The first NFL Sunday of the year has come and gone, and with it we were treated to a myriad of telling signs from teams across the league. Bare in mind that because this is just Week One it’s easy to fall into the prisoner of the moment trap and try to look too much into one game, but let’s also not try to act like the games are without meaning. This is the time to put up or shut up, Football is officially back and with a short 16 weeks of games to be played every given Sunday counts.
Colts 21
Bears 41
Andrew Luck had a lackluster debut to his rookie season as the new look Colts too on a revamped Bears team. Luck threw a respectable 309 yards but his 3 interceptions took away from any hopes Colts fans had for a booming start from him. Jay Cutler continued to make his case for the most under-appreciated QB in the league as he threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears racked up their highest score since 2009 and definitely sets the tone for what many are predicting will be a huge year forward for the franchise. While Luck may not have had as explosive a day as his contemporary RG3 he does show all those signs that made scouts drool from the get go and he should be just fine as he continues his road to developing into a top NFL QB.
Eagles 17
Browns 16
Michael Vick and crew had a tougher time than what was anticipated in Cleveland. They narrowly escaped Cleveland Browns Stadium with a W after Vick mounted a late drive which culminated in a touchdown for the Eagles. Now, no one has any real semblance of expectations from the Browns and their rookie QB Brandon Weeden–especially after his terrible 4 INT performance, but they did keep the game within reach. Was this an indictment on just how far the Eagles have yet to come or how under valued the Browns are? I’d say a combo of both with Vick having 4 INT’s of his own, and completing just 29 of 56 passes, he’s far away from living up to his monster contract and the fact his O-line was dreadful doesn’t help either. Don’t peg the Eagles in as NFC East faves just yet, there’s still much left to see.
Rams 23
Lions 27
The Lions are coming off a season that was highly successful by their standards but now the time for elevation has come and it’s gonna take more than just a playoff trip to appease fans. Matt Stafford played very mediocre ball, as did Rams QB Sam Bradford as the game came down to the final 10 seconds of play in which the Lions were ultimately victorious. The Rams don’t show signs of being as horrendous as they were last season with just 2 victories, but they still don’t seem to be out of the doldrums either with Sam Bradford ready to lead the team as looked to be the case in his rookie year. The Lions have a difficult road ahead as they’re locked in one of the league’s toughest divisions and it’ll be a huge testament to them if they can remain contenders down the stretch.
Texans 30
Dolphins 10
I already penciled in the Texans as my AFC favorite to reach the Superbowl, and they backup my choice by displaying that shut down defense I so raved about previously. Now, given they were just playing the vaunted Dolphins with Ryan Tannehill more interesting in throwing to the opposing team instead of his own, but the fact remains the Texans have come out strong. The fact that Schaub is fresh off signing a 4-year extension with the team may have also played a role in his performance. They received a total team effort from Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and Arian Foster.
Falcons 40
Chiefs 24
Matt Ryan did his part in the Falcons defeat over the Chiefs with his three touchdown night, which Julio Jones being right there with him. The Chiefs got off to a decent start but the offensive prowess of the Falcons overpowered them and they went the 2nd half without any effort at all. The Falcons are a team who cannot be judged fully until the playoffs come, they’re a team in desperate need of a post season win. The Chiefs are a team with a good core but just no real star power at Quarterback, the ho-hum play style of Matt Cassell is just not getting the job done for them.
Vikings 26
Jaguars 23
The not so sexy match of the day featured the Vikings at home taking on the Blaine Gabbert lead Jaguars. Adrian Peterson made a triumphant return to the team early after a knee injury left doubt around when he would start. Not only was Peterson there for his tea, but he delivered for them as well two touchdowns. The game was a dramatic one which ended up going to overtime, Christian Ponder still left a lot to be desired as he started the game a bit unsteadily but then finished well with 20 out of 27 complete passes for 270 yards. Listen, I’m sorry if you’re a fan either of these teams but the fact that they’ll probably win a combined 8 games (being generous) shouldn’t be that much of a shock.
Redskins 40
Saints 32
All hail Robert Griffin III as his presence in the NFL has officially been felt. A rookie QB came into Drew Brees’s den and outplayed him in drama fashion. While I won’t exactly call the Redskins ‘back’ their performance was highly impressive and much of it is accredited to the leadership and talent of RG3. Griffin showed a variety of tactics in his approach to the game, he was a stellar passer amassing 320 yards, and showing off his ability to break from out of the pocket and make plays on the move in which he ran for 42 yards. Saints fans should breathe easy however as Brees was still largely Brees with three thrown TD’s and 339 yards thrown for. Time will only tell with RG3’s progression and how the Redskins continue to adapt to him under center but if game one’s any real impression then expect a very fascinating NFC East race down the stretch.
Bills 28
Jets 48
The Jets made it rain on the Bills in surprising fashion. After what was initially thought to be ‘typical’ Sanchez after an early pick the Jets quickly rebounded and then proceeded to lay the hammer on the Bills. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a nightmarish game in which he threw 3 picks. Sanchez on the other hand held a QB rating of 97.1 with three touchdowns. The Jets couldn’t buy a touchdown in the preseason and in their first real game of the year answer the media’s knocks on the questionable offense. While I’m still very unsure about what the exact purpose of the wild cat is, if the jets continue getting monster play from the likes of Shonn Greene and Jeremy Kerley then they’ll be one of the biggest teams to keep on eye on.
Patriots 34
Titans 13
This was a game which offered no surprises as Brady was his typical other worldly self and the Titans just wilted under the pressure. Brady threw for two touchdowns, and despite the uncertainty surrounding his o-line he was sacked just once. The Patriots still very much deserve to be favorited in the AFC East, but whether or not they can go on another long run that’s not just smoke and mirrors hidden behind the greatness that is Brady is something that remains to be seen.
Seahawks 16
Cardinals 20
The Kevin Colb led Cardinals eked away with a win against the Seahawks and rookie QB Russell Wilson. Kolb showed promise as he was replacing starting QB John Skleton and kept them in the game despite 13 consecutive points from the Seahawks. The Cardinals still are in the midst of rebuilding mode after missing out the Peyton Manning sweepstakes they were heavily staked in, but there situation is more promising that the Seahawks who are in a funk of the worst kind. Between constantly drafting of young players looking and begging for something or someone to stick to becoming a haven for washed up receiving dues to coach Pete Caroll’s desire to cause a media splash.
49’ers 30
Packers 22
The mighty packers who ESPN the Magazine even predicted to go undefeated well…didn’t. They lost their home and season opener to the San Francisco 49’ers lead by shoo in Hall of Famer Alex Smith (I jest). So what’s the deal with the Packers, yes Aaron Rodgers is still brilliant and yes the team is still very stacked but they seem to be lacking a step from their remarkable season of last year. Frankly the shoddy defense of the Packers is really just rearing it’s ugly head as they failed to contain the 49’ers vast array of offensive options. I think it’s safe to say or soon will be safe to say the 49’ers have become the best team in the NFC, they’re certainly the most complete. Smith was 20 of 26 as Randy Moss, Frank Gore, David Ackers all came up big–yes Randy Moss too. The brewing rivalry between the two teams is far from over as I believe they’re wage for honor of being regarded as the best team not only in the NFC but league as a whole.
Panthers 10
Buccaneers 16
Another unattractive matchup that got only more ugly from the performance of Cam Newton. Newton threw two picks in the frustrating game in which the Panthers did the opposite of what they had wished to do: start of slow. The tough loss to the Buccaneers surely puts them at a disadvantage, but if it’s any consolation to the Bucs and new coach Greg Schiano they start off the season with a W and some positive signs from the defense. If only they could straight out Josh Freeman now.
Steelers 19
Broncos 31
The Broncos come up huge and get a rousing victory from the Steelers. Peyton Manning was as fresh as when he last played as he completed 19 of 26 passes. The hero of the night had to be Cornerback Tracey Porter who picked off an ensuing Steelers drive and resulted in the game winning Touchdown for the Broncos. The game was also special in that Manning threw his 400th career touchdown, it’s official: Peyton is back. This is just the kind of start the Broncos hoped to get off to after making their move for Peyton and dropping fan favorite Tebow.