After a contentious lockout, the NFL could not have asked for a better opening to the new season. 

The Packers and Saints put on an offensive show in the first game of the year, with the defending champs holding on for a 42-34 win. On September 11, after an emotional and sombre tribute, the Jets beat the self-destructing Cowboys with a last-minute field goal. And everyone's trendy Super Bowl pick, the Eagles, opened with an easy 31-13 win over the Rams. 

Records were set. New England's Golden Boy, Tom Brady, threw for 517 yards, the fifth highest total in NFL history, Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski kicked a record-tying 63-yard field goal and Carolina quarterback Cam Newton set a rookie record by passing for 422 yards. 

Sure there were some blowouts, but most of those were surprises. Few expected Buffalo to go into Kansas City and beat the Chiefs 41-7. Even fewer would have picked the Steelers to turn the ball over seven times and come up on the short end of a 35-7 score against the Ravens. And then there was Indianapolis - perhaps getting a look at life sans Peyton Manning - licking its wounds after a 34-7 beatdown at the hands of Houston. 

And we finally got an answer as to who was hurt most by the long lockout and short pre-season: special teams. It makes sense that teams would be slightly less organized, but what we saw was extraordinary. There were eight returns - three kickoffs, five punts - for touchdowns in week one, the most in any week in NFL history. San Francisco's Ted Ginn Jr took two back for scores in the same game. 

The NFL instituted a new kickoff rule this season to prevent injuries, so it was ironic (and bizarre) that San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding blew out his ACL on the opening kickoff. And to add insult to injury, Percy Harvin returned it 103 yards for a touchdown. 

And we can't forget Melbourne's Mat McBriar, who had a punt blocked on national (international) television, and although it wasn't his fault, the block led to a Jets touchdown. 

Short yardage situations

- St. Louis was a popular choice to win the NFC West (I plead guilty, your honor), but it's already an uphill battle. The Rams lost to the Eagles, but more ominously lost starting running back Steven Jackson (strained quadricep) and wide receiver Danny Amendola (dislocated elbow) to injuries. The only positive news is that quarterback Sam Bradford says he'll play next week against the Giants despite a bruised index finger. 

- The NFC South went 0-4 in Week 1. 

- The last thing new Denver head coach John Fox wanted was a quarterback controversy. But during the fourth quarter of a sloppy loss to Oakland, Kyle Orton started hearing boos from Broncos' fans who no doubt would rather see Tim Tebow run the team. This could get ugly. 

- If he chooses to hang around and wait for an opportunity, Ben Graham may still get a punting job in 2011. After Week 1, Cleveland is already looking for a new punter (reports have them signing veteran Brad Maynard) after Richmond McGee was put on injured reserve with a herniated disc. McGee was signed after regular punter Reggie Hodges suffered a season-ending injury. 

- The NFL's popularity shows no signs of abating. The Jets/Cowboys game was viewed by 25.8 million people, the most-watched Sunday or Monday night game in 14 years. And it wasn't even the most-watched game of the week. The season kickoff between New Orleans and Green Bay had more than 27 million viewers.