Cam Newton and 5 Best Quarterback Performances Week 1

Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season produced a flurry of good quarterback performances. Some of them came from familiar faces like Aaron Rodgers, while other stat lines made everyone in the sports bar say, "Who is Ryan Fitzpatrick?"

Though only four quarterbacks had passer ratings above 100 for the 2010 season, 11 guys are in triple digits after their opening games.

It was a great passing day, and therefore, there were many good candidates to choose from. Isolating the best of the weekend is no easy feat, but that's exactly what we did. Here are the top five quarterback performances in Week 1.

5. Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins

What quarterback controversy? Rex Grossman made Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle look awfully smart Sunday, as he lifted the Washington Redskins past the New York Giants with a near-flawless performance.

Grossman was 21-of-34 for 305 yards and two touchdowns, and his numbers were hampered by several Anthony Armstrong (and one Jabar Gaffney) drops.

While everyone has been mocking the Redskins quarterback situation, Grossman reminded them Sunday that he has taken a team to the Super Bowl, and perhaps he deserves one more chance to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

4. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Who saw this one coming? Facing what was a solid defense a season ago, Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick played unbelievably well in a thrashing of the AFC West Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Fitzpatrick was 17-of-25 for 208 yards and four touchdowns. After one week, he leads the NFL in passer rating with a 133.0. This is quite astounding for a guy with a career passer rating of 74.6.

After showing vast improvement last season, this stellar debut of Fitzpatrick's may be a sign of good things to come in 2011 for the Bills.

3. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton silenced all his critics on Sunday, completing 24-of-37 passes for 422 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He added 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

While the Arizona Cardinals defense he faced certainly isn't impenetrable, this was still a fantastic debut. Newton played a surprisingly clean game while still making the big plays the Carolina Panthers are paying him for.

Perhaps most importantly, he got the ball to the fastidious Steve Smith, who needs to be kept happy if the Panthers are going to be better this season. Despite the loss, this was a big step forward for the Panthers and likely a confidence builder for Newton.

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Facing the fifth best passing defense from a year ago, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees did all he could Thursday to carry his team past the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

Brees was 32-of-49 for 419 yards and three touchdowns. These are astronomical numbers, especially considering he was lining up against Pro Bowlers Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson.

Drew Brees is an elite quarterback, and he showcased yet another elite performance in Week 1. While the Marques Colston and Lance Moore injuries may slow him down early on, expect Brees to be on this list often in weeks to come.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers did exactly what we've come to expect from him Thursday, slicing and dicing the New Orleans Saints defense to the tune of 312 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-25 passing.

Rodgers showed that neither a lack of organized offseason workouts or a Super Bowl hangover could keep his Green Bay Packers from returning to playoff form in Week 1.

Rodgers finished the 2010 season on top, and that's exactly where he starts in 2011.

Honorable Mentions: Joe Flacco, Michael Vick, Kevin Kolb, Matthew Stafford

There were an abundance of good quarterback performances in Week 1.

Joe Flacco's stifling of the loud-mouth Pittsburgh Steelers and Michael Vick's dual-threat clinic were tempting but not quite good enough.