Week 1 has a humorous manner of constructing everybody overlook every part that occurred earlier than it. One nice efficiency can all of a sudden revive a quarterback’s fame, whereas one horrible afternoon can begin conversations a couple of participant’s decline.
Give it a couple of weeks. These three performances aren’t going to age effectively.
Jacoby Brissett could not have requested for a significantly better begin.
The Arizona Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14, and Brissett completed 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards and a landing with out turning the ball over. Arizona walked away 1-0, and its 33-year-old quarterback regarded fully comfy working the offense.
We have seen this film earlier than.
Brissett has been within the NFL since 2016 and has bounced from New England to Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland, Washington and Arizona. There have been good stretches alongside the way in which. There have additionally been loads of reminders why no group has ever settled on him as its long-term reply.
Even last season tells the story. Brissett threw for 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions for Arizona. These aren’t dangerous numbers. The Cardinals nonetheless misplaced their remaining 9 video games. He has additionally had a QBR rating lower than 42 over the previous two seasons.
That is Brissett. He can provide a workforce afternoons just like the one Arizona obtained in Week 1. The consistency has by no means adopted.
Possibly he retains it rolling for one more week or two. His decade-long NFL profession says the opposite model ultimately reveals up.
Matthew Stafford will get the alternative therapy.
Stafford looked awful within the opener in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, finishing 15 of 25 passes for under 155 yards with no landing. He threw an interception and completed with a 61.3 passer ranking.
One recreation is not sufficient to all of a sudden bury him.
Stafford spent 2025 playing at a level that made performances like this uncommon. He stays one of the vital completed quarterbacks in soccer, and nothing about one September afternoon is sufficient to outweigh what he confirmed over a complete season.
The age dialog is not going away. Stafford is 38, so each dangerous recreation goes to convey one other spherical of questions on whether or not that is lastly the start of the top.
Ultimately, anyone shall be proper.
Week 1 is not sufficient proof to say that point has arrived.
Drake Maye picked a wierd time to overlook the right way to shield the soccer.
Maye threw three interceptions in New England’s 13-10 loss to Seattle. He completed with 178 passing yards, one landing and a 54.9 passer ranking.
Now evaluate that with 2025.
Maye accomplished 72% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. He did not throw three interceptions in a single recreation all 12 months.
Then he did it instantly in 2026.
Defenses will modify to Maye after his breakout season. That is a part of changing into one of many league’s higher quarterbacks. New England should modify proper again.
What does not make a lot sense is anticipating a quarterback who threw eight interceptions throughout a complete season to all of a sudden make three-pick performances a daily prevalence.
Do not buy the Week 1 hype
Brissett is not all of a sudden Mr. Dependable. He wants much more than one recreation to be referred to as that. Stafford did not all of a sudden overlook the right way to play and can solely get higher. Maye did not all of a sudden develop into a turnover machine. He is confirmed earlier than that he is not.
One Sunday doesn’t outline any quarterback’s season.
Week 1 gave us lots to speak about. It did not essentially inform us the reality.
