NFL conversations tend to center on the biggest stars. But games can turn on players who rarely get much attention—because they’re buried on the depth chart, play in a smaller market or simply haven’t been given the right opportunity. This week, three under-the-radar performances stood out across the NFC.
Gardner Minshew, quarterback, Arizona Cardinals
Baseball teams regularly switch pitchers between starters and relievers. Maybe NFL teams should be more willing to make a similar change at quarterback when a starter is having a rough day.
Arizona coach Mike LaFleur faced that choice against Dallas. Jacoby Brissett completed 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards, threw one interception and was sacked four times. He had no touchdown passes and finished with a 41.8 passer rating. Against a Cowboys defense that had struggled badly, it was a tough performance to stick with.
LaFleur turned to backup Gardner Minshew with 1:35 left in the third quarter and Arizona trailing 17-3. The game changed quickly. Minshew completed 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions, giving him a 137.3 passer rating. Arizona rallied to win 33-30 in overtime.
LaFleur praised Minshew’s timing and ability to extend plays, while also noting that the quarterback got the ball out quickly. A six-yard completion to Devin Duvernay and a long run by Tyler Allgeier helped open up the offense, he said. Those explosive plays, LaFleur added, can make a defense loosen up.
By Monday, Minshew had been named the starter going forward. It may not be a smooth ride; his career has had its ups and downs. Still, his performance made the decision hard to avoid.
LaFleur said Minshew had shown the competitiveness and preparation the team expected, and that his production off the bench was impressive. He also credited Minshew for supporting Brissett and being a positive presence in the quarterback room.
Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell, running backs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay’s 16-0 win over Atlanta was difficult to see coming. Before Week 8, the Falcons had been one of the league’s better teams at limiting rushing efficiency. Then the Buccaneers ran for 324 yards on 56 carries, despite Baker Mayfield completing no passes.
Rain made passing difficult, but Tampa’s two running backs took full advantage. Bucky Irving carried 27 times for 170 yards and a touchdown, forced seven missed tackles and had five runs of at least 10 yards. Kenneth Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 carries, forced nine missed tackles and also had five runs of 10 or more yards.
The result was a dominant day on the ground. Tampa became the first team in 52 seasons to win a game without completing a pass, and the first in 20 years to win while recording zero or fewer net passing yards.
Irving and Gainwell also became the first pair of teammates in 50 seasons to each record at least 20 carries and 125 rushing yards in the same game. Tampa called a designed run on 90 percent of its plays, the highest rate in a game since 2021 and the second-highest rate in the Next Gen Stats era.
Atlanta safety Jessie Bates said the Falcons had contained the run for much of the game, but that things got away from them in the fourth quarter. The yardage was actually fairly steady across all four quarters: Tampa gained 68, 83, 98 and 80 yards. Still, the Buccaneers ran 19 times in the final quarter, and Atlanta never found a reliable answer to the variety of run plays.
Bates singled out Irving, saying his running style makes it difficult to assume a play is over. Irving has now rushed 147 times this season for 748 yards and five touchdowns, with 31 forced missed tackles and 16 runs of at least 10 yards.
The teams meet again in Week 16, on December 27. Tampa may have its passing game back by then. Or perhaps the Buccaneers will be happy to keep leaning on the run until someone stops them.
Ty’Ron Hopper, linebacker, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay’s defense has made a major jump, moving from 19th in Defensive DVOA last season to fourth through Week 8 this year under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Packers have done it while missing several key players, including Micah Parsons, who has been out with a torn ACL, and linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin.
The players filling those gaps have stepped up. Ty’Ron Hopper, a 2024 third-round pick, has become an increasingly important part of the defense. He had played 151 total snaps across his first two seasons; this year, he has already exceeded that number by 60.
Hopper was especially effective in Green Bay’s 27-19 win over Carolina last Thursday. He recorded a sack, four pressures, six solo tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.
That made him the first Packers player since Hall of Famer Charles Woodson in 2009 to finish a game with three pass breakups, a sack and an interception.
Coach Matt LaFleur praised Hopper’s all-around performance and said the team had seen signs of his potential during the preseason. He also credited the work of inside linebackers coach Sam Siefkes and said the group had made noticeable progress.
Green Bay’s defense has already been strong, and Parsons may soon return to practice. For now, Hopper and other players stepping into bigger roles have helped keep the unit on track.
