Rating one other for the Land of Misfit Toys? Yearly for the final half-decade or so, it looks as if some downtrodden as soon as extremely touted signal-caller who has gone via the proverbial mud all of the sudden pops. Whether or not it’s Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay, Geno Smith in Seattle, or final season’s darling, Sam Darnold in Minnesota, we’ve seen a quarterback take pleasure in a late profession bloom.
Is 2025’s model of this actually going to be Daniel Jones? You’re rattling proper it’s! Effectively, a minimum of for Week 1.
After beating out Anthony Richardson for the beginning job, Jones took the Indianapolis Colts into the season opener and didn’t simply make them victory however beat the bag out of the Miami Dolphins, 33-8. Within the win, Jones was sensational. How sensational? He led scoring drives on each single possession the Colts had on Sunday afternoon and have become simply the second quarterback within the final 30 seasons to spearhead scoring drives on his first seven possessions in his group debut. The Colts had been additionally the primary group since a minimum of 1978 to attain on each offensive possession in a sport, in response to CBS Sports activities Analysis.
Jones’ abilities had been on full show within the win. By the air, he accomplished 22 of his 29 throws for 272 yards and a landing. On the bottom, he added 26 yards on seven carries to associate with two touchdowns. Most significantly, he has zero turnovers.
And these weren’t your excessive share, designed completions. They had been … dare I say … DIMES!
That efficiency helped Indy break what was a bleak shedding streak in Week 1. The membership had beforehand gone winless in its final 11 Week 1 video games (0-10-1). The final time they exited Week 1 was again in 2013. Present Stanford GM Andrew Luck was the quarterback, and it got here towards a Raiders group that also referred to as Oakland residence. So, yeah, it’s been a very long time.
Ought to we level out that the Dolphins don’t look like essentially the most aggressive group and could also be on the verge of combusting? Certain. However that also doesn’t take away how crisp Jones regarded all through the afternoon, hitting seven totally different go catchers, six for a minimum of 20 yards. The main query is whether or not or not that is sustainable. In spite of everything, this isn’t the primary time that Jones has flashed and lured a few of us in. Are we falling for that once more, or is he really going to be the most recent veteran quarterback to fall into his good scenario and get away? Subsequent week’s contest towards a stout Denver Broncos protection may paint a clearer image.
NFL Week 1 grades: Aaron Rodgers leads Steelers to wild win and stable mark, Bengals survive ugly opener
John Breech
Sport Balls
Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields
I wish to put these two in the identical bucket. Whereas Rodgers bought the higher of his former Jets squad in his debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York might in the end fare effectively with Justin Fields as its quarterback too. I feel these quarterbacks every make sense for the place their present franchises are located, so this can be a uncommon offseason swap that could be helpful for either side.
Rodgers regarded like classic Rodgers in Week 1, finishing 22 of his 30 passes for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns within the win. It was essentially the most passing touchdowns by a Steelers quarterback in a sport since Ben Roethlisberger in 2020. In the meantime, Fields was a greater than respectable 16 for 22 via the air for 218 yards and a landing. He did most of his injury on the bottom with 48 yards speeding and two touchdowns. His presence did appear to make life simpler for the Jets backfield as effectively, with Breece Corridor speeding for 107 yards, albeit on the shedding finish.
Each of those performances are most likely the height of what they’ll present on a weekly foundation, and if these include extra regularity, they every might be frisky this season.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Admit it. If you noticed “Bill” as RB4 on the unofficial depth chart earlier than Week 1, you had been kicking your self for falling for the preseason hype and drafting him too excessive in your Fantasy leagues. I used to be proper there with you. Quick-forward to Washington’s opener, and Croskey-Merritt eased these fears. In actual fact, he made all of us who did take him seem like geniuses, speeding 10 occasions for 82 yards and a landing.
He actually doesn’t seem like a seventh-round rookie.
Micah Parsons
The most recent Packer is merely scratching the floor with what he’ll have the ability to do along with his new membership. That reality ought to ship a shiver down the backbone of each quarterback on Inexperienced Bay’s schedule. Enjoying simply 29 defensive snaps (45%), Parsons made his presence felt. He tallied a sack to associate with a number of pressures, one in every of which compelled Jared Goff into an interception. He did that by beating star sort out Penei Sewell.
This comes after Parsons didn’t take part just about in any of Dallas’ summer time exercises. As soon as he will get into true sport form, the Packers might be a runaway practice.
Emeka Egbuka
Typically, preseason hype is simply that. Not in Tampa with Buccaneers first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, nonetheless. The primary-rounder had been drawing rave critiques all summer time, and people bought to see what the hype was all about within the back-and-forth win over the Falcons. Egbuka completed with a team-high 67 yards on 4 catches (six targets) and two touchdowns. The second gave the Bucs a 23-20 lead with lower than a minute remaining and proved to be the game-winner. With Chris Godwin reportedly present process a second surgical procedure and never anticipated to be again till Week 5, Egbuka goes to get loads of run.
Justin Herbert
Going again to Friday’s sport, the nationwide speaking level will seemingly be whether or not or not that is lastly the demise of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Yawn. That may be an overreaction. What shouldn’t be missed, nonetheless, was how dialed in Justin Herbert was all through the competition, significantly late. Within the second half of L.A.’s opener, Herbert accomplished 13 of his 16 passes (81.25%) for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Within the fourth quarter alone, he was 9-for-9 for 91 yards and a landing. He additionally had a back-breaking 19-yard run on third-and-14 to clinch the victory.
Herbert and the phrase “clutch” haven’t been tied collectively all through the Chargers QB’s profession so far. For his profession (common season and playoffs), 19 of Herbert’s 49 interceptions (roughly 39%) have come within the fourth quarter. But when what we noticed on Friday evening is Herbert evolving into a brand new kind, we might have to have a look at Los Angeles a bit otherwise.
Gaffes
Derrick Henry’s fumble results in Payments rally
Derrick Henry was having his typical sport for the ages. The Ravens again completed the opener with 169 yards speeding on 18 carries and two touchdowns. You understand, regular stuff. What wasn’t regular, nonetheless, was Henry fumbling the soccer with simply over three minutes to play within the fourth quarter along with his Ravens holding a 40-32 lead.
That gave Buffalo the ball again on the Baltimore 30 and would springboard the Payments right into a fourth-quarter rally that might finish in an unbelievable walk-off 41-40 win. After the turnover, Buffalo scored because of a Josh Allen rush up the center, however did not convert the two-point try. Baltimore went three-and-out on the ending possession and Allen then led a game-winning discipline aim drive as time expired, all sprung following Henry’s fumble.
How uncommon of a gaffe is that this from the All-World operating again? Previous to Sunday, Henry had misplaced simply 4 fourth-quarter fumbles in his whole profession (since 2016), in response to TruMedia.
Younghoe Koo extensive proper
The Atlanta Falcons had been in place to drive time beyond regulation with their division rival Buccaneers, however Younghoe Koo helped Tampa Bay escape with a Week 1 win. Michael Penix Jr. moved the offense 60 yards down the sector and bought them to the Tampa Bay 26-yard line with six seconds left in regulation and down 23-20. All Koo wanted to do was join on the 44-yard try, and so they’d in all chance be heading to OT. Welp, his kick sailed extensive proper. Oof.
Xavier Gipson’s fumble opens the door for the Steelers
If you happen to’re a rebuilding group just like the Jets that could be punching above its weight, you may’t give your opponent an inch. Effectively, Xavier Gipson gave Pittsburgh the ball on the worst potential second. After surrendering a 68-yard landing drive that introduced the Steelers inside two factors at first of the fourth quarter, Gipson fielded the following kickoff and had the ball punched free by operating again Kenneth Gainwell. After Pittsburgh recovered, it took the offense simply two performs to seek out the tip zone once more to attain 14 unanswered factors earlier than Justin Fields even bought again on the sector.
Jalen Carter’s expensive spit
Are we even doing gaffes if we don’t embrace essentially the most viral second of Week 1? Carter being ejected earlier than the primary defensive snap was the quickest ejection in an NFL sport since 2005. Even when the officers didn’t see Carter’s spit on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys quarterback couldn’t persuade them of what occurred within the second, it’s naive on the a part of Carter to suppose that cameras wouldn’t have revealed the scenario in some unspecified time in the future, opening him as much as fines and/or a suspension. It was as boneheaded of a transfer as you can also make. And it might price him.
As CBS Sports activities NFL insider Jonathan Jones reported, if the NFL decides to droop Carter for even one sport, it could technically void his remaining ensures. Jones highlights that the Eagles would seemingly not claw again Carter’s ensures, nonetheless. Regardless, it appears inevitable that Carter will obtain a positive and if the league goes even additional and suspends him for the Tremendous Bowl LIX rematch towards the Chiefs subsequent week he’d additionally lose a $57,222 sport verify.
Two-minute drill
Listed below are a few of my quick-hitting notes/takeaways from Week 1:
The Miami Dolphins felt like a ticking time bomb coming into the season, and Tua Tagovailoa’s three-turnover opener didn’t do something to ease these worries.
Congrats to the Bengals for snapping a seven-game shedding streak in Weeks 1 and a couple of, however am I speculated to be impressed by narrowly beating the Joe Flacco-led Browns, 17-16? I nonetheless have my doubts about this group reaching its highest potential.
The harm bug continues to have a look at the 49ers like an all-you-can-eat buffet. The newest being tight finish George Kittle taking place with a hamstring harm.
Aaron Rodgers is simply the fifth quarterback with a number of 4 passing landing video games at age 40 or older (Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Warren Moon).
The Jets 32 factors are essentially the most factors scored in a Week 1 loss in group historical past.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba’s 124 yards receiving accounted 83% of Seattle’s receiving yards for the sport, highest in a sport in franchise historical past.
The Jaxson Dart drum is simply going to beat louder after Russell Wilson’s uninspiring debut.
The complete AFC East is 0-1.
Matthew Stafford grew to become the tenth participant in NFL historical past with 60,000 passing yards.
Drake Maye and the Patriots offense nonetheless seem like a piece in progress.
Geno Smith goes to make the Raiders drastically extra aggressive.
Travis Hunter had six catches for 33 yards in his debut whereas enjoying 39 offensive snaps. He additionally performed six defensive snaps.
Coming into 2024, CeeDee Lamb had 35 dropped passes, which is essentially the most amongst go catchers over that timeframe. And he added three on Thursday evening, together with two within the fourth quarter.
It was a step in the suitable path for Marvin Harrison Jr., who hauled in 71 yards and a landing on 5 receptions. After a muted rookie season, this can be a good begin towards a sophomore breakout.
Cameron Ward was sacked six occasions in his NFL debut. That’s essentially the most occasions a No. 1 general decide was sacked in his debut since David Carr in 2002. Carr went on to set the report for essentially the most occasions sacked in a single season (76).
