northern intelligence
Packers quarterback Scott Tolzien completed 24 of 39 passes (61.5 percent) for 280 yards, a touchdown and two picks in his NFL debut in last week's loss to Philadelphia. The completions and passing yards set franchise records for a quarterback in his Packers debut. Not sure how big a deal that is considering the Packers had started only three quarterbacks in the previous 21 years before Tolzien stepped in for the injured Aaron Rodgers last week.
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Just when you thought it was tough to accept the fact that the Bears have one outstanding receiver, along comes a duo. Brandon Marshall is on pace for 1,397 yards, which is expected. Alshon Jeffery is on pace for 1,306, which wasn't. With a combined 1,521 yards, they rank No. 1 in the league this week. No. 2, with 1,514 yards, is Denver duo Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. Asked what it's like to be one of the top duos in the league, Marshall said, "I don't think it's 'one of the top.' I think we are the top. Numbers don't lie."
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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked an NFL-high 379 times since 2001. Sunday, he'll be looking across the line at Detroit's Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. "Well, yeah, you've got to be careful," he told reporters in Detroit. "You'll end up dead if you're not careful." Suh said, um, thanks? "I guess I can take that somewhat as a compliment. But no, there's going to be no killing on Sunday."
