Torrey Smith and the Most Amazing Rookie Breakout Performances in NFL History

Torrey Smith announced his presence in the NFL with authority in Week 3. The Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver had three catches for 133 yards and three touchdowns in just the first half of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.

Those three receptions—which were the first of his career—went for touchdowns of 74, 41 and 18 yards. Smith has shown himself to be an explosive presence on the perimeter and a real weapon for quarterback Joe Flacco. The second-round pick out of Maryland has had one of the more explosive performances by a rookie in recent memory with his Week 3 breakout.

Smith's astonishing game got me thinking of the other rookies who made huge impact on games.

So here are my picks for the top five most explosive single-game performances by rookies in NFL history.

Cam Newton: Week 1, 2011

Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Cam Newton burst onto the scene in his first NFL game. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft blew up in his first week, setting several records in the process.

Newton completed 24-of-37 passes (64.9 percent) for 422 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran eight times for 18 yards and a touchdown in the Carolina Panthers' 28-21 Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Yes, his team lost, but Newton showed his immense potential as he hooked up with veteran receiver Steve Smith for touchdowns of 77 and 26 yards. He had the Panthers leading 21-14 after three quarters, but the team's defense allowed two fourth quarter touchdowns leading to the loss.

Newton set the record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback in the game before re-setting it in Week 2 (with 432 yards) against the Green Bay Packers. Newton also became the first rookie in NFL history to pass for 400 yards, while his first two performances made him the first rookie in NFL history to throw for more than 400 yards in consecutive games.

Again, love him or hate him, there is no denying what Newton did in his first week as an NFL quarterback.

Adrian Peterson: Week 9, 2007

After a stellar career at Oklahoma, virtually everyone knew Adrian Peterson would be a stud in the NFL. Just eight games into his career, he showed that assessment to be correct.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Peterson with the No. 7 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, and he immediately rewarded them. In just his eighth professional game, he set the NFL's single-game rushing record in an incredible performance against the San Diego Chargers.

In that game, Peterson carried the ball 30 times for 296 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a pass for 19 more yards.

Peterson also set rookie records for most rushing yards in a single game (obviously), and the most 200-yard rushing games for a rookie (it was his second of the season). He ran for touchdowns of one, 64 and 46 yards, and the Vikings beat the Chargers 35-17.

This might have been the best rookie performance in NFL history, as Peterson absolutely dominated a very good San Diego defense. His single-game rushing record still stands to this day.

Eric Dickerson: Week 5, 1983

Eric Dickerson had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, and his most impressive game came in Week 5 against the Detroit Lions.

Dickerson was the No. 2 pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, and they were rewarded for that selection almost immediately.

On Oct. 2, 1983, Dickerson just flat out went off. The SMU product gained 199 yards and scored three touchdowns on 30 carries. He also caught three passes for 21 yards as the Rams buried the Lions 21-10. The stud running back scored on runs of eight, one and four yards while barely missing the 200-yard mark.

Dickerson's 199-yard game came a week after he went for 192 yards against the New York Jets. He finished that season setting rookie records for rushing attempts (390), rushing yards (1,808) and rushing touchdowns (18).

As you would expect, Dickerson ended up being the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year, made the first of six Pro Bowl appearances and was a First-Team All-Pro selection. He was also named the UPI's NFC Offensive Player of the Year.

Randy Moss: Week 5, 1998

We all know Randy Moss is one of the best to ever play wide receiver in the NFL. But questions about his character dropped him to the 21st pick in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. The Marshall product quickly set out to prove his doubters wrong. And it didn't take long for him to do just that.

In a Week 5 matchup with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, Moss turned five catches into 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-24 win. The game, a Monday night contest on Oct. 5, 1998, featured Randall Cunningham hooking up with Moss for touchdowns of 52 and 44 yards.

What was supposed to be a big-time matchup between two undefeated teams turned into a laugher because the Packers simply couldn't cover Moss. It was 37-10 later before the Packers got two late touchdown passes from backup quarterback Doug Pederson.

Moss went on to be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowl pick and an All-Pro selection in 1998. That Week 5 game started it all.

Peyton Manning: Week 13, 1998

When the Indianapolis Colts made Peyton Manning the No. 1 pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, they installed him as the starting quarterback on day one. Some thought that was a mistake and that they should allow the Tennessee product to grow and mature into that role. Those detractors turned out to be wrong.

Despite leading an atrocious Colts team, Manning took the field in Week 13 of the 1998 season, and he put on a show that made most experts realize a bright future was ahead of him.

With running back Marshall Faulk at his side, Manning completed 27 of 42 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns. He did throw an interception and the Colts did lose to the Baltimore Ravens 38-31, but it was a phenomenal performance.

Oh, and don't blame the loss on Manning. He gave the Colts a 31-21 lead entering the fourth quarter before the team's horrendous defense lost the game.

When you consider that Manning's leading receiver in that game was Torrance Small—who had nine catches for 153 yards and a touchdown—you realize what kind of roster the kid was working with.

Manning's performance put him on the map, and while No. 2 pick Ryan Leaf was throwing tantrums and being a disappointment, the Colts' franchise cornerstone was figuring out how to play in the NFL. Four MVPs and 11 Pro Bowls later, Manning is still as important to his team as any player in the NFL.