Week 1 has a humorous method of creating everybody neglect every thing that occurred earlier than it. One nice efficiency can instantly revive a quarterback’s repute, whereas one horrible afternoon can begin conversations a few participant’s decline.
Give it a number of weeks. These three performances aren’t going to age properly.
Jacoby Brissett could not have requested for a a lot 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 appeared 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 best way. 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 unhealthy 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 crew afternoons just like the one Arizona obtained in Week 1. The consistency has by no means adopted.
Perhaps he retains it rolling for an additional week or two. His decade-long NFL profession says the opposite model finally exhibits up.
Matthew Stafford will get the other remedy.
Stafford looked awful within the opener towards the San Francisco 49ers, finishing 15 of 25 passes for less than 155 yards and not using a landing. He threw an interception and completed with a 61.3 passer score.
One sport is not sufficient to instantly bury him.
Stafford spent 2025 playing at a level that made performances like this uncommon. He stays probably the most completed quarterbacks in soccer, and nothing about one September afternoon is sufficient to outweigh what he confirmed over a whole season.
The age dialog is not going away. Stafford is 38, so each unhealthy sport goes to carry one other spherical of questions on whether or not that is lastly the start of the tip.
Ultimately, someone will probably be proper.
Week 1 is not sufficient proof to say that point has arrived.
Drake Maye picked an odd time to neglect methods 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 score.
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 sport all 12 months.
Then he did it instantly in 2026.
Defenses will regulate to Maye after his breakout season. That is a part of turning into one of many league’s higher quarterbacks. New England should regulate proper again.
What would not make a lot sense is anticipating a quarterback who threw eight interceptions throughout a whole season to instantly make three-pick performances an everyday incidence.
Do not buy the Week 1 hype
Brissett is not instantly Mr. Dependable. He wants much more than one sport to be referred to as that. Stafford did not instantly neglect methods to play and can solely get higher. Maye did not instantly develop into a turnover machine. He is confirmed earlier than that he isn’t.
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.
