For many teams, the first week of the football season marked the beginning of a new era. But as the old adage goes, old habits die hard.
For some, it was an auspicious start; for others, devastating. For the first time since 1991, three teams went scoreless in a single weekend. The Baltimore Ravens blanked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-0, the Chicago Bears eclipsed the Green Bay Packers 26-0, and the San Diego Chargers shut out the Oakland Raiders 27-0.
After having suffered through a preseason in which their defending Super Bowl champs went winless, Pittsburgh Steelers' fans can breathe easier. Even without the arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to guide them, the Steelers still managed to dismantle the Miami Dolphins 28-17. Back-up quarterback Charlie Batch posted impressive numbers, including 15-25 passing for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
It certainly wasn't the type of day head coach Nick Saban hoped to get from his new quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, who threw for 262 yards, but gave up two interceptions with no TD's. Culpepper had a chance to get his team back on top, but a late-fourth quarter 42-yard returned interception from Joey Porter sealed the deal for the Steelers.
On Sunday night fans finally got to see what all the hype-and commercialism-was about when Manning faced off against Manning on Sunday night as Eli's New York Giants took on older brother Peyton's Indianapolis Colts. Both brothers posted impressive numbers, but Peyton dominated the first half, going 17-of-27 for 196 yards, converting 9-of-11 third down chances, and leading his Colts to a 16-7 halftime advantage.
Eli had his chance, especially with the help of Tiki Barber, who rushed for 110 yards, closing the gap to 23-21 in the fourth. A 40-yard missed field goal attempt by Giants kicker Jay Feely would come back to haunt New York, as Adam Vinatieri tacked on a fourth quarter field goal to seal a 26-21 victory.
Eli finished 20-of-34 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Payton countered with 276 yards on 25-of-41 passing with both a touchdown and an interception. The Giants have some work to do in minimizing dumb mistakes, but Eli proved Peyton will no longer be the sole Manning heir-apparent in the NFL.
Elsewhere in the AFC, the New England Patriots began their season on a dubious note, giving up a quick six to the Buffalo Bills on the first play, after Tom Brady fumbled and Bills linebacker London Fletcher recovered and lumbered his way into the end zone. The team headed into the locker rooms to the tune of boos at a frustrated Gillette Stadium with their team down 17-7.
That old Patriot magic returned in the second half, with an opening 93-yard touchdown drive led by Brady. Rookie kicker Stephen Gostowski tied the game at 17 in the fourth on a 32-yard field goal kick. With the Bills pressed against their own goal line, Patriots' defensive tackle Ty Warren sacked Bills' quarterback J.P. Lohman for a safety and a 19-17 win.
Despite the losses of Adam Vinatieri, David Givens, Willie McGinest in the off-season, and most recently the departure of Deion Branch to the Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots still set the tone in the third quarter against the Bills through a strong running game that was absent last season. Veteran running back Corey Dillon reasserted his presence on the team, running for 73 yards. But it was rookie running back Laurence Maroney who stole the show, gaining 86 yards in his first professional game.
Former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe highlighted once again his inability to finish in high-pressure games with his Dallas Cowboys falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-17. Bledsoe showed off his characteristic arm strength, throwing 16-of-33 for 246 yards, but ended the day with only one touchdown and three interceptions. In the final seconds of the game, linebacker Mike Peterson picked-off Bledsoe.
Volatile receiver Terrell Owens finished the day with 80 yards and a score, but the Jacksonville Jaguars defense effectively held him quiet through the remainder of the second half.
For Week 2, a surprise could await Seattle, as they host the Arizona Cardinals, who scored three times in the first quarter for the first time since 1975 in their Opening Day win against the San Francisco 49ers.
