5 NFL Players Who Can Do No Wrong And 5 Who Can Do No Right
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
NFL fans can be the toughest critics of certain players or will defend their favorite star player despite a lack of playoff success, horrendous teams around certain superstars, and win-loss records.
These NFL players do everything they can on the field, leaving some fans unsatisfied or feeling they’re not doing enough. This leads fans to make petty excuses for certain players, including scapegoating everyone and everything else to justify their defense.
Many of these guys are beloved veterans who have made good playoff runs but were shut out of winning a Super Bowl or advancing to one.
While other guys have dealt with injuries, inconsistent offensive linemen, and also had great playoff runs, they squared off against a more talented team in the way.
Which NFL players do fans cover up the most, and which ones do they hate no matter what?
Too Many Excuses: Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence’s time in the NFL so far has been a mixed-to-positive bag, as he’s helped revitalize the Jacksonville Jaguars and led them to the playoffs twice.
Lawrence has displayed excellent physical traits during his tenure in the league, with a great arm and surprisingly good mobility, making him a good MVP candidate.
However, he’s also had his inconsistencies, as the team has hired three coaches since Lawrence was drafted in 2021.
Lawrence has also had a poor supporting cast around him, with some of his receivers posting a high drop rate, below-average offensive line play, and a lack of true Pro Bowl-caliber offensive weapons.
Not to mention Lawrence only made it past the Wildcard Round once when he and the Jaguars came back from behind and defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-20 back in the 2022-23 season.
Because Lawrence was selected first overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, fans are heavily invested in his success and will defend him despite some of his flaws shown throughout his career, as he’s still seen by many as a franchise savior.
Despite that, the coaching, roster, and his performance have improved in 2025, and we want to see head coach Liam Coen continue to get the best out of Lawrence in 2026 and beyond.
Too Hard On: Lamar Jackson
Jackson has faced scrutiny from fans due to his dual-threat abilities, which rewrite traditional quarterback expectations.
Fans judge Jackson on his playoff record, as the closest he’s gotten to a Super Bowl was the 2024 AFC Championship game, when the Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10.
Because of the playoff exits, fans are incredibly tough on the two-time NFL MVP, as they expect Jackson to get the Ravens to their first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl XLVII.
Not to mention, Jackson has thrown a couple of costly turnovers during his playoff runs, causing fans and critics to lose their minds.
Fans are very picky about his passing decisions because Jackson is so powerful on the ground with his legs.
Fans and media figures are also critical of the fact that Jackson represents himself and doesn’t have a traditional agent representing him.
Jackson does have a passionate fanbase who’ll defend him against the harshest critics, who are always too hard on him.
Jackson will continue to be successful in the regular season, and he and the Ravens must improve in the playoffs when they return to the big dance.
Too Many Excuses: Justin Herbert
Although Justin Herbert is gifted and talented, thanks to his arm strength and mobility, NFL fans will come up with excuses to defend him, as he and the Los Angeles Chargers have had awful playoff luck.
Herbert is 0-3 in the playoffs so far in his career and hasn’t earned a playoff win with the Chargers.
Not to mention, his elite physical talent doesn’t match the Bolts’ postseason struggles, and he has very few impressive wins during the regular season.
Critics and fans alike are getting frustrated with the playoff losses and failure to close certain games, while fans will defend Herbert and point the finger at everyone else.
Herbert has played for multiple head coaches since entering the league, including Anthony Lynn, Brandon Staley, and Giff Smith, and currently plays under Jim Harbaugh.
Herbert also played under multiple offensive coordinators, like Shane Steichen during his 2020 rookie season, Joe Lombardi from 2021 to 2022, Kellen Moore in 2023, Greg Roman from 2024 to 2025, and will play under Mike McDaniel in 2026.
Fans argue that if Herbert were put in a stable system with a functional defense and strong, effective offensive weapons like other elite quarterbacks, he would be a true playoff-contending quarterback with an MVP or two of his own.
Too Hard On: Jalen Hurts
Although Hurts led the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl LIX glory, fans can be incredibly tough on him due to the demanding nature of the Philadelphia sports market.
The expectations have increased for Hurts since he signed that five-year, $255 million contract extension back in 2023, as fans expect him to dominate each year for the Eagles.
Fans have argued that Hurts is quick to tuck the ball and immediately run on the first sign of pressure from opposing defenses, rather than progressing through the reads.
Fans have also been frustrated by the predictability of the Eagles’ playbook and how it’s directed toward Hurts, as he’s shown strong preferences for certain plays and throws.
The Eagles have a very talented roster with an elite defense, and some fans suggest that Hurts is a product of an elite supporting cast.
However, like Lamar Jackson, Eagles fans will defend Hurts for his incredible clutch on-field performances and his cool personal demeanor.
Too Many Excuses: Justin Fields
Fields has had one of the more interesting NFL careers, as he can be a spectacular dual-threat athlete, but he has had numerous struggles, and fans are still on his side.
Fields has lacked great coaches around him for most of his career, with the exceptions of Mike Tomlin in 2024 and Andy Reid for the upcoming 2026 season.
Fans will defend Fields by saying he lacked a supporting cast during his early years with the Chicago Bears and played under multiple offensive coordinators.
Fans will also defend the offensive schemes not working for Fields because they were not designed around his strengths, which has led to inconsistent play and delayed pocket passes.
Fields has the potential to be a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, but he needs the right offensive system around him. We hope that he finds success backing up Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs this upcoming season.
Too Hard On: Josh Allen
Josh Allen has, for most of his career, resurrected the Buffalo Bills and made them playoff contenders. However, fans can be rough on him when the Bills suffer playoff losses.
Despite being an NFL MVP, Allen’s aggressive playstyle has led to a few costly interceptions and playoff disappointments, leading to constant heartbreak.
Because Allen is hyped and a franchise savior, fans have high expectations for him to carry the Bills all the way to a Super Bowl for the first time since the 1993 season. When those expectations aren’t met, Allen takes the brunt of the criticism.
Allen has also been compared to Patrick Mahomes, with their play styles similar. However, Mahomes has the Super Bowl championships that fans expect Allen to win.
Supporters of Allen and the Bills will always have his back and defend him because the team hasn’t had a superstar wide receiver for him to work with in recent years.
The Bills traded for D.J. Moore during the 2026 offseason, giving Allen his most elite wide receiver for him to work with since Stefon Diggs was on the roster. We hope Moore and Allen can take the Bills far during the 2026 season.
Too Many Excuses: Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa entered the NFL as a very highly decorated athlete from the University of Alabama, and fans have enjoyed his early play with the Miami Dolphins.
However, Tagovailoa is 0-1 as a starter in the playoffs, has dealt with numerous injuries and concussions, and was benched during the 2025 season in favor of Quinn Ewers.
Tagovailoa is now on the Atlanta Falcons and will have to earn his spot on the roster against Michael Penix Jr.
Fans will defend him due to the elite statistical numbers he put up throughout the years; he led the league in yards per passing attempt in 2022 with 8.9; he led the league in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624 and threw a career-high 29 touchdowns that same season, and led the league in completion percentage in 2024 with a percentage of 72.9.
NFL fans will also blast the weak offensive line, how Tagovailoa has handled getting sacked by opposing defenses, and the injuries he’s sustained during his time in South Beach.
If Tagovailoa sees action as a starter for the Falcons, he must prove his worth and do the best he can to stay healthy.
Too Hard On: Daniel Jones
Jones’ NFL career thus far has been a mixed bag, as he’s shown flashes of success in 2022 and 2025 with the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts, respectively.
However, fans have been incredibly tough on Jones, who’s been very inconsistent throughout the years. He was a highly drafted quarterback taken sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jones struggled with progression during his time with the Giants, has made costly turnovers throughout the years, and has been plagued by injuries as well.
Not to mention, playing in the New York market adds a whole new level of pressure, as fans want to see the Giants become winners again.
In 2024, Jones was heavily booed by Giants’ fans while he was leaving MetLife Stadium after the team lost its home opener to the Minnesota Vikings 28-6 in humiliating fashion.
Jones has racked up massive contracts during his time with the Giants in 2023, signing a four-year, $160 million extension, but he didn’t live up to expectations. Jones did sign a two-year, $88 million extension with the Colts this past offseason, and it’s yet to be seen how he’ll do during this upcoming season.
As we mentioned earlier, when Jones is good, he’s exciting to watch; when he faces injuries or struggles, the fans pile on him. Let’s see what he’ll do during the 2026 season.
Too Many Excuses: Nick Bosa
When healthy, Bosa is an elite tackling and sacking machine for the San Francisco 49ers’ defense.
However, Bosa has dealt with nagging injuries that often cut his seasons short, leaving the 49ers in rough positions in key games during the regular season or in the playoffs.
Bosa has had a dip in sack production in recent years, but fans will defend his tackle production, hurries, and pass-rush win rates as he squares off against opposing offensive linemen.
After winning the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, he signed a massive five-year, $170 million extension, and he will back him up if the 49ers struggle without him on the field due to nagging injuries.
Fans also defend Bosa whenever he misses time during training camp and refer to his slow starts as rust removal before he signed his five-year extension during the 2023 NFL offseason.
On the flip side, fans have criticized Bosa for his outspoken political views and his production not aligning with his contract in recent years.
Despite that, Bosa will always have fans ready to defend him no matter what.
Too Hard On: Baker Mayfield
Mayfield plays with a lot of swagger and confidence throughout his career, but has faced intense criticism during seasons when he’s had inconsistent production.
Mayfield has dealt with injuries during his time with the Browns, which drew the ire of fans, despite being drafted with the first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Fans point to the 2021 season when Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns struggled and failed to return to the playoffs after an incredible 2020 season. During that 2021 season, Mayfield went 6-8 as a starter, completed 253 passes for 3,010 yards, and threw 17 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.
Fans were harsh on Mayfield after the Browns traded him to the Carolina Panthers, even though he had wanted out of Cleveland before the 2022 season, while his passionate fans defended his request.
Fans also criticized Mayfield’s production during his brief time with the Panthers, where he went 1-5 as a starter, completed 119 passes for 1,313 yards, and threw six touchdowns against six interceptions.
Mayfield has seen a major resurgence during his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, keeping them as playoff contenders. We can’t wait to see what he does for the 2026 season.
