The Jameis Winston experience was on full display during the Week 13 ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos.
The good: Winston broke the Browns’ single-game passing record during the shootout. He distributed the ball to Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku and his other weapons while nearly crossing the rare 500-yard barrier.
The bad: Winston threw multiple pick-sixes that directly contributed to Cleveland’s 41-32 road loss.
Here’s what to know about Winston’s outing and where his passing performance ranks among the most prolific in NFL history.
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Jameis Winston stats today
Winston had one of the best passing performances of his career in the Browns’ 41-32 loss to the Broncos. He set a Browns franchise record with 497 yards, which also represented a career-best for him.
Below is a full look at Winston’s stats from the Week 13 loss:
Completion rate: 34-of-58 (58.6%)
Passing yards: 497
Passing TDs: 4
INTs: 3
Yards per attempt: 8.6
Passer rating: 88.1
Winston made big plays from the get-go, completing two separate passes of 44 yards to Jeudy and Elijah Moore in the first quarter. He read the field very well and was frequently able to find his receivers wide open, as he did on his first completion of the game to Jeudy.
Winston picked on Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace often during the contest. The veteran defensive back had a speed disadvantage against Jeudy and Moore, but Denver was shorthanded without its normal No. 2 cornerback Riley Moss.
Wallace’s struggles allowed Winston to find Jeudy and Co. open downfield often, much like he did on Jeudy’s 70-yard second-half touchdown.
Jameis Winston interceptions
While Winston was often sharp and enjoyed a strong performance passing down the field, he made a couple of critical errors. He was responsible for two pick-sixes, one during which he telegraphed a throw to Jordan Akins and one where he threw a pass behind Moore.
The cherry on top was Winston’s third interception, which occurred in the game’s final minute. The Browns had the ball at the 2-yard line and Winston threw up a duck that Cody Barton grabbed and nearly brought back for a third pick-six.
Winston’s turnovers cost the Browns 14 points in the nine-point loss. Those picks will serve as a blight on what was otherwise a historic performance for the 30-year-old.
Most passing yards in an NFL game
Winston’s 497-yard performance broke a Browns record, but didn’t quite challenge the NFL record. That belongs to Norm Van Brocklin, who recorded 554 yards during a 1951 game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Yanks.
Winston’s 497 yards are tied with former Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub for the 27th-most in a single game in NFL history. The Browns starter came up just short of the NFL’s 500-yard club, a feat reached a total of 25 times by 22 quarterbacks in NFL history.
NFL’s 500 yard passing games
Kirk Cousins is the most recent quarterback in NFL history to throw for 500-plus yards. He did so in Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season, his fifth start with the Atlanta Falcons.
Below is the full list of the NFL’s 500-yard passers:
Norm Van Brocklin, Los Angeles Rams: 554 yards (1951)
Matt Schaub, Houston Texans: 527 yards (2012)
Warren Moon, Houston Oilers: 527 yards (1990)
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: 525 yards (2021)
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: 522 yards (2014)
Boomer Esiason, Arizona Cardinals: 522 yards (1996)
Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins: 521 yards (1988)
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions: 520 yards (2012)
Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams: 517 yards (2019)
Tom Brady, New England Patriots: 517 yards (2011)
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders: 513 yards (2016)
Phil Simms, New York Giants: 513 yards (1985)
Eli Manning, New York Giants: 510 yards (2012)
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: 510 yards (2006)
Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons: 509 yards (2024)
Vince Ferragamo, Los Angeles Rams: 509 yards (1982)
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: 506 yards (2017)
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys: 506 yards (2013)
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: 505 yards (2015)
Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants: 505 yards (1962)
Elvis Grbac, Kansas City Chiefs: 504 yards (2000)
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: 503 yards (2016)
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers: 503 yards (2015)
Ben Roethlsiberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: 503 yards (2009)
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: 502 yards (2020)
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