Quick Kicks

Endangered species

It was a bad day for quarterbacks as seven were hurt Sunday on opening day of the NFL season.

The worst injury was to Billy Joe Hobert of New Orleans, who was lost for the season with a torn right Achilles’ tendon.

Tennessee’s Steve McNair bruised his right elbow when he was tackled on the Oilers’ final play of the first half at Cincinnati. X-rays found no fracture, and the feeling returned to McNair’s elbow in the second half.

Baltimore’s new quarterback, Jim Harbaugh, left in the second quarter of the Ravens’ game against Pittsburgh with a slight fracture of his right ring finger.

Washington’s Gus Frerotte left early in the third quarter at New York with a sprained left shoulder.

Rob Johnson, making his first start for Buffalo, was knocked out of the game against San Diego after suffering a concussion on the Bills’ first play of the second half. It’s uncertain how long Johnson will be out of action.

Trent Dilfer was Tampa Bay’s lone bright spot in a loss at Minnesota until he was forced out late in the third quarter with a deep thigh bruise.

Elvis Grbac was injured on the last play of the first half of Kansas City’s game with Oakland. The Chiefs said Grbac bruised his right shoulder.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Ki-Jana Carter broke his left wrist and will be out eight to 12 weeks.

Flock of Ravens

Bill Daywalt went to the Baltimore Ravens’ open house for season ticket holders in July and attended two August exhibition games at the new stadium at Camden Yards.

Sunday’s regular-season opener between the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, however, might as well have been his first look at the $223 million facility.

“This is the real thing,” Daywalt, 42, said. “They can’t take this away.”

Before heading to their end zone seats, Daywalt and son Billy, 12, paid $70 for seven commemorative programs.

The new stadium, officially named Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards, seats 68,400 fans, features a video-game arcade for kids and an area that has Velcro-covered walls. Fans can pay $1 to run, jump off a mini-trampoline and stick to the wall.

Seven points to ponder

1. Tampa Bay’s defense was the best inside the 20-yard line last season, allowing opponents to score touchdowns less than 37% of the time. The Buccaneers were 0 for two in those situations Sunday.

2. The Rams, the most-penalized team in the NFL last year, had 10 penalties for 105 yards in their 24-17 loss to New Orleans.

3. The Redskins gave up an average 138.3 yards rushing last season, 28th in the league. Even though they lost, 31-24, on Sunday, they held the New York Giants to 82 yards in 30 carries, an average of 2.7.

4. In an embarrassing 38-0 loss to Seattle, Philadelphia averaged only 0.4 yards per pass play.

5. After setting a franchise record with 44 sacks last season, Tampa Bay only had one on Sunday, by cornerback Anthony Parker.

6. The Chargers, who had an NFL-low 27 sacks last year, had five in a 16-14 victory over Buffalo.

7. In 34 possessions through preseason and the regular-season opener, the Eagles’ starting offense has only one touchdown.