Justin Herbert, AFC’s young QBs: Better than you think when taking adjusted INTs into account
The NFL’s American Football Conference is loaded with talented young quarterbacks, from the Chargers’ Justin Herbert to Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, New England’s Mac Jones, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, among others. But according to our numbers, each of those young quarterbacks is better than you think.
Today we are going to discuss adjusted interceptions. Unlike the NFL’s raw interception totals, these numbers account for plays when a defender drops a pass that he should have caught, or when a wide receiver makes a big play to turn what should have been a turnover into an incompletion instead. On the other hand, sometimes quarterbacks are charged with interceptions that aren’t really their fault — passes that bounce off a receiver’s hands and straight to a defender — or interceptions that don’t matter, like Hail Mary passes.
How it Works
After each season, we go back and account for these discrepancies and tabulate each quarterback’s adjusted interceptions. Here’s the process:
- We start with each player’s actual interception total. Matthew Stafford of the Rams and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence tied for the league lead in this category with 17 apiece in 2021. (Yes, one of these teams won the Super Bowl and the other had the worst record in the league. Life is unfair.)
- We then add plays where the quarterback threw a ball that could have or should have been intercepted but was not, either because the defender outright dropped the ball (which we have been tracking in game charting since 2007), or he had it knocked out of his hands by an offensive receiver (a “defensed interception,” which we have been tracking since 2012). These are listed as “Drop/Def INT” in the table at the end of this page. Ben Roethlisberger led the league in this category for the second year in a row. We’ll get back to him.
- Next, we subtract those interceptions that were tipped by receivers into the hands of defenders. In 2017, we dubbed these Matt Ryan specials because the Falcons quarterback threw five of them. Further research revealed that Eli Manning also threw five in 2010, and now Patrick Mahomes has tied that mark with five last season. We also subtract passes that are tipped by receivers but then dropped by defenders to make sure they are not double-counted. There were only eight of these in 2021; no player threw more than one.
- We subtract Hail Mary interceptions, as well as interceptions thrown in desperation on fourth down in the final two minutes of a game. We’re flexible on these definitions, but there weren’t many “close-call” examples to debate last year. There were 12 interceptions on Hail Mary attempts last year; Mac Jones, Taylor Heinicke and Teddy Bridgewater had two apiece.
- We subtract dropped interceptions that occur in Hail Mary situations, since those plays wouldn’t count as adjusted interceptions even if they had been caught — or, we would, but there weren’t any in 2021.
When we started running these numbers, we had to get the data from our own in-house volunteer game charters. For the last several seasons, we have had access to data from Sports Info Solutions. Determining whether or not a defender should be charged with a dropped interception will always be subjective on some plays, but you can rest assured that all the obvious calls have been counted here.
Washington’s Taylor Heinicke and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger were tied for the NFL lead with 25 adjusted interceptions in 2021. Neither will be starting this fall after Roethlisberger’s retirement and Washington’s acquisition of Carson Wentz. Among those who will be starting, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford and Ryan Tannehill were tied with 23 each, followed by Trevor Lawrence with 22 and then Matt Ryan and Jimmy Garoppolo with 19 apiece.
Heinicke’s adjusted interception rate of 5.1% was highest among qualified passers in 2021. Tom Brady eked out a very narrow win over Aaron Rodgers for lowest adjusted interception rate, 1.67% to 1.70%.
Justin Herbert: The NFL’s Most Unlucky Quarterback
It’s always interesting to see who threw the most adjusted interceptions, or who had the highest or lowest rates, but the difference between adjusted interceptions and actual interceptions is usually more informative, because it tells us which quarterbacks suffered the worst luck or enjoyed the best. Historically, NFL quarterbacks each season have thrown about 30% more adjusted interceptions than actual interceptions. In 2021 that rate climbed to about 40%. This looks like random noise — there just happened to be a lot of tip-drill picks and interceptions on Hail Marys last season. For consistency’s sake, we will use the more typical 30% rate to calculate how many interceptions a given quarterback “should” have thrown based on his total of adjusted interceptions.
Take Justin Herbert, or example. Calculating adjusted interceptions for the Chargers quarterback is a pretty straightforward process: take the 15 interceptions he actually threw, add two more that were dropped by defenders, then take those two back because two of his picks were accurate throws that were dropped by defenders, leaving us with 15 adjusted interceptions. Based on that 30% rate, we would expect a quarterback with 15 adjusted interceptions to throw 11.5 actual interceptions. Herbert threw 3.5 more interceptions than expected, making him the most unlucky quarterback of 2021. (Mike Tanier talked about this a bit in Walkthrough last week.) He didn’t throw very many passes to the other team, but he had the misfortune to face a bunch of sticky-fingered defenders who caught nearly every pass they got their hands on.
The top of the leaderboard is dominated by young passers from the AFC. Lamar Jackson (+3.0) is in second place; his backup Tyler Huntley (+0.2) finished in 10th place. Mac Jones (+2.2) is in fourth, Joe Burrow (+0.9) is in seventh, and Trevor Lawrence (+0.1), Tua Tagovailoa (+0.0) and Baker Mayfield (-0.1) just missed the top 10.
Not all of last year’s unlucky quarterbacks were young and from the AFC. Tom Brady (+2.8), a very old quarterback from the NFC, finished in fourth place between Jackson and Jones. Chicago’s two quarterbacks, Justin Fields (+1.5) and Andy Dalton (+1.3), finished right next to each other in fifth and sixth place.
Ben Roethlisberger: The NFL’s Luckiest Quarterback
To be honest, the extremely lucky nature of Roethlisberger’s 2021 season was the biggest numerical story to fall out of the data, but it seems less relevant to point out since he has played his last game. It also seemed like a dick move to kick a guy on his way out the door. But now that we’re here, let’s break down his season.
Roethlisberger only threw 10 actual interceptions in 2021. Seventeen quarterbacks threw more than that, including Sam Darnold, who only played in 12 games. However, Roethlisberger threw 16 other passes that should have been intercepted but were dropped by defenders. (A 17th pass was also dropped by a defender but only after it was first dropped by a Steelers receiver. Whole lotta great football out there in Pittsburgh, folks.) That’s the most dropped interceptions a quarterback has benefitted from in a single season since 2007, breaking Mark Sanchez’s record of 15 set in 2010. Roethlisberger threw 9.2 fewer interceptions than expected, the biggest gap in our records, breaking the mark of -8.5 that was also set by Sanchez in 2010.
Luckiest QBs, Single Seasons, 2007-2021 | |||||||||||
Year | Name | Team | INT | HM/ End Q4 |
Drop/ Def INT |
Tip INT |
Tip AND Drop INT |
Drop INT also HM/ End Q4 |
Adj INT |
Exp. INT | Diff. |
2021 | B.Roethlisberger | PIT | 10 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 19.2 | -9.2 |
2010 | M.Sanchez | NYJ | 13 | 0 | 15 | 0 | NA | NA | 28 | 21.5 | -8.5 |
2009 | T.Romo | DAL | 9 | 0 | 12 | 0 | NA | NA | 21 | 16.2 | -7.2 |
2016 | B.Roethlisberger | PIT | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | NA | 25 | 19.2 | -6.2 |
2009 | D.Garrard | JAX | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0 | NA | NA | 21 | 16.2 | -6.2 |
2007 | B.Favre | GB | 15 | 1 | 13 | 0 | NA | NA | 27 | 20.8 | -5.8 |
2018 | D.Carr | OAK | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | NA | 20 | 15.4 | -5.4 |
2020 | B.Roethlisberger | PIT | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 15.4 | -5.4 |
2019 | C.Wentz | PHI | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 12.3 | -5.3 |
2012 | A.Luck | IND | 18 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | NA | 30 | 23.1 | -5.1 |
2020 | N.Foles | CHI | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 13.1 | -5.1 |
2014 | D.Stanton | ARI | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | NA | 13 | 10.0 | -5.0 |
Now here’s where things get weird: you would expect a lot of fluctuation in these numbers, since a quarterback has no control over whether defenders drop his passes or not, but Roethlisberger was also the luckiest quarterback in the NFL in 2020 and 2016. That’s three times in his last five qualifying seasons (he only played two games in 2019) that Roethlisberger has been the NFL’s luckiest passer, and he has four other seasons in the top 10. Things haven’t always been so rosy for Roethlisberger — he ranked seventh or higher in bad luck in 2008, 2013, and 2015 — but as a starter since 2007, he has thrown 21.5 fewer interceptions than expected, based on his adjusted interceptions. We’re just going to guess that’s a lot of dropped interceptions by defenders in Cincinnati and Cleveland.
Ryan Tannehill and Other Lucky Quarterbacks
The luckiest quarterback in 2021 who will be starting again in 2022 was Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill (-3.7). Tannehill only threw 14 interceptions, but he saw 10 other passes dropped by defenders, with one pick that should have been caught by his receiver. Among returning starters, Tannehill is followed by Kirk Cousins (-3.0) and — really! — Aaron Rodgers (-2.9). Though Rodgers had one of the lowest adjusted interception rates in the league, he wasn’t quite as good as his total of four interceptions would suggest — defenders dropped five of his passes.
Taylor Heinicke (-4.2) and Teddy Bridgewater (-3.0) finished second and fourth in luck in 2021. Their teams saw this and figured they would not be so fortunate a second time around, which is partly why they won’t be starting in 2022.
Adjusted Interceptions, NFL QBs, 2021
2021 NFL Quarterbacks, Adjusted Interceptions | |||||||||||||
Name | Team | INT | HM/ End Q4 |
Drop/ Def INT |
Tip INT | Tip AND Drop INT |
Drop INT also HM/ End Q4 |
Adj INT | Pass Att (no DPI/ spikes) |
INT Rate | Adj Rate | Exp. INT | Diff. |
B.Roethlisberger | PIT | 10 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 603 | 1.7% | 4.1% | 19.2 | -9.2 |
T.Heinicke | WAS | 15 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 491 | 3.1% | 5.1% | 19.2 | -4.2 |
R.Tannehill | TEN | 14 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 530 | 2.6% | 4.3% | 17.7 | -3.7 |
J.Allen | BUF | 15 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 646 | 2.3% | 3.6% | 17.7 | -2.7 |
M.Stafford | LAR | 17 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 601 | 2.8% | 3.8% | 17.7 | -0.7 |
T.Lawrence | JAX | 17 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 599 | 2.8% | 3.7% | 16.9 | 0.1 |
J.Garoppolo | SF | 12 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 438 | 2.7% | 4.3% | 14.6 | -2.6 |
M.Ryan | ATL | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 559 | 2.1% | 3.4% | 14.6 | -2.6 |
Z.Wilson | NYJ | 11 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 382 | 2.9% | 4.7% | 13.8 | -2.8 |
P.Mahomes | KC | 13 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 658 | 2.0% | 2.7% | 13.8 | -0.8 |
D.Carr | LV | 14 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 623 | 2.2% | 2.9% | 13.8 | 0.2 |
B.Mayfield | CLE | 13 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 416 | 3.1% | 4.1% | 13.1 | -0.1 |
J.Burrow | CIN | 14 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 518 | 2.7% | 3.3% | 13.1 | 0.9 |
D.Mills | HOU | 10 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 392 | 2.6% | 4.1% | 12.3 | -2.3 |
D.Prescott | DAL | 10 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 596 | 1.7% | 2.7% | 12.3 | -2.3 |
S.Darnold | CAR | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 406 | 3.2% | 3.9% | 12.3 | 0.7 |
J.Herbert | LAC | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 671 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 11.5 | 3.5 |
J.Goff | DET | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 489 | 1.6% | 2.9% | 10.8 | -2.8 |
K.Murray | ARI | 10 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 481 | 2.1% | 2.9% | 10.8 | -0.8 |
M.Jones | NE | 13 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 520 | 2.5% | 2.7% | 10.8 | 2.2 |
T.Bridgewater | DEN | 7 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 426 | 1.6% | 3.1% | 10.0 | -3.0 |
K.Cousins | MIN | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 556 | 1.3% | 2.3% | 10.0 | -3.0 |
T.Tagovailoa | MIA | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 387 | 2.6% | 3.4% | 10.0 | 0.0 |
L.Jackson | BAL | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 378 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 10.0 | 3.0 |
C.Wentz | IND | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 516 | 1.4% | 2.3% | 9.2 | -2.2 |
J.Hurts | PHI | 9 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 430 | 2.1% | 2.8% | 9.2 | -0.2 |
T.Brady | TB | 12 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 717 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 9.2 | 2.8 |
R.Wilson | SEA | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 400 | 1.5% | 2.8% | 8.5 | -2.5 |
J.Fields | CHI | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 268 | 3.7% | 4.1% | 8.5 | 1.5 |
D.Jones | NYG | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 360 | 1.9% | 2.8% | 7.7 | -0.7 |
A.Dalton | CHI | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 235 | 3.8% | 4.3% | 7.7 | 1.3 |
A.Rodgers | GB | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 528 | 0.8% | 1.7% | 6.9 | -2.9 |
J.Brissett | MIA | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 224 | 1.8% | 3.1% | 5.4 | -1.4 |
T.Huntley | BAL | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 185 | 2.2% | 2.7% | 3.8 | 0.2 |
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