NFL Week One Roundup: Colts, Texans Start Strong

Take a deep breath boys and girls, Week One is over. 

The NFL's opening weekend delivered upsets, shootouts, defensive struggles, and plenty of controversy. 

Here's a look at the ups, downs, and in-betweens, plus a few game balls and a look ahead to the biggest Week Two matchups.

Ups

Indianapolis Colts

Is it just me, or are the Colts defending Super Bowl champions? 

Yes, they lost several “key” players in the offseason—but Indy put the doubts to rest with a dominant performance Thursday night against the Saints. 

Joseph Addai looks like the real deal, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne again proved that they’re the best receiving duo in the league (sorry Chad and T.J.), and Peyton, well...looked like Peyton.  

I know what the Patriots and Chargers did in the offseason, but how can you overlook a defending Super Bowl champ that just dominated a team many think will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl?

Houston Texans

Yes—those Texans, no longer the laughing stock of the league, rudely greeted a Chiefs team that may be heading in the wrong direction...but I digress. 

New head coach Gary Kubiak seems to have learned quite a bit under Mike Shanahan in Denver. On offense, Matt Schaub and Ahman Green have arrived to help explosive wideout Andre Johnson. An underrated defense, lead by recent first-day draft picks Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans, seems to be playing fast and fearless. 

I’m cautiously optimistic, as the Texans suffered another season-ending injury in the secondary. One thing’s for sure, though—the Texans are on the rise, even if they need a few more years to be great.

Downs

New Orleans, Philadelphia, St. Louis

Three NFC teams that came into the season with high hopes got off to rough starts in Week One. 

Yes, the Saints got a tough break with the defending champs on the road, but the Eagles struggled against a mediocre Packer team.

Donovan McNabb looked mediocre himself; Bryan Westbrook could only muster 85 yards; and the wide receiver corps, while decent, obviously lacks a playmaker in the T.O. mold.

St. Louis, a quiet Super Bowl contender, didn't look ready to play a game. Marc Bulger was held to under 200 yards on 42 attempts, and Steven Jackson averaged 3.2 YPC en route to 58 yards rushing. 

Are the Panthers finally playing like we all thought they would, or has St. Louis merely paid more attention to their hype than their schedule? Maybe Week Two will clear it up.   

NY Giants, New England, Cleveland

The Giants lost a game in which Eli Manning looked like the real deal. The only problem is he left halfway through the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury that could keep him out a month. 

The Giants defense was horrible, despite the return of Michael Strahan. Injuries will decimate a team that was 7-9 at best. I wonder who they’ll bring in to replace Tom Coughlin at the end of the year. 

As for New England—the “class” of the league is involved in a controversy involving an alleged video recording of the Jets' signals. Yes, I’m sure it happens in other organizations—but come on, was that REALLY necessary to beat the Jets? 

You’re better than that New England. 

And the Dawg Pound: You trade away your Week One starter...two days after Week One? Romeo Crennell might be joining Coughlin in the unemployment line at the end of the year.

Game Balls

Peyton Manning, QB (IND)—Year after year, we get the same Peyton.

Mike Tomlin, head coach (PIT)—Congratulations on your first win, coach.

Matt Schaub, QB (HOU)—Schaub's just thankful he’s not in the mess in Atlanta.

Robert Geathers, DE (CIN)—Proved why he got a big contract in the offseason.

Tony Romo, QB (DAL)—Against a week defense, looked like the real deal.

Top Five Teams

AFC: Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers                                                                                          

NFC: Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks

What to Watch

The five Week Two games you won’t want to miss!
 
1) San Diego at New England— 8:15PM, NBC

2) Indianapolis at Tennessee—1:00PM, CBS

3) Buffalo at Pittsburgh—1:00PM, CBS

4) Houston at Carolina—1:00PM, CBS

5) San Francisco at St. Louis—1:00PM, FOX