NFL Week 1: Thoughts and Notes

Drew Brees is on pace for 96 TD’s. If he played the Lions every week he might actually get there.

If Peyton Manning was 10 years older, we might be talking about Peyton and Reggie rather than Peyton and Marvin. Wayne had 162 yards on 10 catches while being constantly double teamed in the absence of injured team mate Anthony Gonzalez. Try to name the Colts no. 3 and soon to be no. 2 receiver. Nope? Pierre Garcon. I would have also accepted Austin Collie or ‘who cares? They’ve got Dallas Clark.’

Matt Schaub was healthy. Andre Johnson was healthy. Steve Slaton was healthy. And still the Texans only managed 183 offensive yards. What the hell does Rex Ryan say to those defensive players?

The Bills are still the Bills. Their defeat to the Pats was eerily reminiscent of their 25-24 loss at the hands of the Cowboys two years ago, also on Monday Night Football, also up two scores with only minutes to go, also lost in fan base-destroying circumstances.

Adrian Peterson is on pace for 2880 yards and 48 TD’s. If he played the Browns every week he might actually get there.

Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, both rookies who played from the first snap of last season, both had strong opening days; Ryan (22-36, 229 yds, 2 TD’s) began slowly but punished the ’Fins turnovers to lead the Falcons to a 19-7 win. Flacco (26-43, 307 yds, 3 TD’s, 1 INT) dissected Kansas City and was allowed more freedom within the offense than at any point last year, finally putting the upstart Chiefs away 38-24. Neither of these young Quarterbacks are near the finish article and both have much to improve on after these performances but the pair are true leaders of their respective offenses and appear to be heading for stardom.

The men following in their footsteps, Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford, had differing days; Sanchez threw for 272 yards, a TD and an INT and generally looked calm and controlled in a victory. Stafford went 16/37 for 205 yards and 3 INT’s but was not helped by an anaemic running game and a defence that seemed intent on watching Drew Brees rather than pressuring him (0 sacks while New Orleans were 9-13 on 3rd down).

The Patriots were far from perfect; suspect on the O-line, indifferent on defence and it’s hard to imagine they wanted to expose Tom Brady to 53 passes but they got the ‘W.’

Maybe the Rams, bereft of receivers, could play O.J Atogwe (14 INT’s since 2007) at the position.

Brett Favre had only 4 passing 1st downs and 110 yards passing.

If Richard Seymour plays like he did versus the Chargers every week, the Raiders could, and I never thought I’d be writing this, have one of the better front sevens in the NFL.

Tony Romo has a league leading 140.6 Passer Rating after week 1. No T.O? no problem apparently; Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams combined for 221 yards receiving. The ‘Boys defence was less impressive.

Cadillac Williams almost had a 100-yard game after almost not having a career after consecutive devastating knee injuries.

Note to Jamarcus Russell; you were a no.1 pick, this is your third year, it’s time to produce. Russell went just 12-30 with 1 TD and 2 picks.

Even without Plax, might the Giants have made the Superbowl if Osi Umenyiora was healthy for the playoffs last year? Despite a strong defensive display, New York continued their red-zone struggles from the back end of last year, going 0 for 3. Who’s going to step up for this offense, especially with high impact rookie Hakeem Nicks sidelined?

Wasn’t hard to see the Cardinal’s hangover coming was it? Arizona still can’t run the ball and committed far too many penalties. Their top-2 receivers against the 49ers? Fitz and Boldin? No. Hightower (12 catches for 121 yards) and Urban (5 catches for 74 yards)? Yes.

Patrick Willis, in what should be a decent D this year, could be the early leader for Defensive Player of the Year.

James Laurinaitis, in what might not be such a good D this year, could be the early leader for Rookie Defensive Player of the Year.

Mike Bell, starting only his 4th game in 4 years in the league, ran for 143 yards on 28 carries. He had 45 yards on 19 carries over the last 2 years combined.

33-year old Tony Gonzalez is still the best receiving Tight End in the NFL. He polished his hall of fame resume by becoming only the 21st man to collect over 11,000 receiving yards.

Big games for this week; Pats @ Jets, Saints @ Eagles, Seahawks @ 49ers, Steelers @ Bears, Giants @ Cowboys and, my personal fave, Ravens @ Chargers.

Ryan Succop is no longer Mr. Irrelevant; the 256th and final pick of the 2009 draft kicked a field goal from 53 yards and was successful on all three extra points for the Chiefs.

The injury to Donovan McNabb, a fractured rib suffered running in a 3-yard TD, is the worst possible happening for the Eagles and maybe the most intriguing for the neutral. Jeff Garcia returned on Monday and will join Kevin Kolb and the soon-to-return Michael Vick in the wings.
In his last two starts, against the Cardinals in last year’s playoffs and against the Eagles on Sunday, Jake Delhomme is 24-51 for 278 yards with 1 Touchdown and…wait for it…9 interceptions and 2 fumbles. The only noteworthy news for the Panthers QB between those two performances? A new 5 year, $42.5million contract.

Percy Harvin meet Brett Favre. Brett Favre meet….oh god Brett no! He’s on your team! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24BRveFlcKg

The game between the Eagles and Panthers yielded 48 points (33-10) and just 165 yards passing. The Eagles D, in the absence of Jim Johnson, was electric.

In light of the nightmarish offseason that Broncos fans have been subjected to, not to mention their new Head Coach, perhaps it was fitting that their team pulled off an improbable victory in sublimely ridiculous circumstances. As an encore, former QB Jay Cutler threw 4 picks later in the day.

Dear Brandon, the way to prove you deserve a new deal does involve catching the second most passes between WR’s over the last two years, always involves a hold-out and some toothy-grinned ‘no comments,’ can just about involve getting suspended in the preseason for being an immature non-participator but definitely, definitely does not involve catching 4 balls for 27 yards against the Bengals and not catching a bunch of other passes.

Game of the week - Pittsburgh 13 - 10 Tennessee. I’ve already watched this game 3 times. In fact, let’s finish this quickly so I can watch it again.

Stat of the week - The Niners, the 'smash them in the mouth' Niners, had 21 total rushing yards on 25 carries, 0.8 yards a carry, and still controlled the time of possession and won the game.

Winner of the week - The Jets. The Sanchez and Ryan era’s get off with a win and look good doing it.

Loser of the week - The Bills. The last five minutes of that game could define their season.

Play of the week - Has to be Brandon Stokely’s late game winner for Josh McDaniels and new QB Kyle Orton. Marvin Lewis and the Bengals fans must be used to those kinds of things happening to them by now.

Player of the week - Could easily be Adrian Peterson or Drew Brees, maybe Tony Romo or Reggie Wayne, but the best performance of week 1 came in Foxboro. And no, it wasn’t Tom Brady. Trent Edwards produced a spellbinding performance in the Bills’ no huddle offense, going 15-25 for 205 yards and 2 TD’s whilst under pressure from the Pats defence and T.O’s mouth. Tough loss on a coming-of-age style performance for the third-year QB.