Week one of the NFL season is in the books and we should all be so lucky.
Once again providing upsets as well as remarkable plays and storylines, the NFL continues to display why it is the most unpredictable competition in the world.
Now usually in the world of sports it comes naturally to us to find fault in nearly every play we see, but this time I’m checking my cynicism at the door and shedding the light on the true winners from week one in the NFL.
The Tampa Bay defensive line
Not the sexiest of picks I’ll admit, and trust me when I say I truly suffered to attain the knowledge to make this decision as the Panthers versus Bucs game was terrible.
That being said, the much-maligned (and injured) defensive line of Tampa Bay absolutely decimated the Carolina offensive line all day, resulting in a running game that netted only ten yards. Ten yards!
Cam Newton, Mike Tolbert and DeAngelo Williams made up only five yards between them and the remaining five belonged to wide receiver Kealoha Pilares on a reverse run.
Tampa Bay fans should be very excited with their defensive tackle Gerald McCoy dominated the line to the level of potential he displayed that made him the no.3 overall pick in 2010.
The combination of McCoy with Roy Miller, Michael Bennett and Adrian Clayborn proved to be beastly against Carolina and proved to be the winning formula on the weekend.
Mark Sanchez
Have we ever come across a starting quarterback, fresh off a contract extension under more scrutiny than Mark Sanchez?
We can blame his play, lack of leadership and supposed ‘mental fragility’ for this but we all know the real reason…the nicest guy in the world, Tim Tebow.
Bringing ‘Tebowmania’ to the big apple has put all kinds of pressure and questions of job security on Mark Sanchez and the combination of this along with the Jets preseason offensive woes and ‘The Sanchise’ seemed doomed from the start.
The rest is history.
Mark Sanchez played of his best games in a gang-green uniform going 19-of-27 with 266 yards and three touchdowns (two of which went to questionable draft pick Stephen Hill).
Playing at a very high level against a Bills defensive line – that has received much hype after the free agent signing of Mario Williams – has helped Sanchez regain the job security he had before Tebowmania hit New York and that’s why he was a huge winner from the week one.
Players returning from injury
Week one saw the return of three big names from serious injuries.
Peyton Manning looked to be the vintage Peyton of old, throwing the ball all over the field against the much-vaunted Pittsburg Steelers defence.
Denver with a healthy Peyton have Superbowl aspirations.
Adrian Peterson furthered his reputation as a physical specimen after rushing for 87 yards and two touchdowns a mere eight months after tearing both his ACL and MCL in his knee.
Jamaal Charles averaged over 5 yards a carry and didn’t seem to lack any burst in his first outing back from injuring his ACL last season.
The healthy return of these players in particular spells greatly different seasons for each team.
A healthy Jamaal Charles in Kansas City will have them thinking of the explosive offense that made them division champions in 2010.
And Minnesota… well, there isn’t much hope there anyway but at least the highlights will be better
Redskins fans
I feel for ‘Skins fans, I really do.
The amount of problems the franchise have faced in recent years have been so numerous that I imagine the head coach would be envious of the man in the big white house just down the road.
But thankfully for Redskins fans, the Albert Haynesworth era is no longer welcome in the state, Donovan McNabb seems content in the media, the John Beck experiment is kaput and the RG3 era has begun.
After Robert Griffin III’s performance against the Saints the city of Washington has a new found hope not experienced since Obama came into office, here’s hoping RG3 is elected for a second term. For the fans’ sake anyway.
San Francisco 49ers
In the words of former UFC Heavyweight Champ, Minnesota Viking and ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’, Brock Lesnar:
“Can you see me now?”
After an offseason of speculation as to whether the 49ers 13-3 record last season was an anomaly and whether Alex Smith was ‘the guy’, San Francisco well and truly stamped their authority on the NFC with an impressive 30-22 win over Superbowl favourites Green Bay on the road.
After this victory there’s no chance that San Fran go under the radar this year, and nor should they.
This 49ers outfit is for real, and taking a scalp of the Superbowl favourite on the road on your first game of the season? I’d say that’s a big win.
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