There were 13 games this week, three in the afternoon and one each on Thursday, Sunday and Monday. That left seven early games, which means 14 quarterbacks, eight of which were Ryan Fitzpatrick, Michael Vick, Mark Sanchez, Brandon Weeden, Mike Glennon, Brian Hoyer, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles. Throw in Philip Rivers during arguably the worst game of his career, game manager Alex Smith, a shaky Andy Dalton, Robert Griffin in his first game back from a major injury, and the stars of the early going were Ryan Tannehill and Carson Palmer. Just in case you were wondering why the early slate wasn't especially compelling.
• The big receiver trend in the NFL has been in effect for the last decade, starting with Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, and continuing through Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and the newer crop of stars like Dez Bryant, A.J. Green and Julio Jones. But 2014 has been the Year of the Little Guy, with Antonio Brown, Jeremy Maclin, T.Y. Hilton, Emmanuel Sanders, Golden Tate, Sammy Watkins, DeSean Jackson, Randall Cobb and Steve Smith all among the top 15 in receiving yards It could be just a half-season anomaly, but it could also be a result of the new rules which don't allow defensive backs much contact with receivers beyond five yards - something that would affect smaller, slighter receivers more than the bigger, heavier ones.
• Just when I felt vindicated that Julian Edelman was indeed an afterthought in a full strength New England offense, he has a nine-catch game and scores twice (though one was on a kick return.) I doubt he'll find the end zone often (he also dropped a third TD), but Reggie Wayne is probably a good comp for him at this point - a regular option who operates largely between the 20s and doesn't make big plays.
• While Peyton Manning threw for 438 yards on 7.7 YPA, much of it was in garbage time, and he didn't look especially sharp. Tom Brady had 333 yards on 6.3 YPA, but converted the key third and fourth downs and threw only one pick on a tipped pass.
• None of the backs for NE or DEN had any room to run, but Ronnie Hillman scored two touchdowns and caught seven balls for 47 yards.
• Sanders had another 16 targets and 10 catches. While his role isn't that much bigger than the departed Eric Decker's it overlaps more heavily with Wes Welker's (seven targets, three catches.) It's hard to see what Welker does better than Sanders, so it's as it should be.
• Julius Thomas scored a touchdown, but simply hasn't been targeted much the last several games for some odd reason. He's still the No. 3 overall TE.
• If we were to draft today for the rest of the year, Rob Gronkowski would be a mid-first round pick, early-first in PPR.
• Brandon LaFell had 13 more targets - he's a top-25 WR the rest of the way.
• A 10-yard holding penalty on an incomplete pass isn't a big deal - it's more like a five-yard penalty because you get the down back.
• The 49ers pulled a Norv-Turner Chargers/Wade Phillips-Jason Garrett Cowboys at the end of Sunday's game, fumbling the would-be game-winning QB sneak into a loss. I suppose it can happen to anyone, but you don't expect it from a team that made the NFC title game three years in a row. I didn't catch much of the game, but teams with new centers (rookie Marcus Martin made his first start) often struggle, and the Rams did sack Colin Kaepernick eight times.
• The Jets apparently peaked in their Thursday night loss to New England a few weeks ago. The Chiefs went into a shell late and gave New York so many chances for a backdoor cover, but the Jets refused to take it, fittingly throwing the ball out of the back of the end zone on the last play of the game. At least they got both Eric Decker and Percy Harvin involved.
• I had the Bengals in survivor this week and was feeling pretty comfortable before they allowed a quick score, then Andy Dalton threw an incredibly sloppy pick where the ball slipped out of his hand, and suddenly, they were up only three with eight minutes or so left. But on the next play from scrimmage, Jeremy Hill took a handoff and rumbled for a 60-yard touchdown. Just a bizarre game, and one that made it hard to get behind Cincinnati as a serious contender.
• If Blake Bortles ever lives up to his pedigree, he has some very nice weapons in Jacksonville with Allen Hurns making plays since Week 1 (despite a few bad drops), Allen Robinson providing size and speed, Cecil Shorts and Marqise Lee. And this is a team that spent the No. 5 overall pick on Justin Blackmon with nothing to show for it only two years ago.
• Denard Robinson is the team's clear top RB, but it's odd he doesn't catch more passes, given he's also played at receiver. Still, that he got 94 yards and a score on the road when his team was a 10.5-point underdog bodes well.
• Nick Foles is out indefinitely, and that makes Mark Sanchez an interesting player on whom to speculate. But how Sanchez plays probably says more about Foles than it does Sanchez. If Sanchez thrives in the Eagles system, it probably means Foles is nothing special despite an otherworldly stat line in 2013.
• As great as Maclin's been, I can't even imagine how tough the Eagles would be to defend had they kept Jackson instead of extending Riley Cooper's carcass.
• Ryan Fitzpatrick was terrible during the portions of the game I watched. I wouldn't even want him as my backup. Let's at least see whether Ryan Mallett can play.
• I honestly thought the Chargers were better than the Dolphins (as did the market as the line was less than three in Miami.) But the Dolphins might have the best defense in the NFL, and what if Ryan Tannehill is becoming a good quarterback?
• With Tony Romo healthy, the Cowboys have overworked DeMarco Murray all year, but with Brandon Weeden under center Murray got only 19 carries. I suppose it helps more to have sustained drives than it does to be the only reliable option in this case.
• The Ravens-Steelers game was exactly like the Texans-Steelers one where Pittsburgh's opponent was crushing them until a flurry of turnovers and quick scores in the second quarter turned the game upside down. Given the Steelers' mediocre defense and suddenly deep and talented receiving corps, Ben Roethlisberger is a top-10 QB the rest of the way - (not going out on a huge limb given he just set the record for TDs the last two games with 12.) It's also nice finally to see some blowouts in this rivalry after 10 years of nail-biting, coin-flip, field-goal games.