ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — A couple of rookies in the nation’s capital have done the remarkable. They debuted with longsuffering teams amid incredible expectations, yet they managed to exceed them.
Stephen Strasburg induced goose bumps when he struck out 14 batters in his first game with the Washington Nationals in 2010. The feeling was eerily similar Sunday when Robert Griffin III set new standards for a first NFL start.
Griffin threw for 320 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a rating of 139.9 in the Washington Redskins’ 40-32 upset of the New Orleans Saints.
Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander says Griffin “definitely went beyond the hype.” The performance also gives hope to a franchise looking for a turnaround after four straight last-place finishes.
Washington plays at St. Louis on Sunday.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.