The Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers gave us a late Sunday afternoon thriller and lived as much as the hype of being the game of the week that most individuals didn’t have obtainable to look at.
Miami completed off the Chargers, 36-34, as their protection stepped as much as lock down a victory on the highway. However Tua Tagovailoa was the story of this sport. He outshined Justin Herbert on at the present time and proved to many (like me) that the Dolphins had been justified in choosing him within the 2020 NFL Draft.
Tua and Tyreek Hill staked their declare in Week 1 for the very best quarterback-wide receiver duo within the league. They picked up proper the place they left off final season earlier than Tagovailoa’s accidents — 466-yard day by way of the air for Tua with three landing passes, two of which had been to Hill, who additionally had 215 yards receiving.
It’s solely the primary sport of the yr, however many analysts will seemingly rank Tagovailoa among the many league’s prime QBs transferring ahead. This sport was a back-and-forth battle the place the groups traded the lead a number of instances. I known as this the sport everybody ought to watch throughout Week 1, though it was buried on the late afternoon slate. Most folk will solely see highlights, however they are going to be captivated as soon as they do.
Whereas the groups battled carefully all through the sport, Herbert had a mediocre total efficiency. It didn’t resemble that of a $262 million man. He accomplished 69 p.c of his passes however had only one TD move and 228 yards. Tagovailoa obtained the very best of their head-to-head battle and received the sport. Herbert and the Chargers received final yr’s matchup, 23-17. After at present’s shootout, I’d like to see these groups once more in a wildcard or divisional spherical sport within the postseason.
Anytime these groups get along with Tua and Herbert headlining, it will likely be must-see TV. The one factor higher could be them in the identical division, so we obtained two heavyweight bouts yearly from them. It’s seemingly Tagovailoa vs. Herbert stole the present in Week 1. The NFL must put these guys in prime time for his or her subsequent head-to-head matchup.
That 2020 draft class is starting to seem like among the best we’ve seen in a while. Tua, Herbert, Joe Burrow (though he struggled in Week 1), and Jalen Hurts (as a second-round choose) have all made names for themselves within the NFL. Burrow, Hurts, and Herbert made Professional Bowls of their first three years. Burrow and Hurts additionally led their groups to Tremendous Bowl appearances in back-to-back seasons. If the Dolphins preserve Tagovailoa upright, it appears like he’s properly on his manner.
Tom Brady is likely to be gone, and Aaron Rodgers is over the hill, however the league continues to be thriving behind all these younger QBs making a mark — in some instances instantly.
