NFL Opening Weekend: 10 Observations From Sunday's Action
The 2010 NFL regular season is now underway after the conclusion of Sunday's action.
Football is back, baby!
Sunday's Week 1 action brought nothing but excitement to NFL fans everywhere.
Every team has hope and belief of hoisting this years trophy again.
Who surprised and disappointed everyone in the opening weekend?
Here are 10 thoughts from Sunday's action. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more NFL updates. twitter.com/MattMiselis.
The Houston Texans Proved They Are A Team To Be Dealt With
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After Sunday's win over division rival Indianapolis, I am officially sold on my prediction of the Houston Texans making the playoffs.
Not only did they open eyes to the average football fan, but opened eyes within the conference as a true contender in the AFC.
Yes, it may be only one game, but the Texans played great on both sides of the ball.
Top off your hat to Arian Foster. I knew Houston was going to run the ball, but the running game carried the Texans to the victory.
Couple that with Matt Schaub and the Texans passing offense, this may be one of the more balanced units by seasons end.
The biggest surprise though, was the defense of the Texans. Not only did they put pressure on Peyton Manning, but the young secondary stepped up their game with creating turnovers, especially in the fourth quarter.
A Quarterback Controversy Continues In Philadelphia
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If you thought Philly fans were upset with the switch to Kevin Kolb this season, that statement is even more convincing in Week 1.
After Kolb was knocked out with a concussion, Michael Vick played like the Pro Bowler we used to know him as.
He brought this Eagles a team a spark, and almost came back from a 17-point deficit against Green Bay.
Don't be surprised to hear Eagles fans calling for his name throughout radio shows everywhere this week.
The Green Bay Packers Looked Disappointing In Season Opener
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Sticking with the Packers-Eagles game, things did not start well for the biggest pick to represent the NFC this year.
Despite holding on to beat the Eagles, the Packers did not play anything close to all the hype they have received.
Other than a few touchdowns, the offense lacked fire power. The offensive line had trouble dealing with the Eagles blitz.
Ryan Grant also went down with injury, bringing a caution to Packers fans as well.
The defense did play solid overall, but there are still questions within the Green Bay secondary that need to be answered.
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Chris Johnson Makes Early Statement To 2000 Yards Once Again
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Chris Johnson for two straight 2,000-yard seasons? It may not be as crazy as we think.
Johnson exploded on opening weekend against an Oakland Raiders team that looked to be on the rise after offseason moves.
We knew the Raiders run defense was questionable, but it looked to be improved after the draft and free agency.
Many feel the Titans are a playoff team in the AFC, and this guy will be the biggest component of the success.
The Oakland Raiders Are Off To a Tough Start In 2010
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Wow. What a flop were the Oakland Raiders on opening weekend.
I'll admit it. I picked the Raiders to upset the Titans in Week 1, and I failed miserably.
First off, Chris Johnson ran all over the defense, setting up the passing game for Vince Young and company.
The offense had trouble in the first week of the year, mainly because the young receivers did not play as well as needed to win.
I penciled in Oakland at 8-8 this year. It needs to show it is worthy of a .500 team this year.
Tom Brady And Patriots Earn Revenge In Domination of Bengals
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On Sunday, the talk coming in was about the debut of Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.
At the end, it was about the Patriots getting off to a hot start.
New England rebounded after losing in the playoffs at home last year against the Ravens.
The Patriots got onto a great start against the defending AFC North champs, going up as much as 28 points.
Though Carson Palmer made the score a little reasonable late, Bill Belichick had his team to ready to play.
Largely in part to the next slide...
The Return Of Wes Welker Sparks New England In Its Victory
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The big question facing the Patriots offense this season was the return of Wes Welker.
After tearing his ACL in week 17 of the regular season, it would have been understandable to see a slow return to the game.
However, Welker was ready to play and he showed the potential he brings in the win over the Bengals.
Welker led the team with eight catches, for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
He showed his dominance in the slot, which should go a long way if New England wishes to repeat as division champions this season.
Many Are Disappointed In The Debut Of Tim Tebow
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The anticipated debut of Tim Tebow was a huge disappointment for most NFL fans that are in love with the former Gator quarterback.
Playing in the state of Florida in his first NFL game, a packed crowd was hopeful to see Tebow get some action in the game.
Tebow only managed to get two yards on two rushes, as he continues to improve in Josh McDaniel's new packages.
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions Were Robbed By Missed Touchdown
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On Monday Night Countdown this week, someone better give the refs in the Lions-Bears game a "Come on, man."
With under 30 seconds left in the game, a pass to Calvin Johnson in the end zone should have given the rising Detroit Lions a lead over division rival Bears.
Instead, the refs ruled it incomplete, despite Johnson having full control of the ball for the entire landing.
Who knows what this could do to the team's confidence, especially a team looking to get back to its winning ways.
The NFC West Is Completely Wide Open
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On Sunday, we found out the NFC West is going to be closer than we thought. More importantly, many be hopping off the pick of the 49ers winning the division.
San Francisco got embarrassed on the road against Pete Carroll's Seahawks 31-6. Neither side of the ball showed up for Mike Singletary's squad, while Seattle is gaining confidence under its new coach.
As for the Cardinals-Rams game, Sam Bradford came up short of leading his team to victory. Despite throwing three interceptions, he had poise in the pocket and hooked up with Mark Clayton for over 100 yards in the game.
However, Derek Anderson was a little bit better, hooking up with different receivers in route to the four-point victory.
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