NFL Preseason Week 1: Rookie Quarterbacks Shine Amidst Coaching Decisions
An analysis of the opening week of the NFL preseason reveals significant performances from Pittsburgh’s Drew Allar and Las Vegas’s Fernando Mendoza, while other teams grapple with inconsistent play from key personnel.
The National Football League commenced its preseason schedule with 16 games, marking a shift from the exhibition nature of the Hall of Fame Game to a more competitive environment. According to CBS Sports, the week highlighted divergent outcomes for franchises, with coaching strategies regarding starter participation emerging as a primary point of discussion. Analysts noted that while some head coaches opted to bench their primary players to manage attrition, others utilised the fixture to evaluate their starting units, a decision that was broadly categorised as a positive move for the league’s entertainment value.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar delivered a standout performance in the second half of a 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Selected in the third round in April, Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and three total touchdowns, including two passing and one rushing. His efficiency contrasted with the limited action given to veterans Will Howard and Mason Rudolph, suggesting that the Steelers’ front office may have identified their long-term franchise quarterback earlier than anticipated.
Conversely, the Las Vegas Raiders’ first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, showed promise in his first start despite a less dominant statistical line. Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. However, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak maintained that the starting position remains with Kirk Cousins, indicating that Mendoza’s performance, while impressive, was viewed as a developmental step rather than an immediate roster change.
In the Arizona Cardinals’ 27-14 win over the Raiders, the quarterback room displayed notable cohesion. Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Kedon Slovis combined for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Brissett was particularly efficient, completing five of five passes for 44 yards, including a touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr, on a single possession. This collective output has prompted observers to reconsider previous assessments of the Cardinals’ offensive capabilities.
The week also featured mixed results for other key players. Green Bay rookie kicker Trey Smack successfully converted three field goals, including a 58-yarder, to account for all of his team’s points in the loss to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward struggled with accuracy, completing only five of 12 passes for 57 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. New England Patriots kicker Kyle Borregales missed three field goals in a 13-13 tie against the Indianapolis Colts, a performance that drew criticism from head coach Mike Vrabel.
