Stephen Davis (77 Yd, 3 TD) – I’ll admit it, I completely wrote off Stephen Davis back in the early off-season, through all of mini camps, training camp and pre-season, and pretty much right up until last week when he started the Panthers season opener. It is hard to believe a 30 yard old RB who has taken such a pounding as Davis has, who hasn’t played a 16 game season since 2001, could make such a quick and apparently seamless comeback. He churned out a lovely fantasy performance Sunday even if you don’t count the phantom TD. Sell high people, sell high.

Donovan McNabb (342 Yd, 5 TD) – I have to think if you played against McNabb this week, your chances of winning dwindled considerably. I know mine did even though my opponent started the pitiful Jamal Lewis-Willis McGahee RB pairing against me. McNabb’s 5 TDs is awesome. But it is especially awesome in a week where Peyton Manning, Daunte Culpepper, Marc Bulger, Michael Vick and Trent Green couldn’t combine for 5 TDs between them.

‘Da Bears - Okay, who had the cajones to start Thomas Jones (158 Yd, 2 TD) or Mushin Muhammad (6-81, 1 TD) or even the Chicago Bears Defense (5 INT, a INT return TD and a punt return TD) this week? Anyone outside Chicago? Jones racked up the best RB score for the week, which ain’t bad for an also-ran. Cedric who? The way the NFC North is shaping up a moderately efficient Kyle Orton might very well be enough to keep them competitive for the division crown all year.

Comments From The Couch

• For those of you who predicted the Bengals are a team going to make some serious noise this year, you are starting to look like a genius. For those who predicted a similar result for the Vikings or Cardinals... Ah well, I figure if I can get myself one-third of the way towards genius I'm not doing too bad.
  
  
• I decided to run an experiment in one league this year, going against my own advice to take a RB in the first round with an early pick, instead taking Randy Moss #5 overall. I'm feeling pretty good about that decision right about now.
  
  
• However, that still doesn't mean I'm getting myself one of these. Oh my.
  
  
• If you believe in Randy Moss referee discrimination, which I do, and you believe in Oakland Raiders referee discrimination, which I really do, then that ridiculous offensive pass interference call against Moss Sunday night was not really a surprise at all. Frustrating, but not surprising.
  
  
• If anyone tells you this week, "I knew Martin couldn't last. He's too old. I knew he'd breakdown.", please feel free to smack them upside the head. Do it one time for every year they've said the same thing. You should be able to get a good 3 or 4 licks in.
  
  
• Ran Carthon? Ran Carthon? I understand the Jaguars have a good defense, but how does Ran Carthon become the only player on the Indianapolis Colts to score a TD... and they win the game? I'm feeling a little out of my comfort zone early this season.
  
  
• Last week we heard some "hoorays" and "about time" comments when Kyle Boller's toe injury forced Anthony Wright into the starting QB spot. What is the answer now Baltimore fans?
  
  
• Arizona has an absolutely brutal offensive line. That is why they lost the first 59:30 of the game. Kurt Warner's gaffe not spiking the ball with seconds remaining ensured they lost the final 30 seconds too.
  
  
• The Packers have no secondary. It isn't just a bad secondary. After watching the replay of the Steve Heiden 62 yard TD catch, I mean they have NO secondary.
  
  
• So the Houston Texans fired their offensive coordinator Chris Palmer. I know its early but outside of re-alignment into the NFC North, I don't envision much of a change in the Texans fate this season.
  
  
• I am keeping the faith with San Diego though! Hmm... Patriots, Steelers and Eagles 3 of the next 5 games. Okay, maybe not!
  
  
• Brandon Jacobs appeared to tower over everyone else on the field as he waded through the bodies into the end zone last night. Wow. Not your prototypical RB at 6'4", 256 lb., but damn impressive.
  
  
• Aaron Brooks' post-game comments included, "Try not to patronize us next time, traveling to New York, saying we're playing a home game." I rarely side with or support Brooks in this column, and these comments developed out of a frustrating loss, but he does have a point.
  
  
• If you don't mind me putting my psychiatrist hat on for a minute, the Saints are riding such a roller coaster of emotions this season and dealing with so many non-football distractions, I think if things go wrong early in the game, its going to be extra tough for them to recover.
  
  
• Every year Monday Night Football goes on and on about the storied rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, and every year I'm yawning by halftime. 3-0 on a Jose Cortez FG. Whoopee.
  
  
• Okay, that flea flicker play was well executed.
  
  
• Hold the phone. It seems Mark Brunell and Santana Moss are making a late, late bid to be Groin Shot Candidates this week. Sorry fellas, I already had my top 3 choices penciled in. I like this line from the game recap though: "...players were celebrating as if they'd won the state high school championship." Nice.
  
  
• I didn't get a chance to watch NFL Network's 6 Days to Sunday, The Bills Linebackers last week. I wouldn't mind seeing their next 6 days though as they recover from the pounding Cadillac Williams laid on those guys. Talk about breaking tackles! That was a clinic!

And The Winner Is…

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Donovan McNabb was the only active NFL player I saw working the phones during the Monday night telethon Monday night. You can’t help but like this guy. Let’s give this week’s award to McNabb. Whether you want it to be for tossing 5 TDs, or for helping out manning the phones, or even for having to deal with all of T.O.’s antics in recent months (regardless how useful as T.O. is on the football field), I’ll leave that decision to you.