10 breakout performances of NFL Week 1
5. Tony Romo leads the NFL with 26 game-winning drives since becoming a starter in 2006
Nobody should be surprised with the clutch factor of Tony Romo anymore, and he is clearly not a breakout star after finishing third in the MVP race last season. The reason that Romo makes this list is his ability to pull off another comeback, despite the lack of help from his receiving core. He finished with two interceptions on Sunday, both of which should have been caught. On top of that, Romo did not have his No. 1 receiver Dez Bryant on the field during his game-winning drive with under 1:30 left in the game. Romo finished with 356 yards and three touchdowns including the game-winning score to Jason Witten with seven seconds left to lead the Cowboys to a 27-26 victory over the Giants.
4. Keenan Allen has a performance for the ages
Philip Rivers had an impressive first game following the signing of his new contract. Rivers should consider himself lucky to have a receiver like Keenan Allen, especially considering his No. 1 target Antonio Gates is suspended four games to start the season. Allen hauled in an amazing 15 receptions, tying Hall-of-Famer Kellen Winslow for the franchise record that was set in 1984. He finished with 166 yards but no touchdowns. The Chargers outscored the Lions 23-7 in the second half and went on to win 33-28 in a Week 1 thriller.
3. No Gore, no problem.
The all-time leading rusher in San Francisco 49ers history is no longer in town. Frank Gore went to Indianapolis this offseason, leaving Carlos Hyde as the No. 1 back in San Fran. In his first game as the top guy, the Ohio State product did not disappoint. Hyde had even more responsibility when Reggie Bush went down with an injury early in the first half. Hyde filled the void as he racked up 168 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a win over the Vikings.
2. 2015: The year of the tight end?
The 2015 NFL season started with the best tight end in the NFL, Rob Gronkowski, hauling in three touchdowns against the Steelers. The rest of the NFL must have been studying Gronk’s success because tight ends took over in Week 1. Jimmy Graham caught the only offensive score for the Seahawks. Travis Kelce finished with 106 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas City. Andy Dalton connected with second-year man Tyler Eifert nine times for 104 yards and two scores in a Week 1 rout of the Raiders. Even the struggling Jameis Winston hit his young tight end, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, for 110 yards and two touchdowns. As the NFL continues to transition to a passing league, the tight end position is beginning to reveal itself as a reliable source for offensive production.
1. Marcus Mariota outshines Jameis Winston in a historic debut
The top breakout performance of Week 1 has to be the emergence of the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Marcus Mariota dealt with the scrutiny of not ever having run a pro-style offense since the day he was drafted. On Sunday, he had his chance to quiet the doubters against the man who was drafted ahead of him this summer. Mariota not only outperformed Winston, but he did it in record-breaking fashion. He became the only rookie quarterback to throw for four touchdowns in his NFL debut… and he did it all in the first half. He joined Fran Tarkenton as the only rookie QB’s to throw for that many touchdowns in any game as a rookie. Mariota finished 13/16 for 209 yards and no turnovers. I think it is safe to say that the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner is ready to take on the NFL.
