2003 Week 1 - 9/7/03
Injury Report
IRArizonaKyle Vanden Boschankle
ProbableHoustonJay Foremanshoulder
CarolinaMike Ruckerankle
Kansas CityEric Warfieldknee

OFFENSERushingReceivingTotal
Player, TeamOpp. ATTYDSAVGLNGTD RecYDSAVGLNGTDYDSTDFMB
Cory Schlesinger, DetroitAri1-1-1.0-1033010.02012910
Ahman Green, Green BayMin15*53*3.5*162*7*628.91707020
Correll Buckhalter, PhiladelphiaTB100.000000.000000

DEFENSERegular Defensive PlaysSpecial Teams
Player, TeamOpp.TKLASTCMBSKYDSINYDSPDFFFRTKLASTFFFRBL
Tyrone Williams, AtlantaDal202000020000000
Chris Kelsay, BuffaloNE303000000000000
Mike Minter, CarolinaJac606000000000001
Mike Rucker, CarolinaJac437380000000000
Mike Brown, ChicagoSF325001010000000
Cory Schlesinger, DetroitAri000000000010000
Erwin Swiney, Green BayMin000000000010010
Jay Foreman, HoustonMia527130000000000
Eric Warfield, Kansas CitySD202000010000000
Clint Finley, Kansas CitySD000000000000000
Keyuo Craver, New OrleansSea000000000000000
Ralph Brown, NY GiantsStl729000010000000
John Parrella, OaklandTen325000000000000
Eric Johnson, OaklandTen000000000010000
Carlos Polk, San DiegoKC000000000000000
Bill Lafleur, San FranciscoChi000000000010000
Josh Brown, SeattleNO000000000010000
Grant Wistrom, St. LouisNYG000000000100000
Dejuan Groce, St. LouisNYG000000000000000
Scott Shanle, St. LouisNYG000000000010000

SPECIAL TEAMSReturnsField GoalsEx. PtsPunts
Player, TeamOpp.KRYDSPRYDSTDMadeAttYDSMadeAttNo.YDSAvgTBi20LNG
Kris Brown, HoustonMia-----5736,43wr,50,
54wl,23,24,35
00------
Bill Lafleur, San FranciscoChi----------313244.00252
Josh Brown, SeattleNO-----2237,2533------

Other Starters:
Dominic Raiola, Detroit
Will Shields, Kansas City
Zach Wiegert, Houston

Details:

MVP poll:
50% Kris Brown, Texans
28% Mike Rucker, Panthers
6% Mike Minter, Panthers
6% Mike Brown, Bears
6% Ralph Brown, Giants
6% Cory Schlesinger, Lions

  • Philadelphia vs Tampa Bay: Correll Buckhalter officially started the game at running back for the Eagles but only carried the ball once for no gain. The "backup" Duce Staley carried the load with 7 carries for just 14 yards.
  • Kansas City vs San Diego: Kansas City's pass rush made Eric Warfield's and Dexter McCleon's jobs easier. But it would be unfair to take anything away from KC's starting corners. They were supposed to get torched by San Diego's muscle-bound, $47 million wideout David Boston. Warfield and McCleon combined to pitch a Boston one-hitter in the first half -- a harmless 9-yard one-hitter to boot. KC's secondary produced two interceptions. One of the interceptions came courtesy of a Warfield pass breakup. The ball ricocheted into the arms of safety Shaunard Harts. Defensive coordinator Greg Robinson's scheme called for the Chiefs to do nothing special to stop Boston.
      "The only thing we concentrated on was stopping LaDainian Tomlinson," Warfield said. "Boston may have done too much off-season working out. He's huge, but he's lost a few steps. He beat me off the line once, but I was able to catch up with him pretty easy, and I'm not a 4.3 guy." (KC Star)
  • Houston vs Miami: The Texans had a problem that the Huskers have had this season- they could get within striking distance but they couldn't quite get into the endzone. Luckily for them they had former Husker kicker Kris Brown there to boot 5 of 7 field goals through the uprights; the last of which was a 35-yarder that came with just 25-seconds left in the game as the Texans shocked the Dolphins. He also made FGs from 36, 50, 23, and 24 while missing from 43 (wide right) and 54 yards (wide left).
  • Seattle vs New Orleans: Another kicker, Seattle's Josh Brown, also did well. In his first NFL game Josh was 2 of 2 splitting the posts from 37 and 25 yards.
  • Carolina vs Jacksonville: While Kris Brown (like current Husker kicker David Dyches) had field goals-a-plenty this weekend, Carolina DE Mike Rucker had 3 sacks (a la Demorrio Williams) vs the Jaguars.  
  • Mike Minter blocked a Seth Marler 55-yard field attempt with 1-second left to give the Panthers the win. Minter then raced the entire length of the field and jumped into the crowd to celebrate.
      "I felt like a little kid. I just wanted the crowd to know, hey come in and make this place our place. And I think we did that in the second half,” Minter said. (The Shelby Star)
  • San Francisco vs Chicago: The 49ers were up only 10-0 when S Mike Brown made a diving interception at the 49ers 16 that led to a Kordell Stewart to Desmond Clark TD pass. After that it was all niners with a final score of 49-7.
  • 49ers punter Bill Lafleur will need to perform well and be consistant if he wants to keep his job- this week he had 3 punts for 132 yards (44.0 avg) with two of the kicks landing inside the 20 yard line.
  • New York Giants vs St. Louis: Ralph Brown, who officially started the game as a nickel back for the Giants, had 9 tackles (7 solo) and 1 pass defended.
  • Green Bay vs Minnesota: Ahman Green rushed for two touchdowns as the Packers' bid for a comeback fell short. Despite giving up the two TDs the Vikings allowed Green just 53 yards on 15 carries (3.5 avg).
  • Buffalo vs New England: Though he did not start, DE Chris Kelsay had 3 solo tackles in his first NFL game.
  • Detroit vs Arizona: Cory "Sledge" Schlesinger hauled in an 8-yard TD pass in the Lions' 42-24 smacking of the Cardinals. Alltogether Sledge had 3 receptions for 30 yards but ran the ball only once and lost a yard.
Pictures:

Rucker - 1
Minter - 1
R.Brown - 1
Green - 1 | 2 | 9/7
Schlesinger - 1
J.Brown - 1
Foreman - 1
G.Wistrom - 1
K.Brown - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4