NFL Week 1: 5 Games That Stood Out

Well, week 1 is over and these are the top 5 games that stood out the most according to DNS-NFL:

photo: Sky Sports.com

1. Packer at 49ers

The 49ers won the playoff rematch against the Packers 34-28 in week 1. QB, Colin Kaepernick was phenomenal in his season opening debut passing for 412 yards.

The most interesting piece to this game was how the Packers defense tried to intimidate Kaepernick. The mindset of Kaepernick is not one who can be intimidated. Even when LB Clay Mathews leaped on Kaepernick about five feet out of bounds, it still did not bother Kaepernick. To me, Mathews looked like the old National Wrestling Association wrestler Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka coming off the top ropes and landing on Kaepernick.

Note to the Packers D in future….just study the film a little more for Kaepernick’s weaknesses, because intimidation did not work.

photo: Follow The Lion.com

2. Ravens at Broncos

This game was very good for the first half. The Ravens were withstanding any storm the Broncos threw at them. The Ravens lost Dancing With the Stars receiver Jacoby Jones to an injury from his own teammate. Then The Blind Side star Michael Oher went down with an ankle injury.

photo: USA Today.com

Then came the second half. The Broncos started moving the ball in the third quarter and the Peyton passed the ball to Wes Welker and Welker dropped the ball. In real time, the referees assumed Welker caught the pass. The Broncos hurried to the line of scrimmage, ran a play and the Ravens were not able to challenge the play. Then Peyton proceeded to throw 7 TD's to close out the Ravens on opening
night.

Who ever sat up stairs in the Ravens booth, watching replays, must have received a pink slip because the people upstairs clearly blew that call. Even if the refs do not catch it in real time on the field, the Ravens sources must be ready to assist coach Harbaugh when needed. Two plays later, Peyton threw a touchdown and the rest is history. Possibly Peyton's MVP history.

Note to the Ravens organization…Get your popcorn ready because this may be a long season with no Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

3. Titans at Steelers

      The Tennessee Titans did not look phenomenal, but they looked prepared. They looked like a team willing to win no matter what the score was. While the Steelers looked like a team with no real weapons. No Mike Wallace at receiver to take the top off the defense, no Rashard Mendenhall to use his tippy toes to circle around defenders and no attitude on defense to scare the offense.

The Steelers seemed to have lost their best weapon on offense in center Maurkice Pouncey. According to MSN Fox Sports.com, Pouncey is done for the season with a torn ACL and MCL along with LB Larry Foote with a ruptured bicep. Losing two stars on offense and defense hurts any team.

Head coach, Mike Tomlin will need to find a way to rally up the troops and get the job done. I’m sure he will get the job done. It will be tough, but Tomlin is the right man. 

4. Eagles at Redskins

Where do I begin? Should RG3 have played with no preseason under his belt? Was RG3 fully healthy? The answer….NO. RG3 was not fully healthy. He wanted to accomplish what RB, Adrian Peterson did which is to defy the odds and come back much earlier than anyone expected. He wanted to prove everyone wrong, but I just hope he does not reinjure himself.

The Eagles up-tempo style Chip Kelly offense was in full effect. The Eagles offense says their having

photo: Koin.com

fun again and Vick stated he could have played three more quarters. I love Vick’s game, but he looked sore near the end of the fourth quarter. Either way, Vick was efficient and LeSean “Shady” McCoy was shaking defenders like he was running from the law. The Eagles looked impressive on offense and pretty good on defense, according to Pro Football Talk.com. It should be an entertaining season for coach Kelly and crew.

5. NY Giants at Cowboys

Last but not least is the Giants and Cowboys game on Sunday Night Football. The Boys were finally able to beat the G-Men in their own home stadium newly renamed AT&T Stadium. Romo took a shot to the ribs, but his offensive line protected him for the most part of the night. The running game was not great but effective. The defense was lights out with six turnovers when needed.

photo: Sports Yahoo.com

The only problem…if the Dallas defense did not get a turnover it seemed like the Giants walked straight down the field and scored when they needed to. Eli lit the Boys defense up for 4 TD’s in which 3 went to Victor “Salsa Dancing” Cruz.

The Giants run game was in shambles with David Wilson bumbling and fumbling the football twice. The Giants have hired ole’ Brandon Jacobs back, but the season is up to Eli to carry the team. The Giants defense is OK, but they cannot rely on an injured JPP with only one healthy Justin Tuck and a few other rotating lineman.

The Cowboys will take the win, but other sharp shooting QB’s will have field days with the Boys defense unless Kiffin can fix the 450 yards they surrendered. We’ll see!