Click here if you want to find out the story behind the Automatic Otto Award:
With that, here are the rankings after Week 1:
5- Marcus Mariota, Titans
The No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, wasn’t supposed to make it look this easy, but that’s the problem, IT WAS that easy. In his first career start, Mariota wasn’t solid, he was freaking awesome! 13 completions on 16 pass attempts (81.25 completion %), 209 yards, and not one, not two, not three, but four touchdowns, FOUR! (small Patch Adams reference) Mariota finished with a perfect QB rating of 158.3. He should retire now, because that is without question, one of the best, if not the best start to an NFL career ever.
4- Alex Smith, Chiefs
Kansas City went into Houston, and gave them a good old fashion butt kicking. Before the Texans even knew what hit them, Alex Smith had thrown for two touchdowns in the first 11 minutes of the game, and by halftime, had tossed a third score. Kansas City was up 27-6 before Houston made a small rally, eventually falling 27-17.
Against the Texans defense with JJ Watt on one side and Jadeveon Clowney on the other side, Smith was calm, cool, and collected, finishing with three TD passes, completing 66.67% of his passes, and a QB rating of 118.6.
3- Tony Romo, Cowboys
Romo rallied the Cowboys from down 10 not once, but twice in the second half, including driving the team 72 yards in 1:27 before throwing the game winner with just seven seconds to play. Despite two interceptions (one off of Jason Witten’s hands, the other off a deflection), Romo rallied the Boys for thee touchdowns in the final 19 minutes of the game, and most of it without Dez Bryant.
2- Aaron Rodgers, Packers
The reigning MVP fired for three scores, including a pair to the newly acquired James Jones, the long time Packer who was with Oakland last season and just missed the cut with the NY Giants this preseason. Nelson, no Nelson, apparently it doesn’t matter to Aaron Rodgers. He’s going to throw TD passes left and right.
1- Tom Brady, Patriots
In an offseason filled with distractions and legal battles, and the first game of the season that had enough buzz to be a Pay-Per-View event, with Tom Brady the main attraction. How would he handle the off the field stuff, along with a mixed preseason? Brady handled it with the same coolness he’s always shown.
Brady didn’t budge or crumble one bit. He’s Tom Freaking Brady! Four touchdown passes, 19 straight completions, and a QB rating of 143.8 as the Patriots kicked off their title defense with a 28-21 win.
That’s why after Week 1, Brady is top dawg for the Automatic Otto.
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