It's not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison during preseason play.
Still, when you look at the stat sheet and notice undrafted rookie Mike Bercovici had the best passer rating of all five quarterbacks to take the field during Friday night's preseason game in San Diego, it makes you notice.
Bercovici, the Arizona State Sun Devils' starting quarterback last season, was, for the most part, stellar during his Chargers' 19-3 win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals.
He played the entire second half, and while he faced the Cards' defensive reserves, his numbers (9 of 13, 108 yards, 94.4 passer rating) were impressive. He looked poised in the pocket and made some precise throws under pressure, especially on third down.
.@MikeBerco Makes His Case in Win Over Cardinals.
MORE: https://t.co/IgkeXjb2Qc pic.twitter.com/wtXFSkB2Ky
— San Diego Chargers (@Chargers) August 20, 2016
Great first win in the "Q" tonight!! #BoltUp ??
— Michael Bercovici (@MikeBerco) August 20, 2016
Bercovici earned a reprieve on his only major mistake of the night. In the third quarter, he threw a pass into a sea of Cardinals, but fellow rookie Marqui Christian failed to make what should have been an easy interception.
Regardless, it's not a stretch to argue Berco was better than any of the three Cardinals QBs on the field Friday, as well as Kellen Clemens, who started under center for San Diego.
Tonight's QB ratings:
Mike Bercovici: 94.4
Matt Barkley: 81.3
Kellen Clemens: 75.8
Carson Palmer: 23.4
Drew Stanton: 6.5#AZvsSD— Shane Dale (@ShaneDaleABC15) August 20, 2016
Berco, who will forever be remembered in Tempe for his "Jael Mary" touchdown pass in 2014 at USC, is still the Chargers' No. 4 quarterback and remains a longshot to make the team's regular-season roster. But if Friday's performance was nothing more than an audition for other NFL teams, it was a masterful one.
