NFL week one games: Recap

Football season is officially here as the first Sunday of the season has come and gone.

In case you might have missed some of the games, here is a quick recap of each game to keep you up to speed.

Steelers vs. Falcons

The team we love to hate played a pretty tentative game Sunday afternoon against Atlanta, who also seemed hesitant. The game was a slow, FG kind of game. Both kickers even were having an off day as Pittsburgh’s Reed was 2-4 for the day, including a missed FG going into halftime with 17 seconds to go (the ball would hit the post and bounce away).  But the Falcons were on the same page as the Steelers; despite Falcons QB Matt Ryan throwing a strong pass down the middle late in the second  quarter, Atlanta can’t get a TD to pull ahead. Kicker Bryant does make it through the posts this time (he missed an earlier 46  yard attempt) to tie the score at 3-3 going into the second half.

In the end, with “mighty mouse” Hines Ward and Redman making big catches and picking up a few yards to help the once third string QB, Dennis Dixon gave the Steelers the advantage to win.  Late in the fourth quarter,  Lofton and Bierhmann take down Dixon, making it seem like the Falcons could pull away; but an interception by Troy Polamero led the Steelers to another FG attempt which Reed misses, going too far to the right with the 40-yard attempt, sending the game into overtime.

But it was Mendenhall who took the game away from Atlanta in overtime with a TD; final score 15-9.

Falcons player to keep an eye on: Roody White, who had 13 catches and 111 yards.

Titans vs. Raiders

With the Titans, you can’t hold back RB Chris Johnson and QB Vince Young for too long. The Raiders rallied against Tennessee for a good while in the first half, or so it seemed. Passing yards for the Raiders in the first half was a -8, while the Titans were at 85. Both not impressing, especially when the Titans RB, Johnson averages about 125.4 yards a game and had 36 going into the second half.

But N. Washington drew first blood with the first TD of the game which propelled the Titans later to win against Oakland 38-13.

Both QB’s, Young and Campbell, played rookie-esq. If  either team wants to improve, their leaders need to step up their own game a little better.

Brian Westbrook rumored to work out with Washington Redskins

Brian Westbrook may be re-joining former teammate Donovan McNabb and brother Byron Westbrook as a rival to his formal Philadephia Eagles.

Earlier today, there were reports that Westbrook will be joining the Redskins mini-training camp on Wednesday to practice with the team.

The ex-Eagles RB may very well fit in to the DC team as his defensive tackle and special teams brother is a dominant force there already, and his former quarterback was recently traded to the Skins as well.

Would acquiring Brian Westbrook be a good idea?

A key thing to keep in mind is remembering that Westbrook got a concussion last

Brian Westbrook is going to work out with the Redskins Wednesday May 12. Westbrook is a former Eagles Running Back. (Picture from foxnews.com)

 season–actually while playing in Washington. That injury kept him off the field for eight games.

“I wouldn’t want to rbing him in unless he can actually take a hit and not worry about getting a concussion,” Chris Mcney, a Washington Redskins “guru” said.

Also, the Redskins are already well-stocked at running back with  Clinton Portis, who was  joined earlier this off-season by free-agent pickups Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. Do the Skins have enough room on their roster for another running back?

“It is just bad how [Westbrook]  ended it with the Eagles when he was cleared to play,” said Chris Mcney. “A family reunion won’t sell seats, winning games does with the best players.”

The RB, who rushed for twice over 1,000 yards in previous seasons and all-purpose yards in 2007 with 2,104 (including 90 catches for 771 yards) before his injury will be 31-years old when the 2010 season starts–a season he could spend playing along side his brother.

“I’m not part of that decision-making process,” Byron Westbrook said. “Obviously, he’s my brother, and it would be great to have the chance to play with him, but I’ll let him handle all of that.”