NFL 2010 Preview: Brett Favre
Brett Favre

PRIMETIME EXCITEMENT

Eleven of the 16 games in Week 1 were decided by seven points or fewer, the most on Kickoff Weekend in NFL history, including all four nationally-televised primetime games.

The margin of victory in the four primetime contests was 4.8 points per game (19 total points), marking the second consecutive season that all primetime Kickoff Weekend games were decided by seven points or fewer. In 2009, the margin of victory in the four Week 1 primetime contests was 3.5 points per game (14 total points).

NO NEED TO PANIC

At the end of Week 2, no more than 14 teams will be able to claim a perfect 2-0 record, leaving at least 18 clubs at 1-1 or 0-2.

Since realignment in 2002, 55 of the 96 playoff teams (57.3 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2. Four of the past nine Super Bowl champions began their seasons with a 1-1 or 0-2 record.

INTERCONFERENCE ACTION

With the NFL's late-season schedule packed with division games, the September slate features many exciting interconference matchups, including a Week 2 battle between quarterback brothers as the Colts' PEYTON MANNING takes on ELI and the Giants in primetime this Sunday night.

Of the 32 games scheduled for Weeks 2 and 3, 14 will be interconference games, including six this Sunday.

BIG PLAY EXCITEMENT

Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 142 yards in Week 1, including a 76-yard touchdown in the Titans' 38-13 win against Oakland. Johnson's long score marked the eighth 50-yard touchdown run of his young career, which is already tied for the third-most in NFL history.

If Johnson rushes for another 50-yard TD when Tennessee hosts Pittsburgh this Sunday, he would become the third player in history with nine such runs, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers BARRY SANDERS (15) and JIM BROWN (12).

FAVRE NEARS 500

Minnesota Vikings quarterback BRETT FAVRE, who is already the NFL's all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 498, needs two passing TDs this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins to become the first player in history with 500. Thirteen years and one day ago, Favre's 150th career touchdown pass came against the Dolphins, a two-yarder to Green Bay wide receiver ANTONIO FREEMAN in a 23-18 Packers victory.

HRICE AS NICE

Houston Texans running back ARIAN FOSTER, who led all NFL players with 231 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend, has rushed for 350 yards and five touchdowns in his first two career starts.

With 102 rushing yards against the Washington Redskins in Week 2, Foster would set the record for the most rushing yards in a player's first three starts since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Foster, who last week became the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 200 yards and three touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend, also needs two rushing TDs to become the first player with seven in his first three starts since 1970.

FABULOUS AT 50

Since joining the New England Patriots in 2007, wide receiver RANDY MOSS has 47 touchdown receptions in his first 49 games with the club, including an NFL single-season record 23 in 2007. Moss' total already ranks as the most receiving touchdowns of any player in his first 50 games with a new team (rookies and veterans) in NFL history.

Moss can extend his record when he plays in his 50th game with New England when the Patriots visit the New York Jets in Week 2. He also ranks fourth on the all-time list with 43 receiving touchdowns in his first 50 games with the Minnesota Vikings.

 

NFL 2010 week 1 results

Thursday (September 9)

NEW ORLEANS 14, Minnesota 9

Sunday (September 12)

TAMPA BAY 17, Cleveland 14

TENNESSEE 38, Oakland 13

Green Bay 27, PHILADELPHIA 20

Miami 15, BUFFALO 10

Arizona 17, ST. LOUIS 13

CHICAGO 19, Detroit 14

SEATTLE 31, San Francisco 6

HOUSTON 34, Indianapolis 24

WASHINGTON 13, Dallas 7

JACKSONVILLE 24, Denver 17

NEW ENGLAND 38, Cincinnati 24

NY GIANTS 31, Carolina 18

PITTSBURGH 15, Atlanta 9 (OT)

Monday (September 13)

Baltimore 10, NY JETS 9

KANSAS CITY 21, San Diego 14

NFL 2010 week 2 schedule

(All times local)

Sunday (September 19)

Arizona at Atlanta, 1:00 PM

Seattle at Denver, 2:05 PM

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1:00 PM

St. Louis at Oakland, 1:05 PM

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM

New England at NY Jets, 4:15 PM

Kansas City at Cleveland, 1:00 PM

Jacksonville at San Diego, 1:15 PM

Chicago at Dallas, 12:00 PM

Houston at Washington, 4:15 PM

Philadelphia at Detroit, 1:00 PM

NY Giants at Indianapolis, 8:20 PM (NBC)

Buffalo at Green Bay, 12:00 PM

Miami at Minnesota, 12:00 PM

Pittsburgh at Tennessee, 12:00 PM

Monday (September 20)

New Orleans at San Francisco, 5:30 PM (ESPN)

 

What to Look For During Week 2 of the NFL 2010 Season