Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

John W. McDonough/SI

Cam Newton soared over the goal line, and into record books during his first NFL career game. Newton passed for 422 yards, threw two touchdowns and ran for one (shown here) and had only one interception, becoming the first rookie QB to throw for 400 yards in his debut.

Larry Smith/EPA

On the NFL's opening day, teams and fans across the nation commemorated the 10th anniversary of the attacks on New York twin towers and the Pentagon. This fan, at the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, wore a fireman's hat and 9-11 jersey in remembrance of the day.

Brian Snyder/Reuters

Plaxico Burress runs onto the field carrying a U.S. flag during pregame ceremonies to mark the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Erick W. Rasco/SI

Novak Djokovic pounds a backhand during the early round of the 2011 U.S. Open. The No. 1 seed beat No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal, in the finals to cap off what John McEnroe called the best ever tennis season.

Simon Bruty/SI

How gripping was the tension between Djokovic and Roger Federer during the U.S. Open's semifinals? Just check out Djokovic's arm gripping the racquet. Djokovic overcame a two-set deficit to defeat Federer.

David Bergman/SI

The Cowboys couldn't get a consistent running game going against the New York Jets.

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Notre Dame's Theo Riddick breaks free of a tackle during the first night game ever at the Big House (thanks to newly-installed stadium lights). Riddick caught six passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns, but even that wasn't enough to overcome the Wolverines, who scored the winning TD with two seconds remaining.

Valentin Flauraud/Reuters

Hungary's Zoltan Kovago competes in the discus event at an IAAF Diamond League meet.

Kieran Doherty/Reuters

Unfortunately, this Spanish crew has trouble successfully navigating the choppy waters during the second day of racing at the America's Cup.

Kelley L. Cox/US Presswire

Helmets, a face mask, sunglasses and dreads go flying as the Oakland Athletics Jemile Weeks (bottom) collides with with Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez.

Richard Rowe/US Presswire

OSU running back Joseph Randle (1) shows off his gymnastics skills as he scores a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats.

Jerry Lai/US Presswire

The Indians' Trevor Crowe is tagged out as he collides with White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

Daniel Karmann/AFP/Getty Images

A professional cyclist jumps over a church in Nuremberg, Germany, during a freeriders' race in the historic city center. He safely avoided the church's spires, in case you were wondering.

Thomas Kienzle/AFP/Getty Images

As Stuttgart's Christian Gentner (front) attempts to escape the ball, Hanover's Christian Schulz reaches around, appearing to hug Gentner, but really sneaking a toe on the ball.

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Who said East Coast waves were weak? Not Kelly Slater, who cannot stay on his board during the semifinal round at the Quiksilver Pro New York tournament in Long Beach, New York.

Andy Clark/Reuters

A freestyle skier practices on a newly opened water ramp in British Columbia. Built on an old military self-propelled landing craft, the new ramp helps freestyle skiers practice their aerials, moguls, halfpipe or slopestyle tricksduring the summer months before they perform them in competition on snow.

Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

The Eagles' Andrew Embley (left) crashes into Harry O'Brien of the Magpies during the AFL first qualifying match, resulting in a mass of tangled arms.