Sunday

Peterson, Brees Light It Up in Week 1

Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees made fantasy football geeks, er, gurus nod with approval. The first running back and first quarterback taken in just about every draft during the past month ripped it up on Sunday.

Peterson destroyed the Cleveland Browns with a 180 yards rushing on 25 carries (7.2 average). He scored three touchdowns, including a game-clinching 64-yard bullrush in the fourth quarter that showed off his speed and power. Peterson upstaged teammate Brett Favre’s debut with the Vikings, who pulled away from the Browns for a 34-20 win. Favre (14-for-21, 110 yards) hit rookie receiver Percy Harvin on a 6-yard TD for Minnesota, a 6.5-point road favorite.

Buy an Adrian Peterson Jersey and Look Cool!

Brees, meanwhile, tossed six touchdowns – falling one shy of the NFL record – and finished with 358 yards as the Saints crushed the overwhelmed Lions, 45-27, in the Superdome. Jeremy Shockey, who didn’t score a touchdown last year, caught two TDs.

The NFL record for TD passes in a game is seven, held by five players. The last to accomplish the feat was the Vikings’ Joe Kapp on September 28, 1969.

The Saints covered the 14-point spread and ruined the debut of No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford. The Lions’ rookie QB had some highlights, including a 1-yard TD run, but had no chance of pulling off this upset as the Lions’ woes continued. Last year, they became the first team to go 0-16 in NFL history.

In other early NFL action on Sunday:

Eagles 38, Panthers 10: The Philadelphia defense forced five interceptions to spark a runaway victory in a pick ‘em game against the spread. Donovan McNabb left Sunday’s contest after fracturing a rib on his lower left side.

Ravens 38, Chiefs 24: Joe Flacco suffered no sophomore jinx in Week 1, piling up 307 yards through the air and three touchdown passes. The Ravens used 21 points in the fourth quarter to cover the 7-point spread.

More early Week 1 NFL recaps