Darnold throws pick six on first NFL throw but Jets recover to destroy Lions

Sam Darnold had nowhere to go but up after his first career snap, but the rookie quarterback steadied himself quickly.

Darnold threw an interception on his very first NFL play, and Detroit’s Quandre Diggs returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to give the Lions an early lead over the New York Jets on Monday night. But by half-time, the Jets were up 17-10, and Darnold’s debut was looking a lot better. The Jets ended the game with a 48-17 blowout victory against a ragged Lions team.

Darnold was 16 of 21 for 198 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. That included a 41-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson in the second quarter. The Lions were booed by the home fans throughout the game. Matthew Stafford threw four interceptions.

Darnold was drafted with the third overall pick this year, and he earned the start in the season opener for the Jets. But his first throw looked ill-advised from the moment it left his hand, floating toward the left sideline, where Diggs picked it off. Darnold does have some company. Jameis Winston had his first pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown in 2015. That was the first time a rookie’s first throw was returned for a TD since Brett Favre then with Atlanta in 1991.

In Monday’s other game, Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch sat during the national anthem. Lynch declined to stand for the anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Rams. Lynch also sat for the anthem all of last season but never gave a reason for his decision. No other players on either team demonstrated during the anthem. Only a handful of players took some sort of action to protest police brutality and social injustice in America on opening weekend.

Lynch went on to score the first touchdown of the game, with a 10-yard run.