NFL Football Scores - Sunday #1

NFL Football Scores - Sunday #1

Biggest success: Marcus Mariota. The Titans never scored more than 28 in a game last year, and the bookies' pre-season line pegged the them as the second-worst team in the NFL this year. They came into this game as a 3-point underdog to a team that went 2-14 last year. That's what's known as the bottom of the barrel. I guess Mariota must have arrived from the planet Krypton. He kept everything under control and the Titans absolutely shellacked the Bucs 42-14. Mariota is the first QB in NFL history to have a perfect passer rating in his professional debut, and the first rookie ever to throw 4 TD passes in the first half of a season opener.

Biggest disappointment: The Indianapolis Colts. They were supposed to be one of the NFL's elite teams. They were the pre-season betting favorite to win the AFC championship. That's no misprint. They were 18 to 5 and the Pats were 19 to 5! Either they are not as good as their hype, or Rex Ryan's Bills are far better than expected. (Or both, I suppose.) Andrew Luck was 26 for 49 with two picks while the Bills' unheralded Tyrod Taylor played confidently and efficiently with few misses and no sacks or picks.

The jury is still out on: Peyton Manning. He got a W, but did not seem very effective at all. His passer rating was a paltry 60, and he threw no TD passes. Fortunately for him, his defense (two interceptions including a TD) and his kicker (4 for 4) came to play. Maybe the Ravens' vaunted D just did a great job, or maybe Peyton is getting very close to that sad time when every superstar has to hang up the cleats.