NFL - Week One Review

Peyton Manning shined in the season debut

It was a tale of two quarterbacks on Sunday in the NFL as Robert Griffin III and Peyton Manning showed just what they can do on the field.
Manning showed no real signs of rust at all after missing all of last season, passing for 253 yards and a pair of touchdown passes in leading the Denver Broncos to a 31-19 home victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Meanwhile, Griffin (or RG3 as he is also known) passed for an NFL rookie record 320 yards with two touchdown passes, including an 88-yard scoring strike to Pierre Garcon as the Washington Redskins stunned the host New Orleans Saints, 40-32. Griffin outshined the legendary Saints QB Drew Brees in the win.

In fact, Manning and Griffin III are the Heftyinfo NFL co-Players of the Week for their performances.

RG3 set a rookie passing record in the opening game

Speaking of big performances in Week One, the New York Jets exploded for 48 points while blasting the Buffalo Bills, 48-28 behind Mark Sanchez passing for 266 yards and three touchdown passes, including two to rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill. The Jets' defense intercepted three passes, including one for a score by Antonio Cromartie. Bills' RB C.J. Spiller had a 56-yard touchdown run and finished with 169 yards rushing in the loss . . .  The Chicago Bears rolled past the visiting Indianapolis Colts, 41-21 behind Jay Cutler throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns, including one each to receivers Brandon Marshall and rookie Alshon Jeffery. The Chicago defense intercepted Colts' rookie QB Andrew Luck three times in the win . . . The San Francisco 49ers defense throttled the host Green Bay Packers, 30-22, limiting the Packers to just 324 total yards in offense. Frank Gore rushed for 112 yards and a score for the 49ers while Randy Moss (after sitting out last season) caught a touchdown pass from Alex Smith. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers was bothered all game long (sacked three times) while passing for 303 yards with two TD and one interception. San Francisco kicker David Akers tied the NFL record with a 63-yard field goal to close the first half.
New England won at Tennessee behind QB Tom Brady (236 yards and two TD passes) and running back Stevan Ridley, who gained 125 yards on the ground with a TD and a defensive effort that limited Titans' RB Chris Johnson to just four yards rushing in the game. The Patriots defense also scored a touchdown off a fumble return  . . . Detroit overcame a sour start by QB Matthew Stafford (three picks) to rally in the closing seconds for a 27-23 home victory against St. Louis.  Stafford connected with Kevin Smith on a five-yard scoring pass for the win . . . Atlanta went into Kansas City and dismantled the Chiefs, 40-24 behind QB Matt Ryan, who threw for 299 yards and three scores and ran for a touchdown as well . . . The Houston Texans cruised past visiting Miami, 30-10 as the Dolphins were limited to just 275 yards in offense, including 79 yards rushing. Texans' RB Arian Foster ran for two touchdowns while the defense sacked Miami rookie QB Ryan Tannehill three times and also intercepted three passes in the win.

Tony Romo

Tampa Bay outlasted the Carolina Panthers, 16-10 behind Doug Martin (95 yards rushing) and a Bucs' defense held the Panthers to just ten rushing yards in the win . . . Minnesota rode the legs of rookie kicker Blair Walsh (four field goals, including game tying 55-yarder at end of regulation and the winning kick in OT) and running back Adrian Peterson, who ran for two scores while gaining 84 yards while coming back from knee surgery in the off season to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 26-23 in overtime . . . Arizona topped the visiting Seattle Seahawks, 20-16 as reserve QB Kevin Kolb stepped up when starter John Skelton was injured and found WR Andre Roberts for a six-yard TD pass to decide the game . . . Philadelphia struggled but finally emerged with a 17-16 win at Cleveland as Eagles' QB Michael Vick was intercepted four times. Browns' rookie starting QB Brandon Weeden was also picked off four times in this turnover filled game.
The NFL opener last Wednesday night saw the Dallas Cowboys, behind QB Tony Romo's three touchdown passes, beat the New York Giants on the road, 24-17. Romo threw for 307 yards while running back DeMarco Murray gained 131 yards rushing and WR Kevin Ogletree hauled in  eight passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Giants' QB Eli Manning was limited to 213 yards passing and one scoring pass in the loss.
The Monday Night Football games for Week One saw the Baltimore Ravens roll to an easy home win, 44-13 over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns while running back Ray Rice scored two rushing touchdowns. The Ravens defense recorded four sacks and also scored a touchdown when safety Ed Reed took an interception back 34 yards. 
Out West, the San Diego Chargers scored a road victory to open the season, beating the Oakland Raiders, 22-14 behind five field goals by Nate Kaeding and a touchdown pass from QB Philip Rivers (231 pass yards) to Malcolm Floyd. Raiders' running back Darren McFadden had 13 catches in the loss.