Week 1 Review

Retired Giants DE Michael Strahan celebrates during season
opener between the Cowboys and the Giants.

The highly anticipated Week 1 of the NFL season came to a conclusion when the San Diego Chargers took advantage of a number of poor special teams play by the Oakland Raiders to get a 22-14 victory. However, that was hardly a highlight in a weekend full of games that were exciting and even a little surprising to say the least. It got started a little early, on Wednesday night, when the defending champion New York Giants hosted the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.

There was a lot of chatter built up into the opening game, with Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones applying the pressure on his team to perform up to a higher level. Surprisingly to some, the Cowboys played a solid game defensively, while QB Tony Romo put up the solid numbers Cowboys' fans are used to getting from him in a 24-17 victory. This would turn out to be a warmup for what would come on Sunday.

The Washington Redskins were easily the biggest surprise of Week 1. The Redskins marched into the Mercedes Benz Superdome brimming with confidence. Led by their rookie Heisman Trophy quarterback QB Robert Griffin III, the Redskins were superb offensively and were able to rattle New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees throughout the game. Griffin III threw for over 300 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his NFL debut, a 40-32 Redskins victory.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III celebrates a touchdown after
being knocked to the ground.

The San Francisco 49ers made perhaps the biggest statement in Week 1 in their 30-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. For the 49ers, it was their first victory in Lambeau since 1990. The 49ers, returning all of their defensive starters and a little more firepower on offense, was able to control the game early, and the Packers were playing catch-up the rest of the way. Packers coach Mike McCarthy seemed to be annoyed in the first half with the referees, but even the referees couldn't save the Packers.

McCarthy wasn't the only ones annoyed by the referees. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was all over the referees throughout the game, and he was particularly very upset about a chain of events that occurred in the beginning of the fourth quarter. WR Randall Cobb returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown, but the referees threw a flag in what apparently was an illegal block in the back by the Packers. The referees came together and decided to pick the flag up instead of making the call when it was obvious there was a penalty. To the 49ers delight, it did not turn out to be a turning point in the game.

Broncos QB Peyton Manning throws a pass in his first game
as the team's quarterback.

Many people were interested in the Sunday night game that featured the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos. It was the Broncos who surprisingly ended the Steelers' season last year at Mile High when QB Tim Tebow connected with WR Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown pass. This time around, future Hall-of-Famer QB Peyton Manning is the new quarterback, after sitting out the entire 2011 season due to a neck injury some thought would end his career. There were a lot of eyes on Manning in preseason, and there were a lot more for the regular season opener.

Manning certainly eliminated all doubts people may have had about him playing in live action with the stakes high. Manning was excellent in his debut with the Broncos, completing 19 passes for over 250 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos offense seemed sluggish until Manning went to the no-huddle. After that, the Steelers could not make a stop at all. CB Tracy Porter closed the game when he intercepted QB Ben Roethlisberger and returned it for a touchdown in the same fashion as he did to Manning in Super Bowl XLIV when he was with the Saints.

With Week 1 in the books, Week 2 will start earlier than it has in seasons before. From weeks 2 to 15, there will be a Thursday night game every week. The Chicago Bears, who won their opener at home against rookie QB Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, will take on the Packers at Lambeau Field. Game starts at 8:20pm on NFL Network.