The most surprising thing about Philip Rivers' awesome Week 1 performance was that no one was surprised. Except me. It was like his ACL surgery never happened. Unlike any recent quarterback returning from that surgery (Carson Palmer, Donavan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper, Brian Griese), Rivers showed no ill effects from the procedure. He may have looked better.

His accuracy and mobility stuck out - the two skills ACL surgery is supposed to hinder. Rivers had no fear of the pass rush. He patiently waited, dodged, and jumped around in the pocket. He bought extra time, he threw on the run, and he delivered when he was about to get hit. Rivers has never had a cannon, but he was accurate on touch passes and bombs alike against Carolina. I'm not ready to proclaim Rivers a QB1 yet. He's been inconsistent even when healthy, but proved a lot in Week 1.

His opponent in the game, Jake Delhomme, was harder to pin down. He led the Panthers to victory, but he threw some crazily off target passes. One moonball on a deep pass sticks out. I couldn't help wondering if his elbow had any effect on him. There were great moments and head scratchers, then a gutsy finish. In other words, typical Delhomme.