In the end, the scares for Alabama and even Missouri didn't come on the scoreboard. The Tigers never really got back in the game after an early 28-0 lead for the Tide, but two players went down and one of them might be out for a while.

The first was Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, who was helped off the field against in the third quarter after being sacked by Sheldon Richardson. The knee injury that he apparently suffered -- later called a bruised knee -- didn't appear to be too serious, and McCarron finished the game.

What's less certain is the condition of Eric Waters, whose head snapped into the ground as he landed on his back on the final substantive play of the game. Waters was taken off on a stretcher, and CBS said they had no word on what the injury was at this point. Thoughts and prayers to Waters and his family. Early returns are tentatively positive.

In any case, it was another long week on the field for Missouri. Alabama cranked out 522 yards of total offense to 152 for Missouri. The Tigers are now winless in the SEC for the first half of their inaugural season in the conference. One hopes that is the only lasting damage to Missouri and all of its players.