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Tuesday 10 sepTember 2024
There were more shaky quarterback performances than
superlative ones in Week 1
By ROB MAADDI quarter, he escaped a
AP Pro Football Writer sack, scrambled, lowered
Caleb Williams, Jayden his shoulder and took a
Daniels and Bo Nix played hard hit.
like rookies. Several es- Mayfield got up and em-
tablished quarterbacks phatically signaled first
weren’t much better. down with a smile.
There were more shaky “Tried to juke out Bobby
performances than super- Wagner earlier. It didn’t
lative ones on Sunday. work out. I really don’t
Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr have it even though I think
and Josh Allen excelled I do,” Mayfield said. “Later
while leading their teams on, if it’s a guy coming from
to victories. C.J. Stroud, Tua the side, just a couple extra
Tagovailoa and Sam Dar- yards but yeah, ultimately,
nold also posted decent protect myself. Have to
stat lines in wins. be smart.”Daniels, the No.
But Kirk Cousins was rusty 2 overall pick behind Wil-
in his return from a torn liams, had more yards rush-
Achilles tendon. Deshaun ing than passing through 2
Watson played like some- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) loses his helmet as he is hit by Tampa 1/2 quarters. He finished 17
one who was starting his Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) during the first half of an NFL football game of 24 for 184 yards with 88
13th game in four years. Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. yards rushing and two TDs
Joe Burrow seemed out of Associated Press on the ground.
“I’m going to do whatev-
synch. er it takes to try to win the
Will Levis made a crucial football game,” Daniels
mistake that gave away said about his rushing.
the game. Trevor Law- Williams was victorious in
rence had a poor second his debut thanks to Chica-
half. Justin Fields didn’t go’s defense and special
seem comfortable. Kyler teams. He was just 14 of 29
Murray started strong and for 93 yards but the Bears
faded in the second half. got scores on an intercep-
Daniel Jones and Bryce tion return and blocked
Young were disasters. punt in a 24-17 win over
Overall, 17 quarterbacks Tennessee.
have thrown for less than Nix showed flashes in Den-
200 yards with one game ver’s 26-20 loss at Seattle.
remaining, the most since He ended up 26 of 42 for
18 didn’t reach that num- 138 yards and two picks.
ber in Week 1 in 2008. Con- Nix ran for 35 yards and
sidering that most starters one score.
barely play in the pre- Cousins, who got $100 mil-
season, sloppiness should lion guaranteed from At-
be expected during open- lanta, struggled against
ing weekend. Pittsburgh’s fierce defense
Still, there were exciting fin- in an 18-10 loss. He was
ishes, close games, three jittery at times under pres-
14-point comebacks and sure and threw two care-
an overtime battle. less interceptions.
Even success didn’t equal Meanwhile, Browns fans
satisfaction for some are still waiting for Watson
coaches. to resemble the superstar
“We want to be better he was in Houston. Micah
than that,” Buccaneers Parsons and the rest of Dal-
coach Todd Bowles said las’ defense roughed him
following a 37-20 victory up in a 33-17 loss at home.
over Washington. “It was Watson threw two picks,
great for the first game just got sacked six times and
to get out and get our feet had a 51.1 passer rating.
wet, but we have some “We’re not the type of
things to work on there and people that make excus-
we’ve got to be better.” es,” Watson said about the
Mayfield threw four touch- lack of work with his receiv-
down passes and had a ers in training camp. “So
146.4 passer rating, con- some people can say that
tinuing his resurgence in can contribute a lot, you
Tampa Bay. know, my injury, guys miss-
Up 16 late in the fourth ing time. q
