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A few loose ends (and other positions) regarding the first weekend of the 2011 NFL regular season (meaning the games played previously in training camp were part of the irregular season?):
Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh makes his NFL coaching debut Sunday for the San Francisco 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks. He has the most passing yards of any NFL quarterback who went on to become a coach in the league:
Jim Harbaugh: 26,288
Bart Starr: 24,718
Norm Van Brocklin: 23,611
Sammy Baugh: 21,886
Jim Zorn: 21,115
Editor’s note: The choice of photo came down to a 49ers cheerleader or of Harbaugh. Known around here as no contest.
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Try to remember the time in September. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson gladly will. Mainly because he ranks among the fantasticks as far as rushing averages for the month. In 14 NFL games in September, he has gained 1,552 yards. His 110.9 average per game is the best in NFL history for a player with a minimum 10 games. Tennessee Titans standout Chris Johnson is third on the all-time list at 98.9.
Adrian Peterson: 110.9
Jim Brown: 110.8
Chris Brown: 98.9
Barry Sanders: 97.0
Terrell Davis: 94.0
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With a victory Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would rank fourth on the all-time list for fewest starts to 70 victories in the Super Bowl era. He is 69-29. Starts to reach 70 victories:
Roger Staubach: 94
Tom Brady: 94
Ken Stabler: 98
Joe Montana: 102
Terry Bradshaw: 102
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With a victory Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mike Munchak of the Tennessee Titans would become the fourth Hall of Fame player since 1970 to win his first game as a coach. The others: Raymond Berry, New England (1984), Art Shell, Los Angeles Raiders (1989) and Larry Wilson, St. Louis Cardinals (1979).