QBs take center stage in an eventful week three
If week three of the NFL preseason showed us anything, it’s that it’s all about the quarterback. While many teams are still searching for their starter, others are just trying to break their new starters in. Plus, rookies are trying to make their mark in the league. Here are the top takeaways from week three.
And the starting QB for the Buffalo Bills is …
On Monday, Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan named Tyrod Taylor the starting QB for week one. Taylor beat out contenders EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel, who both had strong performances in the Bills’ 43-19 preseason win over the Steelers on Saturday.
Taylor is entering his fifth season in the NFL and has yet to start a game since his senior year at Virginia Tech. Nevertheless, the Bills have looked solid this NFL preseason and are even considered by some to be a dark horse team to make the playoffs.
Nick who?
We know not to take everything in the preseason super seriously, but after the way Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford played against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, it seems it’s going be hard to not take him and the Eagles seriously this season.
Bradford went 10/10 with 121 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles 39-26 win. Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has been careful with playing Bradford in the preseason, as the quarterback is coming off a season-ending ACL injury.
But, Eagles fans have hope to believe in Bradford and the offense again. In no time, former Philadelphia starter Nick Foles will be just another quarterback.
Top two picks both not quite there yet
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota have huge amounts of pressure riding on them this season. Winston and Mariota were the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks, respectively, in this year’s NFL Draft.
It remains to be seen just how both rookies will fair in the NFL this season. After coming off stellar week two performances, both quarterbacks came back down to earth in week three. The Titans and Buccaneers were both blown out.
It would be wise to expect one final preseason performance from both rookies, yet only time will tell how both quarterbacks will do on the big stage.
Cardinal Comeback
Logan Thomas lead the Arizona Cardinals to a 30-23 victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday on a late fourth quarter touchdown from running back Marion Grice.
Cardinals starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who missed the second half of the season last year with an ACL injury, hopes to lead Arizona back to the playoffs this year.
Palmer has shown all signs that he is back and fully healthy, but struggled in the victory over the Raiders, going just 8-22 for 103 yards.
Another notable standout in the game was on the other side of the ball. Raiders rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper had four catches for 62 yards. He is yet another rookie eager to make a name for himself in the NFL.
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