Rookie quarterbacks (QBs) are dominating.
Through the first five weeks of the NFL, rookie QBs have a combined record of 10-5, the second-highest win total for rookie QBs since 1970. This week we will be covering another overseas game, a rookie QB making his debut and a battle between the teams of Maryland.
Two first-overall picks face off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
This game should be fun. We have two teams coming off of very strong offensive performances at home. Both teams also feature two first overall picks and the best QB prospects we have seen since former Colts QB Andrew Luck. Finally, this game marks the second of three London games this season.
The Bears offense is finally clicking and I do not see it stopping. QB Caleb Williams recorded his second game with 300+ passing yards and two touchdowns (TD). The only difference this time around is he had zero turnovers. By each week, Williams, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and the offense as a whole have gotten better.
The argument against this team has been, “Oh well it was Panthers, and they suck.” While that may be true, I do not think we need to take anything away from this team’s performance last week. If they want to beat this Jaguars team, they will need to keep up this strong play along with the defense remaining in its top form.
The Jaguars are coming off their first win with a strong offensive performance led by second-year running back (RB) Tank Bigsby and rookie wide receiver (WR) Brian Thomas Jr. Both had over 100 yards and at least one TD in the game. QB Trevor Lawrence is also coming off a strong performance.
Now while the offense did lead the way, the defense did more than their fair share. Edge rusher Travon Walker is coming off what some argue would be his best career game at three sacks, seven pressures, one forced fumble and a 90.3 PFF (pro football focus) grade. The defense as a whole though will need to play much better if they have hopes of beating the Bears.
The Jaguars come in with a weird “advantage” as the team has played a minimum of at least one game in London every year since 2013 outside of 2020. Funnily enough, I will be attending this game.
Like I said this game will be fun, but I expect the Bears to put up another strong offensive performance and win.
Final Score: Jaguars 17 – Bears 30
Drake Maye makes first start but could be facing disaster
On Oct. 8, 2024, Patriots Head Coach Jerod Mayo announced rookie QB Drake Maye will make his first career start against the Texans in Houston. This could go very badly. The Patriots’ offensive line has easily been the worst in football this year and have allowed pressure on around 55 percent of snaps.
I am a Drake Maye believer though and think he can get past it eventually; just will not be this week. This Patriots team sucks, just no way around. The offense has sucked outside of RB Rhamondre Stevenson and the random big play from one of their many below-average WRs. This Texans defense will more than likely keep that statement true as their defensive line has been one of the best in football this year and the cornerback duo of Derek Stingley Jr. and rookie Kamari Lassiter have been very good.
The bright side for the Patriots? The defense has shown potential whether it be second-year edge rusher Keion White, second-year CB Christian Gonzalez or veteran linebacker (LB) Jahlani Tavai. Now if I am being honest, the defense has sucked outside of those three and one or two other players. I expect major coaching changes to come this upcoming offseason.
The Texans might blow out this team by 30 or more. I am not joking. This offense is insane whether it be QB C.J. Stroud; WR Stefon Diggs; WR Nico Collins, who will miss this game with a hamstring injury; WR Tank Dell or RB Joe Mixon. Do you get the point? Nonetheless, Stroud is on his way to an MVP-level season and one could argue Collins is on his way to an OPOY-level season.
I feel bad for Maye, he will probably get killed.
Final Score: Texans 38 – Patriots 13
Commanders and Ravens battle for the crown of Maryland
Lamar Jackson versus Jayden Daniels. They need to make it so that games can be flexed to and out of prime time this early. I think people would much rather watch this than the Bengals at the Giants on Sunday Night. Sadly they cannot.
Nonetheless, this should be a very good game overall. Both QBs have been playing at MVP levels and the defenses have been playing poorly. We should be seeing a high-scoring game in a shootout. Will that stand true though? I believe not.
The Ravens’ offense is coming off a very strong win in overtime against their division rival Bengals in which Jackson had four touchdown passes. I expect their strong offensive play to continue as the Commanders post one of the worst defenses in football this season. RB Derrick Henry may go for 200 yards. Now where the Ravens’ issues lie, is their defense which has also been bad similar to the Commanders. I predict they will find their footing this week though in what will finally be Daniels’ welcome to the NFL moment (I predicted this last week and I could not have been more wrong).
As I said before, I think Daniels and this Commanders’ offense is going to calm down and scramble a little. It is just bound to happen sometime. A very bright spot last week on this questionable Commanders’ defense was LB/edge rusher hybrid Frankie Luvu who posted a strong 80.6 PFF grade. He backs that grade up with a strong stat line: seven tackles and two and a half sacks.
Overall I think people should expect a high-scoring game but not be surprised when it does not happen. I have the Ravens pulling out a strong win and getting the crown of Maryland.
Final Score: Commanders 14 – Ravens 25
Remaining games and predictions:
TNF 49ers at Seahawks: Seahawks win a game where no one has any clue what happens. Final Score: 49ers 20 – Seahawks 26
Buccaneers at Saints: Buccaneers bounce back in a much-needed win. Final Score: Buccaneers 29 – Saints 10
Cardinals at Packers: Cardinals win in crazy fashion of pick-six in overtime. Final Score: Cardinals 32 – Packers 26 OT
Colts at Titans: Titans offense finds some life in second straight wins. Final Score: Colts 17 – Titans 27
Browns at Eagles: Eagles WRs come back strong. Final Score: Browns 16 – Eagles 35
Chargers at Broncos: Broncos win fourth straight game in statement win. Final Score: Chargers 19 – Broncos 31
Steelers at Raiders: Raiders make Steelers lose third straight in revenge game. Final Score: Steelers 13 – Raiders 17
Falcons at Panthers: Falcons stay surfing and swaggin in second straight division win. Final Score: Falcons 28 – Panthers 20
Lions at Cowboys: Lions let Cowboys know they are eligible for the Super Bowl. Final Score: Lions 32 – Cowboys 21
SNF Bengals at Giants: Giants keep surprising as Bengals fall to 1-5. Final Score: Bengals 22 – Giants 23
MNF Bills at Jets: Bills spoil Jets’ hope of turning a corner. Final Score: Bills 22 – Jets 19
Teams on bye and their next opponent:
Chiefs next at 49ers | Vikings next vs Lions | Rams next vs Raiders | Dolphins next at Colts
