The NFL's Top 10: Good and Bad Week 1 Performances
A wild week 1 in the NFL is finally complete. It delivered many surprises, a few wild upsets and as usual some questionable calls by the officials.
The opening weekend of play also featured the emergence of a few new stars, the opening of the New Meadowlands stadium and some head injuries that will cause the concussion debate to rage on.
Each week I will look at the top ten players, organizations and football personalities who had the best week and also ten who had a week to forget.
So here it is the top ten good and bad week one performances.
It Was a Bad Week For
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The NFL players, teams and employees who had a week they'd like to put behind them.
10. Shonn Greene and Ryan Mathews
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Both of these runners were given the task of replacing veteran running backs. So far they each fell flat on their face.
Greene gained just 18 yards on five carries in a lost to the Ravens on Monday. Making matters worse, he was benched in favor of aging veteran LaDanian Tomlinson after fumbling the ball early. One has to wonder whether the strength of the Ravens defense was the cause of the limited production. Although things don’t seem to be starting well for the young Greene and Tomlinson did a decent job of spelling him.
In San Diego, Ryan Mathews was picked by many to win the rookie of the year award. In the preseason he did a great job of winning the fans and his teammates over and many believe he is more than capable of replacing LaDanian Tomlinson. His week one performance wasn’t terrible; he carried the ball 19 times for 75 yards. Mathews did fumble the ball and wasn’t much of a factor in the second half. A few more lackluster performances and Bolts fans might be chanting LT!
9. San Francisco 49ers
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Thought to be the favorite in the NFC West, the 49ers got thumped on Sunday. The offense was inept and managed to only produce six points. Alex Smith was picked twice, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Frank Gore gained 38 yards on 17 carries and Michael Crabtree only had two catches.
The Defense figured to be the team’s strong point and did a good job containing Seattle early but couldn’t stop the Hawks from running the ball late in the game.
The season looks to only get tougher for the 49ers. They play the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints on Monday.
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8. Brett Favre
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He returned to the Superdome with hopes of avenging last year’s NFC title game loss. As was the case in January, Favre left New Orleans a loser. His decision to return for his 20th NFL season largely hinged on his belief this team could win a Super Bowl. They have only played one game but the Vikings do not look like the same team as last season. Part of that has to do with the fact that their top receiver Sidney Rice is out with a hip injury.
Favre looked out of sync with his receivers and at times completely overwhelmed by the moment. It has only been one week into Favre’s farewell tour but he does not appear to have the same jovial disposition that has allowed him to play for two decades. Only time will tell whether or not his decision to come back was a good one.
7. Concussions In Philadelphia
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Philadelphia lost their opening game to Green Bay 27-20. The Eagles also saw two key players on both sides of the ball go down with concussions.
Quarterback Kevin Kolb was pile driven into the turf by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. Kolb would get up under his own power but was done for the day after being diagnosed with a concussion.
An even scarier moment happened when linebacker Stewart Bradley was concussed. Bradley got up, stumbled and fell back down onto the ground face first.
Both men will be held out of practice until Friday and will be revaluated before Sunday’s game with Detroit.
6. Cowboys Offensive Line
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The Cowboys finished the game on Sunday with 12 penalties for 91 yards. None proved to be more costly than Alex Barron’s hold on Redskins defender Brian Orakpo. The holding penalty negated what would have been a game winning touchdown pass to Roy Williams. Barron had three holding penalties on the night but none proved more costly than the final one.
The Cowboys offensive line was the team’s biggest concern coming into the season. The line is sure to get a boost when tackle Marc Colombo and guard Kyle Kosier return from injuries. Until that time the Cowboys can count on having a few more bonehead plays from members of the line.
5. Colts Defense
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Whenever a defense gives up a record to an offensive player it’s a bad sign. The Colts allowed the Texans 355 yards of total offense and 23 first downs. Of the 355 yards they allowed, 231 of them were rush yards by Texans running back Arian Foster. The 231 rush yards allowed by the Colts defense is the most in franchise history.
The Texans O-Line pushed around the Colts defenders all day. The defense did manage to hold Matt Schaub to 107 pass yards and star receiver Andre Johnson only had 33 yards but it was Foster’s effort that broke the defense’s back.
The Colts defense suffered another blow when safety Bob Sanders tore his bicep. The injury to Sanders is a blow to an already reeling defense.
4. NFL Officials
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The life of an NFL official is not one to be envied. They must make split second decisions in a game that moves at a million miles per hour, they are often on the wrong end of some collisions and when they do receive press it is often for something negative.
In week 1 of the season they made thousands of close calls but only one will be discussed for the rest of the week. In Chicago, Calvin Johnson made what many believed was the game winning touchdown catch but the call on the field was ruled an incomplete pass. The officials reviewed the play but the call on the field stood.
According to the rule, the call was the correct one but the critics will continue to blast the zebras for weeks to come.
3. New York Jets
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If you talked to Rex Ryan and the fans of New York, You would think this Jets team is the second coming of the ’72 Dolphins. Not so fast, the Jets were only able to move the sticks six times and managed nine points against the Ravens on Monday. The defense was as good as advertised but the offense was atrocious at best.
The Big Green’s most productive offensive player was a thirty something backup running back. Tomlinson is a future Hall of Famer but at this juncture in his career, he should not be leading any team.
It was only one game and it was against one of the AFC’s top defenses but these Jets are supposed to be Super Bowl contenders. Not this year.
2. NFL P.R. Department
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The phone had to be ringing off the hook following a busy first week. There were allegations by a female reporter that she was harassed by Jets players while in their locker room. A story that was discussed over and over and it didn’t help that the Jets were playing in the spotlight of Monday Night Football.
There were a few players who suffered concussions which will definitely get the conversation going about the short and long term affects of head injuries. There was ongoing dialogue last season on what additional safety precautions the NFL planned on taking regarding players who suffered head injuries.
The Calvin Johnson dropped pass that many believed to be a touchdown will garner much criticism. The NFL rules committee might want to look into reviewing the rule.
Oh and there is the current labor dispute and fear of a lockout in 2011. The topic figures to loom overhead all season long.
1. Detroit Lions
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The Lions looked to be finally putting it all together. Their rookie running back had a pair of touchdowns, their 1st round draft pick, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, earned a sack and Calvin Johnson caught what appeared to be the game winning touchdown.
Instead the two touchdowns proved irrelevant, the sack was Suh’s only tackle of the game and the Calvin Johnson touchdown was ruled an incomplete pass. The Lions would lose the game and their quarterback Matthew Stafford was knocked out of the game with a separated throwing shoulder. The timetable for Stafford’s return is unknown and the Lions have to worry just a little that he could be their latest top draft pick to go BUST!
It Was a Good Week For
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The NFL players, teams and employees who wish the week could never end.
10. Mike Shanahan
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It was ugly but a win is a win especially if it’s against the Cowboys. Mike Shanahan began his latest coaching venture with a win. His team’s performance was hardly spectacular but they got the job done.
Many people picked the Cowboys not only as an NFC East favorite but as the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. A win over them puts Shanahan’s team in good standing after the first week of play.
Next up, a fired up Houston Texans team.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
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They only scored one touchdown and that was a 50-yard dash by Rashard Mendenhall in overtime. Still the Steelers know they need to make it through the first month of the season and then they get their quarterback back. The defense did an excellent job of holding Atlanta’s high-powered offense out of the end zone and quarterback Dennis Dixon wasn’t terrible. Dixon threw an interception but completed nearly seventy percent of his passes and didn’t put the Steelers in any bad spots. He looks to be at the very least, serviceable and has a veteran team to back him up.
Fans worried about what the Steelers would look like following a tumultuous off-season should rest assured. The Steelers look like the same smash-mouthed bunch that they’ve always been.
8. Seattle Seahawks
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Few knew what to expect from Pete Carroll’s bunch this season. One thing was for sure, few had them winning many games. The Seahawks had a massive overhaul of talent and a new coach, who was largely unproven in his previous professional stints.
The Seahawks ignored the press, survived a Matt Hasselbeck interception on their very first offensive play, and beat the 49ers up and down Quest Field. The defense stymied the 49ers offense and held one of the best running teams to 50 total rushing yards.
Week one may very well be an aberration but for now the Seahawks stand atop the NFC West.
7. Michael Vick
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His team lost but for Vick it was a blast to the past. Kevin Kolb left the game with a concussion and Vick was sensational in replacing him. He ran for 103 yards but his greatest contribution came from his arm. He threw for 175 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
Vick looked like the Pro Bowl quarterback from his Atlanta days. He dodged defenders, threw crisp and lightning quick passes and dazzled the crowd with big runs.
Andy Reid says he’s sticking with Kolb as the starter. If Kolb continues to struggle Reid can count on hearing chants of “Vick” from the Philadelphia fans.
6. Titans Offense
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Vince Young went 13 for 17 for 154 yards and two touchdowns. His best pass of the day was a 56 yard bomb to Nate Washington. Young would throw another touchdown to his tight end Bo Scaife.
The run game was equally impressive led by Chris Johnson. Johnson would break a 76 yard touchdown run just before halftime and follow it up with a short 3rd quarter touchdown scamper. Johnson finished the game with 142 yards. Backup running back Javon Ringer also scored on a 15 yard run.
The Titans gained 345 yards of total offense and appear to be a dangerous dual threat offense.
5. Hakeem Nicks
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He had four catches and three of them were touchdowns. The second year wide out from North Carolina had half as many touchdowns in week one as he did all of last season. He is emerging as New York’s top receiver and for the moment he seems to be Eli Manning’s top red zone target.
4. Tom Brady
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The week started with Brady getting a new $72 million dollar contract and ended with a beat down of the Cincinnati Bengals.
The new contract ended any conversation of Brady becoming a free agent. The win over Cincinnati ended the talks of New England no longer being contenders.
Brady was 25 of 35 for 258 yards and three touchdown passes. Even better for Brady, top target Wes Welker is nearly 100% healed from a torn ACL. Welker caught two of the three touchdown passes Brady threw.
New England looked great in week one and Brady is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game.
3. Chiefs Rookies
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Arrowhead stadium was rocking Monday night and the Chiefs put on quite a show for their fans. Kansas City would beat the heavily favored San Diego Chargers 21-14.
It was a game that saw the Chiefs hit the Chargers with a number of explosive plays. Many of these plays came via the return game. Rookie cornerback Javier Arenas had two punt returns for 60 yards both of which he came very close to turning into touchdowns. Arenas would also deflect two of Phillip Rivers passes.
Yet it was rookie running back Dexter McCluster who stole the show. McCluster would score the Chiefs final touchdown on a 94 yard punt return.
The Chiefs may have found two future stars in Arenas and McCluster.
2. Ravens Defense
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One thing is for sure, Ray Lewis has not lost a step nor has the Ravens defense. The Ravens held the Jets to six first downs and 176 total yards. Haloti Ngata harassed Mark Sanchez all day sacking him once. Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis delivered jaw jarring hits and had Jets receivers tip-toeing over the middle.
The biggest hit of the game came on the Jets final drive. Sanchez threw a good ball across the middle to his tight end Dustin Keller. Keller was then unloaded on by Ray Lewis and dropped the ball.
Baltimore’s defense appears to be as stingy as ever and will only get better when safety Ed Reed returns.
1. Arian Foster
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The second-best week 1 rushing performance ever. Foster carried the ball 33 times for 231 yards and three rushing touchdowns. The Colts defenders were falling all over the field and could not come up with an answer to slow down Foster.
Anyone who watched the Texans final two games of last season got to see the talent that Foster is. He ran for 216 yards combined in weeks 16 and 17. If there was any question of who the no.1 back in Houston is, Foster quickly answered that with his opening week performance.
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