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Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

Falling

Edwards

1. Trent Edwards, Bills QB: The third-year quarterback was terrible in a 38-10 loss to the Dolphins, and it looks like the pressures surrounding the foundering organization -- a head coach headed to the gallows, a coordinator already axed, questionable personnel moves, offensive futility -- are consuming him.

Edwards threw three interceptions. Rookie cornerback Vontae Davis was laughing about the telegraphed throw he returned for a touchdown. Edwards was sacked six times. He completed three passes to Terrell Owens, giving them eight measly connections this year.

Sanchez

2. Mark Sanchez, Jets QB: The rookie quarterback was the weak link Sunday against the Saints. His mistakes were the main reason the Jets lost their first game. Two of his turnovers were pounced on for touchdowns in a 14-point game.

Sanchez completed 14 of 27 passes for 138 yards and no touchdowns. He threw three interceptions. Saints safety Darren Sharper took one 99 yards for a touchdown. On Sharper's return, Sanchez made a juvenile decision to take out Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma at the knees. Sanchez also lost a fumble the Saints recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.

Galloway

3. Joey Galloway, Patriots WR: Head coach Bill Belichick declined to explain why Galloway was a healthy scratch from Sunday's victory over the Ravens, but it doesn't take a master sleuth to figure it out.

Galloway essentially has been useless in the Patriots' offense. The 15-year veteran seems lost and unable to grasp the playbook for whatever reason. In his three games, Tom Brady has targeted him 19 times, but they've completed just six passes for 49 yards.

Rising

Wake

1. Cameron Wake, Dolphins LB: The Canadian Football League phenom finally performed for Dolfans, who had forgotten what all the fuss was about when their team signed him in January. Loyalists were excited to learn Wake recorded 39 sacks in two seasons with the BC Lions, but they didn't see any evidence of that in four preseason exhibitions. Wake was inactive for the first two regular-season games.

In his second NFL game, Wake recorded three sacks against a Bills offensive line that was thoroughly outclassed because it has been trimmed to the bone by front-office decisions and injuries. But those are NFL players Wake competed against. Only three Dolphins had more sacks all of last year.

Morris

2. Sammy Morris, Patriots RB: Some observers wondered if Morris would be cut at the end of training camp. The Patriots added free agent Fred Taylor to a backfield that included Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Morris stuck around and has been involved. He's even getting snaps at fullback. Morris leads all Patriots running backs in receiving yardage with 95 on nine catches. In Sunday's triumph over the Ravens, he had a 12-yard touchdown run.

Henne

3. Chad Henne, Dolphins QB: The second-year pro became only the fifth quarterback to win his first Dolphins start in the post-Dan Marino era. That might not sound too remarkable, but when you consider he was the 13th to start since Marino retired in 2000, it's an achievement.

Henne, pressed into service because Chad Pennington is done for the year, submitted a managerial performance that would make his mentor proud. Henne completed 12 of 22 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions against the Bills. Not dazzling, by any means. But good enough to help the Dolphins win their first game of the year.