Rookie Quarterbacks To Start Week 1, Last 10 Seasons
Year
QB
Team
Result
2008
Matt Ryan
Falcons
W, 34-21
2008
Joe Flacco
Ravens
W, 17-10
2005
Kyle Orton
Bears
L, 9-7
2003
Kyle Boller
Ravens
L, 34-15
2002
David Carr
Texans
W, 19-10
2001
Chris Weinke
Panthers
W, 24-13
2001
Quincy Carter
Cowboys
L, 10-6
Notable Rookie QBs and how they fared starting Week 1:
1989 -- Troy Aikman
Aikman struggled in a Week 1 start for the Cowboys as the Saints won, 28-0. Aikman threw for only 180 yards and had two interceptions.
1998 -- Peyton Manning
Manning opened his Colts career as the starter and lost to the Dolphins, 24-15. Manning threw for 302 yards and three interceptions.
1998 -- Ryan Leaf
Leaf's not-so-memorable career got off to a good start, a 16-14 win over Buffalo. Leaf threw for a TD and had two interceptions.
2002 -- David Carr
In the first game in Texans history, David Carr led Houston to a huge victory over the Cowboys, 19-10. Carr threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
2008 -- Joe Flacco
Flacco started for the Ravens in Week 1 last season, leading Baltimore over Cincinnati, 17-10. Flacco didn't throw for a touchdown, but he ran for a 38-yard score.
2008 -- Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan started for Atlanta in Week 1, beating Detroit, 34-21. He threw a touchdown pass on his first attempt, a 62-yard strike to Michael Jenkins, and finished 9-for-13 for 161 yards.
Year
QB
Team
Result
2008
Matt Ryan
Falcons
W, 34-21
2008
Joe Flacco
Ravens
W, 17-10
2005
Kyle Orton
Bears
L, 9-7
2003
Kyle Boller
Ravens
L, 34-15
2002
David Carr
Texans
W, 19-10
2001
Chris Weinke
Panthers
W, 24-13
2001
Quincy Carter
Cowboys
L, 10-6
Notable Rookie QBs and how they fared starting Week 1:
1989 -- Troy Aikman
Aikman struggled in a Week 1 start for the Cowboys as the Saints won, 28-0. Aikman threw for only 180 yards and had two interceptions.
1998 -- Peyton Manning
Manning opened his Colts career as the starter and lost to the Dolphins, 24-15. Manning threw for 302 yards and three interceptions.
1998 -- Ryan Leaf
Leaf's not-so-memorable career got off to a good start, a 16-14 win over Buffalo. Leaf threw for a TD and had two interceptions.
2002 -- David Carr
In the first game in Texans history, David Carr led Houston to a huge victory over the Cowboys, 19-10. Carr threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
2008 -- Joe Flacco
Flacco started for the Ravens in Week 1 last season, leading Baltimore over Cincinnati, 17-10. Flacco didn't throw for a touchdown, but he ran for a 38-yard score.
2008 -- Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan started for Atlanta in Week 1, beating Detroit, 34-21. He threw a touchdown pass on his first attempt, a 62-yard strike to Michael Jenkins, and finished 9-for-13 for 161 yards.
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Tim Graham
Graham joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Miami Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post. He previously spent eight years at the Buffalo News, where he was an award-winning NHL and boxing writer. The Baldwin-Wallace College grad also has worked for the Las Vegas Sun and Boston Herald.