Posted by Will Brinson

Our affinity for graphs and charts and purty pictures knows no bounds, so (with a nod to the smartypants at NY Mag), we present the NFL approval matrix. Suggestions, complaints and intellecutual property lawsuits may be directed to us on Twitter (@CBSSportsNFL).

Click to embiggen.

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Posted by Will Brinson

Pierre Garcon's done a pretty good job in his return to the Colts' lineup -- he's caught four passes for 103 yards and the game's first touchdown.

Even if he repeats those numbers in the second half, though, it won't be as impressive as the one-handed catch he made in the first half, which you can see below, via Michael Tunison of SB Nation.

Posted by Josh Katzowitz

- Chad Ochocinco, as has become his wont, hosted 85 Charlotte diners/strangers at a steakhouse Saturday in Charlotte. One estimate said the bill might have been about $5,500.

- Today will be another big day for Jets CB Antonio Cromartie. With Darrelle Revis out of action, somebody has to be accountable for Dolphins playmaking WR Brandon Marshall. For better or worse, that person will be Cromartie.

- Indianapolis WR Pierre Garcon did not travel with his teammates to Denver today. Along with Anthony Gonzalez, also out for today’s game, the Indianapolis WR corps has taken a big hit.

- Patriots DB Bret Lockett was arrested early Saturday morning outside of a club in Providence and charged with failure to move and disorderly conduct. Good news for New England: Lockett is on IR anyway and isn’t eligible to play this season.

- A nice story here on the hell Dolphins TE Kellen Winslow puts himself through so he can play. One reason he does so: he’s scared of failure.

- A New York Jets fan named Lynda Fowles has a message for Braylon Edwards: smarten up, and next time, call a taxi. The reason Fowles is relevant to this discussion: she’s been paralyzed from the chest down since 1977 after she was in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.

- Starting today in Carolina will be nothing new for QB Jimmy Clausen. He was in a similar situation at Notre Dame – a young QB and a bad team.

- Looks like Tony Dungy finally got around to visiting the Jets. The organization confirmed Dungy met with coach Rex Ryan, but declined to release any other details. Apparently, Dungy will talk about it on TV today. Hopefully, you can contain yourself until then.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Three reasons why Houston opened its season with a 34-24 victory against the Colts.

1. Houston’s running game: Arian Foster was a stud, rushing 33 times for a club-record 231 yards and three touchdowns. He’ll make you forget the name Steve Slaton (six carries, 29 yards) pretty quickly. Perhaps the most impressive drive Houston ran was the first series of the second half, when they used up about 8 minutes of game clock, handing the ball to Foster. The Colts simply couldn’t stop him. After his final TD of the game, with 1:56 to go, he slammed the ball to the turf. Then, he went to the bench and put on an oxygen mask. He had earned it.

2. The Colts wide receivers: On the surface, their numbers look good. Peyton Manning completed a career-high 40 completions, and Austin Collie (10 catches, 131 yards), Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Pierre Garcon recorded at least 75 receiving yards a piece. But Manning was undone early in the game by a bevy of Colts mistakes. His receivers ran the wrong routes, they dropped passes, they fumbled receptions. In the end, Houston made them pay.

3. Houston’s early-game momentum: The Texans jumped out to a 13-0 lead, and though the Colts answered with 10-straight points, the tone already had been set. This game was so, so important to the Texans, who entered the game 1-15 all time against the Colts. They had suffered through a few close games – a few games they should have won, actually – and they came in confident they weren’t going to let another opportunity to pass them by. Turns out, they didn’t.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

A few interesting notes here from Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star .

Starting LT Charlie Johnson was carted off the field during Friday’s second practice, and though the severity of the injury isn’t yet know, coach Jim Caldwell is expected to address it after this morning’s scrimmage.

If Johnson is lost for significant time, that’ll be a big blow to Indianapolis. Especially because the OL has undergone such a renovation since last year, in part because the Colts have been so bad as a run-blocking unit. Johnson is a converted TE, but he’s made a pretty good transition to the offensive line while having to protect Peyton Manning’s blind side.

If Johnson can’t play, Tony Ugoh – who still struggles with his pass-blocking – could move from LG to LT. But then, who would play LG? Jeff Linkenbach and Chris Marinelli are supposedly behind Johnson at LT, but both are rookies. Overall, not a good scene if Johnson has to miss some time.

Also, Wilson writes about WR Anthony Gonzalez – who people seem to forget because of Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. But without Garcon participating in practice Friday, Gonzalez had a chance to shine.

As Wilson writes:

It's just practice, but he looks good. After one of the sideline catches, Manning gave Gonzo a pat after the receiver came back.
If this keeps up, I don't see how the Colts can keep him on the bench. But I still don't have a clue how Reggie Wayne, Garcon, Collie and Gonzo can all get their share of catches. We shall see.

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As if Colts QB Peyton Manning doesn’t have enough weapons at his disposal, Indianapolis Star beat writer Mike Chappell writes this year’s receiving corps could be the deepest the team has had.

Obviously, they’ve got Reggie Wayne (100 catches, 1,264 yards, 10 TDs last year) and Pierre Garcon (47 catches, 765 yards, four TDs) on the outside. Then, they’ve got Austin Collie – who had an outstanding rookie year with 60 catches, 676 yards and seven TDs – in the slot.

Plus, you can’t forget about the 100-reception performance of TE Dallas Clark.

But what potentially could make this WR corps extraordinary is the return of Anthony Gonzalez. He played only one game last season before injuring his knee and losing the rest of the year, but in his first two seasons in the NFL, he showed he’s a solid receiver with good ability to make yards after a catch. Although he’s been dealing with a “muscular” injury this offseason – an injury that is unrelated to his knee problems, the team says – he told the newspaper that he’s been assured he will have the chance to compete for Garcon’s job as the No. 2 WR.

Most likely, he’ll have a chance to take Collie’s starting job.

--Josh Katzowitz

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