The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-1 in the NFL

1. Clearly the reports of Peyton Manning's demise were greatly exaggerated. The Steelers learned that the hard way Sunday night. Manning showed arm strength, accuracy, touch, intelligence, and more importantly, proved he could take a hit against Pittsburgh's blitzing defense. This was vintage Manning, especially in the 2nd half, and the rest of the league is officially on notice.

2. Believe it or not, Tim Tebow had just 8-more yards rushing in week-1 than Peyton Manning. In his Jets debut, Tebow carried the ball 5-times for 11-yards. Manning finished with 3-yards on 4-carries. See...they do still have a QB with the ability to scramble in Denver.

3. Don't feel bad Andrew Luck. Your introduction to the NFL regular season went according to script. What do I mean by that? Luck's first game was eerily similar to Peyton Manning's with the Colts back in 1998. Feel free to cue the Twilight Zone music.
Luck: 23 of 45-passing, 309-yards, 1-TD, 3-INT
Manning: 21-37-passing, 302-yards, 1-TD, 3-INT

4. There aren't enough adjectives to describe how well Redskins rookie QB Robert Griffin III played in a very tough environment. The Saints were undefeated in the Superdome last season, and 19-5 at home over the last three years. All Griffin did was waltz into the place, throw for 320-yards with 2-TD's, and run for another 42-yards in Washington's 40-32 victory over New Orleans. What stood out most to me though, beyond his athletic ability and rocket arm, was his poise. Griffin never committed the big mistake, even when the Saints made it a game in the 4th quarter. That was impressive.

5. If Andy Reid's trying to ensure Michael Vick won't make it through 16-games, he's doing a good job of it. Vick threw a career high 56-passes in the Eagles season opening win against the Browns. Afterwards, Reid claimed Vick looked "rusty." Better rusty than incapacitated. We all know Vick's not the most durable of QB's. Reid would do well to remember that going forward.

6. Vick wasn't the only QB airing it out in week-1. A total of 12-quarterbacks had 35 or more pass attempts. 7 of them threw at least 40-times. To say this is a passing league isn't a cliche...it's a fact.

7. I understand the replacement officials are far from perfect, but I don't want to hear guys like Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka and Bills defensive end Mario Williams crying about it. The Giants and Bills lost their season openers because they were outplayed by the Cowboys and Jets. The refs had nothing to do with it.

8. Speaking of the Bills, they should be very concerned about QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. He threw 16-INT's in Buffalo's final 9-games last season, and that trend continued Sunday. Fitzpatrick was picked off 3-times against the Jets, including one that was returned for a touchdown. That 6-year 59-million dollar extension doesn't look like such a bargain anymore.

9. Say this for Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan...he's honest. Ryan joined me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive following Atlanta's convincing win in Kansas City. When I asked if he was trying to get veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez a touchdown in Gonzalez's return to KC, Ryan said: "Yeah...Luckily they finally gave him some one on one coverage on the play he scored on."

10. If the Seahawks are looking for another wide-receiver, they might want to turn to starting cornerback Richard Sherman. His ability to hang onto the ball and keep both feet in bounds during a 3rd quarter interception of John Skelton Sunday was a thing of beauty.

11. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Brandon Weeden. In his pro debut, the Browns QB completed just 12 of 35-passes for 118-yards with 0-TD's and 4-INT's. Forget NFL ready, Weeden didn't look CFL ready.

12. Vikings kicker Blair Walsh's first NFL game couldn't have gone any better. Walsh hit all 4 of his field goal attempts, including a 55-yarder to force overtime. Then he nailed a 38-yard field goal in the extra session, which proved to be the margin of victory. However, Walsh did admit to me he wasn't quite sure about the new overtime rules: "I kind of had an inclination it wasn't the game winner, but it took me a minute or two to realize the rules had changed."

13. Anybody still believe the Jets have a quarterback controversy? I didn't think so.

14. The Raiders Travis Goethel should have back up long snapper removed from his job title immediately. Goethel rolled more gutter balls back to punter Shane Lechler than my 8-year old son does in the bowling alley.

15. The two most impressive teams I saw in week-1 were coached by John and Jim Harbaugh. What's scary for the rest of the league is the Ravens and 49ers, who should both have outstanding defenses again, looked more than capable offensively. Quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Alex Smith looked as comfortable and confident as I've ever seen them. Combined they completed 41 of 55-passes for 510-yards with 4-TD's and 0-INT's.