By Ryan Satsky, Maryland Athletics Communications
Two eras of Maryland football shined bright in Minnesota this past week, as sophomore wideout Stefon Diggs and veteran quarterback Shaun Hill led the Vikings to a 25-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 of NFL action.
Hill provided steady quarterback play from the pocket, completing nearly 60 percent of his throws for a total of 236 yards. Nearly half of his throws fell into the hands of Diggs, whose 103 receiving yards placed him amongst the top 10 in that category for Week 1.
As of Thursday, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has yet to announce a starting quarterback for their Week 2 showdown against divisional rival Green Bay. However, it wouldn't be a shock to see Hill retain his starting job after a clean, mistake-free first week.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive back Sean Davis made a splash in his debut game on Monday, accumulating four tackles in a 38-16 thrashing of the Washington Redskins. Davis started the game for the Steelers at the nickel position.
Houston Texans starting kicker Nick Novak contributed to his team's 23-14 victory over the Chicago Bears in a major fashion. The former Terp nailed all of his field goal and extra point attempts, including a 38-yard field goal with 6:10 left on the clock to make it a two-possession game.
Here is how other former Terps fared during Week 1 of the NFL season:
- Denver Broncos DT Darius Kilgo: recorded one tackle in a 21-20 win over Carolina
- Philadelphia Eagles CB Nolan Carroll: recorded three tackles in a 29-10 win over Cleveland
- New York Jets LB Erin Henderson: registered two tackles in a 22-23 loss to Cincinnati
- Jacksonville Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue: made NFL debut, finishing with two tackles in a 23-27 loss to Green Bay
- Seattle Seahawks DT Quinton Jefferson: made NFL debut, recording one tackle in a 12-10 victory over Seattle
- Indianapolis Colts LB D'Qwell Jackson: registered two tackles in a 35-39 loss to Detroit
- Washington Redskins TE Vernon Davis: hauled in one catch for 20 yards in a 16-38 loss to Pittsburgh
- San Francisco 49ers WR Torrey Smith: recorded two receptions for 13 yards in a 28-0 win over Los Angeles
