Jimmy Clausen has a chance to make history this week, but not the good kind. If he starts in place of, or splits playing time with, the banged up Matt Schaub for the beleaguered Ravens against the Seahawks Sunday, he could be the first quarterback ever to -- drum roll please -- get shut out by the same team twice in the same season while playing for two different clubs.
Jimmy Clausen could make sad NFL history by getting shut out this week
If Clausen suits up for the Ravens, he would be only the sixth quarterback to ever face the same team twice in one season while playing for two different clubs. He also has a chance to be the first QB to get shut out in both contests.
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Clausen filled in for the injured Jay Cutler in the Bears' atrocious 26-0 loss to Seattle in Week 3, in what was arguably the most inept offensive performance of the season to date. Clausen threw for just 63 yards and Chicago punted on all 10 of its possessions.
Five other quarterbacks in NFL history have played multiple games with two different teams against the same club, including Kyle Orton twice in 2011 (he faced both the Raiders and Packers while he was with the Broncos and Chiefs). The four other QBs in this distinguished group are Jack Kemp, Norm Snead, Chris Chandler and Kerry Collins.
Schaub, who sustained multiple big shots in the Ravens' 15-13 loss to the Dolphins last week, may cede some playing time to Clausen this week even if he's cleared to take the field.
“Maybe we’ll play them both, we’ll just see how it goes,” John Harbaugh said, per Ravens.com. Schaub didn’t practice Wednesday.
The Ravens' offense has been ravaged by injuries this season, which doesn't bode well for Clausen's chances on scoring against the recharged Seahawks defense if he gets into the game. Seattle only allowed seven points to the Vikings last week.
The overall record for quarterbacks who have played at least two games against the same opponent while wearing different uniforms in the same season is 4-9. In their second or third matchups, it drops to 2-5. That’s hardly a surprise, considering most quarterbacks who are good don’t change teams in the middle of the year.
Perhaps the best showing on the list belongs to Kerry Collins, who passed for 302 yards and three touchdowns the second time he faced the Falcons in 1998. Collins may also own the worst performance, too, as he threw for 87 yards and tossed three picks against Atlanta the third time he faced them in '98. (Chris Chandler's encore performance against the Saints in 1991 while he was with the Phoenix Cardinals is a close runner up; he threw for a measly 67 yards and two interceptions.)
Given how the Seahawks shutdown Clausen the first time around, it’s possible that Clausen’s stat line could be just as ugly if he plays Sunday. If you factor in the Ravens depleted receiving corps, it could even be worse.
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