One of the weird, vaguely interesting storylines in Week 1's St. Louis Rams-Detroit Lions matchup was the contestants' positions in the 2010 NFL Draft—The Rams went first, picking Sam Bradford, and the Lions took Ndamukong Suh with the second pick. Suh's had the better career so far, by a significant margin—but neither of them left 2011 looking especially golden, and both are looking to do some image rehab in 2012. In head-to-head action on Sunday, I think they just about drew.
↵The Rams lost, but Sam Bradford picked it up after struggling for three quarters, and his final numbers—17-for-25, 194 yards, one touchdown—absolve him, for the most part, from the Rams' offensive difficulties. And sacking Sam Bradford isn't exactly a rare win, especially when Scott Wells and Rodger Saffold both leave in mid-game with injuries. But Steven Jackson was stymied again and again up the middle, ending with just 53 yards on 21 carries, and his ineffectiveness probably won the game for the Lions.
↵Sam Bradford cut out some room for optimism about his future, and Ndamukong Suh didn't stomp anybody. So everybody wins!