Week 1 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…


Tom Brady, QB, Patriots -- Showed the NFL who’s boss with 517 passing yards and 4 TDs with just one INT. Sheesh.
Drew Brees, QB, Saints -- Actually out-paced Rodgers in Thursday’s slugfest, with 419 yards, 3 TDs and no turnovers.
Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins -- Couldn’t keep up with Brady, but still threw for 416 yards and 2 TDs, and ran for 59 yards and a third TD.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers -- Passed for 312 yards and 3 TDs without an INT.
Matt Stafford, QB, Lions -- Thumped the Bucs with 305 yards, 3 TDs and one INT.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills -- Collected 4 TDs with his 208 passing yards.
Michael Vick, QB, Eagles -- Passed for 187 yards and 2 TDs, and ran for 97 yards.

Mike Tolbert, RB, Chargers -- Notched a TD trifecta, with 35 rushing yards and 9 catches for 58 more. Not bad for a backup.
Ray Rice, RB, Ravens -- Amassed 107 yards rushing, 42 receiving yards on 4 catches, and scored both ways.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles -- Scored rushing and receiving, and totaled 112 yards.
Matt Forte, RB, Bears -- Rushed for 68 yards, and caught 5 passes for 90 yards and a TD.

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers -- Made fast friends with Newton, catching 8 passes for 178 yards and 2 scores.
Wes Welker, WR, Patriots -- Teamed with Brady for 160 yards and 2 TDs (including one for 99 yards) on 8 balls.
Kenny Britt, WR, Titans -- Torched the Jags for 136 yards and 2 TDs on 5 catches.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions -- Turned 6 passes into 88 yards and 2 scores.
Devery Henderson, WR, Saints -- Led Thursday night’s receivers with 100 yards and 1 TD.

Ravens defense -- Compiled 4 fumble recoveries, 3 INTs, four sacks and held Pittsburgh to 7 measly points.
49ers defense/special teams -- Forced three turnovers, notched 5 sacks and enjoyed two electrifying return scores courtesy of Ted Ginn.

This was a great week to play against…

Donovan McNabb, QB, Vikings -- Just awful, with 39 passing yards, 30 rushing yards, a TD and an INT.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers -- Passed for 280 yards and 1 TD, but added 3 INTs and 2 fumbles.
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons -- Threw for 319 yards, but had no scores and 2 turnovers.
Sam Bradford, QB, Rams -- Only had 188 passing yards before getting hurt, lost 15 yards rushing and lost a fumble.


LeGarrette Blount, RB, Bucs -- Just 15 stinking yards.
Shonn Greene, RB, Jets -- Combined for only 33 yards, while taking a back seat mostly to LT.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers -- Limited to 30 rushing yards while Newton stole the show.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers -- Held to a paltry 45 yards, and he fumbled.
Joseph Addai, RB, Colts -- Mustered just 52 combined yards without Manning.
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans -- The rusty multi-millionaire had only 24 rushing yards, and added 6 catches for 25 more.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks -- Combined for 47 total yards.
Frank Gore, RB, 49ers -- Ran for 59 yards and caught 3 passes for 19 yards.

Lee Evans, WR, Ravens -- Held without a catch.
Austin Collie, WR, Colts -- Ditto.
Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers -- His sole reception went for 4 yards.
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Rams -- Had a 5-yard catch in his St. Louis debut.
Chad Ochocinco, WR, Patriots -- Managed to disappear in an aerial frenzy with one 14-yard catch.
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs -- Just 2 catches for 17 yards.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles -- One 20-yard catch, but at least he played.
Braylon Edwards, WR, 49ers -- Began his SF career with 3 catches for 27 yards.
Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers -- Held to 2 balls for 31 yards.

Owen Daniels, TE, Texans -- Had just one 12-yard catch during Houston’s romp.

Nate Kaeding, K, Chargers -- Lost for the year after his first kickoff.

I didn’t see that coming…

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers -- Set a rookie debut record with 422 passing yards, plus 18 rushing yards and 3 total TDs, with just 1 INT.

Randall Cobb, WR, Packers -- The rookie caught 2 passes for 35 yards and a score, and returned a kickoff 108 yards for a second TD.

Scott Chandler, TE, Bills -- Burst onto the scene with 5 catches for 63 yards and 2 scores.