You can’t say the AFC king is dead. But you can say his crown is askew, and he’s limping noticeably.
The NFL’s dominant conference might have been thrown up for grabs Sunday when Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, who already was on the ground, lunged at Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. He hit Brady just below his left knee as Brady was throwing, buckling the knee and forcing a chilling scream from the quarterback that turned heads all around the field.
Brady limped off the field. There were reports that Brady is done for the season, though there was no official word from the Patriots. Some reports said former Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms was heading to New England on Monday for a workout and physical.
“I know the show must go on and, hopefully, Matt Cassel is ready to step in,” Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss said.
Brady’s backup, Cassel, was very ready Sunday, getting his team out of a back-to-the-goal line jam on his first possession and completing 13 of 18 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.
But the Patriots are in uncharted territory. Brady has started 128 straight games, the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history.
No one could blame the Patriots if they weren’t very comfortable with Cassel starting. The fourth-year player has thrown 35 passes in his NFL career, and he never even was a starter in college. In the preseason, he did not inspire much confidence with a 55.6 passer rating and an average of 4.9 yards per attempt.
It was one thing for the Patriots to squeak by the Chiefs with Cassel. Kansas City is widely regarded as one of football’s worst teams, and their starting quarterback, Brodie Croyle, also was knocked out of the game. It will be something else for the Patriots to beat the Jets next week and the other better teams on their schedule.
The teams that many thought would challenge the Patriots in the AFC showed they may have some big problems of their own.
The Chargers were upset at home by the Panthers, who were playing without star receiver Steve Smith.
The Jaguars, who were supposed to be the team on the rise in the AFC, were upset by the Titans, and they saw three starting offensive linemen get injured.
The events of Sunday have left the AFC looking very volatile indeed.
Let’s go to the tape
It turns out Michael Turner, pride of North Chicago, can do more than finish off what LaDainian Tomlinson started.
Because he weighs about 240 pounds, the former Charger has been stereotyped as a limited- possession back who needs to run between the tackles.
But he was limited to nothing in his Falcons debut, rushing for a team-record 220 yards and averaging 10 yards per carry. He showed a nose for the end zone, scoring twice and having a third touchdown called back for penalty.
He got the tough yards, picking up nine first downs. And he made the flashy plays, running 66 yards for one of his touchdowns and also peeling off a 29-yard run.
Turner looks like a back who is going to beat opponents in a variety of ways.
*What happened in the Jets- Dolphins game underscored why kickers are treated like second-class citizens: the Jets basically won without one.
Jets kicker Mike Nugent bruised his thigh on a missed field-goal attempt in the first quarter of the Jets’ victory over the Dolphins.
At one point, backup quarterback Kellen Clemens was practicing kicks on the sideline, but the team never used him. Instead, the Jets elected to go for it on fourth-and-13 rather than have Clemens attempt a 39-yarder. Punter Ben Graham was forced to kick off, and it was not pretty.
The Jets also went for a two-point conversion rather than try an extra point in the second quarter.
Nugent returned in the second half for an extra-point attempt and a kickoff.
*Much has been made over the fact that the Lions defensive players now truly fit the scheme and mentality of coach Rod Marinelli.
But that doesn’t mean those players are good enough to physically beat the players lined up across from them.
Playing against a rookie quarterback in Matt Ryan and a rebuilding team in the Falcons, the Lions allowed 34 points, 474 total yards and 318 rushing yards (a 7.6 yards-per-carry average). They had no takeaways and one sack.
Looks like another long season for the Lions.
Guy I want on my team
Packers GM Ted Thompson may not want him, but I do.
Yes, Brett Favre still can play. And he still can play with style.
His third completion was beautiful 56-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery.
He threw another touchdown pass later and ended the day with a 125.9 passer rating and a victory.
He sure did not look like a player who is questioning if he wants to be on the field.
Grab some bench
The Dolphins’ Joey Porter always has been a pretty good linebacker, but he has been an even better troublemaker. On Sunday, he caused a stir by taunting the Jets before the game and kicking a ball off a tee that was being used by the opponent. This is the same player who has drawn attention for:
*Attacking Bengals offensive tackle Levi Jones in a Las Vegas casino with six of his friends. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and was docked three game checks by the NFL.
*Using a homosexual slur in reference to Browns tight end Kellen Winslow.
*Being ejected from a game for fighting with former Browns running back William Green.
*Failing to prevent his mastiff and pit bull from getting loose and killing a neighbor’s miniature horse.
*Being shot in the butt outside a bar.
Two-minute drill
If David Garrard of the Jaguars throws one more interception, he will have equaled his interception total from last year, when he threw three in 325 attempts.
*Even though the Falcons’ Ryan and Ravens’ Joe Flacco became the first pair of rookie quarterbacks to win on opening day since Jim Plunkett and Archie Manning did it in 1971, Ryan and Flacco would have been better served by sitting. There will be some ugly days ahead for these talented young passers.
*Here is a familiar scene: Vince Young ineffective and injured, yet the Titans still win. Who said football has to make sense?
*Steven Jackson of the Rams averaged 2.9 yards per carry. About what you’d expect from a player who missed all of training camp in a contract holdout.
*OK, Aaron Rodgers, here is what you need to do Monday night against Minnesota to keep pace with a player who you might be compared with a few million times: 125.9 passer rating, two passing touchdowns, 68.2 completion percentage … and a victory. That’s all.
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GAME BALLS
OFFENSE Donovan McNabb, Eagles
Playing without injured starting wide receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, McNabb did not figure to have one of the best performances of his career. But he did just that, throwing for 361 yards and three touchdowns. What’s more, McNabb gave two wide receivers their first 100-yard days. Rookie DeSean Jackson had 106 yards and ex-Illini Greg Lewis had 104. Hank Baskett also had 102.
DEFENSE LaMarr Woodley, Steelers
In his first start, Woodley, a second-year linebacker out of Michigan, had an interception, a fumble recovery, a sack, two tackles for a loss and a pass defended. Runner-up is teammate James Harrison. The linebacker had three sacks, three tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
SPECIAL TEAMS Roscoe Parrish, Bills
Parrish, Buffalo’s punt returner, gave his team a 14-0 lead over the Seahawks with a 63-yard punt return. Parrish, who now has three touchdown returns in his career, set a single-game team record with 120 punt return yards.
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dpompei@tribune.com
