NFL’s 5 finest throws from Week 1, starring Dak Prescott, Anthony Richardson, and extra

Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is formally within the books. Every week that started with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs knocking off the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC Championship Sport rematch got here to a detailed with the San Francisco 49ers opening up their title protection within the NFC with a win over the visiting New York Jets.

Whereas a lot of the dialogue since Sunday has targeted on teh state of the passing recreation within the NFL, because of passing statistics taking a dip throughout Week 1, that doesn’t imply there was an absence of nice moments from quarterbacks this weekend.

Let’s take a look at what we take into account to be the 5 finest throws from the weekend.

Geno Smith vs. Denver Broncos

We begin late within the fourth quarter of Sunday’s recreation between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s scramble for six reduce Seattle’s result in 26-20 with time winding down. With the landing happening earlier than the two-minute warning, and Denver holding a pair of timeouts, the Broncos kicked it deep and hoped to get another cease.

Geno Smith and Tyler Lockett made certain that Nix by no means had an opportunity.

Dealing with third and 6 the Seahawks dial up a mesh idea, and Smith drills a throw into Lockett in one of many tightest home windows you will note on an NFL Sunday:

It doesn’t get a lot better than this:

Past simply the accuracy is the scenario, and the standing of the pocket round Smith as he lets this go. An incompletion right here and the clock will cease, after which the Broncos will get the ball again with one timeout and an opportunity to win. As well as, the pocket is collapsing round him and he’s dragged to the turf proper after he lets this go.

However he will get up with an opportunity to kneel out the sport. An amazing throw in in a clutch spot.

C.J. Stroud vs. Indianapolis Colts

There’s an adage about quarterback play: “By no means throw late throughout the center.”

Nevertheless, when you have got the form of arm that C.J. Stroud has, and the imaginative and prescient to identify open receivers in any respect ranges of the sphere, you may break that form of unofficial guidelines:

Dealing with third and 14 close to midfield, Stroud is flushed from the pocket and takes off in a useless dash towards the proper sideline. However he spots Nico Collins working open in a mushy spot of the Indianapolis Colts’ Cowl 3 protection. Then, in a throwing movement that finest resembles a shortstop throwing to first from deep within the gap, Stroud will get sufficient on this move to maneuver the chains on first down.

Youngsters, don’t do this at residence. Except you have got this sort of arm.

Dak Prescott vs. Cleveland Browns

Nice throws generally consequence from nice pre-snap execution.

This landing move from Dak Prescott to Brandin Cooks is one such instance.

Dealing with third and 5 in opposition to the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Prescott identifies earlier than the snap that the Browns are bringing stress. There are a number of indicators that the blitz is coming, together with defenders walked up in blitz posture and the alignment of the defensive backs, so Prescott adjusts the safety earlier than the play, retaining the tight finish in to assist with safety, whereas additionally altering the route idea.

The Browns nonetheless get a free runner on the quarterback, however Prescott hangs within the pocket within the face of that stress — by no means a straightforward factor to do — and throws an ideal nook path to Cooks for the landing:

One final side of this throw? The anticipation. Take a look at the state of play when Prescott lets this go:

Great execution. For extra on this play I would extremely advocate this breakdown from former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel.

Trevor Lawrence vs. Miami Dolphins

Throws like this one from Trevor Lawrence to rookie huge receiver Brian Thomas Jr. deserve the complete breakdown therapy, which we coated yesterday.

However to maintain issues easy, should you thought the earlier throw from Prescott to Cooks was a terrific instance of anticipation, simply take a look at this from Lawrence to Thomas:

With the Miami Dolphins in Cowl 2, Lawrence sees the security to the left facet of the offense flat-footed on one other route, so he is aware of that Thomas can break open within the again nook of the tip zone. He then “throws him open” to perfection, dropping in an extremely positioned throw to the again nook of the tip zone.

Maybe the perfect angle of this play got here courtesy of Mike Renner, who posted one other angle on social media Monday:

Excessive-level execution from Lawrence.

Anthony Richardson vs. Houston Texans

However the perfect throw of the week? That got here from Anthony Richardson within the Colts’ loss to the Texans, a throw that bought its personal particular therapy on SB Nation.

Richardson lets this fly from the Colts’ 33-yard line after stumbling, with stress in his face, and the shortcoming to step into the throw.

And it will get all the way in which to the Houston 3-yard line, the place Alec Pierce is ready.

Merely chic.

Throughout the 2023 NFL Scouting Mix, I used to be in Lucas Oil Stadium, that very same constructing, when Richardson placed on a present, making throws like that in a t-shirt and shorts.

However doing it on an NFL Sunday with stress in his face?

That’s one thing totally different.