Thrust into starting roles, QBs step up in big ways

Oh, the moans and groans in Nawlins. The consternation in Steeltown. The woe is me refrains in Carolina’s Queen City. The joke’s on me attitude in Jax.

And the tabloid screams in the Big Apple.

Maybe all of that will quiet down, at least for a week.

Teddy Bridgewater was steady in place of Drew Brees, guiding the Saints to victory in Seattle, as tough a place to win as any.

Kyle Allen, probably most famous in the NFL for once being a teammate of Kyler Murray’s at Texas A&M, was a revelation in place of Cam Newton as the Panthers got their first victory of the season, in Arizona.

Gardner Minshew is making Jaguars fans wonder why he was a sixth-round draft pick.

Daniel Jones, the guy who caused Giants general manager Dave Gettleman to be vilified for drafting the Duke QB sixth overall last April, looked worthy of a No. 1 overall pick. He stepped in for what the TV announcers were calling a New York legend, the benched Eli Manning, and lifted the team to last-minute victory at Tampa.

Only Mason Rudolph, replacing Ben Roethlisberger (elbow surgery) for the Steelers, didn’t get a win among the newcomers. But he didn’t embarrass himself at all.

For Week 3, let’s celebrate these youngsters who stepped in and stepped up.

KYLE ALLEN, PANTHERS: In his second-career start, Allen had four touchdown passes and a 144.4 QB rating.

“He’s a guy who really keeps his composure,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said.

DANIEL JONES, GIANTS: At some point, it was clear the struggling Giants would turn to Jones. It came a bit earlier than some expected. So did his first NFL heroics.

Jones threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for two TDs, including the go-ahead score with 1:16 remaining as New York rallied from an 18-point halftime hole to win 32-31.

“There’s certain things that I knew about this kid when we drafted him. He was tough, he was competitive, and in my opinion he’s a winner,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said.

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER, SAINTS: It’s been a long road back for Bridgewater, who looked like Minnesota’s franchise quarterback before a severe knee injury forced him to miss almost two seasons.

Teaming with coach Sean Payton, whose offensive expertise obviously isn’t limited to handing game plans to Brees, Bridgewater was exactly what the team needed.

“I said all week Teddy is a leader,” Saints running back Alvin Kamara said after Bridgewater threw for a touchdown, was not picked, and helped New Orleans to a huge road victory.

GARDNER MINSHEW, JAGUARS: The rookie threw two touchdown passes against Tennessee last Thursday and also had a receiver drop a ball in the end zone. He’s already a star in North Florida.

“Nothing rattles this kid,” coach Doug Marrone said. “He’s really good at communication and I think he’s really good at preparing himself.

MASON RUDOLPH, STEELERS: The showing by the second-year QB, basically a caddie for Roethlisberger until now, should calm the three rivers a bit in Pittsburgh. Rudolph wasn’t spectacular, but also was victimized by some errors around him in the 24-20 loss to the Niners.