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DETROIT – New York Jets rookie Sam Darnold made history on Monday night, becoming the youngest quartermber in the opening game of the season.
It took him a piece to do more history – the wrong guy – before a tremendous turnaround.
During his first stint in the NFL, Darnold launched a pick-six, misguided interception that was returned to him 37 yards for a touchdown by Detroit Lions security Quandre Diggs. Darnold joined Jameis Winston (2015) and Brett Favre (1991) as the only quarterback in the last 27 years, whose first career attempt was intercepted for a touchdown.
Darnold, 21 years and 97 days, grew quickly on the national scene, leading the Jets to a 48-17 victory over Ford Field. He equaled his biggest result in the last ten years.
Darnold completed 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, but the most telling was that he had only four incomplete passes after the pick-6, proving that the Jets were able to recruit him third.
The former USC star had a lot of help, as the Jets intercepted five assists and scored on offensive, defensive and special teams for the first time since the first match of 2012. They set the record for franchise for the highest number of points in a road match.
In what was announced as the first quarterback game since Joe Namath in 1965, Darnold gave the Jets fans a nauseating feeling in the opening game. He made a mistake of rookie classic, throwing across the field. In a game action, he rolled to the right and threw left, trying to hit the bearer Bilal Powell on a deep wheel road in the sideline. Diggs set the trap and Darnold, thinking that Powell was clear, took the cheese.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates made a bold call to the game, but the coaches wanted to trust Darnold and send a message to the Lions. He returned in the worst possible way.
For months, the Jets praised Darnold's balance and mental strength, claiming that these traits would serve him well when adversity would occur. They never imagined it would happen at the first game of his career.
To his credit, Darnold regained his composure and led the Jets to 17 unanswered points. He finished the first half by completing 11 of his 14 subsequent passes. The Jets took the lead at half-time, 17-10, and they blew it up in the second half scoring 21 points in the space of 2 minutes 36 seconds in a third quarter. 31 points.
They scored on a return of interception by Darron Lee, their first defensive touch since 2013 (a 73-game drought) and a 78-yard punt return by Andre Roberts. The last time they scored in return for a kickoff or a sendoff 2012.
The Jets dismantled the Lions in each phase, but the night was reserved for Darnold, who threw two long touchdowns – 41 yards to Robby Anderson and 21 yards to Quincy Enunwa. On the Anderson game, Darnold used a fake shoulder to freeze deep security, giving his receiver a step.
Darnold was cold under pressure, completing several clutch passes in third place. His biggest start of the night came in the first quarter, when he was thrown out of pocket in third and seventh place and made an unbalanced pass to Enunwa for eight yards. At the next game, Isaiah Crowell scored on a 6-yard run. In the third quarter, Crowell scored again, a 62-yard run.
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