Plummer calls his own plays in the no-huddle, something he says he always had wanted to do.

The no-huddle has injected some life into a unit that has been decimated by injuries and helped the team to a fourth-quarter touchdown Sunday against the Rams. ...

Also of interest. ...

Marcel Shipp's 80-yard touchdown pass was the Cardinals' longest since 1988, the team's first season in Arizona, a span of 223 games. It's the longest since Dec. 10, 1988, against Philadelphia , when Neil Lomax completed a 93-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ernie Jones.

According to Somers, the screen pass should become a more integral part of the offense as the season winds down. The passing game is struggling because of injuries to receivers, so opponents are packing the line of scrimmage with eight or nine players and blitzing Plummer.

Shipp is an accomplished receiver, so a screen pass or two could slow the rush. The team is much improved running screens this season, partially because Plummer is selling them better. The club also has used a tight end screen to Freddie Jones at times, scoring on it once.

By the way. ... Shipp became the first Cardinals player to score three touchdowns in a regular-season game since Plummer did it in 1998 against Washington.

Plummer scored on three runs in that game.

Plummer’s 263 yards rushing, already a career high, is sixth in the NFL among quarterbacks, behind Atlanta’s Mike Vick (697), Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper (508), Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb (460), Tennessee’s Steve McNair (379) and San Francisco's Jeff Garcia (332).

And a few final items. ...

In an article published Monday, ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli quoted an unnamed NFC personnel chief as saying: "Look, I know most people are down on Jake Plummer. Hell, I'm not a big fan. But some team is going to pay him more money than you think. No, not break-the-bank money, But a hell of a lot more than the minimum. ..."

Also according to Pasquarelli: "When you've got as many receivers as Arizona does who are wearing uniform numbers in the 'teens, and not the 80s, the pass-catching corps isn't very good. But watching the Cardinals receivers make a few plays on Sunday night, you realize that outside of guys like Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison, the position isn't all that hard to fill. ..."

In an article published Sunday, Denver Post sports writer Adam Schefter wrote: "Laugh now at the Cardinals. But they are in position to have the most successful offseason of any NFL team. The Cardinals are scheduled to be $40 million under the salary cap after this season, and that does not include the money they'll save once they dump running back Thomas Jones. The other NFC team in great shape is the Vikings, who are scheduled to be about $22.5 million under the salary cap."

And finally. ... Head coach Dave McGinnis has already ruled receiver Frank Sanders out of Saturday’s game with his strained arch.

Some insist Vick is not polished enough to win in the playoffs, but he dramatically improved his passing production in the second half of the season.

Vick can hurt a defense with sharp and accurate throws on the run. He is most effective on midrange passes and tends to overthrow receivers on deeper routes. Vick's speed causes the greatest concern for defenses.

I'll remind you, however, that Vick has seven turnovers in the past three games. In the six games before that, the bulk of Atlanta's eight-game streak, the Falcons had a total of seven turnovers. ...

Also according to Odum, the team has trouble containing blitzes off the corner, and the pressure rushes Vick's decision to run or pass. That, in turn, exposes the team's lack of speed at receiver.

The majority of the team's wideouts are possession receivers who are not explosive off the line and are slow to separate themselves from defensive backs.

Sometimes the best percentage passes for Vick when under pressure are to running back Warrick Dunn or tight end Alge Crumpler. Dunn caught six passes last Sunday, and Crumpler had five catches for 75 yards, including a touchdown.

But when the pass rush intensifies, backs and tight ends must be used for pass protection, not receiving. That puts more pressure on receivers to get open quickly, which is why wide receiver Trevor Gaylor's speed is earning him playing time.

Other notes of interest. ...

Head coach Dan Reeves does not expect Vick to miss practice time this week because of a slightly swollen left thumb.

"A lot's going to depend on how he comes in Wednesday," Reeves said Monday. "I think there's a good chance that he could be OK." Vick, who is left-handed, was injured after jamming his hand against another player's facemask in the second quarter of Sunday's loss.

"I've got a lot of guys out there that are relying on me, so I'm not going to let a thumb injury keep me from playing," Vick said after the game. "I bruised it."

Veteran receiver Shawn Jefferson has a strained left hamstring; he said it's the first of his 12-year career. According to the Sports Xchange, it's a fairly serious injury. Jefferson, however, still expects to play against the Lions this Sunday.

Billick uses backs as primary targets as well as check-down options.

The Ravens like to split out Jamal Lewis to the far side to open space in the middle for tight end Todd Heap or wide receiver Travis Taylor; or sometimes the team will send them on short curl routes in the middle underneath the linebackers.

Lewis has emerged as one of the team's better receivers, and Chester Taylor, who has seen increased action in recent weeks, is being used more as a receiver when Lewis rests. Both players have good hands.

According to Preston, Lewis has more diverse skills, but Taylor has great form, including a terrific body lean. He rarely loses yardage, and his speed is underrated.

Other notes of interest. ...

Rookie Randy Hymes took the place of Ron Johnson as the starter opposite Taylor last Sunday. Johnson has only two catches in his past seven games, opening the door for Hymes, Grambling's quarterback last season.

According to the Sports Xchange, Johnson could have established himself as a starter for future seasons and now is being relegated to special teams.

And finally. ... Matt Stover converted on all three attempts, including a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The 13-year veteran has a cap number over $1 million next year and could be a cap casualty next season.

Henry gained 144 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns, locking into the seventh spot for most yards rushing in a season. He could surpass Thurman Thomas' three best seasons if he gains 176 yards rushing in the final two weeks.

"It feels good," Henry said. "All the hard work I've done in the offseason is paying off right now."

Henry has 1,312 yards rushing this season and will catch Thomas' output in 1993 with 3 yards next week against the Green Bay Packers. Thomas' best season was in 1992, when he gained 1,487 yards rushing. He had 1,407 in 1991. O.J. Simpson rushed for more than 1,500 three times to hold the top three spots.

Henry also became the fourth player in team history with six 100-yard rushing games in a season. Simpson, Thomas and Cookie Gilchrist are the others. Henry's 13 rushing touchdowns are tied with Gilchrist for second in a season, three fewer than Simpson had in 1975. He also needs one TD to catch Gilchrist for second in most total touchdowns in a season with 15.

"Travis is such a unique player with his ability to run through tackles and make the extra yards," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "I've got a great seat to watch him."

For what it's worth. ... ... Henry has rushed for 125-plus yards more times than any other halfback in the league this season.

Other notes of interest. ...

Larry Centers on staying motivated at a time when the playoffs are a pipe dream: "I can imagine what an attorney must feel like when all the evidence is stacked against his client. Or what a surgeon is feeling when everyone else is saying his patient doesn't have a chance. ..."

In an article published Dec. 9, Pro Football Weekly noted that team officials believe rookie receiver Josh Reed is the real deal and if he wasn’t playing behind top-notch wideouts like Eric Moulds and Peerless Price, he would be a major contributor to the offense. Reed is not a prototypical wide receiver, but the Bills love his ability to get open and break tackles and his sure hands.

And finally. ... According to Associated Press sport writer John Wawrow, even though he's encouraged by the team's recent progress, Bills president Tom Donahoe isn't guaranteeing anyone's job security -- including head coach Gregg Williams.

The Bills will have a number of decisions to make with the rest of their coaching staff.

Except for offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, who each have at least a year left on their respective contracts, the contracts of the remaining position coaches are up at the end of the season.

For the record. ... Williams received the "Dreaded Vote Of Confidence" from owner Ralph Wilson on Tuesday.

Of course, Peete, who can be a free agent after the season, has made no secret of the fact he'd like to return to the team in 2003.

Bringing back a player who will be 37 next season might not sound like an attractive option, but it wouldn't be a bad move. Peete is smart, and offensive coordinator Dan Henning is his biggest fan.

The team does need to find a long-term solution at quarterback. It seems to have given up on Chris Weinke, and Randy Fasani is just a project.

The free-agent crop probably won't include anyone markedly better than Peete, who is willing to return at a reasonable price.

The team could use an early-round draft pick on a quarterback, which would allow Peete to serve as a mentor and start until the young player is ready. ...

As reported by the Sports Xchange, head coach John Fox clearly wasn't pleased with Weinke's relief effort against the Steelers.

Weinke relieved Peete in the second quarter and completed only 3-of-7 passes for a mere 14 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. The Panthers picked up only one first down in four possessions under Weinke.

Peete returned in the second half after recovering from a hit to the back of the head and played the rest of the game.

"He didn't perform as well as I would have liked," Fox said of Weinke. "He made one poor read on a cover two that was intercepted. I thought he didn't perform like he could have."

It was the second straight time Weinke has struggled stepping in when Peete went down with an injury.

"There are usually reasons why guys are number twos and ideally you'd like to avoid those situations," Fox said. "He's studied the game and practiced hard. We just have to get him to the point where he performs better in game conditions. And that is what we're out to do."

Fox wouldn't say if Weinke would remain the team's No. 2 quarterback this week against the Chicago Bears or if he'll elevate rookie Fasani to that role. Fox said Peete will remain the team's starter.

Asked if Weinke is having trouble reading defenses, Fox said, "I think it's production based and right now no matter who has gone in behind Rodney, we have not been as productive with our No. 2 guy playing. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

Also according to Yasinskas, the team must upgrade its depth at receiver in the offseason. It is getting virtually no production beyond starters Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith.

Isaac Byrd was expected to be a dependable third receiver after catching 37 passes last season, but he has been troubled by injuries and has just 11 receptions.

Karl Hankton, who had a chance to step into the No. 3 slot, has problems hanging onto passes and has just nine catches.

The team must bring in a player to compete for a starting job and at least two wideouts to fill the Nos. 4 and 5 spots. ...

And finally. ... Wesley Walls tried to play through a foot injury last Sunday, but only made it one series before having to leave the game. Walls originally injured his foot near the end of Thursday’s practice, but thought he might be able to play. However, he tore the plantar fascia in the foot before the game and despite having two separate shots to relieve the pain was unable to play.

Nonetheless, the veteran tight end, who was wearing a protective boot on the foot early this week, told reporters he still hopes to play the Sunday.

"When it stops bleeding and scars up and all the pain goes away, you're fine and it never bothers you again," Walls explained. "That's what I'm hoping for right there."

With the Bears nursing a 17-13 lead, they faced third down and inches at the Jets' 41-yard line. Burris replaced Chris Chandler, and the Bears lined up in a T-formation, which they first used to "thrill the nation" in the 73-0 rout of the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL championship game.

Leon Johnson, Daimon Shelton and Stanley Pritchett all lined up behind Burris, parallel to the line of scrimmage. Burris faked a handoff up the middle to Johnson, then bolted for the right sideline, barely making the necessary yardage.

"I was not oblivious to that," offensive coordinator John Shoop said of the historical significance of the formation. "It's a play that we've practiced since Henry's been up. He did a good job. Sure he could have stayed in bounds [to keep the clock running], but we were trying to get the first down, so whatever he had to do. But I certainly recognize where the T-formation started.

"The name of the formation, we named it 'Robust,' which is what [former Ohio State coach] Woody Hayes used to call the T-formation. So that was 'Robust Right.' We certainly recognized the significance of it and talked about it as a staff."

Shoop said Burris' lack of playing time was the result of Chandler's outstanding play. He completed 22 of 27 passes.

"It was Chris' game," Shoop said. "We were thinking that there was going to be a package for Henry. I really thought that Henry would play at some point in the first half, maybe one play, maybe a series of plays, depending. But I think Chris was pretty hot. The first thing we wanted to do going into the game was get Chris as hot as we could, and then we'd evaluate it when Henry would go in. But he got hot enough, and we were up, so it wasn't something we got to. It was not a reflection of Henry at all."

For the record. ... Chandler turned in his best complete-game performance of the season, completing 22 of 27 for 177 yards and a passer rating of 94.0. Most of the throws were in the short-to-intermediate range, but almost every one was placed perfectly. Chandler still suffered three sacks, but he had no turnovers, and the ball-control passing game helped the Bears hold the ball for 32:58, their second-best effort in the past 10 games.

And finally. ... In an article published Tuesday, Chicago Tribune staffer John Mullin reminded readers that Marty Booker has put together the two finest consecutive seasons ever by a Bears receiver, topping 1,000 yards both years. He is succeeding despite the fact the Bears don't have many threats to draw defensive attention away form him.

Booker has improved his ability to work deep and leads the NFL in 20-yard receptions. He also is much better with his body positioning, and his blocking arguably is the best of any wideout in the league.

Mullin summed up by stating: "Booker is not flashy but catches well in traffic and shakes off occasional drops to make tough receptions."

A 29-15 loss Sunday to Jacksonville left the Bengals with the NFL's worst record at 1-13 and matched the franchise record for losses in a season.

The Bengals haven't had a winning season since 1990, the year before Mike Brown took over as general manager. In the last 12 years, the Bengals have had the league's worst record.

Kitna said the club can emerge from its mess only if there's a change in attitude "from the top down."

"I'm saying that, as an organization, we don't expect to win," Kitna said. "And if you don't expect to win, you're not going to win very often. Until you expect to win and do the things that are necessary to win -- until you give your players reason for optimism -- you're going to have a tough time."

One of the worst seasons in the history of the league's most woeful team has brought players to the verge of criticizing Brown directly, a dangerous move.

When punter Lee Johnson questioned the front office after a game in 1998, he was released. Brown then devised a contract loyalty clause for players that puts them at risk of losing money if they criticize the team.

Earlier this season, linebacker Takeo Spikes also pointed a finger at the front office, saying, "Everything starts from the top." Spikes, who is a free agent after this season, didn't mention Brown by name.

Brown stopped talking to reporters last week, saying he would wait until the season is over to discuss the team's future. Through a team spokesman, he denied reports Sunday that he is considering a front-office reorganization.

CBS' pregame show "The NFL Today" and SportsLine.com reported that Brown has talked to several league officials and players' union chief Gene Upshaw about restructuring his team.

"This is the first I've heard of that, and the report is inaccurate," Brown said, through spokesman Jack Brennan.

The Bengals are expected to make some cosmetic changes in the front office -- adding scouts, for example -- but Brown has steadfastly insisted there is no need for major change.

Kitna has been exasperated with the organization's inability to keep a quarterback for very long. He joined the Bengals as a free agent in 2001, and the club used three different passers last season.

Gus Frerotte was signed in the past offseason and got the job in training camp, only to lose it after three games. Akili Smith started one game, and Kitna got the job back once again.

The offense finally started moving when Kitna started throwing. A terrible defense and unreliable special teams have been the biggest factors in the 1-13 record.

Kitna was 22-of-42 for 258 yards with one interception Sunday. He also was sacked three times.

He said the front office has to figure out the team's strengths and build around them in the offseason, changing its pattern from the last few years.

"We have to figure out what we're doing well and work on that, and then work on the other things," he said. "With free agency, guys don't stick around for too long. The window is small. Like this group of talented wide receivers we have -- in a couple of years, they're going to be gone. You can't start over every time."

In a related note. ... Kitna's production has increased because his communication with the receivers is so much better. According to Dayton Daily News beat man Chick Ludwig, Kitna is a timing and rhythm thrower whose lack of arm strength doesn't allow him to wait that extra split second for the receiver to get open before he releases the ball. He's doing a good job of anticipating when and where a receiver will be open.

Kitna has been hot because he's getting rid of the ball on time, and the receivers are usually where they're supposed to be. He gets in trouble when he waits too long and forces the ball into traffic. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Neil Rackers added three more field goals, connecting on kicks from 51 and 18 yards in the first half and from 25 in the second half to increase his season totals to 14-of-17. Rackers had made just 29 of 49 attempts his first two seasons, although he made eight of his final 10 attempts last season. Overall he has made 22 of his last 27 attempts, and his three misses this season have all been from 45 yards and beyond.

Rackers got a chance to make that 18-yarder because the Bengals failed to convert a third-and-goal from the Jaguars' 1. In a virtual replay of goal-line scenarios against Tennessee and Cleveland, rookie left tackle Levi Jones reported as an eligible receiver next to right tackle Willie Anderson. Jacksonville sniffed out the play and dropped running back Corey Dillon for a 1-yard loss.

And yes. ... It might indeed be time to scrap that formation.

And a few final items. ... Rookie tight end Matt Schobel has 25 pass receptions and needs five more to become the sixth Bengal to have 30 or more. ... Wide receiver Chad Johnson needs four yards to become the first Bengal to have 1,000 receiving yards since Darnay Scott's 1,022 in 1999. ...

And finally. ... Peter Warrick, who was inactive for Sunday's game because of a bruised chest, remains questionable for this week's game against the Saints.

He accomplished one, throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately he didn't accomplish the other as the Colts won, 28-23.

"It's tough and it's unexplainable why we haven't played well at home," Couch said. "Today was as good as we have played at home and not to win was frustrating."

Andre Davis said he bears responsibility for the team's loss because he didn't catch Tim Couch's fourth-down pass into the end zone.

"I consider myself a professional," Davis said. "I think anything that hits one or both of my hands, I should have it."

Davis' public stance was admirable, but probably harsh. The pass was a rocket, and Davis had to react at the last second and reach back. It would have been impressive if he had made the catch.

In an article published Tuesday, Medina County Gazette staffer Steve King noted that without Dennis Northcutt, the team is struggling on punt returns. Davis is not the answer. Davis is playing wide receiver in passing situations and returning kickoffs. That's a lot to ask of a rookie.

Davis is wearing out and his performance is suffering. The Browns need to consider using either Frisman Jackson or Andre King on punt returns to reduce the load on Davis. ...

Also according to King, Quincy Morgan is making big strides during his second NFL season, but he is not a finished product. He is streaky. He needs to play smarter and do a better job of learning and using the subtle nuances of his position, such as setting up defenders for certain routes.

The most improved area of Morgan's game is his ability to catch the ball. His hands looked suspect last year, but now they are not a problem. That elevated his game significantly, because just in terms of size, strength and speed, he definitely has all the tools. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

William Green was a non-factor against the Colts, rushing for 69 yards on 22 carries. The rookie got off to a good start, but the Browns' ineffective offense in the second half basically took him out of the game. On the team's last-chance drive, Green was on the bench as the Browns went to Jamel White to open up the field for the passing game.

It's worth noting, however, that coaches are starting to use White and Green in the same backfield on passing downs. The Browns did this out of necessity, because of the knee injury to Northcutt, but it is working well.

White gives the team an excellent set of pass-catching hands coming out of the backfield and Green is able to stay in the game. Green is doing better with picking up the blitz and his receiving skills are improving. Green also forces defenses to respect his ability to run on a draw play.

And finally. ... Head coach Butch Davis told the Cleveland Plain Dealer Monday that he has "guarded optimism" that Northcutt, who has missed the last two games with a sprained knee, will be available this Sunday.

"I don't know if I'll be ready for Baltimore because I've still got a lot of testing to do," Northcutt told the paper. "I'm running on it, but I haven't cut yet. As a receiver, that's the most important part. I want to play, I want to win, but I'm not going to do anything stupid."

I'll have more on Northcutt's status as the weekend progresses. ...

"Anybody that watched the game knows that wasn't acceptable," Campo said Monday, a day after the 37-7 loss. "We're going about it as if this one didn't happen."

Campo said that he'd rather his team focus on Saturday night's home finale against Philadelphia, which beat the Cowboys by 31 points in Week 3.

The loss to the Giants assured the Cowboys (5-9) of their third straight losing season and created more questions about Campo's job status.

Campo insisted his only concern is this week's game.

"I'm not talking at all about my job security," said Campo, 15-31 in his third season. "Any time I take talking about that is going to take away from what I'm going to try to get accomplished. I'm trying to get a young football team as far as it can this year."

The Cowboys have to end the season with wins over Philadelphia and Washington to avoid three straight 10-loss seasons for the first time in franchise history. Only three other NFL coaches have lost at least 10 games in each of their first three seasons: Arizona's Joe Bugel, Cincinnati's David Shula and Tampa Bay's John McKay. McKay was with an expansion team.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said last week that he wasn't in the mood for a coaching change, but said part of his final decision about Campo would be determined by the progress made by the team in the last three games.

Jones wasn't available for comment Monday, but after the Giants game was disappointed and noncommittal about Campo's future.

"This is not the time to revisit our staff and what we're doing there," Jones said Sunday. "But we certainly didn't make any progress today. At this point in the season, we should be better, and we're not.

"I have not changed. We are going to look at this thing at the end of the year," he said. "But this wasn't a good step here."

Also of interest. ...

As reported by the Sports Xchange, Emmitt Smith ran for 32 yards last Sunday, leaving him 68 yards short of an NFL-record 12th straight season with 1,000 yards rushing. Smith now has 932 yards rushing for the season.

For the first time since playing Indianapolis on Nov. 17, Smith and Troy Hambrick had close to a 50-50 balance in carries. Smith ran 11 times for 32 yards, while Hambrick ran 10 times for 42 yards. ...

Chad Hutchinson, who has already voided the final four years of his seven-year contract by playing 15 percent of the offensive snaps this season, needs to pass for 1,601 yards to receive a $1.1 million bonus.

After throwing for 161 yards Sunday at the New York Giants, Hutchinson has thrown for 1,236 yards this season. He needs to throw for 365 yards over his final two games (an average of 182.5 yards per game) to get the bonus. He is currently averaging 176.6 yards passing per game.

Hutchinson suffered a minor knee injury last Sunday, but it isn't expected to be an issue this weekend. ...

Joey Galloway had an outside shot to make his first Pro Bowl appearance and was on pace to set career highs in all receiving categories.

However, Galloway has struggled the past two games, catching just one pass in each game, including one for 30 yards against the Giants Sunday. He dropped two passes and seemed to take a bad angle on another deep ball in the first half which landed right at his feet.

Part of the problem was just getting the ball off, Hutchinson running for his life all afternoon. But Galloway wasn't exactly 100 percent either. He didn't catch any passes this week in practice because of a sprained left thumb. Galloway is still bothered by a sprained right thumb suffered in mid-season.

Galloway also had a stomach virus two days leading up to the game, which caused him to get dehydrated and cramp up in the second half.

But Galloway made no excuses.

"No, they weren't bothering me," he said. "Nah, that's not it. We just didn't make the plays today."

And finally. ... In an article published Tuesday, Dallas Morning News beat writer Jean-Jacques Taylor noted that tight end Tony McGee is the consummate professional.

He's a strong blocker at the point of attack because he understands blocking angles, and he does a wonderful job of using leverage to block bigger players.

As a receiver, McGee has soft hands and runs good routes. He does a good job of finding soft spots in zones and has proved he has the speed to get downfield, if matched against the right linebacker.

McGee has a workable cap figure next season, so he's expected to return. The Cowboys would like him to teach a young player the nuances of the position next season.

By the end of the day, the Kansas City Chiefs were the ones feeling sick to their stomachs.

Despite being weak from a stomach-type flu, the Denver Broncos rookie running back tied a single-game franchise record with four touchdowns in a 31-24 win.

"I knew I was sick, but I wouldn't tell the coaches. It was a big game and I wanted to play. I was going to go out and do everything I could," Portis said.

His career-long 51-yard run up the middle on the sixth-play from scrimmage gave Denver an early 7-0 lead, and his 66-yard TD reception would bump it to 28-7.

In between were a pair of fumbles that might have sent most rookies into the tank, or at least to the bench.

The first came after a 46-yard pass to Rod Smith gave the Broncos a first down at the Chiefs 24-yard line.

The second proved more costly as he lost the handle at the goal line just before halftime as Denver attempted to build on its 14-0 lead.

Portis said his weakened condition was to blame.

"My whole body was weak, and when I got tackled, that's why the ball was coming out," said Portis, still nauseous and coughing as he left the locker room Sunday night.

Rather than a scolding, he got encouragement from his coaches as he came to he sideline after the turnovers. His teammates urged him on, including tight end Shannon Sharpe, who said, "You owe us one."

On back-to-back possessions in the third quarter, he responded.

He barreled in from 1 yard out to bump Denver's lead to 21-7, then came up with the play of the game, turning a little screen pass into a SportsCenter highlight.

Instead of dancing in the end zone, he did a little two-step with Chiefs safety Shaunard Harts near midfield.

Harts was left grasping at air; Portis was off to the races.

He slipped two more tackles - one by safety Greg Wesley and another by linebacker Marvcus Patton -- and picked up downfield blocks by Sharpe and Smith for his fourth touchdown.

After his own version of the Lambeau Leap, Portis trudged back to the sideline, and finally admitted to coaches that he was sick.

"I had nothing left. I almost fell down. I told them to put Mike [Anderson in]," Portis said.

Anderson took over for two series, but Portis wasn't done.

"With the game on the line he wanted to go back in there," head coach Mike Shanahan said. "That says a lot about his character."

He would carry three more times to finish with 130 yards on 21 carries, and 75 more on three catches for his first 200-yard day as a pro.

"He's unbelievable," Sharpe said. "A little screen pass and he's off and running."

Through 14 games, Portis figures to be a runaway Rookie of the Year winner. His 1,228 yards rushing put him within reach of Anderson's single-season rookie record of 1,487.

"He stepped up," Anderson said. "He's getting what it means to be a professional. To make play after play and to bounce back from a couple of fumbles was great."

As the Broncos defense took the field in the waning seconds, desperately trying to keep the Chiefs from tying the score, Portis made his last move of the day.

He headed to the tunnel.

"I couldn't watch that final drive," Portis said. "I kept asking the security guard for updates. I was just praying and hoping we'd pull it off."

In an related note. ... Boulder Daily Camera sports writer Ryan Thorburn advised readers on Monday that Portis will almost certainly become the second Denver running back since 2000 to win rookie of the year honors. But the team's other high-profile pick -- first round selection Ashley Lelie -- is finally starting to make some big plays of his own.

Lelie, who caught his first NFL touchdown against the New York Jets a week earlier, stretched out for a difficult 40-yard catch down the sideline to set up a 3-yard touchdown run for Portis. He added a key 28-yard catch on a third-and-5 in the fourth quarter.

Also of interest. ...

In the first meeting at Kansas City, Shannon Sharpe had 214 yards receiving (an NFL single-game record for tight ends) and two touchdowns to lead Denver to a 37-34 overtime win.

This time former Bronco -- and current Chiefs -- coordinator Gregg Robinson wasn't going to let No. 84 beat his defense. But despite the extra attention over the middle Sharpe did finish with a team-high five catches for 31 yards.

And finally . ... According to the Denver Post, Brian Griese suffered shoulder and thumb injuries in Sunday's win over the Chiefs. He received treatment for the injuries on Monday.

The 24-year-old was released from Henry Ford Hospital today, after all tests were completed.

"For all practical circumstances, Joey is healed," said Dr. Claudio Schuger, director of clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Henry Ford Hospital. Harrington was taken to the hospital after suffering an abnormal heartbeat in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Schuger said he inserted a catheter into Harrington's heart on Monday that used heat to destroy the tissue causing the abnormal heartbeat. Harrington chose to undergo the procedure rather than take lifelong medication for the ailment.

Harrington will need from three to six weeks to heal, but can resume normal practice and training after that, Schuger said.

Head coach Marty Mornhinweg, who has spoken to the team's medical and training staff, was emphatic that Harrington's career is not in jeopardy.

"At least standing here right now, I don't think it will limit him even a few weeks from now," Mornhinweg said. "I'm typically pretty optimistic."

Harrington suffered a form of arrhythmia when his heart rate raced to more than 200 beats per minute during the Lions' opening possession Sunday. He finished the series and was treated at Ford Field. He was taken to Ford Hospital, where he was kept in the cardiac intensive care unit.

Harrington has a history of minor heart problems in his family. His father, John Harrington, has lived with arrhythmia for years, as has an uncle.

Arrhythmia is a medical term for an irregular heart beat. Tachycardia means it beats too fast. Bradycardia is too slow.

Harrington apparently has supra ventricular tachycardia (SVT), which affects the top of the heart. It is not as serious as ventrical tachycardia, which involves structural damage to the heart and can be fatal.

In layman's terms, the condition arises from a defect, or short circuit, in the wiring that sends impulses through the heart's four chambers and makes it beat.

"Imagine the wiring in a house," said Dr. Keith Burch, the Lions' internist who treated Harrington on Sunday. "The electrical circuit comes down these channels. What it finds is an alternate channel to go through. It makes the heart go fast."

Arrhythmia differs from a heart attack because there is no blockage that prevents blood from flowing normally. The heart keeps beating -- but at the wrong rate.

Medical officials familiar with arrhythmia say a surgical process called a catheter ablation is the most likely course of treatment for Harrington because of his age and his occupation.

"These days, ablation is the treatment of choice," said Dr. Michael Lauer, director of cardiovascular research for the Cleveland Clinic.

The procedure's risks are low.

"The success rate is probably well in excess of 90 or 95 percent," said Dr. Stephen Smith, director of inpatient cardiology at Henry Ford Hospital. "And it's usually very safe. I cannot recall somebody who died during an ablation.

"Sometimes, there's a little swelling in the heart tissue. There's a small recurrence rate."

With the catheter ablation, a catheter is threaded through the bloodstream, from the groin to the heart. The area with the arrhythmia is cauterized.

"Basically, you buzz them with radio frequency energy," Lauer said. "You're looking for a needle in a haystack. The size of the tissue is a few millimeters. The procedures take many hours." Medication, on the other hand, would not be wise for an athlete because of the need to function at a high level. "Medication is pretty effective for the average person," said Dr. Brian Williamson, a cardiac electrophysiologist who specializes in treating arrhythmia at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. "It's something an athlete can't use because it slows them down enough that they're not on their 'A' game."

Smith, who did not treat Harrington but has extensive background in arrhythmia, said the condition Harrington suffers from is far less severe than ventricular tachycardia, which Vice President Dick Cheney suffers from.

"[Cheney's] would be potentially lethal," Smith said. "It's often associated with some sort of structural damage. That's why he got the therapy he did -- an implanted defibrillator. He's at risk of sudden death.

"A young athlete is probably not, because they don't have a lot of underlying disease. Generally, this sort of thing in someone who is healthy isn't life-threatening. But it can symptomatically interfere with things. It can affect an athlete and his performance."

In other words, if Harrington experienced dizziness during a game, it could affect his ability to function at peak level.

Recovery from the surgery would be quick.

"There's a little bruising [in the groin]," Williamson said. "He'd probably feel better than if he got sacked by Warren Sapp."

Once fixed, there is little chance of a reoccurrence, Williamson said.

"The common occurrence in people his age is, you do an ablation and they're fixed for life," Williamson said. "It's like they never had it."

Harrington played the first series in the Lions' 23-20 loss to Tampa Bay. The first seven plays were runs, followed by an incomplete pass. On the next play, Harrington stumbled over fullback Cory Schlesinger as he dropped back to pass and was sacked for a 10-yard loss.

Harrington left the field and the Lions punted. While the defense was on the field, Harrington reported experiencing dizziness to Al Bellamy, the team's trainer.

Harrington's pulse rose to between 270 and 280 beats per minute, Burch said. Harrington's normal resting pulse is between 50 and 60. Typically, it rises to about 150 during competition, Burch said.

Mornhinweg said he knows of "five or six" players who have had conditions similar to Harrington's and continue to play.

"I may have coached other players that had it in their past, had it corrected," Mornhinweg said.

Estimates vary on the number of people who have arrhythmia. Burch said 20 percent of Americans have some form of it.

"It's uncommon, but it's not rare," Lauer said.

Harrington's spirits were high enough Monday to joke about his condition, relayed by his coach.

"He said to tell you that Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice scared him, and that's when his heart started racing," Mornhinweg said.

Also of interest. ...

Backup quarterback Mike McMahon, who will finish the season as the starter, hadn't played -- except for a few gimmick plays designed especially for him by Mornhinweg -- since the second game of the season, but he performed relatively well when he was thrown into action by Harrington's irregular heartbeat.

"It was fun," McMahon said.

"I just went in there and did what I've been doing every day in practice, just letting the players make the plays."

McMahon completed 10-of-21 passes for 158 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bill Schroeder. He was also intercepted once by Bucs linebacker Shelton Quarles, cutting short a Lions scoring opportunity and setting up a Tampa Bay touchdown drive.

The relief appearance was McMahon's most effective performance of the season and probably helped his cause considerably, either as a long-term Lions backup or as a player with trade value. McMahon will line up as the starter for the final two games.

According to the Sports Xchange, James Stewart is still 38 yards from his second 1,000-yard season in three years with the Lions and expects to play Sunday in the next-to-last game of the season at Atlanta. Stewart sat out last Sunday's game with a knee injury but said he did not feel the injury would keep him out of more than one game.

For the record. ... Mornhinweg told the Detroit Free Press Monday that Stewart is questionable for this week's game against the Falcons.

Favre defied the monsoon that dropped in on Candlestick Park on Sunday and showed he's not about to give up his grip on a possible fourth NFL MVP award.

"He can wrap those fingers around [the football] pretty good," said head coach Mike Sherman, commenting on Favre's right, throwing hand that measures 10 5/8 inches in length.

Given assurances at halftime by Favre himself that he wasn't affected by the torrential rain, Sherman and offensive coordinator Tom Rossley opened up the floodgates.

Favre quickly erased the 6-3 deficit at the break with back-to-back drives ending in touchdowns in the third quarter. The Packers hung on for a 20-14 victory.

Favre completed 25 of 33 passes for 201 yards and wasn't intercepted once. His 100.7 passer rating was his sixth 100-plus rating of the season but first in five games.

"We were a little hesitant in the first half, for obvious reasons," said Favre, alluding to the bad conditions. "[But] at some point, we had to take some chances. It worked out; we just made some plays."

Limited to only 50 yards on 11-of-15 passing in the opening two quarters, Favre was a model of precision for much of the second half.

Starting with a 23-yard hookup with tight end Tyrone Davis in the first series of the third quarter, Favre completed 13 straight passes. The streak ended on cornerback Jason Webster's breakup of a pass to wide receiver Terry Glenn near the 49ers' goal line late in the fourth quarter.

"I am a little surprised the way we threw it and how well we threw it and caught it," Favre said. "I was more conscious of taking care of the ball. Of course, taking care of the ball and making plays is one thing. Fortunately, we made some plays.

"That was nice to see because I don't know if anyone anticipated that type of rhythm in these conditions."

A 15-yard completion to wide receiver Donald Driver in a third-and-9 situation three plays into the third quarter started the good vibes for Favre and the passing attack.

He followed two plays later with the 23-yard strike to Davis. Then came a 22-yard pass to Glenn, followed by an 11-yard catch and run by Davis.

"We were very poised and laid out what we wanted to do," Sherman said.

On the next play following the second Davis catch, the Packers caught the 49ers concentrating on the pass. That allowed halfback Ahman Green to score from 9 yards up the middle.

"We just had to shake all the cobwebs out," offensive guard Marco Rivera said of a listless first half, in which the Packers amassed only 96 yards. They finished with 302.

"Things started going for us, and we just started hitting it," Rivera added. "We had a little intensity about us, a little urgency."

The Packers needed only 29 yards in their next possession to hasten the 49ers' catch-up mode. Defensive end Vonnie Holliday intercepted a deflected pass thrown by 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia, and a long return by linebacker Na'il Diggs on a lateral had the Packers in striking distance.

Favre worked the short field brilliantly with completions of 8 yards to fullback William Henderson and 9 yards to tight end Bubba Franks to set up first-and-goal at the 8. Following a 3-yard run by Green, Favre rifled a 5-yard pass to Driver coming across the middle of the end zone.

"Brett made a great throw, and I made a great catch on the ball," Driver said. Favre extended his streak of consecutive completions by six in the next two series. He hit Franks for 15 yards late in the third quarter, a drive that ended with a missed 42-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell.

Favre opened the next possession with four straight completions, including a 16-yard strike to Glenn and a 10-yard flare to Henderson to move the Packers to the 49ers' 15. The Packers, though, had to settle for a 28-yard Longwell field goal to bump their lead to 20-14 with less than five minutes to play.

"If we were going to throw the ball, I wanted it to not be risky," Favre said. "Throws that if one guy was not there, you could easily dump it off or protect it. That was the key thing."

Also of interest this week. ...

Sherman will apparently continue taking a cautious approach with Green, who missed the team's Week 14 game with a bruised knee, by limiting his practice time this week.

"He’s a punishing runner, not only to his opponents, but to himself as well," Sherman told the Green Bay Press Gazette. "I think it’s in my best interest for this team to monitor him in practice and keep him limited, especially on a Wednesday after a tough, physical game he just played."

Green ran the ball 24 times for 90 yards against the Niners.

Only seven days after garnering 47 yards of total offense in a victory against Pittsburgh, Houston put up 277 yards against Baltimore. The improved offensive performance was not enough to help the Texans to a second straight victory as they fell 23-19 at Reliant Stadium.

"I would have rather had 47 yards and a 'W,'" said Allen, who rushed for 46 yards. "I think we did some things offensively, but anything would have been better than last week."

The Texans' best offensive output in two months was little consolation for the players.

Houston's 277 yards were the offense's third-best performance of the season, behind the 354 yards the Texans gained against Cleveland and the 338 yards against Buffalo. All three games were defeats.

"I hope nobody thinks we've arrived because we are far from that," said tight end Billy Miller, who caught a career-high eight passes for 77 yards. "We are very far from that. When we start putting up 35 points a game. When we start having 400 yards offense. When we do stuff like that, then we can say, hey, the offense is doing something. Until then, we're not there yet."

Early in the game, it looked as if the Texans' offense had fixed all that was ailing it. With 6:27 left in the first quarter, the Texans took over possession on their nine-yard line. Quarterback David Carr found a balance between his running backs and receivers, passing the ball six times and handing it off eight times, as the Texans' put together a 14-play, 91-yard scoring drive.

The drive gave the Texans their second offensive touchdown in the last 13 quarters, and also was the team's longest drive of the season in both plays and yards. It gave the Texans a 7-3 lead.

"That's what we can do when we get our running game going," Carr said. "We showed some signs that we could be really good on offense when we can get both aspects of the game going."

The balance was short-lived, however. In the third quarter, Houston's offense sputtered. The Texans picked up only one first down and gained 29 yards on eight plays.

Houston was never out of the game, however. When the Texans regained possession of the ball with 2:19 left to play, they needed a touchdown for the victory. But three plays into the two-minute drill, Carr's pass bounced off the head of Corey Bradford and into the hands of Baltimore's Chad Williams.

The interception ended the Texans' last-ditch effort for the victory, and put a damper on the offense's obvious improvement.

"We need hunger and heart [in the two-minute drill]," Miller said. "We've got to be hungry. That's the time when everybody's got to get almost bloodshot eyes and go out there and get it. We have the personnel to do it, but it's just going ahead and getting it done."

Other notes of interest. ...

Carr was sacked twice in the game, leaving him two sacks short of the NFL record of 72 set by Randall Cunningham in 1986. Carr completed 19-of-34 passes for 196 yards.

One last note on Carr. ... According to Chronicle beat man Carlton Thompson, Carr has been surprisingly accurate for a rookie quarterback, and offensive coordinator Chris Palmer deserves a share of the credit.

Palmer has helped Carr make his low release point a non-issue by having Carr hold the ball higher during his dropback, promoting a higher release. Palmer also has several drills for accuracy.

And finally. ... Miller has shattered his career high for receptions in a season. Miller, who caught six passes in his previous four NFL seasons, leads the Texans with 45 receptions for 541 yards and three touchdowns. He had career high eight catches Sunday and has become one of Carr's favorite targets.

James started Sunday's game at Cleveland but saw spot duty due to the soreness in the ankles. He left in the third quarter after picking up 42 yards in 10 carries.

Backups James Mungro and Ricky Williams also saw action against the Browns, with Mungro running for a game-high 75 yards and two touchdowns.

Williams suffered a high ankle sprain and may not be available for this week's game with the New York Giants. A further determination will be made later in the week.

The Colts ran for 143 yards in their 28-23 win, which tied the season high set against Miami on Sept. 15.

"[James has] been playing on two sore ankles for most of the season," Dungy admitted. "Edge is a very unique individual. Those kind of injuries can usually keep someone out for some time. But he's been able to come out and play in every game.

"We've held him out of some practices early in the week, but he's always been there ready to go when the games start."

The Colts coach said that James initially suffered an ankle sprain during Indianapolis' 21-13 home loss to Miami. He ran for a season-high 138 yards in 30 carries against the Dolphins.

"I think Edgerrin's situation is pretty much going to be the same from here on out," Dungy said. "It's one of those deals where you could go the whole game and if it doesn't get hit the right way, you can be fine.

"But at some point, if it gets rolled up, there's going to be pain and there will be a decrease in your ability to move off it. Running backs, you'll more likely to get it rolled that way with a lot of people jumping on you and in the pile."

The second ankle sprain occurred in a 28-20 road loss at Pittsburgh, where he only gained 62 yards in 20 rushing attempts.

"It's kind of just what the odds are and how long he's going to be able to go every week," he said. "Fortunately, [Mungro] has been able to go in there and do a good job. But we're not quite sure if [Williams] is going to be able to go this week or not. That hinders us a little bit."

James is expected to start this week's game with the New York Giants, although he may miss Wednesday's practice. ...

According to Indianapolis Star News staff writer Mike Chappell, Mungro's only problem Sunday was on third-and-1 situations, in which he failed to get a first down twice and lost a fumble on a third try. ...

And in an article published Tuesday, Chappell stated Marvin Harrison is one of the NFL's best receivers. Harrison combines speed and crisp route running with a relentless work ethic.

Cornerbacks should be able to jam Harrison (6-0, 178) at the line because of his size, but he is adept at slipping away from contact and getting into his routes.

With nine catches Sunday, Harrison broke Herman Moore's single-season NFL record of 123.

In his seventh season, Harrison has caught more passes than the NFL's all-time leading wide receiver Jerry Rice had at the same point in his career.

And a few final notes. ... Peyton Manning has 20,107 yards passing during his 78-game NFL career. Only former Miami quarterback Dan Marino reached 20,000 yards faster. Marino accomplished the feat in only 74 games.

Receiver Troy Walters suffered a slight concussion against Cleveland and was sidelined for most of fourth quarter. He was scheduled to undergo medical tests on Tuesday, but his playing status for this week's game with New York won't be made until late in the week.

"It's no secret I want to be here next year and for the remainder of my career," Brunell said Wednesday. "But it's out of my control."

Despite Jacksonville's struggles this season, Brunell has shown many signs that he's still effective. He realizes, however, that at 32 he is nearing the end of his prime and the Jaguars are going to have to decide if they want him around for the next phase of their rebuilding process.

After this season, Brunell will have two years remaining on his contract. Cutting him won't be too harmful to the team's salary cap.

Meanwhile, the quarterback of the future, David Garrard, is waiting in the wings.

Under normal circumstances, the decision would be Coughlin's, but the coach's future is in doubt, as well.

"I'm not going to talk about anything about my future or whatever until the season is over," Coughlin said Wednesday. "We've done enough of that."

Now in his 10th season, Brunell turned down chances to be traded to Kansas City two years ago when his contract came up for negotiation.

He surprised many people when he accepted an undervalued, four-year, $30 million contract from the Jaguars and chose to stay with Coughlin, the coach with whom he has never really gotten along.

Two years later, Brunell says he has gotten over the shock of losing his teammate and best friend, Tony Boselli, in Jacksonville's offseason salary cap purge.

Brunell bases his continuing desire to stay in Jacksonville on two things: One, he loves the city, loves the house he's built and the church he has established in town. And two, he thinks the Jaguars are doing a good job building for the future, and will eventually win a Super Bowl.

"If I didn't think that was possible here, my thoughts would be with some other team," Brunell said. "But I really believe we're going to win one with this group of guys. The important thing is, we've got to keep them together, and keep what we've started here."

Heading into Sunday's game against Tennessee, the Jaguars are 6-8 and essentially out of the playoff race.

While Brunell has had his ups and downs, the team's struggles clearly aren't all his fault.

Working without Keenan McCardell to complement Jimmy Smith for the first time since 1995, Brunell has done what Coughlin has asked him to by become a low-risk, low-reward strategy.

Brunell's 87.9 passer rating is seventh in the AFC. His six interceptions in 393 attempts is second-lowest interception percentage in the league.

But his completion percentage is down, at only 59.3 percent. He has only 17 TD passes, and he no longer makes big plays with his legs, the way he did when he was at his best from 1996-99.

Meanwhile, he has taken a whopping 142 sacks over the last three years, more than any quarterback in the league. He admits he has lost a step, and with that, he has had to become more of a thinking man's pocket passer.

Is that the kind of quarterback the Jaguars want for the future? Brunell sure hopes so.

"I love it here," he said. "This is my home. Whether I play here two more games or six more years, this place is my home."

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published Sunday, SportsLine.com insider Jay Glazer reported that owner Wayne Weaver is rarely involved with his players, opting instead to let Coughlin handle all the football decisions, pep talks and player meetings necessary.

But after the Jaguars lost a disaster of a contest to the Cleveland Browns on a last-second Hail Mary two weeks ago, Weaver apparently decided it was time to rally the troops.

According to Glazer, Weaver met with the players Monday, addressing the team following practice. According to some people present, Weaver informed the players that he still had faith in them and asked the team to resist the temptation to pack it in despite coming off a horrific loss.

Weaver, who has not talked to the players since a year ago, did not go into his coach's future and instead talked only about the players themselves. His last crunch-time talk to the players, which came in a past season, informed the troops he still had faith in the coaches and the job they were doing, but the players needed to step up their play.

There has been growing speculation Weaver will fire Coughlin after this season. This could be a mistake, especially since they had to purge their roster due to salary-cap problems. The Jags currently sit about $10 million under next year's cap (although this doesn't include restricted free-agent tenders or exclusive right tenders and league minimum increases). ...

Receiver Kevin Lockett caught only one pass in last Sunday's win over the Bengals, but it was one to remember: a 12-yard touchdown catch on a screen in the first quarter on a third-and-8 play.

"I was on cloud nine," he said. "I got a couple of great blocks on the play."

Unfortunately, late in the second period, he dropped a pass at about the Cincinnati 20 that probably cost the Jaguars at least a field goal attempt.

"I went from the highest point to the lowest point," he said. "That's a ball I definitely can't drop. I just took my eyes off the ball and missed it."

Claimed from the Washington Redskins on Nov.2, Lockett wasn't even active last week because Patrick Johnson returned to the lineup. But this week Johnson was inactive, so Lockett returned to the lineup.

"Certainly any athlete loves to compete," Lockett said. "When you don't get the opportunity to put on a uniform, you've got to be frustrated."

One last note of interest this week. ... The Jaguars put fullback Patrick Washington on injured reserve yesterday and promoted defensive lineman Chris Combs off the practice squad to fill Washington's roster spot.

Washington was lost for the final two games of the season with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee suffered in last Sunday's game. The Jaguars also re-signed running back David Allen to their practice squad to take Combs' place.

Placing Washington on injured reserve leaves Dan Alexander as the only fullback on the 53-man roster, although Coughlin is unconcerned because the Jaguars' offense relies more on two tight ends than a fullback.

Holmes was told to stay home and rest Tuesday but is expected to come to Arrowhead for treatment Wednesday. Head coach Dick Vermeil said the team sent results of the MRI to doctors in New York and to a hip specialist who is a close associate of team doctor Jon Browne.

The injury involves muscles around the hip socket. Though Vermeil said he has not ruled out his star running back for Sunday's game against San Diego, he described Holmes as "very doubtful" and said a decision could be coming as early as today.

"Without Priest Holmes, do we change our game plan?" Vermeil asked. "No. We line up and play. We line up and do what we do with our offensive line, which is as good as anybody in the league. We will continue to do that."

When asked if that meant he was ruling Holmes out, Vermeil said: "I'm not prepared to say that. I'm just holding on until I get the final reports. They don't want him to do it until the three experts and two other experts speak. We're talking about a nugget here -- a huge, 20-carat diamond, and we want to be very sure."

If Holmes is unable to play, Mike Cloud will start in his place. Cloud rushed for 15 yards in five carries and scored a touchdown Sunday; he has rushed for 73 yards and two scores in 24 carries on the season.

"We have confidence in Mike Cloud," Vermeil said. "He did a good job for us the other day under pressure. That touchdown run he scored, he did on his own. I'd like to believe he will shine."

Vermeil also said he would not automatically sit Holmes for the Dec. 28 season-finale in Oakland.

"The only way we would ask him to do that would be if he was not 100 percent healthy," Vermeil said. "If there's any question at that time, we would not play him. But if he's healthy, he's an NFL football player and wants to play."

Running back is not the only place where the Chiefs are hurting in the offensive backfield. Fullback Tony Richardson, who injured his shoulder in Sunday's loss, has been placed on injured reserve and is out for the season. Vermeil said an MRI revealed that Richardson would not require surgery.

Richardson will be replaced by rookie fourth-round pick Omar Easy. Easy saw action on special teams in the first five games but has been inactive for the last nine.

But wait. ... It gets worse. ...

Place-kicker Morten Andersen, the second leading-scorer in NFL history, was placed on the injured reserve list Tuesday, ending his season.

By not playing again this season, Andersen will have his streak of consecutive games stopped at 248, which is 34 shy of Jim Marshall's NFL record.

A 21-year veteran, Andersen suffered a right knee injury in warmups prior to an October 6 game against the New York Jets. There were indications that Andersen would not make it through the season after the Chiefs signed Michael Husted last week.

Andersen, 42, had another big season, making 22-of-26 field goals and all 51 extra points for 117 points, his 14th straight season over 100 points.

But wait. ... There's more. ...

As reported by the Sports Xchange, Dante Hall, who has scored five touchdowns in his last three Chiefs games, looks "very questionable" with a sprained ankle for Sunday's game against the Chargers Vermeil said Monday. Hall's receiving TDs of 75 and 49 yards against Denver came after his 90-yard punt return against Arizona and his kickoff return for 88 and a punt return for 86 against St. Louis. But Hall injured an ankle on KC's failed last-minute bid for a game-tying TD. Though he told reporters afterward that he didn't think his injury was serious, the difficulty he had in walking without crutches indicated otherwise.

Trent Green sustained a cut just below the thumb on his throwing hand that required three stitches to close after Sunday's loss to Denver. Vermeil said Green's throwing may be limited during practice early this week, but that he thought his quarterback would be ready to play against San Diego in the home finale.

And Marc Boerigter, who made his first NFL start Sunday against Denver when starter Johnnie Morton missed the game with back spasms, failed to catch a ball and left the game early with a shoulder injury. An MRI exam on his shoulder Monday showed no tears, but Vermeil said that Boerigter likely would be listed as doubtful in Sunday's game with San Diego.

It's not yet clear whether Morton will be ready to resume action this weekend. ...

And finally. ... Kansas City made a roster addition, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract Yo Murphy, who played in 11 games for the St. Louis Rams this season before getting released. He had five catches for 23 yards in two games with the Rams.

That opportunity arrived Sunday.

After a frustrating season of limited opportunities to catch the deep ball, the Dolphins receiver flashed the skills that helped him lead the league in yards per reception last season.

In a game featuring three of the most prolific pass-catchers in NFL history (Jerry Rice, Cris Carter and Tim Brown), the most productive receiver on the field was Chambers, who set a career high with 138 yards receiving and tied a career high with seven catches.

"I've been waiting for this game for the whole season," said Chambers, whose previous high receiving yardage was 124 last Dec. 22 at New England.

"I always knew I had it in me. I got the chances I don't usually get. It felt great."

With Raiders starting cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tory James sidelined by injury, the Dolphins looked for Chambers more than any time this season, particularly with the deep ball.

It started on the Dolphins' first offensive play, when Jay Fiedler threw 40 yards to Chambers, who beat Terrence Shaw to haul in his longest reception of the season and fourth-longest of his career.

Head coach Dave Wannstedt said he and offensive coordinator Norv Turner decided Tuesday to open the game with that play, long before knowing whether Woodson would play.

In the first quarter, the Dolphins threw five times to Chambers, who caught three for 83 yards. "We wanted to get after them early," he said. "I'm a rhythm receiver. I get going and it's hard to stop me."

By the end of the opening period, Chambers had two catches for 25 yards or more -- just one fewer than his season total entering the game.

Last year, Chambers had 14 catches of 25 yards or more -- tied with Derrick Mason for fourth in the NFL behind Terrell Owens (18), David Boston and Marvin Harrison (15 each).

Chambers had been frustrated because defenses have been denying him the deep ball, and Turner did not want to force the issue.

But the Dolphins' approach changed Sunday not only because of Oakland's depleted secondary, but also because the Raiders play press coverage.

"We wanted to exploit them," Chambers said. "Some of their guys are a little inexperienced. They're a bump-and-run team, and they didn't change that even though their starters were out."

Chambers' revival has coincided with Jay Fiedler's return from injury. "He doesn't hesitate to get the ball out," Chambers said of Fiedler.

Chambers' big day gave him 666 yards on 50 catches and a 13.3-yard average. Last season, he had 48 catches for 883 yards and an 18.4 average.

"A lot of people have been saying he's having a sophomore slump," said cornerback Patrick Surtain, disputing that notion. "He could have had 300 yards receiving today. A couple of balls were underthrown."

Said Dolphins receiver Cris Carter: "He's a Pro Bowl-type receiver, and he's not near his potential."

Other notes of interest. ...

Ricky Williams couldn't register his third consecutive 200-yard rushing game, but the Dolphins will gladly take his 27-carry, 101-yard performance. Williams, though, did lose a fumble for the second consecutive game that Oakland was able to convert into a field goal. ...

Williams' season changed once the Dolphins started using the counter in their game plan. The majority of his long runs have come off the counter because of Williams' patience. He has been able to hit holes as they develop from either the pulling guard, fullback or tight end.

The key is Williams setting up the run with his first step to the weak side. That forces the linebackers to react to the run action and allows the blockers to seal off holes to the back side. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Palm Beach Post beat writer Todd Archer noted that fullback Rob Konrad has benefited greatly from Turner's offensive system after going virtually ignored the previous two seasons. Konrad is on pace to set a career high in receptions and has improved greatly as a blocker.

Konrad's blocking has contributed to Williams' stunning season.

The Dolphins would like to keep Konrad, who will be a free agent after the season, but there could be two or three teams that jump at the chance to sign him. ...

Also according to Archer, James McKnight has had a very up-and-down season, from inactive one week to a starter. He is the fastest receiver on the team, and he appears to be faster once he catches the ball. He has a reputation for inconsistent hands because he had drops at crucial times, but this year he made the plays when they appeared. McKnight can get behind defensive backs, but he is very good at catching a quick hitch, breaking tackles and making a big play. Coming out of his breaks, he can maintain his quickness and get back to top speed quickly. He also is a decent blocker downfield, which has helped Williams break long gains.

With the Vikings trailing by a touchdown, and little more than five minutes remaining in the game, everyone on both sidelines knew where the ball was going on the Vikings' last drive.

"He's the money man," Daunte Culpepper said of Moss. "In the clutch, we got to go to the money guy."

Moss paid huge dividends for the Vikings on Sunday in the Superdome. He made two third-down catches to keep the final drive alive, and after tight end Byron Chamberlain converted a third down to the Saints' 3, Moss took the balance of the game into his hands, although he got a massive assist from Culpepper.

"There was no way I was going to let [offensive coordinator Scott Linehan] call any other play but street-ball catch with Randy when we're inside that 10-yard line," head coach Mike Tice said.

On the first play, Moss seemingly caught a 3-yard touchdown pass, but officials called him for offensive pass interference, saying he pushed Saints cornerback Dale Carter just before he caught the ball.

After a Saints penalty, Culpepper threw a pass way over Moss' head. On second and goal from the 8, Saints cornerback Ken Irwin seemed to hit Moss prematurely, but no penalty was called. On the touchdown play, Moss caught a pass between two defenders, something the Saints saw far too frequently Sunday.

"We had two guys on him all day, and he caught nine balls. That tells you what kind of player he is," Saints head coach Jim Haslett said. "We tried to take him out of the game, and we did not do a very good job."

Moss finished with 11 catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran once for 25 yards and caught a 33-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, beating a linebacker on a post pattern.

"They were throwing to him every play," Saints strong safety Sammy Knight said. "He is the top receiver in the game -- when he is on his game."

And he helped Culpepper complete 26 of 36 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns.

Fans may not be voting for Moss, but it sounds as if Moss will get Haslett and Knight's Pro Bowl votes.

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, Pioneer Press beat writer Bill Williamson suggested that one of the reasons Culpepper has calmed down in the past six weeks might be that Tice is relaying the plays to him. Tice receives the plays from Linehan, who works from the press box, and gives them to Culpepper.

In the first half of the season, quarterbacks coach Alex Wood passed the plays along to Culpepper. Tice decided to take the responsibility because he wants to have direct communication with Culpepper and sort out any confusion in the play-calling. Everyone appears comfortable with the new system.

In a related note. ... Culpepper's 508 rushing yards this season is a team record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He also broke his team record for rushing TDs in a season by a quarterback; he has nine. ...

The Vikings had a season-high 291 total yards in the first half but only 148 in the second.

They had 116 rushing yards in the first half; on their first touchdown drive, they ran every down (six times) for 69 yards. In the second half, the Saints limited Michael Bennett to 2 yards and the Vikings to 30 yards. Bennett rushed 10 times for 44 yards in the first half. This was the first time he had been held under 100 yards in three weeks. ...

Jim Kleinsasser's role continues to grow. Last Sunday he played tight end, fullback in the I-formation and was the team's third-down back with Moe Williams limited by injury. Kleinsasser provided some key blocking on the defensive end during the team's game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

Byron Chamberlain, who has been slowed slightly by a sore knee, has regained much of his quickness, and as a result is working his way back into the game plan more and more. Sunday the Vikings had some special plays installed for him.

And one final item. ... In naming Tice his coach of the week, Sports Illustrated insider Peter King wrote the following Monday:

"Count me among those who would not have said 'boo' if Daunte Culpepper hadn't scored on the two-point conversion with five seconds left. I loved the call. Absolutely loved it. The Vikes, down 31-30 after scoring a touchdown, could have kicked the extra point to go to overtime. Logical move. I'm sure Tice won't say this, but let's face it: He didn't trust his defense to stop the Saints in the event Minnesota lost the overtime coin flip. On two of its last three possessions New Orleans had taken the ball and driven 89 yards to a field goal and 56 yards to a touchdown.

"Why let a coin flip all but decide your fate?

"Why not put your fate into the hands of a hot quarterback, Culpepper, who'd already run for two touchdowns and thrown for two?"

Here, here. ...

Rich Coady intercepted a deflected pass on the Patriots first play from scrimmage on the ensuing possession and raced 24 yards for a touchdown.

"We had one really good drive on the first series of the second half and I thought we were going to keep doing some things," tight end Christian Fauria said. "They had the interception for a touchdown and it seemed like it was going to be really tough to catch up because they kept running the ball, eating the clock and getting first downs. When we got a chance, we were three-and-out. We never got into a flow and then we had to play catch-up again. ..."

Troy Brown had eight receptions for 73 yards to give him a team-high 87 catches on the season. He is the first receiver in Patriots history to record three consecutive 80-catch seasons with 83 in 2000, 101 in 2001 and 87 so far this season. He also missed two games this year with a knee injury so his 87 receptions have come in 12 games.

David Patten tied his single-season reception high against Tennessee even though he had just one grab for 5 yards. He now has a career-high 51 catches, equaling his 2001 total. Patten is 20 yards shy of setting his career yardage mark as well. His 51 catches have netted 730 yards.

Nonetheless, in an article published Tuesday, Boston Herald staff writer Michael Felger suggested that Patten is a solid second option but must do a better job of holding on to the ball. As the Pats emphasize a ball-control offense down the stretch, their shots downfield are few and far between, and Patten must avoid drops. ...

Also according to Felger, the team's toss sweep has the look of a straight-ahead running play, thanks to a commitment from Antowain Smith to return to a north-south running style.

When the play works, fullback Marc Edwards and at least one pulling lineman clear out the edge while Smith cuts back inside to gain yards. Smith doesn't have the speed to be a truly dangerous cutback runner in the mold of LaDainian Tomlinson. He has a far better chance of picking up yards returning to the middle of the field than he does dancing around the edge.

And finally. .... Wide receiver Deion Branch sat out Monday night's game with a sore groin. Neither David Givens nor Donald Hayes had a catch in his absence. ... It's still not clear whether Branch will be ready to return to action this weekend.

Keep on eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more. ...

In the third quarter of Sunday's 32-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at the Superdome, McAllister broke a handful of tackles and appeared to have scored on a 78-yard run.

But the play was called back after field judge Bill Lovett flagged Saints wide receiver Jerome Pathon for holding Vikings cornerback Brian Williams.

The drive stalled and John Carney kicked a 27-yard field goal. But instead of leading 27-24, the Saints trailed 24-23 with 55 seconds left in the third quarter.

McAllister also had touchdown runs of 50 and 61 yards called back against Green Bay and Atlanta because of holding penalties.

"That [run] took a lot out of me," said McAllister, who has played the past three weeks with a sprained right ankle. "It's unfortunate to get long touchdown runs called back, but that's a part of the game. You just try to bounce back from it and get ready for the next play."

McAllister scored his 16th touchdown of the season on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Brooks in the fourth quarter. McAllister vaulted several tacklers to reach the end zone, giving the Saints a 31-24 lead with the two-point conversion with 5:21 remaining.

McAllister rushed 18 times for 69 yards to increase his NFC-leading rushing total to 1,245 yards.

Also of interest. ...

With three touchdowns Sunday, the Saints have 48, two more than the previous franchise best set in 1979, '87 and '89. Brooks threw two touchdown passes, giving him 26 and tying the franchise season record shared by himself (2001) and Jim Everett (1995). Brooks (61) also moved past Everett (60) into third place in touchdown passes.

Brooks surpassed 3,000 passing yards on an 18-yard completion to Pathon in the second quarter. This is the second consecutive season Brooks has thrown for more than 3,000 yards. It was the 10th time a Saints quarterback has done it.

Receiver Joe Horn moved past Quinn Early into fourth place for receiving yards. Horn caught five passes for 60 yards, giving him 3,810 yards since joining the team in 2000. Horn needs 40 yards to pass Hoby Brenner (3,849) into third place.

Pathon has a bruised left knee and some bursitis and is listed as questionable for this week's game, but the team is in relatively good shape otherwise.

In an article published Tuesday, Times-Picayune staffer Jeff Duncan stated that Brooks' bruised shoulder and McAllister's sprained ankle are the only potential problems, but both appear to be getting better each week.

Haslett credits the team's strong strength and conditioning program for the good health. ...

Opponents know they have a limited number of weapons they must take away to slow down the offense, but they have been unable to do it.

The team is 5-2 since head coach Jim Fassel took over play-calling duties, and it has scored 29, 27 and 37 points in its past three games -- a remarkable output by Giants standards. ...

Best went on to advise readers the ultra-confident Shockey believes he can overcome most double-teams. How? He credits tight ends coach Mike Pope for teaching a technique to deal with coverage in which a linebacker keeps an eye on Shockey in the middle of the field and another defender takes him wide.

In that situation, Shockey attempts to run his route toward the wide defender, essentially pushing him farther toward the sideline. Then, when Shockey turns to the inside, the gap between the defenders is larger than it originally was, giving him room to operate before either defender can close on him. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

As reported by the Sports Xchange, Fassel snapped Collins franchise record of 1,852 passes thrown, dating back to Nov. 21, 1999.

"It was nice to finally have a game where I could stand on the sidelines and watch," Collins said. "I didn't think that keeping that streak alive was very important." With 13:02 remaining in the game, Jesse Palmer took over the signal calling and completed three of four passes. ...

Also according to Best, Daryl Jones (5-9, 175), currently working as the starter opposite Toomer, is neither big nor particularly fast, but the team loves the seventh-round pick's instincts and intelligence. He's more valuable than most rookies because he understands the responsibilities of every receiver position, which has been necessary because of the wave of injuries.

After a slow start, Jones is making plays and flashing some downfield ability. He will not be among the top three receivers when everyone is healthy next year, but he will be part of the long-term picture as a reserve receiver and perhaps as a return man.

And finally. ... Reserve running back Damon Washington was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after sprained his MCL and PCL in his knee on Sunday. Washington is the 10th Giants' player to be place on injured reserve this year.

That seems to be the mode of operation late in the season for the New York Jets.

The team has not had a losing record since the Rich Kotite era ended ignominiously in 1996. But no matter who is coaching them and who is playing for them, the Jets manage to fail against mediocre competition in December.

They did it again Sunday, falling 20-13 to the Chicago Bears, who are 4-10 and have dredged the bottom of the NFL for weeks. Curtis Martin said "We choked," and Nick Ferguson added "We came out pretty flat. ... The enthusiasm was not what it normally is. It was like everybody was too mellow."

Chad Pennington says the perception the Jets can't win the little ones that wind up being big ones has to change.

Pennington was a backup quarterback when the Jets blew late-season games to Detroit in 2000 and didn't make the playoffs, then to Buffalo last year, only to sneak into a wild-card slot when they upset Oakland in the 2001 finale. He went all the way against the Bears, playing a major role in a huge blunder.

"Every time I step on the field I expect to lead my team to victory," Pennington said Monday. "What I'm concerned about is the perception around this organization and any other person has about the Jets. I'm concerned about getting that changed.

"I'm not worried about December flops or heartbreakers that cause people to say, `They did it to us again.' We are setting about changing that. We will change that."

Not if they continue to play small in big games. While Pennington and head coach Herman Edwards and his staff will argue that past regimes have no bearing on what the current team does, results speak loudest. Here are some of those results:

All five skill-position players are apt to move on one play, trying to get defenders out of position and to make them more vulnerable to a breakdown in coverage.

The team is successful with shifts because Gannon is so adept at reading defenses and exploiting weaknesses, as are veterans Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.

The downside is that the complexity of the shifts and movements can confuse the Raiders themselves, leading to penalties.

That complexity came into play in Miami.

According to Santa Rosa Press Democrat reporter Jill R. Dorson, Gannon revealed that for at least half of the game, he had static in his ear rather than the voice of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman.

"There was a problem with the headsets and, not to complain, but we didn't get all the plays in," Gannon said. "We have so much volume of plays, so much verbiage, that it can be hard to understand."

Under normal circumstances, Trestman, who is on the sidelines during the game, relays plays to Gannon through a walkie-talkie system. Gannon normally hears the plays on a speaker in his helmet and, in turn, passes them along to his teammates.

But Gannon spent considerable time running to the sidelines to get plays and attempting to read Trestman's lips. The headset problem affected the entire offense and may have caused an illegal-substitution penalty in the first half.

The static, coupled with the noise in the stadium, made it difficult for the offensive line, which played its worst game of the season, to get its snap count down, players said.

"I think early in the game it was an issue," Brown said. "Rich was running to the sidelines, we were putting the wrong people in and going out."

In this situation, the Raiders' enormous playbook was more of a detriment than a bonus. One veteran offensive player said the Raiders rely on communication more than any team he has played with and that made the headset problem all the more troublesome.

The Raiders went to a no-huddle offense late in the first half, which temporarily alleviated the problem.

Other notes of interest. ...

Also according to Corkran, unlike most fullbacks, Jon Ritchie doesn't get handoffs. His role is limited to blocking and making an occasional reception. Yet he is regarded as an invaluable key to the offensive's success because he so effectively executes his assignments. He also never complains about his role.

Ritchie's blocking pays huge dividends in springing running back Charlie Garner and protecting Gannon from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs. Ritchie figures to be a mainstay for many years.

And finally. ... As noted by the Sports Xchange, in his last six games, rookie tight end Doug Jolley has 24 catches for 348 yards, a 14.5 yard average per gain -- a season-long pace of 63 catches and 928 yards.

Feeley, who has led the NFC East champion Eagles to three straight victories, will play Saturday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

A fifth-round pick last year who was cut by the Eagles earlier this season, Feeley has played well since replacing Koy Detmer, who dislocated his left elbow Nov. 25 in San Francisco. It was Detmer's only start in place of Donovan McNabb, who is out with a broken left ankle.

"Koy is being very honest with me," head coach Andy Reid said Monday. "I know there's no game he'd rather start than against the Cowboys, because he's going back home, but the fact is he's not ready for that, and he understands that."

McNabb was hoping to return for the last regular-season game on Dec. 28 against the New York Giants. He is no longer on crutches but continues to wear a protective boot on his injured foot.

Reid, however, isn't sure when McNabb will come back. McNabb was hurt in a 38-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 17. All along, the Eagles have said that the injury requires a recovery time of six-to-eight weeks. The six weeks will have elapsed on Dec. 29, a day after the game against the Giants.

"He's making progress," Reid said. "I'm not guaranteeing he won't be there for the Giants game, but I just think it'll be a stretch. It's a week-to-week deal."

Detmer, who backed up Feeley in Sunday's 31-21 win over Washington, will start against the Giants if he's healthy. The Eagles (11-3) need to win their final two games to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Feeley's success has made it easier for Reid not to rush Detmer back. Detmer will have to wear a brace to protect his elbow when he returns.

"That was a significant injury he had. You don't want to jeopardize him a bit," Reid said. "It's great to have A.J. playing well. That's a plus."

Feeley completed 16 of 28 passes for 220 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 34-21 victory over Redskins. He beat the St. Louis Rams 10-3 in his first start on Dec. 1, and defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-20 a week later.

In three starts plus, the final 18 minutes of Philadelphia's 38-17 win over the 49ers, Feeley is 54 of 96 (56.3 percent) for 608 yards, five TDs and two interceptions.

Still, he realizes he's still the third-stringer.

"I know my role. My role is to be a backup," Feeley said. "If Koy is ready to play next week, I have no problem sitting on the bench watching. Everything has to be earned. You are only as good as your last play. So, until that time comes, I'm still No. 3."

Also of interest this week. ...

In an article published Monday, Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Phil Sheridan noted that normally, a good day for the Eagles' starting backfield means big numbers for Duce Staley and big bruises for Cecil Martin.

However, things were a little different last Sunday. Staley scored two touchdowns despite rushing for just 62 yards on 20 carries. And Martin, the fullback who shies away from the limelight but not contact, had the longest gain of the day.

"It's always nice when I get thrown a bone," Martin said of his career-long 53-yard reception. "But you know what? For me, I'm getting thrown a bone when I get to block somebody or clear a lane for Duce."

Last week, Martin said, a teammate suggested he should cut his flowing dreadlocks. Somebody, the teammate said, could pull Martin down from behind by grabbing onto his hair.

Martin laughed.

"I'm so rarely in front of people," he said.

He was this time. Martin took a second-quarter pass from Feeley and turned up field. He made a great move to get past a Washington safety.

"I was more surprised than the guy I put the move on," Martin said.

He had an open field to the end zone but was caught from behind. That didn't surprise him.

"If I had an extra jet, I might have scored," Martin said.

His catch started the drive. Staley's 1-yard run off right tackle finished it. Martin blocked on that play. He also buried Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington to allow Feeley to roll out to his right on a 6-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman.

Earlier, it was Staley who made the big catch-and-run. He took a screen pass from Feeley and, with good blocks from Jermane Mayberry and James Thrash, turned it into a 38-yard touchdown.

"We started off with some screens and got things going," Reid said. "We have a lot of respect for their pass rush and that is one way of slowing it down."

So is running the ball. The Eagles had success with that early. Staley had a 30-yard run, while Dorsey Levens added an 18-yarder.

But Washington clamped down on the run game in the second half. Staley, who had 56 yards at halftime, managed just 6 yards on eight carries in the second half. Levens ran for 6 yards after intermission.

Still, Staley now has 945 rushing yards for the season. He needs just 55 over the next two games to top 1,000 for the first time since 1999.

"You have to give credit to the line," Staley told a member of the Eagles public-relations staff. He left the locker room quickly after the game and did not speak to the media. "They are doing a great job this year. Any good back will tell you that getting 1,000 yards is big."

Staley also has 475 receiving yards for a total of 1,420 yards from scrimmages and a career-high seven touchdowns.

"He is a leader on this football team," Reid said. "You talk about an all-purpose running back. You are looking at a great one right there. He can do it all."

And a few final notes. ... Brian Mitchell moved past Walter Payton and into second place on the career list for combined yardage.

Mitchell went past Payton's mark of 21,803 with a 5-yard punt return in the second quarter of Philadelphia's game against Washington. Jerry Rice of Oakland is the career leader with 22,172 yards entering Sunday's game with Miami. The mark includes punt and kickoff returns and yards rushing and receiving.

The 34-year-old Mitchell is in his 13th season and has been primarily a kick and punt returner and third-down back. He played 10 years for Washington before signing with the Eagles in 2000.

And finally. ... Brian Westbrook, who missed last Sunday's game with a sprained ankle, tried to run Monday, but according to Reid, didn't fare particularly well. I'll have more on his status as the weekend progresses. ...

In particular, Cowher wants Maddox to be more judicious about taking downfield shots and stay away from forcing throws. Maddox has thrown six interceptions in his last three starts.

The team thought that once Maddox returned from cerebral and spinal-cord concussions suffered in Week 11, everything would be as it was. It isn't.

Cowher wants Maddox to throw the ball away or take a sack if a play isn't there. ...

Dulac also confirmed the ongoing concern that wide receiver Antwaan Randle El might be hitting the rookie wall. Randle El is starting to show signs of wearing down. One example: two fumbles in Week 14.

Randle El has been asked to do a lot -- he routinely runs reverses and occasionally lines up in the backfield for direct snaps from center -- and takes a beating in the middle of the field as the slot receiver.

A player his size (5-9, 184) can only take so much punishment. The team is relieving the burden on Randle El by having cornerback Hank Poteat return punts. ...

As reported by the Sports Xchange, team officials hope Jerome Bettis' health improves this week as they prepare to play at Tampa Bay, where a victory would clinch the AFC North Division title for them.

Last year, Bettis ran for 143 yards as Pittsburgh won in Tampa, 17-10. They feel they need to run it again if they are to upset the Bucs a second straight time in Florida.

"Their whole defense is No. 1 in the league," receiver Hines Ward said. "If we can go down there and just put on a great show, then we can consider where we're going to be throughout the playoffs."

Bettis, who is officially listed as probable for this week's game, re-injured his left knee last Sunday when he was pulled down from behind at the end of a nine-yard touchdown run against Carolina. He missed one series with a hyper-flexed knee, returned and ran four more times, one an eight-yard touchdown. But it's likely he will not practice at least until Friday of this week.

"We checked it out and once we found out there was no structural damage, at that point it was a matter of pain, and me and pain have a close relationship," Bettis said. ...

Bettis' two touchdowns rushing Sunday give him nine, the second-most in his career and most since he scored 11 in 1996, his first year with the Steelers. He will finish under 1,000 yards rushing for only the second time in his 10-year career. He has 600 yards; he had 635 in 1995 with the St. Louis Rams.

Ward and Plaxico Burress have broken their team record set last season for most receptions by two receivers, now have their sights on another. They have 18 combined touchdowns. John Stallworth and Louis Lipps combined for 20 in 1984. Ward and Burress have 171 combined receptions; they set the record with 160 last season.

Ward became the first member of the Steelers to reach 100 catches in a season. He finished with three last Sunday to extend his franchise record to 101. Ward could also break Yancey Thigpen's yardage record of 1,398 set in 1997. Ward has 1,205 yards, and would need 194 over the next two games.

Burress' first-quarter touchdown catch was his 67th reception of the season, topping his career high set last season. He finished with six to give him 70 for the season.

And finally. ... On the injury front. ... Amos Zereoue is listed as questionable for Monday's game against Tampa Bay due to a thumb injury and reserve halfback; fullback Verron Haynes, who broke his leg during the first quarter of Sunday's game , was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

Oh, by the way. ... The broken fibula was diagnosed until after Haynes played the final three quarters of the afternoon with the injury.

Wilkins got in coach Mike Martz's doghouse after missing kicks in several games, including Super Bowl 36.

Martz rarely criticizes a player publicly, and by doing so last week with Wilkins, a well-respected senior member of the team, Martz served notice: This is a performance-driven business, and continued mistakes will not be tolerated.

For the record. ... Martz, who has since apologized for the comments, leveled the following criticism at Wilkins late last week: "Yeah, I've lost a lot of confidence in [Wilkins]. He missed that short field goal. He came off, and I asked what happened, and he said he kicked the ground. That's hard for me to accept, to be honest with you. He's had a lot of those 'I've kicked-the-ground' routines.

"People wonder why we go for it on the 30 and do those things. Well, I'll be very frank with you. From the very beginning of the year, I did not have much confidence in Jeff's ability to make those kicks."

Whether the criticism was a factor or not, Wilkins made three field goals in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, including the game-winner with 20 seconds left. ...

Martz's frustrations with Terrence Wilkins boiled over against the Chiefs when Wilkins forced the team to burn a timeout because he was confused about going in motion.

Wilkins has struggled to learn the offense since his arrival from the Colts in a pre-draft trade, and his failure to even come close to the production of the departed Az-Zahir Hakim is one reason for the offensive struggles.

Wilkins was inactive for last Sunday's win over Arizona. ...

Martz says the quarterback job could be open at camp, a reflection of Kurt Warner's injury problems and of Martz's dissatisfaction with Warner's indecisiveness in the pocket and unwillingness to throw the ball away this season.

In a related item. ... Arizona Republic staffer Lee Shappell cited veteran receiver Ricky Proehl as admitting the team's receivers sensed early that Warner was not right.

"We were questioning whether he was 100 percent," Proehl said Sunday. "It didn't seem like he had the same zip on the ball and we didn't know if that was because he wasn't getting the time he's had in the past and maybe he was late on a couple of throws. The timing just wasn't there."

Hmmmm. ...

Also of interest. ...

Reserve running back Trung Canidate has a chance to start this week ahead of struggling rookie Lamar Gordon if Marshall Faulk is still limited. Faulk hasn't started in five games because of a high ankle sprain. Faulk had 39 yards on nine carries and two catches for 7 yards Sunday night against the Cardinals.

In a related note. ... Even though Gordon started his fifth consecutive game, Faulk saw extensive action against the Cardinals and went over the 5,000-yard rushing mark in St. Louis. He is only the second player in NFL history to rush for 5,000 or more yards with two teams, having gained 5,320 yards rushing for Indianapolis from 1994-98.

The only other player to do 5,000 with two NFL teams is Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, who also turned the trick with the Rams and the Colts. ...

And finally. ... Tight end Ernie Conwell suffered a bruised thigh against the Cardinals, and left the game twice but returned each time. He is expected to be able to play.

But he also knew the situation was beyond the point of tantrums. When the head coach walks over and says he wants to make a change for the rest of the game, well, trying to talk about it is tantamount to closing the barn door after the horses are out.

So, Brees, who had taken every snap for the Chargers this season, stood on the sideline and pulled for Doug Flutie to rally the team from a 13-10 deficit over the final eight-plus minutes.

When Flutie directed the offense to a field goal on his first possession, Brees smiled and slapped hands with the veteran quarterback on the sideline. And when Flutie struggled on his next two series, completing only one pass as the Chargers lost 20-13, Brees felt his pain.

"I wanted to win," said Brees, who was 13-of-24 passing for 148 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions at the time he was pulled. "I don't care who was in there. I know I had just gotten pulled and the first reaction is to be upset and mad. But that's not me. I wanted us to go down and score."

The primary reason Brees was pulled is that the offense hasn't done much scoring the past two months. The unit has only 10 touchdowns in the last seven games, and three came in one quarter against Denver.

Brees has now gone four games without a touchdown pass, doubling the second-longest streak in the league this season by a quarterback who has started four consecutive games.

Brees was a model of efficiency and consistency the first seven games while helping the Chargers to a 6-1 record. But during their current 2-5 skid, he has thrown three times as many interceptions (nine) as touchdown passes (three).

"I don't know what to tell you," he said. "I don't feel any different. Maybe teams are starting to figure out a little bit of what we're doing and we have to try to change things up a little bit. I don't know what it is, to be honest. ...

"I'm upset that we as an offense, as a unit, have not been able to be more successful. We have good players, we work hard, we do all those things. Just for some reason the past two weeks we haven't been on key. That's something I'm going to be thinking about on the flight home and tomorrow and try to figure out for Wednesday."

The good thing for him is that he'll get a chance to figure it out. Head coach Marty Schottenheimer opened his postgame news conference by saying, without being asked, that Brees would start Sunday at Kansas City, where the Chargers have lost five in a row by an aggregate of 150-37.

It's no secret that defenses are now attacking the Chargers with the mindset that they're daring San Diego to beat them with the passing game. They know that running back LaDainian Tomlinson is going to get his share of work, as was the case last Sunday with 110 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. They'll take their chances against Brees and the passing game.

Although wind gusts were reportedly 15 to 21 mph to start the game, Brees said it was not a factor in the passing attack. At least a handful of passes appeared to trail the receivers, and on some occasions when Brees was on target, the ball was dropped.

Schottenheimer went to great lengths to protect Brees last week after Brees threw three interceptions, saying two of them were not his fault. But yesterday he had no specific answers for why he pulled Brees, other than to say he believed Flutie would give the offense a spark.

"Those were his exact words when he came up to me and said, 'I'm going to put Doug in to create a spark,'" Brees said. "Obviously, it is upsetting because you never want to get pulled from a football game. Especially when you're the quarterback. You're the leader. You're the guy who is supposed to lead them down the field and win the game. So, when you hear that you are not the one who is going to do it, you get upset.

"But I know that my job is secure. I'm not second-guessing myself, or coach, or anybody. I'm still very confident . . . and obviously upset about the loss. It would have been a lot better had we won."

Also of interest this week. ...

With the offense struggling to score touchdowns, Steve Christie's inability to get the job done from outside the 40 has become more of an issue this year.

Before making a 53-yarder against the Bills, Christie had not made a field goal longer than 41 yards in seven tries this season, and five of his previous nine attempts either missed or were blocked. Sunday's successful attempt was his longest since 1997. ...

As the offense continues to struggle, the frustrations continue to mount. Tomlinson was noticeably upset during one possession, yelling out from the field to no one in particular.

"At the beginning of the game we were hurting them running downhill," he said. "Then we just started running outside, I guess trying to loosen them up or whatever. I just felt we should have kept running [between the tackles] because the Bills have fast defensive ends and middle linebackers that are not real big, but are fast sideline to sideline. When we went back to it, it worked. ..."

Receiver Curtis Conway had three receptions for 58 yards in his first extended game action since missing three games with a pinched nerve in his shoulder. His juggling, 47-yard catch midway through the fourth quarter helped set up the field goal that made it 13-13, but Conway still walked away disappointed.

"I was able to come up with it, but I wish I would have been able to make more catches," Conway said. "I just tried to do the best I can when I'm out there. This one is the toughest losses for me personally, just because I know I played the best I could under my circumstances, but had I been 100 percent I know I could have done a lot more."

Conway had 16 catches for 263 yards and one touchdown in his previous two games against the Bills. The veteran speedster was reportedly sore Monday, but didn't aggravate his injury after playing for the first time in three weeks.

In fact, the wide receiver said he thought he'd be a no-show for last Sunday's loss to Green Bay as late as Saturday.

"If I had to bet my life on it, I would have said I wasn't going to play," said Owens, assessing his condition at 75 to 80 percent. Jeff Garcia suffered a turned right ankle late in Sunday's loss to the Packers, and there is a chance he will be rested in one or both of the final two games, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Garcia is listed as probable for this week's game against the Cardinals, but even if he starts, those who follow the team closely expect to see No. 2 man Tim Rattay get some on-the-job training over the next two weeks.

Running backs Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow, who both have minor knee injuries, as well as tight end Eric Johnson (back), are also candidates to spend more time than usual watching from the sidelines.

San Francisco also won't reveal much of its offensive playbook in the final two games, hoping to save a surprise or two for the postseason.

Or as head coach Steve Mariucci put it: "My guess is we'll be pretty vanilla."

I'll monitor this situation closely and do what I can to give you an idea of what the team has planned prior to Saturday's game. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

For the second consecutive week, Johnson caught eight passes -- a career high. Johnson, who was out four weeks at midseason with an injured back, said his productivity is an indication the injury is no longer an issue.

"When I came back, the first couple of weeks I wasn't feeling healthy," he said. "But I feel great now."

Johnson had to carry a heavy workload in the nasty weather. Aside from Owens, Garcia completed only one other pass to a wide receiver (Tai Streets).

Johnson said he thrives in soggy conditions. "I like it when the weather gets a little crazy," said the Yale product. "I'm from the East Coast, so I'm used to bad weather."

And finally. ... In an article published Tuesday, Sacramento Bee staffer Mike Triplett noted that Owens is a dynamic late-game threat, which he proved by catching two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a victory against the Cowboys. But against the Packers, the offense had trouble when the defense took Owens away. Streets has been solid, but he caught only one pass for one yard in the rain last Sunday. The offense is very balanced overall, but when it needs to march downfield in a hurry, there is a fear that it's Owens or bust. The good news is Owens often comes through in those situations.

But what Matt Hasselbeck was able to deliver at the Georgia Dome during the Seahawks' stunning 30-24 overtime upset of the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday was cloaked in warm-and-fuzzy.

Hasselbeck, the deposed starter who has returned because of a season-ending injury to Trent Dilfer, had taken a series of impressive strides in his development as an NFL quarterback the past seven weeks.

Yesterday, he took his game to the next -- and needed -- level.

Hasselbeck played well on a day when he wasn't.

"I know I'm handling it better this year than I did last year," Hasselbeck said through chattering teeth, the result of an extended postgame stint in the training room where he was given fluids intravenously, because of dehydration.

"Part of it is, you have to play through pain in this league," he added. "I'd never dealt with that until I got here last year. No one can help you in dealing with that. It's something you need to do on your own."

Then there was the tender left foot of this tenderfoot quarterback, who had just completed his 19th NFL start. Hasselbeck sprained it in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday, an injury that forced him to miss practice Wednesday, but miss nary a beat against the Falcons.

"Adrenaline is a great tool for dealing with injuries," he said.

Hasselbeck fashioned a 112.0 rating by completing 71 percent of his passes (22 of 31) for 298 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.

It was the kind of performance he was unable to deliver last season, when groin and shoulder injuries hindered his effectiveness and retarded his maturation.

The intangible line of demarcation for a quarterback in this league is the ability to not just play when injured, but play well.

"Matt was right on today," said offensive coordinator Gil Haskell, unable to suppress a smile of satisfaction. "He understands what we're trying to do. He's getting better at going out and finding a way to do it."

Hasselbeck lost the confidence of his teammates last season, when he was 5-7 as the starter and Dilfer went 4-0 while subbing for the injured Hasselbeck. He has regained it since Oct. 27, when Hasselbeck stepped in for an injured Dilfer in Dallas and rallied the Seahawks to a 17-14 victory.

Since then, Hasselbeck has thrown for:

But steadily, if not slowly, Michael Pittman and the Bucs ground attack are beginning to show signs of consistency. After rushing for 150 yards Dec. 8 against the Falcons, the Bucs gained 123 Sunday, marking the first back-to-back 100-plus yards effort.

And for that, the fifth-year player in his first season with the Bucs was rewarded with his first touchdown of the season, a 4-yard fourth-quarter score that gave the Bucs a 20-13 lead.

"It meant a lot to get my first touchdown of the season when we needed it," said Pittman, who entered with 562 yards on 168 carries. "The offensive line opened a big hole for me and I just ran through it. It was a confidence builder."

Pittman said the critical touchdown offers some validation to the overall effort and trust the coaching staff has had in him during less productive games.

"Truthfully, I still want to get better for myself," said Pittman, who had 11 carries for 46 yards. "I don't listen to all the media critics. But as an NFL player, you don't want to hear bad things about you because you're out there busting your butt as hard as you can. But I'm a professional and I have to take that. I'm doing my best."

As it turns out, head coach Jon Gruden's running back by committee approach appears to be clicking. Fullback Mike Alstott chipped in 47 yards on 11 carries and reserve running back Aaron Stecker had 28 on four carries.

"Coach said a few weeks ago that he was going to go running back by committee and he knows what our strengths and weaknesses are," Stecker said. "He trusts us and himself to put us in plays where he thinks we can make things happen."

Added Gruden: "We got some work done. We were able to make some nice positive gains. I was not happy with our inside-the-5 running ... but there were some good things."

Alstott, who scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter to give him a team-high seven TDs (five rushing, two receiving) said it took time to get all three running backs involved.

"It doesn't happen overnight," Alstott said. "It's a new coach, a new offense with new players and chemistry has to take place. Things have to click for you to get your confidence. Last two weeks have been good days as far as getting some first downs with the running game, scoring some touchdowns with the running game and closing out games with the running game. It's positive. We're growing with confidence."

Other notes of interest. ...

As reported by Tampa Tribune staffer Roy Cummings, wheels don't come any squeakier than Keyshawn Johnson, who proved Sunday that a team still can ride him if it gives him the grease he craves.

Four days after suggesting he was unhappy with the number of passes he was being thrown and saying he would reassess his future with the team at season's end, Johnson caught six passes and played an integral part in the Bucs' 23-20 victory against the Lions at Ford Field.

"Any time you sense your offense is struggling, you want to be involved and to be given an opportunity," said Johnson, who stood wearing a Gruden-length fur coat. "Whether it's one or two or three balls you want to give 'em a look. And coach Gruden said to me before the game today, `Give us the juice you can.' I took that into the game and I delivered for the most part."

Never did Johnson deliver more than early in the fourth quarter, when he jumped high over two defenders to make a catch at the Lions 20 that set up the touchdown that put the Bucs ahead, 20-13.

More remarkable than the catch itself, though, was the fact he held on to the ball. While making the grab 30 yards downfield, Johnson was hit in the groin on an Eric Davis tackle that temporarily knocked him out of the game.

"If I know I'm going to get hit I can still hold on to the ball," Johnson said. "If I tried to run through it and not be aware of the secondary, then chances are I wouldn't have caught it."

Quarterback Brad Johnson, under extreme defensive pressure throughout, said it was his fault Keyshawn had to make such a miraculous catch.

"I didn't get as much zip as I would have liked to on that ball," he said. "It kind of floated on me a little bit and [Keyshawn] did a great job as far as catching the ball with two defenders all over him."

The reception came on one of 12 balls thrown to Johnson, who had been getting about half that many in previous games. His inability to get open consistently and to catch some of the balls that were thrown to him led to the decrease in activity.

But that decrease also led to an increase in frustration. After averaging three catches per game over the previous three games, Johnson said last week that he would reassess his future with the team. After Sunday's game, though, he was singing a different tune.

"To be honest with you, I don't see what the problem was," he said. "It was more media hype than anything. It's not that big of a deal. Everybody assesses their position at the end of the year. Everyone gets evaluated - the coaches, the players the owners."

Johnson's comments seemed to contradict his earlier statements. However, there's no contradicting the fact that Johnson likes to be heavily involved in the offense.

"I just like to get the opportunities," Johnson said. "I'm a competitor and I don't like to feel that I'm not being utilized.

"That's my whole purpose, and I know my team is counting on me at all times to make plays so when they give me the opportunity, I just try to deliver.

"You're not going to make every play that everybody thinks you're going to make or should make. But I do make the majority of them."

And a few final notes. ... Brad Johnson may miss all of practice this week because of a bum thumb and a sore lower back. The veteran signal caller is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Steelers. ...

I'll keep a close eye on Johnson's status and update you as necessary throughout the weekend.

And last but not least. ... In an article published Dec. 9, Pro Football Weekly suggested that there is some concern that the Bucs will suffer a late-season slide due to Gruden pushing his team too hard in training camp and practice, a problem that plagued Gruden’s Raiders squads.

"We'll see whether or not he practices later in the week," Fisher said.

Fisher would like to see McNair practice even though McNair has led the Titans to three straight victories without working on the field during the week. ...

As Nashville Tennessean beat writer Jeff Legwold noted Tuesday, style points weren't high, but this team is squarely on McNair's shoulders, and, as a result, still in control in the AFC South race. His 136 yards passing were just enough, but his 49 yards rushing were particularly troubling for the Patriots. He set the tone early with a bruising touchdown run.

Also according to Legwold, Eddie George had his third 100-yard game of the season, but he had to work to get there with 31 carries. Overall, it was the best game of the season for the running backs. Robert Holcombe finished with 85 yards on his 10 carries -- including a career-long 39 yarder -- as the Titans pounded out 238 yards rushing overall, their highest total since the 1997 season opener.

As reported by the Sports Xchange, Justin McCareins dropped two long passes in the end zone that should have been touchdowns that would have padded the score and Steve McNair's stats.

"He had a chance to make both those catches," Fisher said.

Of course, McCareins inability to get the job done consistently may have cost him the opportunity to establish himself at the top of Tennessee's receiving rotation with injured former first-round draft pick Kevin Dyson a candidate to leave via free agency this offseason.

And finally. ... Frank Wycheck played through a twisted ankle, but saw his streak of 98 games with at least one catch come to an end. He caught one short pass but the Titans erased it by accepting a penalty.

So while Davis' tenure with the Redskins could be dwindling rapidly, it perhaps is not over.

"Stephen's definitely out this week," Spurrier said. "We'll wait until next week and see if he's available for the last game of the season."

After Davis hurt his shoulder on the second play of Sunday's 34-21 loss at Philadelphia, Spurrier indicated that the three-time 1,000-yard rusher likely would miss the remaining two games and might require surgery. However, Spurrier said the outlook improved yesterday after Davis underwent an MRI exam. According to Spurrier, trainer Dean Kleinschmidt indicated it's possible Davis could play against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 29.

"I don't think surgery is scheduled now," Spurrier said. "We'll look at the situation next week and see if he can play."

Davis said he hoped to play again this season. But he acknowledged that he may have had his final carry with the Redskins, given that he is likely to be released in the offseason for salary cap reasons.

"It's disappointing if I don't get back," Davis said. "It may be, it could be, it might be my last play as a Redskin. But I just have to worry about getting better. . . . It's tough to accept, but I can't do anything about it."

Some Redskins officials believed yesterday that the injury could improve slightly the chances of Davis remaining with the team. They reasoned that if Davis and his agent, Steve Weinberg, are wary of the running back hitting the free agent market with an injury, they might be more willing to substantially reduce Davis' income next season to stay with the Redskins. Under his current contract, Davis would count $11.4 million against next season's salary cap.

But the Redskins still seem prepared to release him, and it remained unclear whether a massive pay cut would lead team officials to keep him. Davis has not found a niche in Spurrier's offense, and the Redskins do not seem to believe they need to spend their money on a running back when Spurrier is intent upon passing regularly.

"Stephen is a great running back," injured Redskins middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "That's not my area to say, but Stephen is a guy who wants the ball 25 times a game. In this offense, just spectating, the running back is not going to be the focal point."

Said guard Tre Johnson: "You hope he remains a Redskin. But we all know the business side and how it works."

Spurrier said that even though Davis has been the centerpiece of the offense in recent years, club officials must make wise business decisions on next season's roster.

"There comes a point that the coaches and owners and franchises can't be sentimental," Spurrier said. "You have to put the best team on the field that you can under the salary cap. That's the obligation that you have to your fans, to field a team that is capable of winning, and that's what we've got to try to do."

Davis said last week he realized there was a good chance that he could be elsewhere next season, and he reiterated those sentiments yesterday.

"This is the way the business works," said Davis, who has 820 rushing yards this season. "It's funny. It's wicked. When you realize that, you just have to accept it. ... I've just got to keep my spirits up, regardless of what happens. If [the shoulder] gets better, good. If it doesn't, I have to get ready for next year. ... There's a possibility I might be somewhere else. I just have to make the most of it."

Kenny Watson and rookie Ladell Betts are scheduled to split the playing time this week in Davis' absence, but Spurrier declined to name a starter.

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Monday, ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli noted it probably galls Spurrier a little, since he really wasn't all that enamored of Patrick Ramsey this spring, but the rookie and first-round draft choice took another substantial step on Sunday.

The former Tulane star threw three touchdown passes and zero interceptions in a loss to the Eagles. And according to Pasquarelli, "that should signal to The Ol' Ball Coach that it's time to stop the quarterback carousel. And we're talking about next season, not in the two meaningless games remaining on the schedule, for a team that is going nowhere. Dump those two former University of Florida quarterbacks and bring in some wise veteran to serve as tutor for Ramsey in 2003. Give the kid the job, worry about fixing all those other problems, and you'll be in the playoffs in a year or two. Ramsey is a bigger, physically stronger Rex Grossman, and that should mean something. ..."

One last note here. ... The team worked out five players Monday: quarterbacks Chris Greisen and Wes Pate and wide receivers Reggie Germany, Larry Parker and Scott Cloman. The Redskins have two open spots on their 53-man roster and Spurrier indicated they might add a punt returner. ...