Jarrett Bell

USA TODAY Sports

A few kudos and observations from Week 1 ...

Stud of the week: Alex Smith. The Chiefs rallied from a 21-point deficit against San Diego to produce the largest comeback victory in franchise history, and Smith surely did his part by passing for 363 yards on a career-high 34 completions. He also used his legs to provide the finishing touch in overtime with his 2-yard touchdown scamper around right end.

Defensive player of the week: NaVorro Bowman. As usual, the 49ers linebacker was all over the field on Monday night to lead the charge for a unit that pitched a shutout against the Rams. Bowman had a team-high 9 tackles (7 solo) that helped keep Todd Gurley in check (2.8 yards per carry) and an interception that added to Case Keenum’s frustration.

Rookie of the week: Carson Wentz. If one game can be an indication, it looks like the Browns blew it in bypassing on the chance to draft Wentz, whose debut for the Eagles – against Cleveland of all teams – was pretty much a best-case scenario. He passed for 278 yards with 2 TDs and avoided major blunders. In Philly – which hasn’t had a rookie QB start the opener since Davey O’Brien in 1939 – that will earn you some love.

Comeback player of the week: Victor Cruz. In his first game since October 2014, due to a torn patellar tendon and subsequent injuries, the Giants slot receiver scored the winning touchdown at Dallas on a 3-yard mission over the middle. Of course, he performed the salsa, like old times. More importantly, after such a long journey back that was interrupted by setbacks, Cruz was an integral part of the attack (4 catches, 34 yards, while playing 89% of the offensive snaps) – and he held up.

This week’s genius: Jack Del Rio. The Raiders coach, beginning his second season, backed up his declarations about changing the culture by bucking conventional NFL wisdom and going for two – and the win – in the final stages at New Orleans. What nerve. If it backfires, the Raiders lose and Del Rio wears a dunce cap. But it worked, allowing Del Rio in his postgame speech to players to invoke the mantra made famous by the late, great Al Davis: “Just win, baby!”

40 things we learned in Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season

Boneheaded blunder: The lack of awareness demonstrated by Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams at the end of the loss against the Giants will go down as one of the worst examples of situational football that you’ll ever see. Why not just run out of bounds to stop the clock? It would have set up a field goal try in the 58-yard range for Dan Bailey, who had already booted two field goals north of 50. Instead, all 12 seconds on the clock ran out as Williams cut inside to fight for a couple extra yards.

How ya like me now? Jim Caldwell was dumped as Indianapolis Colts coach following a 2-14 finish in 2011, when Peyton Manning was sidelined by a neck injury. Well, Caldwell went back to Indy with his Detroit Lions, and beat his successor, Chuck Pagano, in springing one of the biggest upsets of Week 1.

Did you notice? Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis spent Sunday afternoon shadowing Bengals star AJ Green, and it’s clear that more people needed to be on Revis Island. Green caught 12 passes for 180 yards in the Cincy win. Revis is perhaps still one of the NFL’s best corners, but it’s apparent that he’s no longer the guy to match against an elite receiver without worry.

Stat’s the fact: Russell Wilson threw a career-high 43 passes against Miami, providing further proof that in the post-Marshawn Lynch era for the Seahawks, the offense will likely increasingly revolve around the arm of the quarterback.

Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.

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