Ever hear the joke about the guy who worked for Levi’s? He pulled down 200 a week.

Which is a really terrible segue into Week 2 of the NFL. Or maybe not so terrible. The San Francisco 49ers played their first regular season game at new Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night and left with their 501s hanging low. The Niners led 17-0 before Jay Cutler got focused and threw four touchdown passes to lead the Chicago Bears to a 28-20 win on Sunday night.

That was a big one for the Bears because no team wants to start the season 0-2. Only 23 teams of 198 postseason entrants reached the playoffs since 1990 after starting 0-2 and only one of the last 60 lost its first two games.

Other noteworthy performances: The Washington Redskins sacked the quarterback 10 times in a 41-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars but lost quarterback Robert Griffin III to a dislocated ankle … The Cleveland Browns came from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 26-24 and win their first home opener since 2004. The Saints are (uh-oh) 0-2. … Monday Night Football features the Philadelphia Eagles at Indianapolis Colts.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The Southeastern Conference placed seven teams among the top 15 in the Associated Press poll for the first time since the AP began its weekly ratings in 1936. It has eight in the Top 25. Florida State, which did not play, remains No. 1.
 

GOLF

Billy Horschel continued his hot streak by winning the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. He also won the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus check that comes with it. Dinner is on him … if you can find him.
 

NASCAR

Brad Keselowski won the first race of the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. He is the top seed in the 16-driver field and automatically advances to the second round. Four drivers will be eliminated after every third race.
 

BASEBALL

The Los Angeles Dodgers stretched their lead in the NL West to three games over the San Francisco Giants by beating them 4-2 on Sunday. Clayton Kershaw earned his major-league best 19^th win. He’s 19-3 with an ERA of 1.70, which also leads the majors, and that should secure for him his third Cy Young Award and perhaps the NL MVP trophy as well.
 

Today’s question

Who are you picking in Monday Night Football – the Eagles or the Colts? Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .