NFL: Thoughts About the First Sunday

Note: As the school year began, I failed to render my NFL predictions.  Thus, they have been listed below as I had predicted before the season started, with the teams' current records after yesterday in parenthesis.

Last week, waking up on Monday was the best feeling in the world, knowing that in just four short days, the NFL season would be upon us.  And after the Giants beat the 'Skins on Thursday night, I could feel tremors of psychitude rock my body (a la Barney Stinson) because the first Sunday of NFL season was almost here.

Now, that Sunday has come and gone, and it made for one of the most exciting opening weekends in recent memory.  Here's a look at what occurred on the most glorious day of the year.

Five Best

1. Chicago Bears

Yes, maybe the Bears don't belong as the best team from Sunday.  But take into account the fact that no one had them winning on Sunday.  And I mean no one outside of Chicago.  Hell, even people in Chicago didn't have them winning.

Every major analyst put the Bears' chances of winning this game at slim to none, and the reasons they gave were valid ones: Kyle Orton is starting, Matt Forte is a rookie, and their receivers could be outplayed by a local high school team.  But what did the Bears do? They relied on that old Bears formula: run and run.

Matt Forte brought back thoughts of Walter Payton, as he was the first rookie to start at running back since the great No. 34, and ran all over the Colts for 123 yards and a TD.

Orton managed the game well, which is all Lovie Smith asked for, and improved to 13-6 as a starter.  If the Bears keep using this formula, which propelled them to the Super Bowl in 2006, the league better watch out.  

2. Atlanta Falcons

Do I need to write an explanation?  Matt Ryan, the rookie from Boston College, starting his first game.  A new head coach.  New running back.  New team attitude.  And what do they do?  They put up 34 on the Lions.

Sure, it's the Lions.  But 34 points?!  Matt Ryan's first pass of his NFL career was a 62-yarder to Michael Jenkins.  Oh, and let's not forget about Michael Turner, who destroyed the Lions' defense, going for 220 yards on 22 carries.

The Falcons won't have many games like this, but the future has to look good for Atlanta fans.

3. Buffalo Bills

A trendy pick for that last wildcard spot in the AFC, it wasn't the fact that the Bills beat the Seahawks; it was how they beat them.  This game wasn't even close.

Roscoe Parrish returned a punt for 63 yards, Trent Edwards

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