(My Sportsbook) - Few would have thought that Tom Brady's record-setting 50 touchdown passes in 2007 would be challenged by someone so soon. Yet one week into the 2009 season, and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is on pace to shatter that incredible mark.

Brees threw six touchdown passes in Sunday's 45-27 victory over Detroit, the most lopsided season-opening win in Saints history, putting him on pace for an eye-popping 96 touchdown passes.

Now, of course no one expects the 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year to throw for that many scores. After all, Brees set a new single-game career high for touchdown passes against a Lions club that has lost 18 straight games. Still, it was the latest example of how Brees continues to one-up himself each year since he came to New Orleans.

"They were No. 1 in the NFL for a reason last year," debuting Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said of the Saints' offense.

Prior to Sunday, Brees had thrown 88 touchdown passes in his three seasons with the Saints, completing 26 in 2006, 28 the following year and 34 last season. He has also gone over 4,000 yards passing in each of those campaigns and became the second player in league history to go over 5,000 passing yards last season, with his 5,069 yards falling 15 shy of Dan Marino's single-season record.

While the 30-year-old's 358 passing yards on Sunday weren't earth-shattering, people will remember the six scores -- including four in the first half -- that tied Billy Kilmer's single-game club record that had stood solo since 1969.

"I wasn't keeping track," Brees said. "It's kind of funny how that adds up if you just take it one play at a time. We had a lot of opportunities out there and there were a lot of guys who made some big plays in this game.

"Unfortunately we always think about the ones that got away -- there were probably one or two more that we left out there. That's what keeps you coming back."

While Brees had a record day, he knows he could have had more, something that will motivate him going into this Sunday's road test with Philadelphia.

Hopefully Brady's record was written in pencil.

FALCONS: NEW ADDITIONS COME UP BIG

Unless you are the defending champion, every team's goal at the start of the year is to improve upon the season before. Often that depends upon the acquisition of instillation of new talent.

A-plus for the Atlanta Falcons and their offseason moves after Week 1's 19-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Looking to improve on an 11-win, second-place finish in the NFC South in a year that ended with a loss to Arizona in the postseason's opening weekend, the Falcons added one of the top tight ends in NFL history in Tony Gonzalez before mixing in veteran Mike Peterson to their young linebacking group.

Both additions were key in the season-opening victory, with Peterson factoring into two turnovers that led to 10 points, including Gonzalez's first touchdown catch as a Falcon.

Peterson, who had seven tackles, first caused a fumble late in the second quarter that was recovered by defensive back Brian Williams, who returned it 53 yards to set up a field goal and 10-0 halftime lead.

Williams saw a lot of playing time just a week after signing with the Falcons. Though the 30-year-old is no stranger to the starting lineup, having started all 16 games with Jacksonville last year, his four tackles and key return were impressive for someone thrust right into the fire.

"Anytime a guy makes a good play, whether he's been here one week, five years, or 12 years, it creates excitement," said Falcons head coach Mike Smith. "It creates excitement on the sideline, in the stands. It's just a good thing."

Peterson wasn't done, as he picked off a Chad Pennington pass in the third quarter, taking it 39 yards to the Miami 20-yard line. After two incomplete passes, quarterback Matt Ryan hit Gonzalez for a touchdown, with the 20-yard reception making the veteran tight end the 21st player in league history to reach the 11,000 mark for career receiving yards.

"He caught the ball short of the stick and was able to break the tackle and go into the end zone," said Smith. "Tony is going to not only help our offense, but he's going to help our defense and special teams as well. He's going to help our entire football team."

Just like the Falcons drew it up this offseason.

BUCCANEERS: NEW SCHEME CAN'T HANDLE THE BIG PLAYS

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers knew that switching defensive systems under new defensive coordinator Jim Bates wasn't going to be the smoothest of transitions. No one expected it to be this rough, though.

The Buccaneers were outgunned, 34-21, by Dallas on Sunday. While the offense managed to post 450 yards, the Cowboys countered with 462 yards against a Tampa Bay defense that was no longer in its famous "Tampa 2" scheme. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo threw for a career-high 353 yards, connecting on touchdown passes of 42, 66 and 80 yards.

Even Cowboys kicker Nick Folk went big play, hitting a 51-yard field goal.

"Obviously it is a new scheme, I think we can play it well; we just can't give up big plays and do stupid stuff," said defensive back Ronde Barber. "Once we realize that plays come to you and you don't make plays, we are going to be a better team."

The Buccaneers ranked fourth in the league last year against the pass, holding opponents to 187.3 yards per game, but couldn't duplicate that success in Raheem Morris' head coaching debut.

While Morris said after the game said he was pleased with the coaches' communication during the game, safety Jermaine Phillips mentioned that was the defenses' biggest problem.

"On one of the touchdowns, I missed a tackle, a tackle I should make," added Phillips. "We have to stand up and take responsibility. We had a couple of busts and some communication issues.

"It's all about communication. We'll get back to the drawing board next week and I think we'll be fine when we get to Buffalo."

Tampa Bay better get things right in a hurry, as their visit to the Bills this weekend will feature a matchup against Terrell Owens, who used to put up big numbers with Romo in Dallas.

Sunday's loss also overshadowed a solid game out of running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. After appearing in just 10 games over the last two seasons thanks to a pair of knee injuries, the 2005 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year rushed for 97 yards and a score on 13 carries before the Bucs' deficit took the running game out of play.

PANTHERS: DELHOMME SHAKEN, BUT HOPEFULLY NOT STIRRED

Heading into the Carolina Panthers' Week 1 opener, quarterback Jake Delhomme had already fielded a whole offseason's worth of questions about last year's six-turnover playoff performance that ended the club's 12-win season without a postseason victory.

Looks like those questions will continue to hover around Delhomme for another week.

The former Pro Bowl selection was hoping to erase the taste of his five- interception performance versus the Arizona Cardinals last January. But thanks to a heavy Philadelphia Eagles' pass rush, he turned the ball over another five times and was on his back more times than Charlie Brown trying to kick a football.

Asked what went wrong in the 38-10 setback to the Eagles, Panthers head coach John Fox said, "The protection. I think it's uncomfortable playing quarterback when you're getting sacked and knocked around."

It would be easy for Panther fans to put the blame all on Delhomme, who has now thrown nine interceptions and fumbled twice in his last two games that are sandwiched around a five-year contract extension. However, when he was lifted in the third quarter, backup Josh McCown faced the same pressure and left the game with a sprained left knee and foot after being sacked.

Rather than reinserting Delhomme, Fox opted to go with third quarterback Matt Moore. In all, Carolina signal-callers combined for five interceptions and 138 passing yards without a touchdown, good for a 13.7 passer rating.

McCown, meanwhile, landed on injured reserve due to his injury, with the Panthers adding former Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley to the mix.

The question now is if Delhomme has the confidence to bounce back next week in Atlanta.

"After that game, I'd be worried about all of our confidences," said Fox after Sunday's game, adding on Monday that he plans to start Delhomme this weekend.

Fox now needs to address his offensive line, which failed to handle the Eagles' pressure both in passing and rushing situations. Running backs DeAngelo Williams, who scored on an 11-yard run to cap Carolina's first possession, and Jonathan Stewart combined for just 72 yards on 25 carries.

One good thing to come out of Week 1 for the Panthers? Linebacker and defensive leader Jon Beason showed no lingering effects of a sprained knee that limited him in preseason. He notched four tackles and also showed good movement during a return of an interception.