It's tough to win on the road, especially if you're playing in the home base of an outfit you haven't defeated in 11 seasons.
Greatest on the road ...
Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins entered Week 2's action having lost four straight to the Indianapolis Colts in a skid dating back to Week 2 of the 2002 season (that's a long time ago, and on that day Jay Fiedler outdueled Peyton Manning in a 21-13 Dolphins win).
On Sunday, Tannehill and his Dolphins returned to Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium, a place where a season ago -- in a showdown of first-round rookie quarterbacks -- Andrew Luck outplayed Tannehill in a 23-20 Colts triumph. Luck had a record-setting day (a rookie-best 433 passing yards), while Tannehill was pedestrian in defeat. In the rematch, however, Tannehill was dramatically improved, and showed just how much he and his team have progressed. Tannehill threw for 319 yards and a touchdown in a 24-20 win that lifted Miami to a 2-0 start.
Also considered:
Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Mannning Bowl III at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., turned into a 41-23 rout in favor of the elder Manning and his powerful Denver Broncos contingent. Manning the elder's epic start to the 2013 season had much to do with that.
Manning threw two touchdown passes in the win, and coupled with his seven scoring strikes during the Broncos' Week 1 win, made No. 18 the first player in NFL history with nine passing touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two weeks of a season. Only two other players had ever had nine touchdown throws through two games (Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints in 2009, and Charley Johnson of the St. Louis Football Cardinals in 1965).
Eddie Royal, San Diego Chargers
Royal's three touchdown receptions helped the Chargers pull off a 33-30 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, spoiling the home coaching debut of Chip Kelly.
Royal, like Peyton Manning, is off to a historically stellar start to the 2013 season. Royal had two touchdown receptions in Week 1, and his five touchdown catches through two games is tied for the most in the NFL since 1940 (tying him with Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts in 1999, Daryl Turner of the Seattle Seahawks in 1985, Ben Hawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969, Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch of the Los Angeles Rams in 1951 and Bob Shaw of the Chicago Cardinals in 1950).
Previous Greatness on the Road winners:
Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter @jimreineking.
