What highly-touted rookie threw for 320 yards in his first ever NFL game of the 2012 regular season?

Robert Griffin III threw for 320 yards in his first NFL regular-season game in 2012. The Washington Redskins rookie completed 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns in a 40–32 victory over the New Orleans Saints on September 9, 2012.

Griffin, commonly known as RG3, was selected second overall by Washington in the 2012 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at Baylor. His debut immediately established him as one of the league’s most exciting young quarterbacks, because he combined accurate passing with dangerous rushing ability.

He also rushed for 42 yards in the game and became the first rookie quarterback to win the NFL’s NFC Offensive Player of the Week award for his debut performance. The Saints were led by quarterback Drew Brees, making Washington’s road victory especially notable.

The 320-yard figure refers to passing yards, not total offensive yards. Griffin’s performance helped launch a remarkable rookie season in which he won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.