4) There have been lots of outdated faces in new locations, however two stood out, for very totally different causes. The most important free-agent signing of the offseason, Kirk Cousins, accomplished simply 16 passes for 155 yards, with one landing and two interceptions, together with one late within the fourth quarter with the Falcons trailing the Steelers by 5 factors. Cousins is coming off an Achilles tear he suffered whereas with the Vikings in the midst of the 2023 season, and he appeared a tick gradual, with loads of rust. He additionally made some head-scratching choices Sunday, throwing below heavy stress, which led to the 2 picks. The Steelers’ T.J. Watt was in every single place wrecking the sport, after all. However the Steelers had been enjoying backup quarterback Justin Fields, and their solely factors got here from six Chris Boswell area objectives. Whereas Cousins’ first sport as a Falcon was disappointing, Sam Darnold lastly appeared just like the quarterback the Jets thought they had been drafting again in 2018. Alas, Darnold is now on his fourth workforce, however he was a match for the Vikings on Sunday. He was 19-of-24 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns. He accomplished throws to eight teammates, together with a 44-yarder to Justin Jefferson, zipping the ball down the seam and to the sidelines and usually enjoying with confidence and command. Darnold is the starter this season as a result of rookie J.J. McCarthy is out for the 12 months with a knee harm. However extra performances like Sunday’s is not going to solely hold the Vikings within the combine within the very powerful NFC North, it would earn Darnold a beginning job someplace else subsequent season.
5) The rookie quarterbacks struggled. The Bears gained due to protection and particular groups, however first total draft choose Caleb Williams had a 48 completion proportion, 93 passing yards and no passing touchdowns. The Bears totaled 148 yards of offense and Williams by no means appeared comfy. Jayden Daniels, who went second total to the Commanders, made extra of an influence along with his legs than his arm, operating for 2 1-yard touchdowns. He completed the sport with 16 rushes for 88 yards whereas finishing 17 passes for 184 yards. However the offense couldn’t lengthen drives, changing simply two of eight third-down makes an attempt. And Bo Nix, taken twelfth total by the Broncos, had two interceptions on careless throws, which helped dig a gap that even a pleasant late-game drive that ended along with his personal landing run couldn’t erase. He completed with 138 passing yards in Denver’s loss to Seattle. Sean Payton was enjoying conservatively early, calling for very brief passes (the Broncos averaged 3.3 yards per play and simply 3 yards per completion).
All of us get romanced by promising performances in coaching camps and preseason video games, however the shakiness of Williams, Daniels and Nix is a reminder that the majority rookie quarterbacks have rising pains. There are good arguments to be made for taking part in rookie quarterbacks to allow them to study on the job. However the Patriots’ choice to take a seat Drake Maye and let Jacoby Brissett handle the offense is much more comprehensible within the context of those early showings.
6) And the highest rookie receivers had been principally quiet, all victims of their groups’ normal total dysfunction. The Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr. was not often concerned within the offense. He was focused simply thrice, with one catch for 4 yards because the Cardinals offense floor to a halt within the second half in opposition to the Payments. The Giants’ Malik Nabers was focused seven instances, coming down with 5 receptions for 66 yards, together with a 25-yarder. And the Bears’ Rome Odunze had one catch on 4 targets for 11 yards. Not less than the Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. scored a landing on certainly one of his 4 receptions on 4 targets. It served as a reminder — no receiver, regardless of how good, can overcome shaky quarterbacking and a sputtering operation.