“We dumbed the game down, which has allowed them to play.” Tom Brady said this not so long ago about the rookies starting right away. But, if anything, the first Sunday Night Football of the 2024 season has shown us that the rookies did feel the heat. It was the trial by fire for three rookie starters: Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, and Caleb Williams.

Were they decent? The answer may vary depending on the fandom you belong to. But the eye test was there for all to witness. And now, here are the numbers. Before we get to that, interestingly, only Williams and the Bears opened their season with a win over the Titans. While the Broncos powered by Nix lost to the Seahawks, Daniels the Commanders couldn’t contain the Bucs led by a sensational Baker Mayfield.

There was one similarity between the three rookies. None of them were able to throw for a touchdown. Guess the debut was sour, but there were moments. Some were magical and some may have exposed their weaknesses out in the open under the open sky. But here are the full stats of Nix, Daniels, and Williams after their debut starts.

The last time the Broncos started a rookie quarterback in Week 1, it was the then-little-known guy named John Elway back in 1983. No one knew back then that he would go on to be a Hall of Famer in 2004. And he did. Fast forward to 2024, and Bo Nix is stepping into those big shoes. And the first-time jitters were showing. Nix didn’t exactly light it up with the numbers. Most of his passes were check-downs, and it took him 34 throws to hit the 100-yard mark.

As the game went on, Denver found themselves leaning more on Nix with a lead that started to slip away. By the third quarter, that 13-9 lead had turned into a 26-13 hole, and Nix couldn’t quite rally the troops. Despite some late-game heroics, including a rushing touchdown, Nix’s double coverage interception proved to be the dagger. A little too much, a little too late, as Denver couldn’t mount a comeback, falling 26-20 to the Seahawks. Tough break, Bo.

But CBS’ X handle wrote it perfectly: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” They used John’s week 1 stats to back their statement. And it’s true. Elway threw for only 14 yards with 1 interception and getting sacked a total of 4 times. On top of that, he got benched in his debut too. So, none of that for Bo Nix but quite a journey ahead for him.

Meanwhile, the No. 2 pick Daniels put up a decent fight for the Commanders, despite their 37-20 loss to the Bucs. But he could not have done anything out of the ordinary when the team was not looking sharp as a whole. And still, Daniels showcased his dual-threat potential with two rushing scores and 184 yards through the air. Yet, he learned the toughness of the league the hard way.

And let’s not forget Williams, the top pick for the Bears, who had his own struggles against the Titans. Despite his scrambling success at USC, he managed only 15 rushing yards on five attempts. But thanks to special teams and a solid defense, Williams became the first No. 1 pick to win his Week 1 debut since David Carr in 2001. Not a bad way to start, but his metrics tell a different story. Williams finished near the bottom of the rookie quarterback performances in Week 1 with a 55.7 passer rating, landing him 30th out of 39 rookie quarterbacks since 2001.

The rookies had a learning curve sort of day in week 1. And that’s the name of the game now. But the rookies need not have to stress as they have their coaches backing them.

It’s just the start of Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, and Caleb Williams’ storyline!

In the second half, Seattle ran riot with 17 unanswered points, leaving the Broncos with a 26-20 loss. Cherry on the cake? Bo Nix threw a costly pick into a sea of Seahawks, but hey, Sean Payton isn’t sweating it. “I never felt like it was too big or confusing. He was sharp,” Payton said. Sounds like Nix still has the coach’s trust, and that’s a good start, right? Rookie mistakes, but the belief is there.

Meanwhile, Caleb Williams may have had the toughest day of the trio, despite being the only one to notch a win. But that win didn’t come easy—no offensive touchdowns for the Bears in Williams’ debut. Matt Eberflus wasn’t worried though, urging his team to rally around their young QB. “As he grows and develops, we just got to keep playing well around [him],” Eberflus said. The NFL’s a whole different beast, and Williams has to learn the ropes fast. And you can bet, with such supporting casts in his corner.

Jayden Daniels didn’t get much spotlight, likely because all eyes were on Dan Quinn making his debut as head coach for the Commanders. The loss was tough to swallow, but Daniels quietly shined with the best numbers among the three rookie quarterbacks we’ve mentioned. Despite the defeat, there’s promise in Daniels’ performance that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Quinn, reflecting on the game, shared a thought that seems to capture the rookie journey: “You need the struggle to see the identity develop. You don’t want it. But you do need it.” It’s true for Daniels, Nix, and Williams—all three faced their own battles, but that’s where growth happens. As the season unfolds, we can only hope to witness more electrifying moments from these young QBs. In the rookie showdown, who will emerge victorious? That’s anyone’s guess.