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Week 1 NFL Top Performers

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Posted: Thursday October 28, 1999 11:10 AM

Horse power: Colts' rookie running Edgerrin James (center) celebrates his first regular-season touchdown. AP

ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Who says the NFL is tough for rookies? Well, perhaps Ricky Williams, who left the Panthers-Saints game in the first half with a re-injured left ankle. He still managed 40 yards on 10 carries in his NFL debut with the Saints.

Or maybe quarterback Tim Couch, who was roughed up pretty good by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter as he took a few mop-up snaps for the Browns. His first toss was intercepted, and he went 0-3.

But certainly not Edgerrin James, the Colts top pick and the first running back taken in the 1999 draft. James rushed for 112 yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown as he pranced onto the NFL stage in the Colts 31-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Top field generals and team movers

The passing game took center game in a day of comebacks: Cowboys' veteran slinger Troy Aikman threw for 362 yards and five touchdowns in the 'Boys overtime 41-35 win over NFC East rival Washington.

Titans QB Steve McNair connected on 21 of 31 passing attempts for 341 yards and three touchdowns as he brought Tennessee back for a 36-35 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Brett Favre passed for 333 yards in the Packers dramatic comeback against the Oakland Raiders. He was 28-48, and threw four touchdown passes. So painful was his injured throwing hand, which he ignored to engineer the final scoring drive, that he shed tears after the game.

On the receiving end, the Jets' Keyshawn Johnson backed up his early-season bluster with the day's top performance in terms of yardage -- 194 on eight receptions. No wonder Johnson is so upset that his quarterback, Vinnie Testaverde, is lost for the season.

Now, on to the lists:

Top Rushing Performances

Edgerrin James, Colts, 26 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD
Emmitt Smith, Cowboys, 23 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD
Stephen Davis, Redskins, 24 carries, 109 yards, 2 TD
Duce Staley, Eagles, 22 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD
Ron Rivers, Lions, 16 carries, 96 yards
Jerome Bettis, Steelers, 18 carries, 89 yards

Top Passing Peformances

Brad Johnson, Redskins, 20-33, 382 yards, 0 INT, 2 TD
Troy Aikman, Cowboys, 28-49, 362 yards, 3 INT, 5 TD
Steve McNair, Titans, 21-31, 341 yards, 1 INT, 3 TD
Drew Bledsoe, Patriots, 21-30, 340 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD
Brett Favre, Packers, 28-48, 333 yards, 3 INT, 4 TD
Kurt Warner, Rams, 316 yards, 2 INT, 3 TD
Doug Flutie, Bills, 22-42, 300 yards, 2 INT, 1 TD
Peyton Manning, Colts, 21-33 for 284 yards, 2 INT, 2 TD
Jake Plummer, Cardinals, 25-48, 274 yards, 3 INT, 1 TD
Mark Brunell, Jaguars , 22-30 , 265 yards, 0 INT, 1 TD

Top Receiving Performances

Keyshawn Johnson, Jets, 8 catches, 194 yards, 1 TD
Kevin Dyson, Titans, 9 catches, 162 yards 2 TD
Michael Westbrook, Redskins, 5 catches, 159 yards, 1 TD
Derrick Alexander, Chiefs, 6 catches, 154 yards, 1 TD
Raghib Ismail, Cowboys, 8 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD
Eric Moulds, Bills, 10 catches, 147 yards
Albert Connell, Redskins, 4 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD
E.G. Green, Colts, 5 catches, 124 yards
Michael Irvin, Cowboys, 5 catches, 122 yards, 2 TD
Marvin Harrison, Colts, 8 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD

 

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