Donovan McNabb was his usual self by tossing three touchdowns with the Eagles’ win.The day's top two passers were a two quarterbacks who spent the end of last season on injured reserve, Chad Pennington, and McNabb. Carson Palmer didn't put up the same kind of numbers, but he led Cincinnati to a win at Kansas City in his first real game back since his devastating knee injury suffered in last season's playoffs.

Cleveland's Kellen Winslow, who had missed 30 games due to an assortment of injuries during his first two seasons, had eight receptions and a touchdown in the Browns' loss to New Orleans. Now to see the defense, Rodney Harrison’s knee managed to perform nine tackles in New England's win over Buffalo, which got a sack and an early forced fumble (that was returned for a touchdown) from linebacker Takeo Spikes, coming back from an Achilles injury.

Some people are used to making a big deal out of the free agents and the rookies on the new teams they are in, they sometimes make the expectation grow so much that they are almost impossible to satisfy. The performances on the season opener week stroke as a reminder that on some occasions the essence of every team’s success can also rely on the once great players that are coming back from an injury, that are well established and balanced on their comebacks.