, I noted that in 2018, Josh Rosen produced one of the least valuable passing seasons ever. One reason that Rosen had so much negative value attributed to his stats is because he took 80% of all Arizona dropbacks last year. So while Rosen was bad, the results look different if we examine things on the team level.
In fact, two other Cardinals passing attacks were worse. In 2012, Arizona had three passers with over 180 dropbacks — John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, and Ryan Lindley — and a fourth (Brian Hoyer) with 57 dropbacks. Collectively, the group averaged 3.42 ANY/A (compared to 3.68 in 2018). The league average was 5.93 that season (and 6.32 last year), and Arizona had a whopping 666 pass plays that season. As a result, the 2012 Cardinals finished 1,672 adjusted net yards below average, the second worst in NFL history. (The 1999 Cardinals, with Jake Plummer, also check in as slightly worse than the 2018 Cardinals; more on them in the table below).
The worst? That honor belongs to the 1992 Seahawks, behind Stan Gelbaugh and Kelly Stouffer. That season, Seattle averaged just 1.70 ANY/A in a season where the league average was 4.88 ANY/A. Over 543 attempts, this means Seattle was 1,728 adjusted net yards below average.
The table below shows the worst 200 passing attacks by this measure.
| Rk | Team | Year | DB | ANY/A | LgAvg | VALUE | Top Passer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEA | 1992 | 543 | 1.7 | 4.88 | -1728 | Stan Gelbaugh (53%) |
| 2 | ARI | 2012 | 666 | 3.42 | 5.93 | -1672 | John Skelton (32%) |
| 3 | BUF | 1968 | 444 | 0.5 | 4.22 | -1652 | Dan Darragh (48%) |
| 4 | SDG | 1998 | 603 | 2.58 | 5.31 | -1647 | Craig Whelihan (56%) |
| 5 | ATL | 1974 | 406 | -0.02 | 3.91 | -1597 | Bob Lee (50%) |
| 6 | CAR | 2010 | 534 | 2.85 | 5.73 | -1537 | Jimmy Clausen (62%) |
| 7 | BUF | 1984 | 648 | 2.64 | 5 | -1535 | Joe Ferguson (58%) |
| 8 | OAK | 2006 | 555 | 2.67 | 5.38 | -1505 | Andrew Walter (58%) |
| 9 | DET | 2009 | 628 | 3.26 | 5.65 | -1499 | Matthew Stafford (64%) |
| 10 | PIT | 1965 | 416 | 1.44 | 5.01 | -1483 | Bill Nelsen (65%) |
| 11 | ARI | 1999 | 603 | 2.77 | 5.18 | -1451 | Jake Plummer (68%) |
| 12 | ARI | 2018 | 547 | 3.68 | 6.32 | -1445 | Josh Rosen (80%) |
| 13 | CLE | 2017 | 624 | 3.63 | 5.91 | -1417 | DeShone Kizer (82%) |
| 14 | SFO | 1978 | 477 | 1.08 | 4.03 | -1405 | Steve DeBerg (67%) |
| 15 | BUF | 2018 | 540 | 3.74 | 6.32 | -1395 | Josh Allen (64%) |
| 16 | PHI | 1998 | 590 | 2.95 | 5.31 | -1389 | Bobby Hoying (44%) |
| 17 | CHI | 2004 | 537 | 3.08 | 5.63 | -1373 | Chad Hutchinson (34%) |
| 18 | JAX | 2014 | 628 | 3.97 | 6.14 | -1362 | Blake Bortles (84%) |
| 19 | BOS | 1970 | 434 | 1.07 | 4.16 | -1338 | Joe Kapp (57%) |
| 20 | STL | 2009 | 587 | 3.37 | 5.65 | -1335 | Marc Bulger (44%) |
| 21 | NYJ | 1995 | 636 | 3.31 | 5.41 | -1334 | Boomer Esiason (65%) |
| 22 | TAM | 1977 | 369 | -0.06 | 3.55 | -1330 | Gary Huff (41%) |
| 23 | TAM | 1991 | 551 | 2.77 | 5.18 | -1330 | Vinny Testaverde (66%) |
| 24 | MIA | 2004 | 638 | 3.57 | 5.63 | -1319 | A.J. Feeley (59%) |
| 25 | LAR | 2016 | 585 | 3.98 | 6.22 | -1306 | Case Keenum (59%) |
| 26 | NYJ | 1976 | 438 | 1.11 | 4.07 | -1295 | Joe Namath (56%) |
| 27 | BOS | 1968 | 447 | 1.34 | 4.22 | -1287 | Tom Sherman (51%) |
| 28 | DEN | 1964 | 517 | 1.67 | 4.15 | -1285 | Jacky Lee (51%) |
| 29 | CHI | 1969 | 439 | 1.74 | 4.67 | -1283 | Bobby Douglass (42%) |
| 30 | JAX | 2011 | 513 | 3.4 | 5.9 | -1283 | Blaine Gabbert (88%) |
| 31 | MIA | 1966 | 490 | 1.89 | 4.5 | -1279 | Dick Wood (47%) |
| 32 | SFO | 2007 | 568 | 3.27 | 5.52 | -1278 | Trent Dilfer (43%) |
| 33 | CIN | 2008 | 564 | 3.46 | 5.7 | -1266 | Ryan Fitzpatrick (73%) |
| 34 | NOR | 1997 | 508 | 2.68 | 5.16 | -1263 | Heath Shuler (44%) |
| 35 | DEN | 1961 | 601 | 1.76 | 3.85 | -1259 | Frank Tripucka (57%) |
| 36 | ARI | 2010 | 611 | 3.71 | 5.73 | -1237 | Derek Anderson (58%) |
| 37 | CRD | 1943 | 219 | -2.47 | 3.12 | -1223 | Ronnie Cahill (50%) |
| 38 | SFO | 2005 | 437 | 2.55 | 5.34 | -1222 | Alex Smith (44%) |
| 39 | CLE | 2008 | 512 | 3.32 | 5.7 | -1220 | Derek Anderson (58%) |
| 40 | GNB | 1949 | 328 | -0.45 | 3.27 | -1219 | Jug Girard (53%) |
| 41 | RAM | 1981 | 527 | 2.69 | 5 | -1217 | Pat Haden (56%) |
| 42 | CIN | 2000 | 506 | 2.84 | 5.21 | -1198 | Akili Smith (60%) |
| 43 | PIT | 1941 | 168 | -4.62 | 2.48 | -1192 | Boyd Brumbaugh (24%) |
| 44 | CLE | 2009 | 473 | 3.14 | 5.65 | -1186 | Brady Quinn (58%) |
| 45 | NOR | 1975 | 445 | 1.4 | 4.04 | -1172 | Archie Manning (87%) |
| 46 | GNB | 1950 | 408 | 0.29 | 3.15 | -1165 | Tobin Rote (55%) |
| 47 | BOS | 1948 | 261 | 0.15 | 4.61 | -1164 | Roy Zimmerman (41%) |
| 48 | DET | 1942 | 222 | -2.61 | 2.63 | -1164 | Harry Hopp (31%) |
| 49 | DET | 1959 | 386 | 1.68 | 4.59 | -1121 | Tobin Rote (42%) |
| 50 | TAM | 2009 | 557 | 3.64 | 5.65 | -1118 | Josh Freeman (56%) |
| 51 | CIN | 2001 | 630 | 3.43 | 5.19 | -1114 | Jon Kitna (96%) |
| 52 | WAS | 1993 | 573 | 3.18 | 5.11 | -1110 | Mark Rypien (58%) |
| 53 | DEN | 1966 | 439 | 2.02 | 4.5 | -1092 | John McCormick (44%) |
| 54 | ATL | 1987 | 547 | 3.05 | 5.04 | -1089 | Scott Campbell (52%) |
| 55 | ATL | 1976 | 398 | 1.34 | 4.07 | -1084 | Kim McQuilken (35%) |
| 56 | KAN | 2012 | 515 | 3.83 | 5.93 | -1083 | Matt Cassel (57%) |
| 57 | STL | 2007 | 622 | 3.78 | 5.52 | -1078 | Marc Bulger (67%) |
| 58 | PHI | 1999 | 523 | 3.12 | 5.18 | -1075 | Doug Pederson (47%) |
| 59 | OAK | 2009 | 534 | 3.65 | 5.65 | -1069 | JaMarcus Russell (52%) |
| 60 | HOU | 2016 | 615 | 4.48 | 6.22 | -1067 | Brock Osweiler (87%) |
| 61 | CRD | 1954 | 379 | 1.25 | 4.06 | -1065 | Lamar McHan (67%) |
| 62 | DET | 1965 | 400 | 2.36 | 5.01 | -1060 | Milt Plum (77%) |
| 63 | GNB | 1953 | 387 | 0.53 | 3.26 | -1055 | Tobin Rote (48%) |
| 64 | CHI | 1971 | 492 | 1.79 | 3.93 | -1050 | Bobby Douglass (52%) |
| 65 | NWE | 1992 | 509 | 2.83 | 4.88 | -1046 | Hugh Millen (46%) |
| 66 | NOR | 1981 | 482 | 2.83 | 5 | -1045 | Archie Manning (52%) |
| 67 | DET | 1988 | 529 | 3.05 | 5.02 | -1043 | Rusty Hilger (64%) |
| 68 | GNB | 1948 | 274 | 0.8 | 4.61 | -1043 | Jack Jacobs (67%) |
| 69 | CAR | 2001 | 611 | 3.49 | 5.19 | -1041 | Chris Weinke (93%) |
| 70 | ARI | 2002 | 589 | 3.58 | 5.35 | -1041 | Jake Plummer (96%) |
| 71 | DAL | 1964 | 472 | 2.4 | 4.6 | -1040 | Don Meredith (68%) |
| 72 | OAK | 2014 | 657 | 4.56 | 6.14 | -1036 | Derek Carr (95%) |
| 73 | HOU | 1994 | 619 | 3.71 | 5.38 | -1036 | Billy Joe Tolliver (43%) |
| 74 | PHO | 1991 | 535 | 3.26 | 5.18 | -1032 | Tom Tupa (63%) |
| 75 | HOU | 2002 | 523 | 3.38 | 5.35 | -1028 | David Carr (99%) |
| 76 | BUF | 1997 | 592 | 3.43 | 5.16 | -1026 | Todd Collins (73%) |
| 77 | SDG | 2000 | 631 | 3.59 | 5.21 | -1017 | Ryan Leaf (56%) |
| 78 | PHI | 1936 | 170 | -5.63 | 0.35 | -1017 | Dave Smukler (40%) |
| 79 | MIA | 1969 | 477 | 2.12 | 4.23 | -1008 | Bob Griese (60%) |
| 80 | CRD | 1944 | 258 | -1.66 | 2.24 | -1006 | John Grigas (51%) |
| 81 | CLE | 2016 | 633 | 4.64 | 6.22 | -1001 | Cody Kessler (34%) |
| 82 | DAL | 1990 | 518 | 3.36 | 5.29 | -999 | Troy Aikman (85%) |
| 83 | DTX | 1952 | 405 | 0.68 | 3.12 | -991 | Frank Tripucka (43%) |
| 84 | BAL | 2013 | 667 | 4.4 | 5.87 | -982 | Joe Flacco (99%) |
| 85 | BUF | 1971 | 450 | 1.75 | 3.93 | -978 | Dennis Shaw (72%) |
| 86 | NYJ | 2016 | 585 | 4.55 | 6.22 | -976 | Ryan Fitzpatrick (72%) |
| 87 | CLE | 2006 | 566 | 3.66 | 5.38 | -972 | Charlie Frye (77%) |
| 88 | NYG | 1996 | 515 | 3.25 | 5.14 | -971 | Dave Brown (87%) |
| 89 | IND | 1984 | 469 | 2.94 | 5 | -970 | Mike Pagel (51%) |
| 90 | OAK | 1981 | 598 | 3.38 | 5 | -970 | Marc Wilson (66%) |
| 91 | ATL | 1967 | 419 | 2.02 | 4.32 | -964 | Randy Johnson (69%) |
| 92 | STL | 2011 | 604 | 4.3 | 5.9 | -964 | Sam Bradford (65%) |
| 93 | HOU | 1972 | 420 | 2 | 4.28 | -960 | Dan Pastorini (80%) |
| 94 | CRD | 1939 | 247 | -0.87 | 3.01 | -959 | Jack Robbins (34%) |
| 95 | CRD | 1940 | 198 | -2.29 | 2.55 | -958 | Hugh McCullough (59%) |
| 96 | JAX | 2013 | 642 | 4.39 | 5.87 | -954 | Chad Henne (84%) |
| 97 | CLE | 2000 | 523 | 3.38 | 5.21 | -953 | Doug Pederson (43%) |
| 98 | PIT | 1939 | 221 | -1.29 | 3.01 | -952 | Hugh McCullough (45%) |
| 99 | WAS | 1961 | 469 | 2.46 | 4.49 | -951 | Norm Snead (80%) |
| 100 | BUF | 1985 | 559 | 3.16 | 4.86 | -949 | Vince Ferragamo (55%) |
| 101 | TAM | 1976 | 426 | 1.84 | 4.07 | -949 | Steve Spurrier (81%) |
| 102 | PIT | 1969 | 443 | 2.53 | 4.67 | -948 | Dick Shiner (53%) |
| 103 | CHI | 2003 | 558 | 3.51 | 5.2 | -946 | Kordell Stewart (49%) |
| 104 | DET | 2002 | 597 | 3.77 | 5.35 | -944 | Joey Harrington (73%) |
| 105 | SFO | 2004 | 613 | 4.1 | 5.63 | -942 | Tim Rattay (59%) |
| 106 | DET | 2003 | 599 | 3.65 | 5.2 | -933 | Joey Harrington (94%) |
| 107 | DET | 1943 | 248 | -0.63 | 3.12 | -928 | Frankie Sinkwich (51%) |
| 108 | DEN | 2017 | 618 | 4.41 | 5.91 | -927 | Trevor Siemian (62%) |
| 109 | NYG | 2013 | 607 | 4.35 | 5.87 | -922 | Eli Manning (97%) |
| 110 | TAM | 1986 | 515 | 3.17 | 4.96 | -920 | Steve Young (80%) |
| 111 | PHI | 1956 | 284 | 0.64 | 3.88 | -919 | Bobby Thomason (58%) |
| 112 | DET | 1979 | 503 | 2.79 | 4.61 | -918 | Jeff Komlo (81%) |
| 113 | SDG | 1973 | 400 | 1.6 | 3.89 | -916 | Dan Fouts (52%) |
| 114 | NWE | 1988 | 412 | 2.8 | 5.02 | -915 | Doug Flutie (46%) |
| 115 | CHI | 1981 | 524 | 3.26 | 5 | -912 | Vince Evans (88%) |
| 116 | STL | 2008 | 565 | 4.09 | 5.7 | -911 | Marc Bulger (85%) |
| 117 | PIT | 1945 | 165 | -1.78 | 3.74 | -909 | Buss Warren (56%) |
| 118 | PHI | 1986 | 618 | 3.49 | 4.96 | -908 | Randall Cunningham (45%) |
| 119 | JAX | 2018 | 589 | 4.79 | 6.32 | -900 | Blake Bortles (74%) |
| 120 | PIT | 1987 | 456 | 3.07 | 5.04 | -897 | Mark Malone (78%) |
| 121 | DAL | 1989 | 543 | 3.59 | 5.24 | -897 | Troy Aikman (57%) |
| 122 | MIN | 2010 | 541 | 4.08 | 5.73 | -894 | Brett Favre (70%) |
| 123 | NYJ | 2013 | 527 | 4.18 | 5.87 | -893 | Geno Smith (92%) |
| 124 | TAM | 1995 | 563 | 3.83 | 5.41 | -892 | Trent Dilfer (82%) |
| 125 | IND | 1991 | 569 | 3.62 | 5.18 | -891 | Jeff George (95%) |
| 126 | NYJ | 2012 | 540 | 4.29 | 5.93 | -889 | Mark Sanchez (90%) |
| 127 | BAL | 1953 | 365 | 0.83 | 3.26 | -886 | Fred Enke (46%) |
| 128 | NWE | 1972 | 456 | 2.34 | 4.28 | -885 | Jim Plunkett (86%) |
| 129 | WAS | 2004 | 552 | 4.03 | 5.63 | -882 | Patrick Ramsey (53%) |
| 130 | PHI | 1995 | 542 | 3.78 | 5.41 | -882 | Rodney Peete (75%) |
| 131 | CLE | 1990 | 615 | 3.86 | 5.29 | -881 | Bernie Kosar (75%) |
| 132 | NWE | 1990 | 572 | 3.75 | 5.29 | -881 | Marc Wilson (51%) |
| 133 | MIN | 1984 | 597 | 3.53 | 5 | -881 | Tommy Kramer (44%) |
| 134 | CAR | 1997 | 578 | 3.64 | 5.16 | -879 | Kerry Collins (71%) |
| 135 | NYJ | 2018 | 561 | 4.76 | 6.32 | -877 | Sam Darnold (79%) |
| 136 | PIT | 1970 | 412 | 2.03 | 4.16 | -875 | Terry Bradshaw (59%) |
| 137 | DEN | 1970 | 447 | 2.2 | 4.16 | -873 | Pete Liske (60%) |
| 138 | CAR | 1995 | 575 | 3.9 | 5.41 | -871 | Kerry Collins (79%) |
| 139 | ARI | 2004 | 572 | 4.11 | 5.63 | -870 | Josh McCown (77%) |
| 140 | PIT | 1998 | 524 | 3.65 | 5.31 | -870 | Kordell Stewart (94%) |
| 141 | KAN | 1979 | 403 | 2.46 | 4.61 | -868 | Steve Fuller (76%) |
| 142 | NYG | 1980 | 561 | 3.32 | 4.87 | -865 | Phil Simms (78%) |
| 143 | PHI | 1991 | 558 | 3.64 | 5.18 | -862 | Jim McMahon (59%) |
| 144 | CHI | 1960 | 362 | 1.78 | 4.15 | -857 | Zeke Bratkowski (48%) |
| 145 | NYG | 1979 | 460 | 2.75 | 4.61 | -857 | Phil Simms (66%) |
| 146 | CLE | 1975 | 475 | 2.24 | 4.04 | -856 | Mike Phipps (72%) |
| 147 | RAM | 1963 | 443 | 2.95 | 4.87 | -852 | Roman Gabriel (63%) |
| 148 | CHI | 2005 | 449 | 3.45 | 5.34 | -852 | Kyle Orton (89%) |
| 149 | WAS | 1954 | 297 | 1.19 | 4.06 | -851 | Al Dorow (46%) |
| 150 | BDA | 1947 | 232 | 1.62 | 5.26 | -846 | Bob Hoernschemeyer (65%) |
| 151 | CIN | 1992 | 480 | 3.12 | 4.88 | -846 | Boomer Esiason (62%) |
| 152 | GNB | 1958 | 385 | 2.35 | 4.54 | -843 | Babe Parilli (41%) |
| 153 | PIT | 1948 | 266 | 1.44 | 4.61 | -841 | Ray Evans (52%) |
| 154 | HOU | 1973 | 454 | 2.04 | 3.89 | -840 | Dan Pastorini (70%) |
| 155 | ATL | 2000 | 575 | 3.76 | 5.21 | -834 | Chris Chandler (65%) |
| 156 | ATL | 2003 | 495 | 3.52 | 5.2 | -833 | Doug Johnson (53%) |
| 157 | BUF | 1967 | 479 | 2.23 | 3.96 | -832 | Jack Kemp (77%) |
| 158 | WAS | 2018 | 553 | 4.82 | 6.32 | -830 | Alex Smith (63%) |
| 159 | NYY | 1949 | 199 | 0.71 | 4.87 | -828 | Don Panciera (75%) |
| 160 | CHR | 1948 | 341 | 2.82 | 5.24 | -827 | Jesse Freitas (49%) |
| 161 | NOR | 1999 | 594 | 3.81 | 5.18 | -814 | Billy Joe Tolliver (48%) |
| 162 | HOU | 2005 | 517 | 3.78 | 5.34 | -810 | David Carr (95%) |
| 163 | ATL | 1968 | 396 | 2.42 | 4.46 | -807 | Randy Johnson (39%) |
| 164 | CHI | 1974 | 432 | 2.06 | 3.91 | -800 | Gary Huff (71%) |
| 165 | HOU | 1971 | 454 | 2.17 | 3.93 | -799 | Dan Pastorini (64%) |
| 166 | SDG | 1988 | 499 | 3.42 | 5.02 | -797 | Mark Malone (56%) |
| 167 | SDG | 1997 | 616 | 3.87 | 5.16 | -796 | Craig Whelihan (42%) |
| 168 | MIN | 1967 | 371 | 2.18 | 4.32 | -795 | Joe Kapp (58%) |
| 169 | DET | 2000 | 556 | 3.78 | 5.21 | -795 | Charlie Batch (81%) |
| 170 | KAN | 2007 | 618 | 4.24 | 5.52 | -788 | Damon Huard (60%) |
| 171 | TAM | 2006 | 568 | 3.99 | 5.38 | -787 | Bruce Gradkowski (62%) |
| 172 | NYG | 1983 | 624 | 3.74 | 5 | -782 | Scott Brunner (67%) |
| 173 | MIN | 1962 | 408 | 3.09 | 5.01 | -782 | Fran Tarkenton (81%) |
| 174 | DET | 1966 | 491 | 2.7 | 4.29 | -781 | Karl Sweetan (63%) |
| 175 | MIA | 1946 | 295 | 1.49 | 4.13 | -779 | Marion Pugh (40%) |
| 176 | SFO | 1963 | 384 | 2.86 | 4.87 | -775 | Lamar McHan (51%) |
| 177 | PHI | 1976 | 412 | 2.19 | 4.07 | -773 | Mike Boryla (67%) |
| 178 | CHI | 1993 | 436 | 3.35 | 5.11 | -770 | Jim Harbaugh (84%) |
| 179 | NYJ | 1992 | 534 | 3.44 | 4.88 | -768 | Browning Nagle (78%) |
| 180 | CLE | 2011 | 609 | 4.64 | 5.9 | -768 | Colt McCoy (81%) |
| 181 | PHO | 1989 | 579 | 3.92 | 5.24 | -765 | Gary Hogeboom (70%) |
| 182 | KAN | 2009 | 581 | 4.33 | 5.65 | -765 | Matt Cassel (92%) |
| 183 | PIT | 1938 | 194 | -2.19 | 1.75 | -764 | Frank Filchock (38%) |
| 184 | GNB | 2017 | 613 | 4.66 | 5.91 | -763 | Brett Hundley (56%) |
| 185 | HOU | 2013 | 675 | 4.75 | 5.87 | -761 | Matt Schaub (56%) |
| 186 | WAS | 1960 | 322 | 1.79 | 4.15 | -761 | Ralph Guglielmi (69%) |
| 187 | TAM | 2014 | 583 | 4.83 | 6.14 | -760 | Josh McCown (62%) |
| 188 | CHI | 1997 | 638 | 3.97 | 5.16 | -760 | Erik Kramer (79%) |
| 189 | MIA | 2007 | 600 | 4.25 | 5.52 | -758 | Cleo Lemon (56%) |
| 190 | SDG | 1999 | 629 | 3.98 | 5.18 | -756 | Jim Harbaugh (75%) |
| 191 | NYJ | 2014 | 545 | 4.75 | 6.14 | -753 | Geno Smith (72%) |
| 192 | BUF | 2009 | 487 | 4.11 | 5.65 | -751 | Ryan Fitzpatrick (51%) |
| 193 | NYG | 1977 | 357 | 1.45 | 3.55 | -749 | Joe Pisarcik (76%) |
| 194 | TAM | 2011 | 620 | 4.69 | 5.9 | -748 | Josh Freeman (94%) |
| 195 | BAL | 2005 | 604 | 4.11 | 5.34 | -744 | Kyle Boller (52%) |
| 196 | PIT | 1940 | 189 | -1.38 | 2.55 | -742 | Billy Patterson (62%) |
| 197 | CHI | 1978 | 386 | 2.11 | 4.03 | -742 | Bob Avellini (75%) |
| 198 | IND | 2015 | 656 | 5.14 | 6.26 | -740 | Andrew Luck (47%) |
| 199 | BAL | 2004 | 500 | 4.15 | 5.63 | -739 | Kyle Boller (100%) |
| 200 | BUF | 2003 | 553 | 3.87 | 5.2 | -738 | Drew Bledsoe (94%) |
As always, please leave your thoughts in the comments.