NFL.com's video library was one of the reasons I was so excited to come work here. We have more highlights and game footage than we know what to do with.
So let's try to do something with it. We've already recapped Thursday night's action in words (and some video). Let's single out some individual plays you have to see.
We're tempted to show all of Julio Jones' highlights from his ridiculously quick 109-yard performance, but this play stands alone.
Instead of picking one Robert Griffin III play, let's go with a collection of highlights. What stuck out to me was how normal everything looked for RG3. He went through his progressions. He found the open man. He got rid of the ball quickly when he needed to. Ho-hum is a very good thing for a quarterback this young.
With Mike Wallace still unsigned the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to need a lot out of Emmanuel Sanders. So far, so good.
Both Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen looked rough throwing the ball. But at least Young still has his wheels. His ability to run could be the tiebreaker that gives him the Buffalo Bills' backup job.
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is likely to face a heft fine for his launching hit on Byron Leftwich.
New England Patriots rookie pass rusher Chandler Jones played like a man possessed in his first game. He forced holding calls and made quarterbacks get rid of the ball too quickly. Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Globe said he had five hurries in 14 snaps. Jones dominated Pro Bowler Jermon Bushrod. Jones' pressure on this play helped force a bad throw and interception.
The following play makes it because of its historical significance: Peyton Manning's first completion as a Denver Bronco.
"Maybe in some ways I've even gotten better," Manning joked after the game. "Now I have the ability to throw a ball into a linebacker's hands and [have him] tip it to my own player. So that's a positive."
San Diego Chargers wideout Vincent Brown stood out to ESPN's Jon Gruden in practices. He's also looked like a great deep threat whenever the Chargers throw it to him. Brown scored a 27-yard touchdown on a nice catch-and-run, but we wanted to highlight his ability to go up for the ball.
San Diego's top four wideouts (Malcom Floyd, Robert Meachem, Eddie Royal, and Brown) are better than you think.
We've heard all offseason the "old Antonio Gates" is back. And then we watched it Thursday night.
Ryan Mathews' injury means the backup running backs have to step up. We don't trust Ronnie Brown. Don't count out Curtis Brinkley, who looked good in limited work last year.
That was fun. (And long.) Look for Around the League to do a lot more using our video all season long.
