NFL Super Wild Card Weekend features two rookie quarterbacks who have their teams flying high into the playoffs.
Can Bo Nix, selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, lead the Denver Broncos to an upset victory over the Buffalo Bills?
Can Jayden Daniels, selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, continue to shine and orchestrate a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Those will be two big questions as these two rookie quarterbacks hope to continue etching a name for themselves in their first season in the NFL. In what likely could determine the Offensive Rookie of the Year, each quarterback will have a chance to accomplish what another rookie quarterback accomplished a year ago and perhaps go a little further.
In 2023, then rookie quarterback CJ Stroud rode into the playoffs and helped lead the Texans to a Wild Card victory over the Cleveland Browns before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Divisional Round. Stroud went on to win the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. If Daniels or Nix headed down the same path?
Here are some bold predictions to go along with that question in this Super Wild Card Weekend edition of NFL Rookie QB Musings.
Bo Nix vs Buffalo Bills: Broncos’ rookie throws for 2 touchdowns in Wild Card loss
If Nix and the Broncos get one up in Buffalo against Josh Allen and the Bills, it will take tough defense and a running game that keeps the ball out of the hands of the NFL MVP candidate. With Sean Payton as head coach, the Broncos do have the type of team that could pull off an upset.
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However, the Bills are undefeated at Highmark Stadium this season, so it will be a tough task for a Broncos team that was just 4-5 on the road this season. If the Broncos make this a game early, it will put a lot of pressure on Allen and a Bills team with aspirations to finally get over the hump and get to the Super Bowl. In the way is a QB in Nix who has 29 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns in his rookie campaign.
The prediction here is that Nix will pass for two touchdowns in this game and have the Broncos on the brink of an upset. It will be the heroics of Allen late in the game what will end the Broncos run, but the AFC West squad will end the season with a promising future, a future led by Nix.
Jayden Daniels vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Commanders’ rookie runs wild in Tampa
The Commanders (12-5) storm into Tampa with hopes of knocking off the NFC South champions in a game that could have the makings of a shootout. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will have his say in this game, but Daniels will stand out with both his arms and legs in this game.
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These two teams did meet up in Week 1, with Tampa winning 37-20. Since then, Daniels and the Commanders have been a tough team to beat. In going 12-4 the rest of the season, the Commanders have been riding their rookie QB who has thrown for 3,568 yards this season with 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. If the Buccaneers blitz Daniels like they did in Week 1, they better get home because the rookie has the wheels to make big plays which he will in this game along with over 250 passing yards to knock off the Bucs.
Daniels will have success getting the ball down the field to veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin and recognizing that blitz with some quick hitters and screens that will keep Tampa’s defense on their heels.
With the win, Daniels will cement his claim as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.