NFL Sunday: Week #1

Quarterbacks are the marquee players in the NFL and they were in the spotlight on Sunday in the first weekend of NFL games.

The news wasn’t very positive for three starting QBs. As everyone knows by now New England’s Tom Brady suffered a left knee injury that threatens the rest of his season. Chiefs starter Brodie Croyle went down with a separated right shoulder and is likely out for a month. In Tennessee, Vince Young suffered an injury to a ligament in his left knee and is likely out for two-to-four weeks.

That’s one weekend, three starting quarterbacks already out of commission. It’s a tough job.

But not so tough that two rookie QBs couldn’t help lead their teams to victories in their first regular season games. In Atlanta, Matt Ryan got a lot of help from RB Michael Turner as the Falcons crushed Detroit. In Baltimore, Joe Flacco got just as much assistance from his defense as the Ravens beat up Cincinnati.

“He was very composed,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said of Ryan. “Way, way back when we were doing our due diligence and we met with Matt, you knew this guy has something about him. He was very calm, cool and collected. We knew he had the skill set as far as throwing the football, running and operating an offense. I thought Matt did a very good job today.”

The Falcons scored touchdowns on its first three possessions for a 21-0 lead. Ryan threw to WR Michael Jenkins on the third offensive snap of the game for a 62-yard TD pass.

“We wanted to start fast and we were able to do that,” said Ryan.

Flacco was thrust into a starting role because of a season-ending shoulder injury to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith’s infected tonsils. He operated the system of new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron quite well, completing 15 of 29 passes for 129 yards. Most important statistic was no interceptions. Flacco scored a touchdown on a 38-yard scramble in the third quarter.

“It’s just football. It’s a lot of fun, though, just like it’s always been,” said Flacco. “I think our offense was in control all day. And obviously we had a lot of help from our defense.”

Things were not much fun for a couple NFL veteran quarterbacks. Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck did not play all through the pre-season and it showed, as he went 17 of 41 for 190 yards, one TD and one INT, a 53.9 passer rating. Things were worse for Carson Palmer, as the Cincinnati QB was 10 of 25 for 99 yards and an INT, for a 35.2 passer rating.

Throw Jacksonville’s David Garrard into that group. He threw just three interceptions last season, but he was picked twice by Tennessee’s Cortland Finnegan in the opener. Garrard also lost a fumble that was recovered by the Titans.

But Carolina’s Jake Delhomme, coming off major shoulder surgery, had a great return. Delhomme hit 23 of 41 passes for 247 yards, including the game winning TD with no time on the clock to TE Dante Rosario.

Here’s a look at some memorable performances from Sunday’s NFL action.

Injuries

Brady … Croyle … Young … Baltimore CB Corey Ivy (leg) … Jacksonville Gs Maurice Williams (biceps) and Vince Manuwai (knee) … Jets kicker Mike Nugent (thigh) … Seattle RB Maurice Morris (knee) … Seattle WR Nate Burleson (knee) … Dallas RB Marion Barber (ribs) … Indianapolis RB Joseph Addai (head trauma) … Indy TE Dallas Clark (knee) … Detroit LB Ernie Sims (ankle) … Tampa Bay LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring) … New Orleans DT Antwan Lake (groin) … Cleveland WR Donte Stallworth (groin).

Performances to Remember

Atlanta ran for 318 yards on 42 carries a 7.6-yard per carry average against Detroit, as Michael Turner had a club record 220 yards on 22 carries.

Philadelphia threw the ball at will against St. Louis, as Donovan McNabb hit 21 of 22 passes for 361 yards and three TDs, a 131.0 passer rating. Three different Eagles receivers caught passes for over 100 yards: WR DeSean Jackson (six for 106), TE Greg Lewis (five for 104) and WR Hank Baskett (two for 102, including a 90-yard TD.)

New Orleans RB Reggie Bush had 22 touches for 163 yards, including a 42-yard TD pass against Tampa Bay.

Pittsburgh RB Willie Parker ran 25 times for 138 yards and three TDs and QB Ben Roethlisberger hit 13 of 14 passes for 132 yards and 2 TDs in victory over Houston.

Tennessee’s defense stifled Jacksonville, allowing only 189 yards, just 33 rushing yards, and forcing seven sacks and three turnovers. DT Albert Haynesworth and DT Tony Brown each had two sacks.

 

Performances to Forget

Cincinnati had just 154 yards in total offense against Baltimore. At one point, the Bengals offense had five consecutive possessions where they went three plays and out.

Al Saunders first game as offensive coordinator of the St. Louis will not go in his scrapbook, as the Rams totaled just 166 yards against Philadelphia. They had just 36 yards rushing and QB Marc Bulger was sacked four times.

Longest Plays

Philadelphia WR Hank Baskett combined with QB Donovan McNabb for a 90-yard TD play against St. Louis.

New Orleans WR Devry Henderson caught an 84-yard TD pass from Drew Brees against Tampa Bay.

The Chiefs WR Devard Darling caught a 68-yard pass against New England.

Atlanta RB Michael Turner had a 66-yard TD run against Detroit

Defense

Carolina’s Chris Gamble returned a fumble 31 yards for a TD against San Diego

Tampa Bay’s Philip Buchanon returned an interception 26 yards for a TD against New Orleans.

Chicago’s Lance Briggs returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown.

The Chicago defense earned a safety when it tackled Indy RB Joseph Addai in the end zone.

Pittsburgh LB James Harrison had three sacks, eight tackles, three tackles for minus yardage, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble against Houston.

Atlanta’s John Abaham had three sacks and three quarterback hurries against Detroit.

San Francisco LB Parys Haralson had 2.5 sacks, four tackles and three quarterback hurries against Arizona.

Former K-Stater Zach Diles, now a LB with Houston had 13 tackles against Pittsburgh. Teammate LB DeMeco Ryans had 12 tackles.

Cincinnati LB Keith Rivers had 10 tackles in his first NFL game, playing against Baltimore.

Special Teams

Buffalo was sensational in the kicking game scoring twice and forcing a turnover that set up another Bills TD. Punt returner Roscoe Parrish took back a punt 63 yards for a TD. He also set a club record with 120 yards on six punt returns. The Bills caught Seattle with a fake field goal, as holder P Brian Moorman threw a 19-yard TD pass to Ryan Denney.

Former Chiefs

Buffalo LB Kawika Mitchell had four tackles, a sack, two tackles for minus yardage and a quarterback hurry against Seattle … FB Boomer Grigsby had one special teams tackle for Miami against the Jets … New Orleans LB Scott Fujita had eight tackles and an INT against Tampa Bay … For the Buccaneers, DE Jimmy Wilkerson had one tackle and DT Ryan Sims was shutout … Dante Hall ran once for minus-4 yards, caught three passes for 13 yards and returned five kickoffs for 90 yards in St. Louis’ loss to Philadelphia … Pittsburgh LB Keyaron Fox played but did not make a tackle against Houston … San Diego TE Kris Wilson was inactive … Cleveland LB Kris Griffin was inactive.