NFL Week 1’s best Quarterback performances
Week 1 of the NFL season wrapped up last night with Brock Purdy and the 49ers dominating Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, in Rodgers return from injury last season. As it usually is week 1 was a bit ugly around the NFL and it was especially ugly at the quarterback position. Before Monday night’s game the average amount of passing yards on Sunday was 185 yards, a shockingly low number in today’s NFL. This could be for a myriad of reasons including starters not playing as much as they should in the preseason but that’s a conversation for a different day.
With QB play down around the league in week 1 ranking the quarterbacks was a little more disjointed than normal. Throughout the season I’ll be ranking the top weekly quarterbacks not a season long overview. Taking a week to week look will hopefully show how up and down QB play can be around the league.
Week 1 in the NFL is full of surprises and this year was no different so let’s take a look at the top performers at the quarterback position in week 1.
Baker Mayfield
For me far and away the most impressive quarterback performance in week 1 was Baker Mayfield. Baker was 24/30 for 289 yards with 4 touchdowns and zero interceptions in a near flawless season opener. Mayfield also had the highest passer rating in week 1 at 146.4, Baker has had a massive resurgence in Tampa Bay and if he can continue his great play the Bucs should be the favorites to win a weak NFC South.
Derek Carr
Maybe a week 1 surprise to some but Derek Carr was very impressive to start the year. The Saints destroyed the Panthers so Carr didn’t have to do to much but he made the most of his limited throws. Carr was 19/23 passing for only 200 yards but he had 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions to help the Saints in a massive blow out win over division rival Carolina.
Josh Allen
The Buffalo Bills had a scare early on in week 1 as they went down early to Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals. Until Josh Allen decided to basically do it all himself and dominate in Josh Allen fashion with his arm and his legs.
Allen was 18/23 passing for 232 yards and two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The big reason why Allen was one of the top performers of the week at QB though was he added 39 rushing yards on 9 attempts including two touchdowns. Allen basically took over the game himself to ensure Buffalo’s week 1 win a thing only a few players in the league can do.
Sam Darnold
Another week 1 surprise was Sam Darnold after he was named Vikings quarterback because rookie JJ McCarthy is out for the season due to injury many Vikings fans thought the season was over before it started. However even if it’s just 1 week Darnold proved he can be a serviceable option at QB with the weapons he has around him in Minnesota.
Darnold didn’t light the world on fire by any means in week 1 and was playing arguably the worst team in the league in the Giants but he did enough to ensure the Vikings a double digit win in week 1. Darnold was 19/24 for only 208 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Darnold will need to clean that interception up moving forward, but if he can be a game manager that finds Justin Jefferson often enough to score points the Vikings will be better than expected with Darnold.
Tua Tagovailoa
The last QB I want to highlight in week 1 is Tua even though he looked off at times and his completion percentage wasn’t what it normally is. Tua still did enough to get the Dolphins a tough week 1 win against the Jaguars.
Tua was 23/37 only a 62% completion percentage but he did rack up the week 1 high in passing yards at 338 yards with 1 touchdown and zero interceptions. So although it wasn’t the normal efficient high completion percentage Tua performance fans are used to seeing he was still able to get it to his explosive offensive weapons enough to outscore a Jaguars team that couldn’t get out of it’s own way.
As an NFL fan we can only hope quarterback play improves in week 2. I love watching a good defensive matchup as much as anyone but the NFL can’t be happy that the league average passing yards was 185 after week 1. I think we’ll see players like Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow bounce back in week 2 and get their teams headed in the right direction.
