words // Brandon Richard

After shipping out a draft’s worth of assets to move up and select him back in April, D.C.’s expectations for rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III are sky high. Following a season in which he claimed the Heisman Trophy and led the Baylor Bears to an Alamo Bowl win, the man they call “RG3″ isn’t hiding from the spotlight. It didn’t take long for the Washington Redskins’ new play caller to make an impact. With arguably the toughest match-up for a Week 1 rookie QB in the New Orleans Saints, Griffin showed the world exactly why he was selected second overall and some of the experts thought he had the most upside in the draft.

RG3 didn’t just show the quickness and flair we’ve come to expect from his game – he played with the poise of a veteran. He routinely passed on opportunities to take off and run to stand in the pocket and make quality throws. That’s not to say that the ground threat wasn’t there, as he scrambled for 42 yards on the day. Griffin led a balanced Skin’s attack that hung 40 points on the Saints, coincidentally serving up straight-10s (RG’s jersey number) in each quarter. Griffin finished with 19-of-26 passing with no interceptions and a passer rating of 139.9 in the Skins’ 40-32 season opening victory. Not a bad way to start your career.

Elsewhere, Andrew Luck struggled a bit in the Indianapolis Colts’ 41-21 loss to the Chicago Bears; Peyton Manning looked sharp in an impressive 31-19 Denver Broncos win over the Pittsburgh Steelers; Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys won the season’s first game by a score of 24-17 over the defending champion New  York Giants; Adrian Peterson returned from a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee to help lift the Minnesota Vikings over the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-23 in overtime; San Francisco showed last season was no fluke when they walked into Lambeau and shocked the Green Bay Packers 30-22; and the Baltimore Ravens made an early statement by destroying the division rival Cincinnati Bengals 44-13.

What cleats his the gridiron in Week 1? You can see who wore what in these games and more in today’s NFL Watch.

images courtesy of Yahoo

Robert Griffin III drops back for a pass in the adidas adiZero 5-Star Mid.

Hakeem Nicks reels in a catch wearing PE Jordan Super.Fly cleats.

Adrian Peterson returned to the field in adidas adiZero 5-Star Mid cleats.

Arian Foster warms up in the Under Armour Nitro Diablo Mid.

Andre Johnson extends to make a grab in a cleated PE version of the Jordan Super.Fly.

Jay Cutler rollin in a PE colorway of the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro TD.

Matt Ryan runs for a touchdown in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite 3/4.

Cam Newton debuted his upcoming signature Cam Highlight Under Armour football cleats.

Matthew Stafford airs it out in a PE colorway of the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro TD.

Rob Gronkowski spikes the ball in the Nike Alpha Talon Elite 3/4.

Michael Crabtree runs after making a catch in his Jordan Super.Fly PE cleats.

Peyton Manning scrambles in Reebok football cleats.

LeSean McCoy carries the rock in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro TD; Michael Vick looks on in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite 3/4.

Mark Sanchez leaves the field in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro TD; Tim Tebow enters in the Nike Alpha Speed TD.

Larry Fitzgerald makes his entrance in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite Low.

Josh Freeman tries to avoid taking a sack in PE Jordan Super.Fly cleats.

Joe Flacco preps in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro TD.

Ronnie Brown finds an opening wearing a Nike Vapor Talon Elite 3/4 PE.