Marcus Mariota first rookie Week 1 player of week since … uh oh

Marcus Mariota is headed toward a career of disappointment and heartbreak.

That’s the only conclusion we can draw following the Tennessee Titans’ incredible debut upon hearing the news that Mariota was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1.

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Why? The last rookie to do it in his Week 1 debut, according to AFC football communications director Jon Zimmer, was … yep: Robert Griffin III, back in 2012.

Are we cruel? Yes, we are. And we of course have only the highest of hopes for Mariota, just as we did for Griffin when he was the talk of the league as a rookie following a 19-of-26 passing day with 320 yards with two TDs against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.

Mariota’s debut — on a per-attempt basis, anyway — was actually statistically greater, completing 13-of-16 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns before he was pulled after three quarters in the 42-14 blowout of Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There’s more, too. According to the Titans, Mariota became the first player since at least 1933 with a perfect passer rating in his first game (minimum 10 attempts) and the first in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) with a perfect rating in his first start (minimum 10 attempts).

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So we’re joking about the it’s-all-downhill-from-here angle with Mariota. But it does stand to note that one game (or one season) does not a career make. The good news is that Mariota seems to be extraordinarily humble and realizes this fact.

Which means we will cease all Griffin comparisons from here on out. It’s only fair and just.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm