Nathan Peterman and the Worst Week 1 NFL Starters Ever
By Jason Lisk
Nathan Peterman was named the Buffalo starter, for the second time in the last 12 months, and proceeded to lay one of the biggest eggs ever, again. When we talk about the “worst” quarterbacks of all-time, I think there is a distinction between the guys who were thrust into action at the end of a lost campaign, as the third stringer or a guy signed off the practice squad, and those that were entrusted with the franchise at the outset.
This is my list of the worst opening day starting quarterbacks ever. This IS NOT a list of the worst opening day games (though there may be some overlap) but rather an evaluation of the overall career performance of the quarterbacks who are part of the fraternity that started a season as the starting quarterback. All research on games started via Pro Football Reference.
#1 NATHAN PETERMAN
Recency bias? I’m putting Nathan Peterman at the top of this ignomious list. There are guys from the 1970’s who put up worse counting stats, but that was an era when quarterbacks got bludgeoned and interceptions were common. Nathan Peterman is responsible for the two worst starts in the last three years, by a long shot. He has started three games. His combined stats from those starts: 16 of 42, 147 yards, 1 pass TD, 7 interceptions.
The Bills have lost games where they gave up 47 and 54 points when he starts. Add in that he came in the playoff game and threw a pick in three passes, and his combined ability to throw interceptions while not completing passes is truly astounding.
But head coach Sean McDermott needs to see the game film.
#2 RANDY HEDBERG
An eighth round rookie out of Minot State, Randy Hedberg started the season opener for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers entering their second year in the league (and still looking for their first win) when Gary Huff had a sprained knee. Hedberg threw 10 interceptions while never throwing a touchdown pass, and the Bucs scored 13 points in Hedberg’s four starts before Huff returned to action.
#3 MIKE KIRKLAND
Bert Jones had been the star quarterback for the Colts, winning MVP two years earlier, but 1978 marked the start of his injury decline. When he and backup Bill Troup could not make the start, it was unheralded Mike Kirkland who started the season opener.
Kirkland threw one touchdown and eight interceptions in his two career starts, getting intercepted once every five passes.
#4 ART SCHLICHTER
Art Schlichter makes this list by starting the 1985 season opener for the Colts, in what turned out to be his final NFL game. He had already been benched and suspended for a full season for his gambling activities, and was released by the Colts shortly after his final start, based on reports that he was still involved in gambling.
Schlichter averaged 5.0 yards per pass and threw 3 TDs versus 11 INTs for his career.
#5 RYAN LEAF
I camped out all night one summer day back in 1998 to get a ticket to a Chiefs game, and got the one to the September game against the Chargers. Leaf had been okay, but not horrible and the Chargers won the first two games of the year, but that was the game where he went 1 for 15 for 4 yards. It was truly a sight to behold and he never recovered.
Leaf finished his rookie year with two touchdown passes versus 15 interceptions.
#6 AKILI SMITH
Akili Smith didn’t do much to inspire confidence as a rookie, but the Bengals let Jeff Blake go to New Orleans, and Smith started the 2000 opener. The Bengals lost to the second-year Browns as Smith took 7 sacks. The Bengals scored only 7 points in his first three starts of 2000, and Smith averaged an abysmal 4.7 yards per pass. He threw 41 more passes in the NFL after that season.
#7 TIM VAN GALDER
Tim Van Galder was technically a 28-year old rookie when he was selected to start the season for the Cardinals over Jim Hart in 1972. He had bounced around on the practice squad, and also served a two-year military commitment since playing at Iowa State. Van Galder threw one touchdown and seven interceptions in his five starts that year, while averaging 5.5 yards per attempt, and it was the only year he would play in a NFL game.
#8 STONEY CASE
Stoney Case started the 2000 season opener for the Detroit Lions when Charlie Batch wasn’t ready. Case threw a pick-six and only had 100 yards passing but the Lions won at New Orleans thanks to a Desmond Howard punt return TD. It was the last of Case’s six career starts. He finished completing 51% of his passes and throwing 4 touchdowns versus 13 interceptions.
#9 JERRY GOLSTEYN
Jerry Golsteyn definitely is the worst QB to ever start three different season openers, and one-third of his nine career starts came in week 1. He started for the Giants in both 1977 and 1978, and for the Bucs in 1983.
Golsteyn averaged 5.0 yards per attempt and threw 2 touchdowns versus 13 interceptions.
#10 KELLY STOUFFER
Kelly Stouffer was the 6th overall pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987 and seen as the replacement for Neil Lomax. But he held out all season, and his rights were traded to the Seattle Seahawks the next April. Stouffer never really panned out, and his opening day start actually came in 1992, when the Seahawks would go 2-14. Stouffer finished with 7 career touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
#11 MATT ROBINSON
Matt Robinson was the opening day starter for the Jets in 1979, the only start he made for them that year as he threw for 191 yards and two interceptions. Somehow, the Broncos decided that they should give up a first round pick for Robinson, and he started for Denver the next season, also throwing two picks and no touchdowns in the opener. Robinson threw 18 touchdowns and 38 interceptions for his career.
#12 BABE LAUFENBERG
Congratulations if you knew that it was Babe Laufenberg who started the first game for the San Diego Chargers after Dan Fouts retired. (Mark Vlasic and Mark Malone also started for the Chargers in 1988). Laufenberg completed 44% of his passes and averaged 5.0 yards per attempt for his career, which included 16 starts.
[all photos from USA Today Sports Images]