- Texans running back Arian Foster ran for 233 yards during the course of their 34-24 win over Indianapolis. Foster’s yardage total is the second-highest ever on the opening day of the NFL season, second only to O.J. Simpson, who ran for 250 in 1973. Meanwhile, the Colts lost the first game of the season for just the second time since 2004.Terrell Owens became just the third receiver in NFL history to record 15,000 yards, while Chad Ochocinco recorded his 10,000th career receiving yard. Both receivers were on their best behavior compared to Randy Moss, who brazenly told reporters that this would be his final year with the Patriots, even after the Patriots were done kicking the daylights out of the Bengals.
- Hines Ward became just the 24th player in NFL history collect 11,000 receiving yards, and also totaled his 26th 100-yard game, breaking a franchise record previously held by John Stallworth. Additionally, Steelers kicker Jeff Reed set a Heinz Field record by booting a 52-yard field goal early in the Steelers win over the Falcons. He also missed a pair of field goals.
- Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez became the first tight end to reach the 1,000-catch milestone. He had to do it twice, since the first time it was called back.
- The Steelers victory was only the third one in history in which the game’s only TD was an overtime game-winner.
- Everything old is new again. In relief of Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick played by far his most action since December 2006 and looked good enough to start. Jay Cutler threw for 374 yards to raise the hopes of Chicago Bears fans. Donovan McNabb didn’t play particularly well, but his team beat the Dallas Cowboys and that’s really all that matters. Brett Favre didn’t look good against the Saints either, and we’ll have to wait and see how his ankle will hold up.
- One understated aspect of expanding the NFL season to 18 games is that most major NFL records will fall because of it. By giving players two more games to rack up 100 yards or three touchdowns or a pair of sacks, all of the single-season records will be in jeopardy. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
NFL Week 1 Footnotes
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