In the first game of the season quarterback Peyton Manning led the Broncos to victory over the Ravens with 7 touchdown passes in 49-27 victory over the Super Bowl champions and everyone anointed Denver Super Bowl champions.
In a rematch of last year's NFC Divisional round game, the 49ers again got the best of the Packers this time with the arm of Colin Kaepernick throwing for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns. The only other 49ers quarterback with that stat line was Joe Montana. Newly acquired 49ers receiver Anquan Boldin made his presence known with 208 yards on 13 receptions and a touchdown pass.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson picked up where he left off from last season taking his first carry 78 yards for a touchdown, but the Lions emerged victorious. This might be a common theme for the Vikings if they don't get better output from Christian Ponder.
The Falcons and Saints provided us with another classic in their rivalry as the Saints welcomed the return of head coach Sean Payton with a 23-17 victory in New Orleans. Last season's much aligned Saints defense came up big when it mattered forcing Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to throw an interception as his team was facing 4th and goal down by 6 with less than a minute remaining. This was the Saints first opening day win over the Falcons having gone 0-6 in such matchups.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith recorded his first NFL victory in his first start which was aided by Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David's late hit out of bounds that set up the Jets game winning field goal.
On Monday Night, the Eagles new up tempo offense led by former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly at one point led by 26 points but survived a late Washington surge to hold on for a 33-27 victory.
In the late game, San Diego built a 28-7 lead in the third quarter by starting with a Phillip Rivers touchdown pass after a Texans turnover. And led to tweets like these:
New name for the Houston Texans: Not Ready For Primetime Players #NFL#MNF#BackToFootball
— Michael Watts (@mjwatts1983) September 10, 2013
The Texans went on to score the game's next 24 points including this interception returned for a score by linebacker Brian Cushing that tied the score at 28 with 9:30 time left in the fourth quarter.
And there were these tweets:
Reports of the Texans demise MIGHT have been GREATLY exaggerated. #NFL#MNF#BackToFootball
— Michael Watts (@mjwatts1983) September 10, 2013
I think we have a game. #HOUvsSD#MNF#NFL#BackToFootball
— Michael Watts (@mjwatts1983) September 10, 2013
Houston had the ball last and drove for the game winning field goal to escape from San Diego 31-28. It was the second time that the Chargers held a 20+ point lead in a Monday Night Game and lost. The last time that happened was last season against the Broncos.
New name for San Diego's NFL team: The (Super) Chokers #MNF#NFL#BackToFootball
— Michael Watts (@mjwatts1983) September 10, 2013
So... here is where I talk about the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas won their first game of the season. They also beat the Giants for the first time at Cowboys Stadium AT&T Stadium Death Star Jerry World since its opening in 2009. It was the fourth time the Cowboys beat the Giants in a Week 1 home opener. The previous ones were 1965, 1986, and 2007. What were significant about the 1986 and 2007 openers....? Well, the Giants lost those games but at the end of those respective seasons the Giants were hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
But this is about the present. Despite quarterback Tony Romo getting sandwiched by two Giants defenders late in the first half and wincing from the pain, Dallas was able to build a 17-point lead in the third quarter. The Giants cut it to 30-24 in the fourth quarter. I had a feeling I've seen this film before. Quarterback Eli Manning would lead a game winning drive, Dallas would then try for a winning score, and something would happen along the way (botched snap, Tony Romo interception, blocked field goal, Dez Bryant not making sure he gets his hand down in bounds).
EXCEPT...
That was not the Giants night. New York had 6 turnovers in this game. The last one, an Eli Manning interception, placed the Giants' chances of victory in peril as Brandon Carr returned it for a touchdown to put Dallas up 12. It was the Cowboys second touchdown returned off of a turnover in this game. The Giants scored a touchdown to close it within 5, but Dallas recovered the onside kick to clinch the 36-31 victory. Dallas and Philadelphia are tied at the top of the NFC East while the Giants and Washington are tied for last.
Dallas is making their second consecutive trip to Kansas City. In part it is due to the NFL schedule makers trying to balance teams travels between the East and West Coasts. So HOPEFULLY we'll see the Chiefs down in Dallas in 2017. It was that 2009 matchup where wide receiver Miles Austin had his breakout game catching 10 passes for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns. Austin also caught the game winning 60 yard catch and run in overtime.The game also featured a unique uniform matchup: the Chiefs were wearing their Texans throwbacks celebrating the 50th anniversary of the American Football League while the Cowboys wore their throwbacks.
This upcoming game features Chiefs head coach Andy Reid who was coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2012. During his time with the Eagles, Reid was 17-12 vs. Dallas. Last week Kansas City defeated the Jaguars in their home opener down in Jacksonville 28-2.
Other Week 2 games include the Redskins visiting Lambeau Field, that OTHER Texas NFL franchise hosting the Titans, and on Sunday Night is a clash between NFC West powers in Seattle between the 49ers and Seahawks. The Bengals and Steelers are playing on Monday Night as both teams look to put disappointing Week 1 performances behind them with a victory.
The one game everyone has circled on their calendar takes place on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium: Manning Bowl III. While Peyton Manning has a 2-0 record over his younger brother Eli in these games (2006, 2010), the younger Manning has 2 Super Bowl Rings and was named MVP of both games. The Broncos are looking to start 2-0 while the Giants are looking to avoid a 0-2 start.
In the weekly picks, I came in second. Mr. Blake clinched the week with the Eagles victory over the Redskins. All three prognosticators are separated by four games. Right now it is Eli Blake with the early lead, but as Ms. Roberts would correctly point out it is early in the season. The TransGriot's picks are provided at this link while Mr. Blake has his picks posted to Facebook.
| | Me | Monica | Eli |
| Week 1 | 11-5 | 9-7 | 12-4 |
| OVERALL | 11-5 | 9-7 | 12-4 |
Picks are in BOLD
Games airing in DFW are noted by (DFW)
THURSDAY NIGHT, 7:20 PM (CT) NFL NETWORK
Jets at Patriots
CBS NOON
Titans at Texans (DFW)
Chargers at Eagles
Dolphins at Colts
Browns at Ravens
FOX NOON
Cowboys at Chiefs (DFW)
Redskins at Packers
Vikings at Bears
Rams at Falcons
Panthers at Bills
CBS 3PM
Broncos at Giants (DFW)
Jaguars at Raiders
FOX 3PM
Saints at Buccaneers
Lions at Cardinals
SUNDAY NIGHT, 7:30 PM (CT) NBC
49ers at Seahawks
MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN 7:30 PM (CT)
Steelers at Bengals
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