Despite the Houston Texans’ 4-12 record and rookie Davis Mills‘ 2-8 record as a starting quarterback, the third-rounder from Stanford has generated some encouraging statistics in the lost season of 2021.
Mills has a 66.48% completion percentage, which is the fourth-best in the NFL among rookie quarterbacks since 1970. Only Dak Prescott (67.76%), Mac Jones (67.72%), and Justin Herbert (66.55%) have higher completion percentages on a minimum of 100 attempts.
Having such a place among other productive quarterbacks galvanizes Mills.
“It’s pretty cool,” Mills said. “Obviously, with the guys who have been in the league for a long time and been successful, it’s cool just to be in that same discussion as them.”
One player that Mills is ahead of with a game to go is Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who compiled a 66.44% completion percentage in 2004 as he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 15-1 record, which is thought to be one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback in the modern era.
“Hopefully, my career will turn out, say like Ben Roethlisberger who just played his last home game in Pittsburgh this last weekend,” said Mills. “That’d be awesome if I could turn my career into something like that.”
Roethlisberger started his 246th career game for the Steelers in a 26-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football at Heinz Field, the two-time Super Bowl champion’s final home.
As Mills gets ready for his 11th career start and last home game of the season, his focus is on constant improvement.
Said Mills: “Right now it’s just go out there and attack each week, and obviously make smart decisions with the football, because that’s where completion percentage comes from. Ultimately, just go out there and do my job, move the ball down the field and get our team in the end zone.”
The Texans finish up the regular season with a Week 18 encounter with the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.