
Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold rebounded from his first NFL pass attempt, a pick-six, by throwing for two touchdowns and leading New York to a season-opening 48-17 rout over the Detroit Lions on Monday at Ford Field.
Darnold completed 16 of 21 touchdowns and threw touchdowns to Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa, becoming the first quarterback in franchise history to throw for multiple touchdowns in his NFL debut.
His first pass attempt was exactly like how Brett Favre and Jameis Winston's ended up: intercepted and returned for a touchdown. After scrambling out of the pocket, he threw across his body intended for Bilal Powell, but Lions defensive back Quandre Diggs jumped the route and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
From there, however, the 21-year-old Darnold, the youngest player to start in Week 1 since the AFL-NFL merger, was strong.