NFC South QB power rankings after Week 1
By Ryan Heckman
It was an unexpected Week 1, but a welcomed one for Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans. The Bucs went out and upset the Minnesota Vikings, on the road, behind the team's first start from new quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Overall, Mayfield played a good football game. The Bucs stayed in it throughout, and in the end, were able to pull off the win.
As for the rest of the division, the NFC South saw three teams pull out a victory in total, with one of the games being divisional. Where does Baker sit now, in our latest NFC South quarterback power rankings after one week? Let's see where he's at.
4. Bryce Young, Panthers
It was a tough day for rookie quarterback Bryce Young as he and the Panthers lost in fairly one-sided fashion against the Falcons in Week 1. Young's day was highlighted by a pair of interceptions that came on almost identical plays, and were both intercepted by Falcons safety Jessie Bates.
It will be a day he learns from, and will grow, as he'll continue to do as a rookie. There will be growing pains, and that afternoon was a perfect example of such. His interceptions came on passes over the middle where he failed to see Bates lurking and anticipating his throw.
The good news for Young is that his day couldn't have gotten much worse, finishing with a measly QBR of 14.5. Young's final line included going 20-for-38 for 146 yards, his first NFL touchdown to Hayden Hurst, those two picks and a couple of sacks. He also ran it three times for 17 yards.
Next week, Young will have a chance to turn things around in prime time on Monday Night Football against the Saints.