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 accessible to look at.
Miami completed off the Chargers, 36-34, as their protection stepped as much as lock down a victory on the highway. But Tua Tagovailoa was the story of this game. He outshined Justin Herbert on at the present time and proved to many (like me) that the Dolphins had been justified in choosing him in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Tua and Tyreek Hill staked their declare in Week 1 for the finest quarterback-wide receiver duo in 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 first game of the 12 months, however many analysts will doubtless rank Tagovailoa amongst the league’s prime QBs transferring ahead. This game was a back-and-forth battle the place the groups traded the lead a number of occasions. I referred to as this the game everybody ought to watch throughout Week 1, though it was buried on the late afternoon slate. Most people will solely see highlights, however they are going to be captivated as soon as they do.
While the groups battled carefully all through the game, Herbert had a mediocre general efficiency. It didn’t resemble that of a $262 million man. He accomplished 69 % of his passes however had only one TD move and 228 yards. Tagovailoa acquired the finest of their head-to-head battle and gained the game. Herbert and the Chargers gained final 12 months’s matchup, 23-17. After at present’s shootout, I’d like to see these groups once more in a wildcard or divisional spherical game in the postseason.
Anytime these groups get along with Tua and Herbert headlining, it will likely be must-see TV. The solely factor higher can be them in the similar division, so we acquired two heavyweight bouts yearly from them. It’s doubtless 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 appear like one of the finest we’ve seen in a while. Tua, Herbert, Joe Burrow (though he struggled in Week 1), and Jalen Hurts (as a second-round decide) have all made names for themselves in the NFL. Burrow, Hurts, and Herbert made Pro Bowls of their first three years. Burrow and Hurts additionally led their groups to Super Bowl appearances in back-to-back seasons. If the Dolphins maintain Tagovailoa upright, it appears to be like like he’s effectively on his approach.
Tom Brady could be gone, and Aaron Rodgers is over the hill, however the league remains to be thriving behind all these younger QBs making a mark — in some circumstances instantly.
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