Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.Studs
Drew Brees, QB New Orleans (26-34, 358 yards, 6 TDs) -- I have a fantasy football keeper league that caused me quite the internal battle over the NFL offseason. Basically, I didn't know who I wanted to keep, and in a rushed panic, I went with Brees in hopes that he'd replicate 2008. After the first week, I'm pretty happy with my selection.
Brees threw six touchdowns to five different receivers in the Saints rout of the Detroit Lions and quickly made his squad the team to beat out of the NFC South.
Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota (25 rushes, 180 yards, 3 TDs) -- I had a conversation with a buddy Monday night about how expectations in football, for draft picks, are hardly ever met. Think about the last quarterback that has come out a top pick and actually lived up to the hype? (I went with Peyton Manning, even though I don't discourage people that cite Matt Ryan as a good example here.) Peterson might be the best example of this in the last few years when covering all positions. A beast in college, Peterson has needed just two years to become the best running back in the NFL, and his performance Sunday against the Browns was special. Brett Favre said after the game that he'd never played with a guy like AP, and for good reason ... he makes defenders look like they're playing the wrong sport.
His 64-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Vikings win was impressive on a number of levels, but his burst of speed at the end of the play to actually get in the end zone was special. Yeah, he stiff-armed three defenders like they were tackling dummies, but went from zero to 60 almost too fast. If AP can stay healthy, I think 2,000 yards should be the low number of what he could achieve in '09.
Philadelphia Defense (5 sacks, 5 INTs, 2 Forced Fumbles) -- Talk about making a man proud. Less than two months after Jim Johnson, the famed defensive coordinator for Philadelphia, passed away from melanoma, the Eagles defense went out and made their opponents look utterly lost. Jake Delhomme and company seemed liked they'd taken the preseason off as the Philly D was a step ahead all game long. In a division that's too tough for giveaway losses, even this early in the season, Philadelphia rode their defense to a week one win and a hope that even with Donovan McNabb out, they still have a chance to put up some Ws.
Duds
Jay Cutler, QB Chicago (17-36, 277 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs) -- Oof. That is basically the only way to explain Cutler's first game in Chicago. The next big thing to the Windy City was impressive only in awkward looks and wayward passes on Sunday night in a loss to the Green Bay Packers. No matter your take on Cutler's personality (lets be honest, it ain't the best), he is supposed to be a football player, but he looked like just another Bears quarterback unable to produce in the first week of the season. He has a strong arm, he seems to have a lot of potential, but at some point the kid needs to win.
Jake Delhomme, QB Carolina (7-17, 73 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INTs, 1 Fumble) -- There is a list of athletes that just, for no real reason, completely lost the ability to play. Steve Blass, David Duval, and possibly the Carolina quarterback. In his last two games, Jake has combined to toss nine interceptions. Delhomme took a seat for a little while on Sunday, while his backups combined to throw an interception of their own ("Hey, he makes it look so easy!"), but they aren't the ones with the $42.5 million extension, and they aren't the ones Carolina fans (Hey Brinson!) are riding this year.
Steve Slaton, RB Houston (9 rushes, 17 yards, 0 TDs, 1 Fumble) -- The Houston Texans are a strange bunch. For the second year in a row, they've come out of the preseason as the "sleeper that can't be the sleeper because they're too hyped as a sleeper," and fallen directly on their face in the first week. This time, it was against a team with a rookie quarterback, and a lot of the blame falls on the Texans inability to run the ball. Slaton, entering his second year with Houston, found no holes, had no big gains, and was a "big" part in the Texans' 38 total rushing yards.
A lot of the blame can land with Chris Myers and the offensive line, but Slaton needs to pick it up if the Texans offense is going to do anything this season.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brandon Stokely, STUD OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!
I know we dodged a few bullets and i do not wanna sound like a typical local team fan but for once it looks like if the runners (Bell and Bush) on my Saints can just hold onto the ball this team could seriously be DANGEROUS. Tha best example i can think of that mainstream football fans can relate to is the Rams of the turn of the centruy. This defense finally looks like it can create the extra turnover or two (and goalline stops) which is ALL this team needs. I know most people look....
... at the 8-8 record of last year and the awful defensive stats and automatically think this team cant cut it. But if your a true football fan then u would know that even though this team had one of the worst defenses and (this is inportant although i know it sounds like an excuse when its to this extent u CAN NOT ignore it) we had THE MOST injuries to starters in the league last year ( 16(!!!) of 22 starters) we STILL had SIX of those 8 loses come by a total of 18 points ! Please just think about that for longer then it takes to read it.
And then look at whats going on. I know its been against less then ideal opponents but this team has averaged at least 3 turnovers in all the preseason games and opening game. They were almost dead last last year in this category , with the most injuries to starters in the league, and all the super close loses and still finished with a .500 record IN THE TOUGHEST DIVISION in the league , so think what they can do if their defense just gets an average of ONE more turnover per game. I know most will laugh but this is the first time im saying it because its actually plausable - the Saints are seriously a SB contender if the can limit fumbles and get some turnovers on D. I know that second part has been said over and over the last couple years but now it looks like its possible , for real. Im sorry for u nonbelievers but any real football knowledgeable knows this team has a serious chance at a long run this year....
Now if 16 outta 22 starters get hurt playing with 3rd and 4th stringers at RB, CB, LB, DE, DT, and TE like last year then all bets are off because honestly swear to god i have NEVER seen an injury rash like this team got last year and NO team in the HISTORY OF FOOTBALL can make a run in this league with THAT many starters hurt. Argue what u want but thats the gods honest truth folks....
I know people have had a love-hate relationship with the Dallas Cowboys, mainly since the late 1970s when they were dubbed "America's Team" and their unprecendated 25 consecutive winning seasons, 3 Super Bowls in the 70s and their constant all-star players...but let's not forget Tony Romo, who passed for over 350 yards, 3 TDs, no interceptions and the highest QB rating in the entire NFL (140.6) after the first week. I think this qualifies as a "stud".
...Also (and not to take anything away from Drew Brees), but Romo was facing the Tampa Bay defense, not the pathetic Lions!
Romo is a dud and will fell you again at the end of the season like always the rest of the cowboys are good you just need a QB and we saints need a defense and it looks like they have one now
Uhh, Ron - I realize that although Romo has had a tremendous few years at the helm in Dallas, he is yet to prove himself as a "quality" QB, which comes from winning playoffs and the Super Bowl. I was merely stating a fact from his performance against Tampa Bay in week one in regards to this article "studs & duds". Brees was awesome, but even I could throw 6 TD passes against Detroit! 'Nuff said.
yea right looks like they will put it on the eagles also and prove to everyone that can win against any team bad or good and show everyone. I just dont think Romo is that good for the team dallas cowboys are good Romo thinks with the wrong head and Not for the team New Orleans will be a lot better and no one will be able to say its because of Katrina this time.
Let's see how Brees does agains Philly this weekend. Again, not to take anything away from him - - - he's a very good QB on a talent-laden offense, but my daughter's high school team could score 45 points against Detroit.
they are all fakers. Defense wins big names not offense. Out with New Orleans and New England and San Diego. I'll take Steelers, Titans or Giants anyday.
well tell your daughters team to go play the lions
Good o football season it feels good dont you just love it
I have to say,haf666.Your right.Defense wins the big one! I have been a Saints fan since they came into the NFL.This is a really good team,but untill they win and i mean really win.Thats all they will be just a good team.
Tom Brady nuff said
you forgot Matt "i am a DUD" Schaub. He is terrible!
Week one does not a season make. Let's see where all these QBs are at the six game mark. Great to have football back but no one makes the playoffs after 1 game. Calm down
How about a shout-out to Jason Campbell for Dud of the week. with all the drama he had to deal with in the off season he had more... he should of had more motivation than any other player coming into week one. what did he do? look slow and half dead. I mean I am seriously convinced that he was sleep walking when he ran two yards past the line of scrimmage and then threw the ball to cory webster for an intercecption. I dont know about you but i dont think Mark Sanchez or Jay Cutler would have done something that stupid.