1) I’m not sure whether it’s more surprising that the Rex Grossman-led Redskins won their season opener against the Giants 28-14, or that this happened and the world didn’t end. As the week wore on and with the Giants defense decimated by injuries, Washington started to become a popular upset pick.
Why did I think that the Giants wouldn’t lose? Rex Grossman was the frickin’ starting quarterback for Washington! But instead making a poor show, he ended up outplaying Eli Manning in giving the Redskins their first win over the Giants at home since 2005. If Grossman throws for more than 300 yards in Week 2 and the Redskins start off 2-0, I’ll be off stockpiling bottled water and canned goods.
2) There’s bad, there’s really bad, there’s the Chiefs season-opening 41-7 home loss to the Bills - and then there’s Donvoan McNabb in Week 1. McNabb threw for 39 yards in the Vikings 24-17 loss to the Chargers. Let that sink in for a little bit: 39 yards!
3) The Ravens defeated the Steelers 35-7 in the most eye-opening score from Sunday. When Pittsburgh cut the deficit to 14-7 after Baltimore opened up a 14-0 lead, Ravens fans were thinking of the different ways their team could blow this game to the Steelers, which has become an annual NFL tradition each fall.
Instead, the Steelers committed seven turnovers, Ray Rice rushed for over 100 yards against a defense that doesn’t allow 100-yard rushers and Joe Flacco got his first win in seven meetings against Ben Roethlisberger.
I’d compare this game to last year’s Week 1 matchup between the Texans and the Colts. During the 2010 offseason, all the Texans pointed to was their Week 1 home game against Indianapolis. The Texans cruised to a dominating victory, but the Colts finished 10-6 at season’s end and made the playoffs.
All offseason, the Ravens geared up for the Steelers after blowing a 21-7 halftime lead in last year’s divisional playoffs. All offseason, the Steelers were thinking about their three turnovers in last year’s six-point Super Bowl loss. There’s a reason why the Super Bowl loser from the previous season is 2-10 since 2000 in the next year’s season opener.
The cards fell perfectly for Baltimore, and they took care of business. Still, I think this is a team built to make the playoffs, but one that has a ceiling and is not capable of winning a Super Bowl.
4) Cam Newton had a historic first game for a rookie. How historic, you ask? His 422 passing yards were tied for the most by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. Now, if only he’d work on his touchdown celebrations.
5) No more Brett Favre! Wooo!
ttomea@theeagleonline.com
