Bears in the Pros: Keenan Allen ties franchise record for receptions

Cal's NFL representation put in some decent performances during the NFL's opening week of action. Here is a rundown of the best action from the Bears in the pros.

Keenan Allen: WR, San Diego Chargers

Keenan Allen tied the Chargers franchise record with 15 receptions during their 33-28 win at home against the Detroit Lions. The Chargers were down 21-3 and Allen's career-high 166 receiving yards helped spark them to an impressive comeback victory.

The San Diego Union Tribune has a story on Allen and his spectacular opening game. It discusses how Allen's 2014 fell short of expectations after his stellar 2013 and what has changed for him this season.

Here's an excerpt:

This is the kid who lined up in the wrong spot, ran the wrong route, slipped or otherwise goofed up on a regular basis last season. He had some stellar games but was so inconsistent that veterans would often roll their eyes when asked about him, some of them showing an open disdain for the talent that seemed to be in danger of drowning in a sea of inconsistency and bogged down by the occasional lack of focus in practices and games.

That what Allen did Sunday was not beyond the realm of what we had imagined for him could be as frustrating as it appears promising - if not for the fact that the consensus has been for months that Allen is a new man. Still just 23 years old, we might actually only now be able to consider him a man.

"He's doing a great job - better than before, a lot of extra this year compared to last year," Malcom Floyd said.

That concurs with what so many reported during the summer and what was evident day after day in training camp. Allen might not have had a bad practice and had to be forced to rest. He is engaged in meetings and a regular in the sauna, the hot rub and cold tub.

"His daily commitment," Rivers said of the difference. "... He was learning how to do it every day. It's just been evident ... He just seems focused and all in."

Tyson Alualu: DE/DT, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tyson Alualu recorded just two tackles during the Jaguars' 20-9 home loss to Ron Rivera's Carolina Panthers.

C.J. Anderson: HB, Denver Broncos

C.J. Anderson, like the rest of the Broncos offense, failed to get out of first gear during their defensive slugfest with the Baltimore Ravens. Anderson carried the ball 12 times for 29 yards and hauled in four passes for 19 yards to help the Broncos defeat the Ravens.

Anderson told The Denver Post after the game that he "can not wait" to shut up the critics of the Denver offense Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Bryan Anger: P, Jacksonville Jaguars

Bryan Anger punted five times during the Jaguars' loss to the Panthers with an average distance of 46.2 yards per punt and a net average of 37 yards. He pinned the Panthers inside the 20 on two occasions.

Chris Conte: S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris Conte finished tied for the Bucs' team high in tackles with five during their embarrassing 42-14 home defeat to the Tennessee Titans.

Justin Forsett: HB, Baltimore Ravens

Justin Forsett struggled similarly to Anderson during the Ravens' 19-13 defeat to the Broncos. Forsett finished with 14 carries for 43 yards. 20 of those yards came on one run during the Ravens' final drive of the game. Forsett added four catches for 13 yards to round out a disappointing game.

USA Today Sports is projecting Forsett to rebound this week against the Oakland Raiders.

2. RB Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders

Here's another discounted producer (11th most expensive back) you should grab. Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard trampled Oakland for 151 offensive yards and two scores in Week 1. Baltimore's rushing offense, which centers around Forsett, should fare better than it did vs. Denver, when he accrued just 56 offensive yards.

DeSean Jackson: WR, Washington Redskins

DeSean Jackson suffered a hamstring injury during the Redskins' second drive of the game which will keep him out of action for 3-4 weeks.

Jackson talked to The Washington Times about his injury:

When Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson felt the pop in his left hamstring on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, he wasn't sure what exactly to expect, but he knew it wasn't good.

"I was definitely worries because I never felt that before," Jackson said on Wednesday. "I've never been a hamstring guy, had hamstring problems, so it's new to me. Feeling an injury like this pop and things like this, it's new but I'll do everything to get back right."

Marvin Jones: WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Marvin Jones made his return to the field on the road against the Oakland Raiders after missing the entirety of the 2014 season. Jones contributed two catches for 19 yards during the Bengals' 33-14 victory.

Cameron Jordan: DE, New Orleans Saints

Cameron Jordan finished the Saints' 31-19 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals with two tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and two passes defended.

Mychal Kendricks: LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Mychal Kendricks led the Eagles with 10 tackles during their 26-24 defeat on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.

Marshawn Lynch: HB, Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries during the Seahawks' 34-31 loss at the St. Louis Rams. Lynch scored a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter, but was stuffed in the backfield by the Rams defense on fourth and one during overtime to seal the game. Lynch caught five passes for 31 yards.

Here's an excerpt from The Seattle Times about that final run play:

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said on Monday that the play was a zone-read option in which quarterback Russell Wilson can keep the ball or hand to Lynch.

"They won the line of scrimmage on that play and did a nice job attacking us,'' Carroll said Monday. "We just weren't able to get the crease that we needed. It's a good play for us, a good concept for us that has been really successful for us for a long time, so we went with a real base thought, and they just played it better than we did.''

Perhaps the Rams won at the line of scrimmage because they have a ton of high draft picks on the defensive line as opposed to the practice squad players and converted defensive lineman that occupy Seattle's offensive line? Just a thought.

Brandon Mebane: DT, Seattle Seahawks

Brandon Mebane recorded just one tackle during Seattle's loss to St. Louis.

Aaron Rodgers: QB, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers picked up where he left off with James Jones as they connected for two touchdown passes during Green Bay's 31-23 road victory against the Chicago Bears. Rodgers went 18-23 for 189 yards passing and three touchdowns. Rodgers added 35 rushing yards on eight carries. The victory brings Rodgers' career record against Chicago to 13-3.

Here are some quotes courtesy of the Chicago Tribune:

"It's always fun beating the Bears," Rodgers said of the Packers' 31-23 season-opening win at Soldier Field. "It's always ramped up a little bit more because of the rivalry and the history."

Rodgers performed his dissection of this Bears against some new faces and and a new defensive coordinator in Vic Fangio.

"They did some different things," Rodgers said. "They played kind of similar to how coach Fangio played us when he was in San Francisco.

"It was a good plan by them. They didn't bring a ton of pressure."

Richard Rodgers: TE, Green Bay Packers

Richard Rodgers hauled in three passes from Aaron Rodgers for 27 yards while adding 11 rushing yards on one attempt during the Packers' victory in Chicago.

Mitchell Schwartz: OT, Cleveland Browns

Mitchell Schwartz started his 49th consecutive game on sunday during Cleveland's 31-10 road loss to the New York Jets.

Shane Vereen: HB, New York Giants

Shane Vereen led the Giants with 46 receiving yards on four receptions. He rushed for 14 yards on three carries during the Giants' wild opening night 27-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Check back next week to find out how the Bears in the pros performed during week two of the NFL season.