Donovan McNabb Injured, Brandon Stokley Saves Game

The NFL action in week one answered some questions and created some new questions for the 2009 season. There was a last minute shocker, a key injury, and some critics were silenced.

The Philadelphia Eagles trounced the Carolina Panthers, 38-10, however, it was a bittersweet victory. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb cracked a rib in garbage time of the 4th quarter, and third string quarterback Kevin Kolb came in to finish the game. It would have been Michael Vick, but he is suspended for the first two weeks of the 2009 NFL season. Week three should be interesting in Philadelphia, when they play Kansas City.

Former retiree Brett Favre led the Minnesota Vikings to a 34-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns. After lackluster appearances in preseason, it appears Brett Favre's new best friend will be running back Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 3 rushing touchdowns and 208 total yards. Favre was 14 for 21 for 110 yards with one touchdown pass to rookie wideout Percy Harvin.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 12-7 in a minor miracle. After the Bengals kicked two field goals, the Bengals' Cedric Benson scored a goal line touchdown with 38 seconds on the clock in the 4th quarter. With the Bengals up 7-6, quarterback Kyle Orton threw a second down pass that Bengals' cornerback Leon Hall tipped. However, the ball deflected into the hands of unblocked Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley, and he ran the ball (and the clock down to 11 seconds) into the endzone. Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton did not deserve such a stroke of good luck, and he will be exposed against far better defenses in the 2009 NFL season.

For Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys, it was business as usual (at least for regular season success). Romo threw for 3 touchdowns and 353 yards. Critics had believed the lack of Terrell Owens and his preference for throwing to tight end Jason Witten would result in a poor season performance, but Romo distributed passes to 6 different receivers, and threw his 3 touchdowns to 3 different receivers.

The fantasy stud of Sunday's action was the New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for 358 yards with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception, in the Saints' 45-27 victory over the lowly Detroit Lions. Rookie Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford went for 16 for 37 with no touchdowns and 3 interceptions. It should be a long year for Detroit Lions fans.

The early action of Sunday's week 1 football games already brought some drama to a football season where a lot of teams are playing with a new identity. Seven of the thirty-two NFL coaches are rookies themselves.

Stats provided by Yahoo Sports.