Of course, his only alternative would be using one of two rookies at quarterback.

McGinnis said Monday he was never tempted to get backup Josh McCown into last Sunday's loss to San Diego, a defeat in which the Chargers turned both of their interceptions into scores.

"A ballgame is not over until everything is done with," McGinnis said. "The ebb and the flow and the ups and downs of a ballgame, you can't get caught up in it, and I don't think Jake does. When things are going good, things can go bad all of a sudden. It's not just Jake. It's every other quarterback in this league, too.

"It's just that Jake is our quarterback, and when it happens it impacts us."

Plummer has engineered 16 fourth-quarter comebacks for the Cardinals, and was close to another Sunday when Arizona (1-2) got a first down on the San Diego 9-yard line in the final two minutes. Instead, four straight passes fell incomplete, and the Chargers held on.

The last series reduced Plummer's statistics to 16-for-36 for 229 yards on the afternoon. He threw TD passes of 65 yards to MarTay Jenkins and 31 yards to Marcel Shipp, but also had the two picks that turned the game.

Donnie Edwards returned the second 20 yards for the TD that gave San Diego a 23-7 lead with 11:23 remaining.

"I don't know if there is ever a good time or place for turnovers, but our three were some of the most ill-opportune," guard Pete Kendall said.

For the season, Plummer has completed just 43.6 percent of his passes (41-of-94), with four TDs and four interceptions -- a far cry from last season, when he threw for more TDs than interceptions for the first time in his five-year career.

"We need to complete more passes," McGinnis said. "We need better production in a lot of areas. We'll see what the circumstances were that brought it on and correct it. Jake has passed for a higher percentage before, and he can do it again."

Safety Kwamie Lassiter said there was no division in the locker room, with everyone mindful of Plummer's ability to rally the offense.

"We know that there is a game that comes along where the offense will have to come and back us up," Lassiter said.

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Arizona Republic staffer Lee Shappell, David Boston, who missed two days of practice last week with an ankle problem, was forced to leave Sunday's game late in the fourth quarter because of the injury.

He was not on the field for the final drive.

"I asked him if he could go, and he said he thought he could," receivers coach Jerry Sullivan said. "But it looked to me like he was limping. I figured I'd better put a guy in the game who could run."

"It didn't boil down to injuries as to why we lost," Boston said. "Nobody has everybody healthy 100 percent of the time.

"They didn't do anything special on me. I'm not going to have 100 yards every game."

Boston made three catches for 57 yards, a hefty 19-yard average. He ran a reverse early in the game for seven yards.

Not that you heard any Charger defensive backs questioning Boston's ability after the game was over.

"The one thing that most guys try to do is out-tough him, out-physical him," San Diego cornerback Ryan McNeil said. "You can do that to an extent, but you've got to have a changeup. You've got to play finesse sometimes, play off him a little bit, bang him when he's not expecting it.

"He's big enough to push the average cornerback around. He's strong enough to get off lighter jams. He's fast enough to run by you. And he's coordinated enough to catch the tough balls.

"Is anybody in the league packaged like that? No. ..."

Thomas Jones (ankle) also missed two days of practice last week, but played against the Chargers on Sunday. The former first-round draft pick finished the game with 73 yards on 17 carries. ...

And finally. ... In an article published Tuesday, Republic beat writer Kent Somers offered readers the following thoughts on Shipp, the team's No. 2 running back: "Few people have heard of [Shipp], but he has good instincts and vision, and [McGinnis] believed so much in him that he didn't sign a veteran backup in the offseason.

"Shipp can catch, too. He had a 31-yard touchdown reception last Sunday. He also excels on special teams"

Finneran caught six passes from quarterback Mike Vick, all but one in the first two quarters. One was a 20-yard touchdown, another a 13-yard touchdown and three earned the Falcons first downs.

"We had a lot of plays for my position [in the game plan] this week," Finneran said. "Last week, too."

On his first score, Finneran slanted in from the right side and Vick squeezed in a laser between double coverage. On the second, Vick broke out of the pocket as Finneran mirrored his rollout along the goal line. Vick's pass hit him in the chest and Finneran bulled into the end zone. After Jay Feely's kick, the Falcons led 20-0 and the game was essentially over.

His six catches tied his career high --- set last year against New Orleans Dec. 2 and tied last week against the Chicago Bears --- while the two scores were a career best. His 77 receiving yards were his third best total. Finneran called it the best game of his career.

It was the sort of game that the Falcons had hoped for when they gave him the starting flanker job after he performed well as a No. 3 and No. 4 receiver last season. Standing 6-5 and gifted with usually dependable hands, Finneran has been a favored target of Vick and Chris Chandler before him.

Finneran is becoming an expert at reading Vick when the fleet quarterback breaks out of the pocket. The second touchdown came on a play when Vick improvised. "You just have to be in the right spot," he said.

Finneran's efficient night was typical. For the season, 11 of his 14 catches have produced first downs or touchdowns. Last year, 16 of his 23 catches went for first downs and three more were touchdowns.

Finneran was tied with receiver Willie Jackson for the team lead in receptions with eight, for 96 yards, before the game. But his season prior to Sunday was noted most for catches he didn't make. Most significantly, he dropped a pass in the fourth quarter of the Packers game that would have been a touchdown.

He did have one drop early in the fourth quarter on a sideline route.

He discounted the notion that this game was redemption for Green Bay.

"That's what the game's all about," he said. "You're going to make some, you're going to miss some. You've just got to make sure you have more good days than bad."

Also of interest. ...

As reported by Journal Constitution beat writer Matt Winkeljohn, it didn't take long for rookie running back T.J. Duckett to surpass his playing time of a week earlier last Sunday.

By an unofficial count, he was in for 17 of Atlanta's 30 offensive plays in the first half, although he was limited to 9 yards on seven carries as the Falcons built a 20-3 lead. Duckett carried five times for 32 yards in the first half against the Bears on Sept. 15, but he didn't play in the second half.

The Falcons continued going to Duckett in the second half this time, and his numbers improved. He finished with 67 yards on 18 carries.

Coaches changed their approach this week on how to deploy Duckett and Warrick Dunn. Duckett played in all two-back, one-tight end sets in the first half (with fullback Bob Christian), played about seven plays with Dunn also in the game (with Dunn often lined up at wideout), and Dunn handled everything else.

In a way, Dunn suffers in this plan because he never has a blocking back. He rushed five times for 12 yards in the first half and had 18 yards on eight carries overall, including a 4-yard third-quarter touchdown run. Blocking is not Duckett's forte, and it's rare that when he and Dunn are in the lineup at the same time that Dunn carries the ball. ...

On the injury front. ... Reserve receiver Darrin Chiaverini left the field in the first quarter with a bruised right thigh. He returned to the sideline a short while later but did not play again in the first half. ...

And finally. ... In an article published Monday, Sports Illustrated insider Peter King advised readers they're likely to see a different Vick from here on out.

Different as in not as physical.

"I'm going to slide more," the second-year signal caller told King prior to Sunday's win over the Bengals. "Last week, after the Chicago game, I woke up the next morning and my neck hurt so bad I couldn't get my head off the pillow. There's no way I can take the kind of punishment they dished out and stay healthy for the year."

Head coach Brian Billick says he is accountable for the offense and that he can draw up plays with the best of them. But the Ravens have a dull, predictable offense that needs fixing. ...

Also according to Preston, running back Jamal Lewis, who missed last season with a knee injury, has demonstrated the clear-cut ability to take hits, move the pile, accelerate and turn the corner in the first two games. ...

And finally, in an article published Sept. 17, Pro Football Weekly reported that if Travis Taylor’s ailing shoulder continues to give him trouble, look for rookie Ron Johnson to emerge in his place for the Ravens.

Johnson is regularly beating coverage and has a size and strength advantage over most cornerbacks.

Henry's first-quarter fumble was returned 24 yards for a touchdown that put the Bills in a 7-0 hole they never got out of in a 28-23 loss at Invesco Field at Mile High.

"It was a sweep to the right and I cut inside and there were some defenders there," Henry said. "I got caught up and they kind of turned me and the ball came out. It was a crucial turnover. But plays like that, you just got to forget about them and come back in and establish yourself."

Unfortunately for Henry, he never really established anything. Except for one scoring drive capped by his one-yard run late in the first half, he was mostly absent from the Bills' offense for the second straight game.

One week after gaining just 30 yards on 12 carries at Minnesota, Henry totaled just 35 yards on 12 attempts against the Broncos' stout defense, which entered the game ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the run.

"At times when we scored on that drive, it felt like we were going and were in a rhythm," said Henry, whose 149-yard performance in the season opener seems like a distant memory. "But I really can't tell you (why the run game didn't work).

"Me personally, I think we could have run the ball on them. But it was one of those games again, I guess. They're showing us so many different looks, and for some reason we're not staying with it. I guess that's the way the ball goes sometimes."

Henry's ankle injury occurred on the fumble, though it's not believed to be serious. It should be noted that he did return to the game on the Bills' next offensive series.

"It's a tough situation," he said. "I fumbled, they scored and you've got to suck it up and go back out there and give it all you've got."

Other notes of interest. ...

After throwing for 283 yards and two touchdown last Sunday, Drew Bledsoe heads into Week 4 with 88 completions for 1,017 yards with six touchdowns.

"Not bad for a washed-up guy, huh?" head coach Gregg Williams jokingly asked Sports Illustrated insider Peter King after Sunday's loss.

King went on to write: "It's amazing how good Bledsoe looks, isn't it? The April trade that brought him from backup in New England to franchise guy in Buffalo has rejuvenated the man and the team. We forgot what a beautiful deep ball he throws. The best in the game. He completed three of them on Sunday.

"'He's got a receiving corps that can give him some separation,' Mike Shanahan said, which is different than the more plodding group Bledsoe had in New England when Terry Glenn was not playing. It was so fun to watch Bledsoe yesterday, into the game, exhorting his guys from the sideline.

"Williams, crestfallen after another tough loss, lit up when the subject turned to Bledsoe. 'His energy's been amazing,' Williams said. 'He's excited about every practice, every meeting. Did you know that, every week, he watches film with every position group on the offense? He'll come in an hour early on Thursdays and Fridays, and he'll go through it separately with the receivers and the running backs. Post-practice, he'll look at tape with the Hogs. What a leader. He's told me, "Now I know what Bill Parcells wanted me to do. I was just too young to do it.'"

"And now Bledsoe sees that. 'Part of what's happened,' he said, 'is I had it yanked away from me. After never being challenged for my position, you kind of take it for granted. And coming to Buffalo has been entirely positive. The area fits me better, because I'm a small-town guy.'

"Bledsoe might be the latter-day Roger Clemens, the guy who pitched so-so for four years, got out of Boston and rejuvenated his career. Like Clemens, Bledsoe was a middle-of-the-pack player for a New England franchise. Like Clemens, Bledsoe took getting rejected by the only team he had ever played for as a cold, hard slap in the face. Like Clemens, Bledsoe became insanely motivated to prove he wasn't washed up when he got dumped. Surely, even if the Patriots had picked Bledsoe over Tom Brady at the end of last year, Bledsoe wouldn't have had this much success early with New England. In Buffalo, he is the commanding presence of this team, this locker room. He wouldn't have been that, ever again, in New England, under Bill Belichick. So it's better he left.

"And the Clemens comparison? 'Hopefully,' he said, 'there will some kind of success like that for me.' Dan Marino said on TV Sunday that the way Bledsoe's throwing he could have a 6,000-yard season. Whatever. If he keeps slinging it the way he has the first three weeks, Buffalo's going to be a playoff team, and that'll be satisfying enough for him."

One final note of interest here. ... Josh Reed is the first Bills rookie to have back-to-back games with a touchdown since tight end Jay Riemersma in 1997. ...

But the Panthers -- coming off a 1-15 season -- know they've got a legion of doubters, partly because they've remained unbeaten by playing three teams with a combined record of 0-8.

"At some point, it does wear on you after awhile because you shouldn't have to explain yourself after a win, how you win," Fox said Monday, a day after Carolina's 21-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

"I tell the team not to be too concerned about what other people think ... we're going to define what we are in the locker room, not anybody outside of it."

Getting the Panthers to believe that message was not an easy task.

When Fox was hired in January, replacing the fired George Seifert, he inherited a demoralized team with no confidence and no real desire to turn things around.

Sure the Panthers wanted to win games, but their 1-15 season had been so draining, most couldn't clean out their lockers fast enough following last year's season finale.

Part of that stemmed from the aura surrounding Seifert -- players found him to be aloof and unapproachable.

With Fox, they got the exact opposite. A fiery and energetic coach, the Panthers adapted to his style immediately and were talking as early as spring mini-camp sessions about how different things were going to be.

Of course, few believed them.

After all, they set an NFL record last season in losing 15-straight in one year and frankly, their talent pool wasn't exactly well-stocked.

None of that mattered to Fox, who insisted that attitudes and work ethic be changed immediately.

"I've always been a firm believer that anything is possible with hard work, it's something I've challenged the team with, it's something our staff has challenged the team with," he said.

"From day one, from the way we went about or business in the off-season ... we had 100 percent participation in all our volunteer workouts. When you are coming off a 1-15, I think most guys are willing to do anything to not make that happen again."

The improvement has caught the league by surprise, but the Panthers said they knew it could be done.

"We're not really surprised we're 3-0," running back Lamar Smith said. "It's not cocky, don't get this wrong, it's confidence."

By the way, Smith obviously isn't concerned about losing too many carries when rookie DeShaun Foster returns from a knee injury. Before Smith rushed for 154 yards on 30 carries against the Vikings on Sunday, there was talk that Foster, not Smith, would be the featured back once Foster returned.

"I really don't listen to that stuff," Smith told Winston-Salem Journal beat writer Joe Menzer. "I know what's going on. [Fox] knows. [Offensive coordinator] Dan Henning knows. I really don't pay much attention to that stuff."

Fox said yesterday that is "highly unlikely" that Foster would be ready to play by Sunday's game in Green Bay.

"He's going through rehab," Fox said of Foster. "They have him running in a water tank now, and they're changing the levels of the water. The less water they have in it, the more weight they actually place on the knee. So they're in the process of rehab now, and I don't have an exact date for his return. ..."

Also according to Menzer, almost lost in all the excitement Sunday's win was wide receiver Steve Smith's first career touchdown reception on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Rodney Peete, tying the score at 7-7 in the third quarter.

"It was nice. I'm just out here trying to make plays," said Smith, who caught five passes for 81 yards.

Smith scored three touchdowns as a rookie last season, but all were on kick returns. He had two kickoff returns for touchdowns, including a 93-yarder to open the season at Minnesota, and one punt return for a touchdown.

Now a starting wide receiver, Smith already has surpassed all of his receiving totals from a year ago. After three games he has 13 catches for 191 yards. In 15 games last year, he totaled just 10 receptions for 154 yards. ...

Muhsin Muhammad, the team's top wide receiver, hurt his hamstring in the third quarter of Sunday's game and had to be helped off the field.

Muhammad, who had six receptions for 63 yards, caught a 25-yard pass from Peete and twisted his leg awkwardly on the turf as he was tackled by Tyrone Carter. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and didn't return to the game.

Asked if Muhammad would play this weekend, Fox said on Monday: "It's too early to tell. We'll have a better idea on that on Wednesday. ..."

And finally. ... Place-kicker Jon Hilbert missed two field goals on Sunday, but he is not expected to lose his job.

"I don't think so at this time," Fox told the Charlotte Observer. "I haven't had time to view it, and I wouldn't want to make any snap decisions, but I doubt that. You hate to see those missed field goals; that's something we'll work on. At least with this kicker, he's healthy, and hopefully we'll get some of that wired up next week."

Mullin went on to note that Anthony Thomas carried the ball on 11 of the first 12 first-down plays and created openings for the passing game by forcing safety help in run support.

In fact, after rushing for 129 yards combined in his first two games, Thomas got on track against the Saints on Sunday. He had 111 yards rushing and caught four passes for 27 yards.

But as Tribune reporter Melissa Isaacson pointed out, of all the things Thomas did in his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, it was the one thing he didn't do that stood out most in Sunday's loss to New Orleans.

On third-and-2 from the Bears' 44-yard line and the Bears up 23-21 with 3 minutes 27 seconds to play, offensive coordinator John Shoop called for a short pass to Marty Booker on a flanker screen. Booker caught it but was promptly corralled out of bounds for no gain.

It turned out to be one of the more glaring missed opportunities on a day full of them, and the prevailing question was:

Why not Thomas?

Apparently offensive coordinator John Shoop -- explaining that in the game plan they consider the pass essentially a run play -- wondered that himself.

"I have no problem when it's third down and crunch time thinking people more than I think plays, and my mind immediately went to Marty Booker," Shoop said.

"In hindsight, I wish we'd handed it off to Anthony going right up the middle, but it's a play we practice a great deal and Marty knew to stay inbounds except he was stretching to get the first down. It ended up being a bad play twofold because not only did we not get a first, but the clock stopped as well. We understand those risks when we called the play. Obviously, I wish I had it back."

Miller sounded as if he wished it as well. "Hindsight is everything, so I wish we had another call there," he said. "That's one play, [but] calls like that can cost you football games."

If Thomas wished it as well, he wasn't saying.

"That's Shoop's job," Thomas said. "They gave him the opportunity to make those calls, and I don't have any say over that. I'm just a person [who] whenever my number is called, I try to do the best I can."

It was just the sort of day on which Thomas thrives, pounding the ball 27 times, including a long gain of 24 yards on a first-quarter scoring drive in which he carried the ball on four of the six plays. But Thomas typically deflected any opportunity for self-promotion.

"I'd rather get 50 yards and win than 100 yards and lose," he said. "My personal goals take a back seat to this team right now. Team first, that's the main thing. When we get a win, that's what I'm happy with."

With Miller and Leon Johnson chipping in a carry apiece, the Bears finished with 125 yards on the ground, but Thomas said the running game is a long way from being perfectly in sync.

Is is still "a split second off," Thomas was asked?

"I'd say more than a split second," he said. "There's a lot of things we need to work on, and I think it jells more as the season goes on. Now they're bringing in a lot of new things every week. We were prepared, but not [enough]."

Other notes of interest. ...

According to TSN columnist Dan Pompei, Marcus Robinson has been vocal about getting more playing time, but he has two things working against him. The first is he isn’t the player he was before tearing his ACL and missing most of last season. He might need more time to regain his quickness. The second issue is the Bears have young receivers they must develop. The play of both David Terrell and Dez White has merited that both get the ball more, and the offense is making a concerted effort to keep them involved.

And finally. ... Tight end Fred Baxter sprained his ankle and will be evaluated later this week. The former Jet reportedly left the locker room on crutches after the game.

Head coach Dick LeBeau, whose team has scored just 16 points in an 0-3 start, said the third overall pick in the 1998 draft will start at Tampa Bay next week.

Smith, the Bengals' starter in 2000, had been languishing as the third-stringer.

He has the ability to scramble for yardage if his receivers are covered, an element that the Bengals' other two quarterbacks -- Gus Frerotte and Jon Kitna -- lack.

"I was a little bit shocked," Smith said of his reaction when LeBeau told him of the promotion. "Thank God for the opportunity. That's all I've ever wanted, was the opportunity.

"My season begins now. I'm not even thinking about being 0-3."

LeBeau said he is making no promises beyond Sunday as he tries to right his team. He said Kitna will be the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday and Frerotte will be demoted from No. 1 to No. 3 to rest his right thumb, injured earlier this season.

Let's face it; this move clearly makes sense for the Bengals -- whether we like it or not.

After all, Smith was the No. 3 overall pick of the 1999 draft and was given a $10.8 million signing bonus. The fact that he's gone 3-13 in 16 career starts -- four in 1999, 11 in 2000 and one last season -- is irrelevant. Team officials need to know once and for all if Smith is capable of playing up to lofty pre-draft expectations.

For what it's worth. ... LeBeau cited a sore thumb as one of the reasons for Frerotte dropping all the way down to the No. 3 spot. But the fact is, Frerotte, who signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract as a free agent in May, simply wasn't getting the job done. Through three games, he had one touchdown pass and five pickoffs and had engineered just one TD drive.

Kitna is in the second year of a four- year deal. He started 15 games last season, posting a 6-9 record but throwing just 12 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions.

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Cincinnati Post staffer Kevin Goheen, opponents have utilized a simple plan in order to beat the Bengals in 2002: Take Corey Dillon out of the game plan.

It's not a new strategy, but in the first three games this season opponents have made it look easy. Dillon gained 66 yards on 18 carries against a Falcons defense that was primed to stop him. His longest gain of the night was nine yards, and he added 15 yards on three receptions. Dillon entered the game needing 121 yards to become the franchise's all-time leading rusher, but that will have to wait at least another week.

He declined to talk to the media after the game.

Dillon is averaging 61 yards rushing a game this season after entering the season averaging nearly 80 per game. ...

The Bengals completed their first pass to a tight end when Kitna hooked up with rookie Matt Schobel late in the third quarter of Sunday night's game. ... On a less positive note: Second-year tight end Sean Brewer underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and could be out 3-to-4 weeks.

And finally. ... Bengals kicker Neil Rackers made a 24-yard field goal, making him 3-of-3 on field goal tries this season. He was 29 of 49 (59.2 percent) in his first two seasons.

"It was a little bit of a John Wayne thing," head coach Butch Davis said Monday.

Without the horse.

Out of timeouts and needing a tying touchdown, Couch -- the quarterback some said shouldn't even be playing -- then quieted his teammates before silencing a hostile crowd.

"Everybody was talking on that last drive, saying what we should do," wide receiver Andre' Davis recalled. "He said, 'Shut up. This is what we're going to run."'

"Couch came back and played excellent," wide receiver Kevin Johnson added.

Davis insisted last week that despite backup Kelly Holcomb's solid performance in the first two weeks, Couch was the Browns' unquestioned starter and leader.

The fact that Couch, who sat out the first two games after tearing scar tissue in his right elbow, responded to the pressure by throwing for three TD passes while totaling 326 passing yards -- with just one interception -- showed the world why Davis had no qualms putting him back in despite Holcomb being the NFL's second-rated passer.

"Maybe," Couch said following his spectacular season debut. "I proved a point."

By the way. ... Couch wasn't the only player to stage a comeback on a day of redemption for the Browns. There was also third-year wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, who before Sunday was better known for dropped passes and a flashy wardrobe than game-breaking plays.

Northcutt returned a punt 74 yards for a TD to bring the Browns within 21-14 late in the third quarter.

But he gave the seven points from his first TD as a pro right back by muffing a punt inside the 10 to help the Titans take a 28-14 lead.

Northcutt atoned for his miscue by recovering an onside kick to set up the Browns' final touchdown, his 8-yard reception with 12 seconds left during which he slipped away from a Tennessee defender with a jaw-dropping spin move.

"Three out of four ain't bad," Northcutt joked about his success percentage. ...

As Columbus Dispatch staffer Bill Rabinowitz noted Tuesday, rookie running back William Green had another tough day Sunday. The first-round pick fumbled twice and was replaced by Jamel White for most of the second half. Green finished with eight carries for 26 yards, with 14 coming on one run.

Asked what he could do to bolster Green's admittedly shaky confidence, Davis said, "I think the same thing you do with any kid. You keep emphasizing the positives."

Davis tried to take some of the blame away from Green on the fumbles, saying most rookies have to learn from experience how determined NFL defenders are to strip the ball.. ...

And finally. ... Phil Dawson's streak of 21 consecutive field goals -- the second-longest streak in club history -- ended in the second quarter of Sunday's game when he was wide right on a 52-yarder. ... Davis said his kicker should have been upset with the coach for asking him to even attempt the kick.

He didn't come close to getting what he asked for.

The stats say Dallas rushed for 123 yards and a 4.7 average, which is actually not too bad. The stats, however, don't tell the entire story.

Antonio Bryant gained 24 yards on a reverse and fullback Robert Thomas had a 14-yard run in the third quarter, when Dallas trailed, 34-10.

But when it mattered most, the Cowboys' running game was ineffective.

Emmitt Smith finished with 52 yards on 11 carries, but he had nine carries for 21 yards in the first half when the game was close.

"We had a good game plan, we just didn't execute," Smith said. "We made too many mistakes. The best team won. We weren't even close.

"The most disappointing thing is that I don't have any answers. I thought there were some running lanes at times, but then things got out of hand. They didn't throw anything at us that we didn't expect."

The Cowboys' inability to run the ball meant Dallas couldn't sustain its drives while putting pressure on the defense to keep stopping Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The running game is a key component in offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet's offense because it sets up his deep passing game.

Until the Cowboys can run the ball, they're going to struggle on offense.

It didn't help that Pro Bowl left guard Larry Allen missed the game with a sprained ankle. Matt Lehr replaced him.

Right guard Kelvin Garmon suffered an injury to his left knee in the second half. That forced right tackle Solomon Page to move to guard, while Javier Collins played tackle.

"Our offensive line was banged up, but I thought they did a good job," quarterback Quincy Carter said. "They handled the blitz pretty well in the first half, which forced them to drop back and play a lot more coverages in the second half."

Dallas, though, didn't make any big plays in the passing game in the first half, while the Eagles blitzed. Until they do, teams will continue to commit extra defenders to run defense because they aren't afraid of the consequences.

Carter averaged 5.7 yards per attempt – he averaged 10.0 last week – and did not have a completion of more than 19 yards.

Smith has gained only 178 yards rushing this season, putting him on pace to break Walter Payton's all-time rushing record in November.

That's not a good sign for this offense.

For the record. ... Smith's sixth carry moved him ahead of Payton for No. 1 on the all-time rushing attempts list. Asked about the accomplishment after the game, he said: "How can I have joy after a butt-whipping like that."

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Wednesday, Morning News beat writer Chip Brown noted that one of Jerry Jones' top priorities this year is to figure out if Quincy Carter is the future quarterback of the Cowboys. Right now, he isn't sure what to think.

"I don't know if I would say pleased," Jones said Tuesday. "I would certainly like to see him play every game this year like he played against San Francisco last year. I don't know that I've seen that this year."

Jones dissected Carter's play in a rambling manner in a news conference in which he stated he's not upset with the coaching of his 1-2 team but wants his players, especially his offensive linemen, to do a better job of seeking out coaching and "overdoing it on preparation."

One minute Jones was praising Carter for "showing improvement for three quarters" against Philadelphia on Sunday. The next, he was criticizing Carter for not making any plays with his feet against Houston that could have prevented that humiliating loss.

"I thought against Houston, his style and ability to make something with his feet – that is why you have a mobile quarterback who can make a play for you – I thought he could have made a play," Jones said. "I think we were a big play, a Donovan McNabb-type play with the quarterback's feet, away from winning that game. ..."

And finally. ... On the injury front, reserve receiver Randal Williams suffered a hyperextended left knee and James Whalen has bruised ribs. Whalen's X-rays were negative. Both players were considered day to day early this week.

It's what Portis didn't do. He didn't fumble.

From his first no-nonsense, two-armed carry from Denver's three-yard line in the first quarter through the next 17 handoffs, the rookie held tight and began to put a little distance on a preseason filled with dropped balls and miss opportunities.

"You guys was ready to write me off," Portis told a three-deep bank of reporters at his locker after the game. "I'm more relaxed. I'm not worried about fumbling. I can't be worried about running around fumbling the ball. If I do that, I can't be me."

And as his carries mounted, Portis was himself, showing off some of the electric cutbacks and breakaway speed that made Denver's draft gurus drool when they selected the running back from the University of Miami. Portis averaged nearly six yards per touch and twice ripped through the Buffalo secondary on jaunts of 24 and 17 yards.

Fullback Mike Anderson started for the Broncos and chugged out 28 yards, mainly in the first half. But when Olandis Gary twisted his ankle while pass blocking on the first series, Denver was forced to rely on the rookie.

"It was just my opportunity," Portis said. "It's a start. It just lets me know I can go out and play."

X-rays on Gary's left ankle -- the one he broke last season -- showed no serious injury. Gary said he expects to play next week in Baltimore.

"Yes, definitely," Gary said. "I just rolled up on it. It just feels sore."

Gary went on to say: "I still have the plate in there," Gary said. "And I think what happened was they hit the plate and disrupted some of the nerves and muscles around the plate."

Head coach Mike Shanahan, who had used Portis sparingly in the first two games, showed confidence in the rookie after leaning on Anderson and a bevy of receivers during the first 15 minutes. On the opening drive in the second quarter, Portis carried the ball six times and then slammed in from the 1-yard line for his first pro touchdown, putting the Broncos up 14-0. He carried the football with him to the bench.

"I'm going to start a trophy case in my house," Portis said. "It was something special to get in the end zone, getting that monkey off my back."

Of primary interest, however, is the fact that Shanahan asked Portis to eat up the clock late in the game. He carried eight times in the fourth quarter, including three short runs during the Broncos' final scoring drive, which ended with a 26-yard post pattern from Brian Griese to wide receiver Rod Smith.

The rookie, who rarely had been asked to carry the ball in crunch time, reveled in the confidence his coaches showed in him.

"Fumbles are going to happen," Portis said. "Just hopefully not to me."

Other notes of interest. ...

Sharpe, still looking for his first touchdown since re-signing with Denver, did not have a catch and was called for two penalties. "Even though I did not have many opportunities," Sharpe said. "I didn't step up when I needed to. ..."

In a column published Monday, Sports Illustrated insider Peter King explained his decision to name Shanahan as "Coach of the Week" as follows: "With 3:35 left in the fourth quarter against Buffalo, Denver clinging to a 21-16 lead, and the Broncos faced with a fourth-and-five at the Bills' 37, Shanahan didn't punt to pin the Bills deep in their own territory. He didn't attempt a 54-yard Jason Elam field goal, which would have iced the game. He went for it. Brian Griese threw a short cross to Rod Smith, who stretched for the first down, and, two plays later, instead of trying to run out the clock, Shanahan had Griese throw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Smith for the clincher. Truth be told, Shanahan didn't trust his long snapper to make a clean snap. But that was a couple of gutsy calls."

Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth, Jimmy Johnson and Terry Bradshaw -- all in town as part of Fox's nationally televised broadcast Sunday -- counseled the rookie before the Lions' inaugural home opener at Ford Field.

"I told him, 'Listen, you may take your lumps this year, but I started Troy as a rookie and he took his lumps,' " said Johnson, who coached Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl titles in 1992 and '93. "He took his lumps, we lost 15. But that year and the next year helped develop him into a Hall of Famer."

After throwing four interceptions in the Lions' 37-31 loss to Green Bay, Harrington evidently will take his lumps, too. But he certainly has potential, which he showed a few flashes of against the Packers.

He completed 15 of 35 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He came within inches of completing a fourth-quarter comeback from 17 points down.

"I learned how to stay composed," Harrington said. "Just like anytime you get into that situation, you're a little uncomfortable. You don't quite feel right, so you rush things and maybe throw some balls that you wish you wouldn't have thrown, or you wish you would have checked down. Every time you get on the field you learn something new, and I hope that I continue to do that."

He wasted no time in getting his feet wet, throwing to Az-Zahir Hakim on the first play from scrimmage for a six-yard gain. But the Lions failed to get a first down and were forced to punt.

Harrington completed his first three passes for 10 yards.

His next eight passes were incomplete, but the one that hurt most was deflected by nose tackle Steve Warren, intercepted by rookie safety Marques Anderson and returned 78 yards for touchdown that tied the score at seven.

When Harrington was given time in the pocket, he looked remarkably comfortable and composed. And that was apparent on his first career TD strike -- a 39-yarder to running back Lamont Warren -- that tied the game at 17 late in the second quarter.

As Harrington raced onto the field for the Lions' next series, the crowd chanted, "Joey! Joey! Joey!" But six plays later, Harrington threw his second interception on the half's final play.

"I think he understands that this season isn't going to be smooth sailing," Johnson said. "Again, you have to take your lumps and continually correct your mistakes. He has some talent, and it's hard for me to compare him and Troy. But a quarterback is really so dependent on a supporting cast."

The Lions had an opportunity to win on their final drive, but Harrington tossed his fourth interception with 35 seconds left.

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published prior to last week's game, Detroit News reporter Mike O'Hara noted that even though Mike McMahon is no longer in the lineup, he's still part of the Lions' future.

Even if he never plays another down for them.

Harrington will be the quarterback for the next decade, maybe longer, but McMahon is an asset for their future. In fact, he's one of the few chips team president Matt Millen will have on his side when he starts dealing to improve the roster.

Quarterbacks are worth their weight in draft picks. Even ones with as little experience as McMahon have value in the trade market.

O'Hara went on to point out that team officials staked their future on Harrington when they drafted him in April. And once head coach Marty Mornhinweg named him the starter against Green Bay last week, there was no turning back.

Nor should there be.

There are almost no factors working against the Lions if they want to trade McMahon. He has this year and next left on his contract, and his base salaries are the NFL minimums, which is $300,000 for this season. The salary-cap hit would be minimal -- $66,666 if they deal him this year and $33,333 next year.

McMahon has played only 10 NFL games and thrown 163 passes. But teams have gotten good trade value from quarterbacks with similar experience, or less. Consider the following:

Green Bay traded Mark Brunell to Jacksonville for third- and fifth-round draft picks in 1995. Brunell had played in two games and thrown 27 passes in two seasons.

In 2000, Green Bay dealt Aaron Brooks to New Orleans. There was an exchange of players, and a third-round pick to the Packers. Brooks did not play in 1999 as a rookie.

Last year, Green Bay sent Matt Hasselbeck to Seattle. Hasselbeck had thrown 20 passes in two seasons. The deal allowed the Packers move up seven spots in the first round.

Jacksonville sent Rob Johnson to Buffalo in 1998 for first- and fourth-round picks. Johnson, now with Tampa Bay, had played eight games and thrown 35 passes. ...

Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. ...

A few final notes. ... Running back Aveion Cason (knee) missed the Green Bay game and will not play against New Orleans; rookie return specialist Eddie Drummond will be listed as doubtful after spraining his ankle against the Packers.

Nonetheless, the Packers managed to put together a reasonable ground attack against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, even without their Pro Bowl back, Ahman Green, who was out with a quadriceps injury.

Behind rookie fourth-round draft pick Najeh Davenport, and with help from Rondell Mealey and Tony Fisher, the Packers managed to churn out enough yards -- 95 hard-fought yards -- on the ground to be effective during the Packers’ 37-31 victory in the first regular-season game at Ford Field.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen next week," quarterback Brett Favre said. "But we’ve got to get some people healthy."

Half the time, the Packers’ offensive linemen didn’t know who was lining up behind them in the backfield.

Even Davenport, who was the driving force with 84 yards on 22 carries — a 3.8-yard average — was forced to the sidelines several times. He left the game on separate occasions with a right knee injury and a shoulder stinger, but eventually returned from both.

In the meantime, he got enough help from Mealey and Fisher. Though they didn’t do much carrying the ball — they combined for 12 yards on eight carries -- they helped with four receptions for 35 yards combined. They also hobbled off the field with apparent injuries during the game, but both returned and said they were fine after the game.

Though Mealey went into this season as Green’s top backup, Davenport likely will be the featured back again next week against undefeated Carolina if Green can’t go, which remains a distinct possibility.

"I’ve still got to give it some time," Green said Monday.

"I don’t want to rush it. I want to be safe with it. I don’t want to be stupid and go out there and make it worse."

Team officials are hopeful that Green, who tested his strained quadriceps tendon in pregame warmups last Sunday but didn’t feel strong enough to play, will resume workouts Wednesday.

The Packers last week signed free agent Maurice Smith -- who played only on special teams against the Lions -- as an insurance policy. Smith, however, was released Tuesday. Mark Hatley, the Packers’ vice president of football operations, confirmed that the Packers made inquiries about veteran running backs Jamal Anderson and Ricky Watters as potential backups. But Hatley said he didn’t anticipate signing either one.

That means it’s Davenport, followed by Mealey and Fisher -- assuming all are healthy -- if Green is out again.

"Davenport did a nice job," Hatley said.

"He’s a different type of runner. He’s not Ahman, but he’s powerful and ran hard. I don’t know about (how) Mealey or Fisher (did), but we won. It feels good to win with Davenport, Mealey and Fisher as your running backs."

The Packers have another problem in the backfield. They lost fullback William Henderson to a right knee injury early in the third quarter. That left them without a true fullback.

At times, Davenport lined up as a fullback with Mealey at tailback, but for most of the half, the Packers used three or more receivers and a lone running back. In short-yardage situations, they used linebacker Torrance Marshall at fullback.

Henderson’s injury was believed to be a sprained medial collateral ligament.

"That’s all we’re hoping it is," Henderson said.

That injury, however, usually sidelines a player for several weeks.

Somehow, the Packers got by with what they had on Sunday. Of course, it helped that Favre completed passes to 10 different players and threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns.

It also didn’t hurt that the woeful Lions entered the game with the second-worst defense in the NFL.

Though Favre got knocked around more than the Packers would like, he came away from the game feeling confident they could get by if Green continues to be sidelined.

"I feel better than I did going into the game," Favre said. "There was uncertainty of who was going to play and how well they were going to play. But they did well. ..."

Other notes of interest. ...

As reported by Green Bay News-Chronicle staffer Todd McMahon, Bubba Franks was beginning to wonder whether his time would ever come to contribute in a way befitting of his inaugural Pro Bowl selection last season. Through the first two games, Franks had only two catches, none for touchdowns.

Things turned for the better Sunday as Franks grabbed a career-high nine passes for 62 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown late in the third quarter that put the Packers ahead 31-17. Last season, Franks had nine TD catches, tying for the team lead.

"I'm glad they finally came to me," Franks said. "I've been hungry all season, and I'm happy that they gave me the opportunity today."

Favre and head coach Mike Sherman both acknowledged a concerted effort wasn't made to get Franks more involved in the offense. The combination of the injuries, especially with the loss of backup David Martin, who left Sunday's game with a cut lip and concussion, and what the Lions were giving them enabled the Packers to feature their third-year tight end.

"There's been an effort all year to go to Bubba," Sherman said. "His number was called a couple times, and he made the plays he needed to make. I'm very pleased with that. ..."

Rookie receiver Javon Walker suffered a bruised thigh against the Lions and might not be ready to hit the field against the Panthers this Sunday. If that's the case, Robert Ferguson will continue to play a more prominent role in the regular offense. ...

And finally. ... Favre, who completed 31 of 47 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns, moved past Warren Moon to take fourth place on the NFL's all-time list with 294 TD passes.

But Sports Illustrated NFL writer Peter King on Monday reminded readers of an even more impressive feat: When the veteran signal caller started at Detroit, it meant he'd started every Green Bay game for 10 years in a row.

Wow. ...

He finally did against the Colts, gaining 93 yards on 14 carries.

Wells hit the running lanes hard, showed power between the tackles and displayed good burst on a 37-yard run.

Wells could be positioning himself to take the starting job from James Allen. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

David Carr, sacked nine times in last week's loss to San Diego and six times in a season-opening victory over Dallas, went down four times against Indianapolis.

For a little perspective. ... Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, the top pick in the 1998 draft, was sacked only 22 times his rookie season. ...

Receiver/return man Jermaine Lewis briefly left Sunday's game with the Indianapolis Colts in the first quarter for X-rays on his right shoulder after being tackled, then returned early in the second quarter when results came back negative.

Lewis fielded a punt around the Texans five-yard line and was tackled at the nine. He was slow getting up and was assisted off the field by team personnel.

Lewis came into the game third in the AFC with a punt return average of 11.1 yards. He also serves as a backup wide receiver. ...

In an article published last Tuesday, Pro Football Weekly noted that rookie fullback Jarrod Baxter continues to wow the coaches.

The main concern about him prior to being drafted was his blocking. He did a tremendous job against the Cowboys, where he was very much needed to help as the last line of defense for Carr. Baxter made several outstanding blocks.

In an related note. ... The Texans claimed former Kansas fullback Moran Norris off waivers from New Orleans last Wednesday and waived wide receiver Sherrod Gideon.

Norris, a fourth-round draft pick in 2001, was inactive for the Saints' first two games this season. He played in five games as a rookie, primarily on special teams.

Spreading defenses with three- and four-wide receiver formations leaves the middle of the field vulnerable to James, who responded with 30 carries and 138 yards against the Dolphins. ...

Despite the array of options at his disposal, it's clear Peyton Manning still will look to wide receiver Marvin Harrison and James when the game's on the line, as he did in Sunday's win at Houston.

In two critical third-down situations, Manning completed an eight-yard pas to Harrison, then a nine-yarder to James. "You've got to go to your money players," Manning said later.

Harrison, who had eight receptions for 110 yards against Houston, has now and has caught a pass in a club-record 95 consecutive games.

Also according to Chappell, James has been cutting hard and running strong after having reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

James was on the field for all of the team's offensive snaps in the first three games, and though he was rusty in the passing game early on, he quickly regained his rhythm. In the second game, against Miami, James had eight receptions for 82 yards. ...

On a less positive note. ... Although the Colts converted 6-of-13 third-down situations, too often they saw drives stall. Three times, James came up short on rushing attempts, including a third-and-one and a third-and-three. Twice, Manning was sacked. Two other third-down situations fizzled on pass attempts.

The Colts converted two of their first three and three of their final four third-down opportunities. In between: 1-of-6.

Tight end Marcus Pollard at least partially credited Houston defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who held a similar position with the Colts the past three seasons.

"Vic has a great scheme," Pollard said. "But I think it was more us than them."

Head coach Tony Dungy's dissatisfaction with the Colts' offensive efficiency wasn't limited to third down.

He pointed to lost fumbles following receptions by tight end Jermaine Wiggins and receiver Reggie Wayne. Each sabotaged a Colts' drive deep in Houston territory.

He also pointed to a 47-yard Mike Vanderjagt field goal that drifted wide right.

"Offensively we had a lot of chances and just couldn't strike that dagger," Dungy said. "We've just got to be sharper all the way around.

"We're dialing up the right plays and making a lot of good things happen. We just didn't finish the drives, and we've got to be better at that."

The Colts opened the season by registering three touchdowns on four red-zone trips at Jacksonville. They're 1-for-9 the past two weeks, including 0-for-4 Sunday.

Frustrating? Certainly.

"We know we're a good offense. We can do a lot of things," Manning said. "We just need to make more plays.

"I'm not sure what's more frustrating: going three-and-out a bunch, or having great drives, getting down to the 20 and getting stopped on third-and-one and having to settle for three points.

"It kind of teases you a little bit."

Yeah it does. ... But it also makes owners with Vanderjagt on their rosters very happy.

One last note here. ... Wiggins was waived Tuesday.

The backup running back re-signed with the Jaguars last spring, spurning a lucrative offer from a team he wouldn't specify. Mack did so thinking he could convert a big season into an even bigger contract as an unrestricted free agent next year.

Unfortunately for Mack, opportunities behind a healthy Fred Taylor have been sparse. Although he has an 5.8-yard average, Mack has just five carries in the first two games combined.

Head coach Tom Coughlin indicated the ratio of carries between Taylor and Mack probably wouldn't change anytime soon, especially if Taylor continues to stay healthy and occasionally break off long touchdown runs the way he did in Kansas City two weeks ago.

Mack's only carry against the Chiefs went for 13 yards and got the Jaguars out of a hole at their own one-yard line, but Coughlin never called on him again.

"Stacey's a good football player," Coughlin said. "You'd like to think you're going to have more plays, but you don't. There's no intent to limit Stacey's carries. It's just that Fred is on the field, and Fred is the guy that can make the big play."

Also of interest. ...

In an article published last Tuesday, Pro Football Weekly reported that -- still not confident in the leg of rookie place-kicker Hayden Epstein -- the Jaguars took a look at free-agents Tim Seder, Richie Cunningham and Michael Husted recently. None were offered contracts, however.

Gonzalez showed he is healthy enough to make big plays on his one catch, as he went high in the air to snatch a potential interception from Patriots cornerback Ty Law. ...

Teicher further noted that Kansas City's offense needs to be almost perfect to overcome all the defensive lapses.

The Chiefs scored 38 points against the Patriots but lost in part because they committed three turnovers, two of which were converted into touchdowns. The same situation existed Week 2, when two Trent Green interceptions robbed the Chiefs of valuable momentum against Jacksonville.

The team has been opposed to reducing the ambition of its passing game, even when Green has struggled with interceptions. So Green must be smarter about not throwing into coverage and be more willing to throw the ball away. ...

While we're discussing Green and interceptions. ... In an article published before Sunday's loss to the Patriots, Boston Globe columnist Ron Borges stated that the former St. Louis signal caller needed to turn things around in fairly short order -- or fact the prospect of watching from the sidelines in coming weeks.

Borges went on to provide readers with a brief history lesson by noting that Green threw 23 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions -- while passing for 3,441 yards -- in his one big season in Washington and delivered 16 scoring throws and only five interceptions in his last year with the Rams. Those numbers made him an intriguing prospect in a league that doesn't have enough quality passers to go around.

But there were already some defensive coaches and personnel men whispering that Green was the kind of quarterback who would put up gaudy numbers while regularly making the critical mistake that beat his team at crunch time. Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil ignored those critics and traded a first-round draft choice a year ago to bring him to the Chiefs to replace free agent casualty Elvis Grbac.

The result was another year of big numbers, big mistakes and close losses as Green threw for 3,783 yards and 17 scores but also led the NFL with 24 interceptions. In the offseason, the emphasis was on reducing those critical turnovers. Wide receiver Johnnie Morton was imported to give Green another proven target, and the quarterback worked on his accuracy and decision-making with offensive coordinator Al Saunders.

So what has been the result?

Three interceptions in his first two games and a growing public outcry punctuated by one Kansas City columnist calling him "Tr-INT Green" in print.

Vermeil was quick to rally to Green's defense, reiterating that he was the quarterback and that the interceptions were not all his fault. He pointed out that the one interception in the season opener against Cleveland came because Gonzalez had been knocked off his route. But a week later Green threw two bad interceptions to Jacksonville safety Marion McCree, one a decidedly underthrown ball that caused some of his more vocal critics in Kansas City to ask Vermeil this past week whether Green's arm is strong enough to hit the deep pass.

Vermeil said it would take an injury for Green to be replaced by Todd Collins, but added, "Human nature being what it is, we all want to prove you're right. I think anybody wants to do that. But I'm still a realist. I'm going to study the big picture. You can't go through every Sunday reevaluating your quarterback.

"In this situation, Trent Green is our quarterback. Elvis Grbac would be our quarterback today if he had stayed here. He put us in a situation that we didn't have a lot of options, so we did what we thought was the most intelligent thing for the immediate impact on the roster for success. You know how long it takes to develop a first-round quarterback? I'm old now and I'd be real old [by then]."

As endorsements go, that was not exactly emphatic. But Vermeil later added that he believed the environment for Green in Kansas City remained positive because "a week ago Sunday he was the hero. He did a heck of a job and had a 90-something quarterback efficiency. I just can't afford to go every week and change my opinion.

"Plus last week I watched those practice tapes and they were as good practice tapes as I've ever seen, equivalent to anybody at the quarterback position in the pass offense. It didn't work as well on Sunday. Credit the Jaguars.

"I can't afford to go up and down because then he'll never establish the depth of confidence he needs. You've got to believe in your people.

"I think positive. I don't read all the criticism. The day you see me dissatisfied, all of a sudden you'll see a change made. I know more about the factors that control the performance of a quarterback. I can't be a bouncing ball."

The bottom line? After three games, Green, who had two more passes picked off by the Pats, is currently on pace to finish the season with 26 interceptions -- two more than he tossed last year.

And if the Chiefs continue to lose, those interceptions will be all the excuse Vermeil needs to break out the hook. ...

On a related note. ... Detroit News staffer Mike O'Hara -- also in an article published prior to last Sunday's game -- wrote that Morton was dealing with Green's recent passing woes as best he could.

"Any time you're a veteran player, you have to be patient and not get all emotional when you're not getting the ball," Morton said. "Sometimes, coverage dictates that you can't.

"You have to be patient, keep getting open and when the ball comes your way, make a play. That's all you can do as a receiver."

Ricky Williams ran for 151 yards and the Dolphins snapped their streak of eight consecutive losses to the Jets. Williams sewed up the win with a 53-yard touchdown sprint, the longest gain in his four-year career. Miami has won 17 straight home games in August or September.

Miami committed no turnovers. Jay Fiedler, who had thrown eight interceptions in his four previous games against New York, went 16-for-30 for 185 yards and one score.

Williams kept the clock running with 110 yards on the ground in the second half.

"Halfway through the third quarter I was thinking, 'If we're going to win this game, it's going to be me,'" he said.

Williams carried 24 times to become the first Dolphins rusher to gain 100 yards in three consecutive games -- his first three games with Miami.

Rookie tight end Randy McMichael made two big catches: a 10-yarder for the only touchdown of the first half, and a 13-yarder that included a broken tackle attempt by Donnie Abraham to convert a late third-down. That came one play before Williams' touchdown dash made it 23-3.

"To see a rookie rising up like that and making plays, that's exciting," head coach Dave Wannstedt said of McMichael.

In an article published Monday, South Florida Sun-Sentinel staffer Craig Barnes noted that -- except for Williams -- McMichael has done more to reshape the dynamics of the offense than any other Dolphin.

The former University of Georgia standout, who finished the game with five catches for 79 yards (including the above-mentioned touchdown grab) and who leads the team with 11 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns, told Barnes: "On third down, I want to be the guy that we come to. It's the biggest down in football, and I want them to have faith that I can get what we need."

Through three games, McMichael has become one of Fiedler's most dependable options. The rookie's 79 receiving yards against the Jets were the most by a tight end since Troy Drayton's 80 (four catches) against Kansas City in 1997.

"It's easier for me if I have guys who I can dish it off to who make plays," Fiedler said. "[McMichael] allows us to use the whole field and work it inside out. Off the play-action, he works the intermediate routes and makes big plays."

The touchdown came after Shawn Wooden intercepted Vinny Testaverde's pass. On the second play, McMichael beat middle linebacker Marvin Jones to the corner for Fiedler's throw.

"It was all because of my Pro Bowl fullback, Rob Konrad," McMichael said. "He was double-teamed [by the linebacker and cornerback], and it left me all alone. I gave the ball to my mom."

Later in the half, the Dolphins caught the Jets' strong safety walking into a double team, and McMichael raced by him down the seam for 36 yards.

"That's what he does for the wide receivers," Oronde Gadsden said. "If the defense is in cover 2, he has a linebacker on him. If they are in cover 3, he has a safety on him. Either way we can't lose. If he keeps playing like this, defenses will be double-teaming him before long."

If McMichael is double-teamed, it will open lanes for the wide receivers or the flats for Konrad and Williams. McMichael's blocking has also improved, with assistant coach Pat Jones working with him.

"The guy is phenomenal," tackle Mark Dixon said. "He gives our passing game another dimension and doesn't hurt the running game. He's the best fourth-round pick this team has had."

Other notes of interest. ...

Gadsden made the catch of the day, a one-handed grab over the middle for 23 yards. ... Fiedler played most of the game with a stiff index finger on his throwing hand, Wannstedt said. Fiedler is expected to play against the Chiefs.

And finally. ... Wannstedt acknowledged the relief of finally beating the Jets, which puts an end to questions from the media and razzing from transplanted New Yorkers about the streak.

But it was a workmanlike win over a struggling team and the Dolphins didn't even look at tape of the victory Monday. Instead, the focus immediately switched to Sunday's game at Kansas City.

The Minnesota Vikings' star receiver was released Wednesday from the Hennepin County jail after spending the night there. He was charged with careless driving and failure to obey a traffic officer.

Police said they found a small quantity of marijuana in Moss' car, an amount that would qualify as a petty misdemeanor, but no charge was immediately filed.

Moss, who has a history of trouble on and off the field, had been arrested on suspicion of assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony.

He whistled as he left jail and walked through a pack of reporters.

"You'll hear my side later," Moss said. "I was treated bad."

After retrieving some belongings from a van, he left in a car.

Vikings coach Mike Tice said he spoke briefly with Moss, who had asked his coach to get him out of jail. But Tice said he couldn't comment on the accusations.

"I can't go any further than to say I'm disappointed," Tice said.

According to ESPN reporter Ann Werner, Moss was able to take part in Wednesday's practice -- and after a conversation with Tice and owner Red McCombs -- team officials stated the star receiver will start and play as usual this Sunday.

We obviously haven't heard the last of this one. ... Keep an eye on this weeks' Late-Breaking Updates for further developments. ...

In a semi-related note, Moss wasn't pleased with fans after last Sunday's loss. Asked about coming from the faithful in the second half against the Panthers, the mercurial one said: "I think the booing is very unnecessary, because that lets the team know that you're not behind us. When we play at the Metrodome, we're not going to win every game.

"I've been booed before. I just shake it off. But from a team standpoint, if we're hearing our fans boo, then that means that they're not behind us. And being home in the Metrodome, they've got to be behind us 100 percent, through thick and thin. If we win, be behind us. If we lose, be behind us."

And what should they do when you run over traffic cops, Randy?

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

Otherwise. ...

Daunte Culpepper turned in another poor performance last Sunday, throwing a career-high four interceptions and fumbling once. He was also sacked five times as Carolina's defense pounded Minnesota's offensive line.

Still, Tice and the players said Monday it was too early to give up on the Vikings' offensive plan, which depends heavily on getting the ball to Moss. All of Culpepper's interceptions were passes intended for Moss, who often drew double coverage.

"There were some decisions I wish he would have made better," Tice said. "The turnovers seem to be haunting him."

Culpepper promised to play better on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, another 0-3 team.

"Going 0-4 is not an option," Culpepper said.

Tice said the Vikings have to try harder to get a running game going against the Seahawks. After watching game film, he noted the Vikings used nine different running plays only once.

"To me, that means we did not have the patience in the running game," he said.

Culpepper, with 32 yards on four carries, was the team's top rusher. Without much of a running attack to defend, Carolina's secondary put the clamps on Moss, who caught only four balls for 16 yards.

Sideline bickering, which erupted during the team's 6-10 season a year ago, returned, with Culpepper shouting at Moss after one of his interceptions.

"Randy and I are very close and we expect a lot out of each other," Culpepper said Monday. "There's really no reason to make a big deal about it."

"It was frustration," Tice said. "He doesn't want to be out there throwing interceptions. He wants to go out there and do well. That's why he got frustrated. It's not that big of a deal. If the TV had followed it, they'd have seen that Randy and I and Daunte were talking through the situation right after it.

"Hey, I yell, too. That doesn't mean I don't love my guys. We're competitive people by nature, and competitive people by nature sometimes yell."

"We just have to keep pounding away at this thing and the main thing is just stay together," Culpepper said.

And finally. ... After missing the last two games with a sprained knee, Byron Chamberlain could be ready to play this weekend at Seattle. Fellow tight end Jim Kleinsasser, meanwhile, continues rehab for a broken bone in his right leg. Kleinsasser injured the leg during Week 2 against Buffalo. Starting running back Michael Bennett suffered a sprained foot. Tice said Bennett, who has shared time in the backfield with Moe Williams and Doug Chapman, would be re-evaluated throughout the week. ...

"I didn't get the record. We won the game," Brown said after catching 16 passes for 176 yards in the New England Patriots' victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. "So that's even better."

The haul was a personal best for Brown and a franchise record for the Patriots, topping the 13 catches Terry Glenn caught against Cleveland in 1999. The NFL record is 20, by Terrell Owens against Chicago in 2000.

"Troy makes the offense go," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "It's like: When in doubt, give it to Troy. There's no mystery about that."

Brown had his first seven catches in the second quarter and eight more in the third. He had one more catch in the fourth, an 11-yarder on third-and-8 to set up New England's final touchdown before being helped off the field after taking a helmet to his knee.

"It was one of those games where I was in a groove. Every time you look up, you're open," Brown said. "I felt like once we got rolling, it would be pretty hard to slow us down."

Brown came back in for a few more plays, but sat out the overtime as the Patriots marched to the winning field goal without him. Head coach Bill Belichick said Brown's leg tightened up on him again after he returned.

"Ty Law came in and said, 'You've got to get back in and catch some more balls,"' Brown said.

But the Patriots didn't need him, as Brady, who completed 39 of 54 passes for a career-high 410 yards and four touchdowns, led them to the Chiefs 17 for Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal 4:40 into overtime.

"It was a good drive. We knew we had guys who could step up," Brown said. "So it's not me, it's Tom."

Things didn't start off so well for Brown, who dropped the first pass thrown to him. He was also the intended receiver on an interception at the end of the first quarter.

"It seemed like after he missed that first one he made a lot of really good catches, a lot of them in traffic," Belichick said. "Troy came through with a lot of big, clutch plays, as we have seen him do so many times."

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Boston Herald reporter Michael Felger, it's clear the team has playmakers in the passing game. Brown has been phenomenal, but he's not the only one. Wide receiver David Patten and rookie tight end Daniel Graham are showing flashes, too. They are making the skilled, individual plays the team has been lacking the past few years.

Graham hasn't been a huge part of the offense, but if he continues to pick up the system and prove himself in blocking situations, he'll get his chance. Graham has the tools (size, speed, hands) to be Brady's version of Ben Coates.

Also according to Felger, the team took a gamble on oft-injured tight end Cam Cleeland, and so far it has paid off. Cleeland has played an integral part in the spread offense, making plays in the middle of the field against linebackers and safeties. He doesn't run very well, but he is a big target who knows how to get open.

Cleeland's hands are as good as those of any tight end in the NFL. The more comfortable Brady becomes with him, the more passes Cleeland will have thrown to him. ...

And finally. ... The Pats went 0-for-3 on trick plays. The first miscue came in the second quarter when the Pats tried to get cute on an extra-point situation, as holder Ken Walter took a direct snap and tried to run into the end zone only to be stuffed by the Chiefs.

Shortly thereafter the Pats tried a double-pass with running back Kevin Faulk and Brady, but Brady dropped Faulk's toss and the play failed.

Faulk later tried to hook up with Brown deep down the field, but Brown was blanketed.

The presence of Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn on the opposite side is leaving Stallworth in single coverage, which he is beating with his speed, strength and explosive burst off the line. It's just a matter of time until he is a starter.

Stallworth got more work with the first-team offense last week and should soon unseat Jerome Pathon, who is a better fit as the No. 3 receiver because he has experience in the slot. ...

Asked whether last year's team could have pulled off the kind of come-from-behind victory we saw against the Bears last Sunday, head coach Jim Haslett said the 2001 Saints simply lacked the weapons necessary to pull off such a feat.

"We had Joe Horn and Joe Horn," Haslett said. "That's all we really had. I think we have a lot more weapons now."

"I'm glad we won, that's the main thing," Dayne said. "I'm not a stat guy, maybe other running backs are, but I just try to run hard every time. Sometimes it didn't look like that, but today everybody blocked well."

Said coach Jim Fassel: "I thought he ran hard today."

Dayne also threw a few blocks to save quarterback Kerry Collins from Seattle's relentless rush.

"I don't like to get Kerry hit," Dayne said.

Based on reports that began circulating Sunday morning -- reports indicating that team officials might be interested in signing Jamal Anderson to a contract -- it sounds like Dayne got off the dime just in time.

In an article published Sunday morning, SportsLine.com insider Jay Glazer noted that prior to his performance against the Hawks, the former first-round draft pick was about as welcome in some New York establishments as Pedro Martinez.

Glazer went on to note: "Dayne has talent, he's just unable to put that talent together with any semblance of rhyme or reason when he touches the ball.

"Here's the problem: the behemoth back will not hit the assigned hole unless it is open when he receives the handoff. Good rushers will take a handoff and hit the hole regardless of whether or not it is opened. Otherwise, a player such as Dayne ends up stutter-stepping in the backfield and getting hit for zero gain or less.

"'That's one of the hardest things to learn as a running back in this league,' Dayne's counterpart Tiki Barber said. 'You have to learn at one point that you need to hit the hole because sometimes, when you make your cut they aren't there, but all of the sudden, as you arrive, it opens. If you stutter, you won't hit it.'"

Other notes of interest. ...

Also according to Sullivan, first-round draft pick Jeremy Shockey experienced some rookie growing pains in Sunday's win over Seattle, dropping a pass and failing to pick up a blitz and alter his pass route.

"I don't think he played real well. He can play a lot better than that," head coach Jim Fassel said. "He made some mental errors. He's hard on himself, which is good. When a guy is hard on himself and you know he's got the personality and the fight in him, you know he's going to come back. He's always graded himself hard."

Shockey was particularly annoyed at himself for failing to pick up a blitz in the second quarter because if he had seen it and escaped, he would have been wide open.

"It happened so fast, people disguise things, I wasn't used to it," Shockey said. "That's actually the first time it happened to me. I usually pick them up, but one guy came and I didn't see the other guy who was already in the line. I'm going to get better at it."

Collins was forgiving. "That's part of being a rookie and part of being in a new offense," Collins said. "Yeah he dropped a pass and missed a couple other things, but that is going to happen. The main thing is the kid is going to be a good player. He's a good player now, but once he keeps improving, he's going to be a lot better. ..."

Giants cornerback Will Peterson, who has gone up against the likes of Terrell Owens, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce this season, told reporters last weekend that none of them measured up to one of his teammates.

"I think Amani Toomer's the best receiver we've faced so far," Peterson said. "He's the toughest."

And finally. ... The quote of the week in New York comes from Fassel, who was asked whether the decision to keep rookie kicker Matt Bryant, now 9-for-9 on field goals this season: "There are no geniuses in our business. We're all P.E. majors coaching P.E. majors. ..."

While Martin says he is improving and will be ready for the Jaguars, head coach Herman Edwards said Wednesday he is toying with the idea of resting him.

"Sure is," Edwards said when asked if sitting down Martin was a possibility. "I don't know yet, let's see how the week goes on.

"I thought about it a lot. It is hard to do, but then again it is not hard to do if it is the right thing to do. I am teetering. He is getting better, but he is not where he should be. He is a tough guy, but what he has is a tough deal. Most guys would not even be practicing, they would not have come back this fast, no way."

Martin did not practice Wednesday and admitted that during last Sunday's loss at Miami, the injury "was as painful as I think it could be."

"For me, it's wasting time if it isn't going to get better," he said. "I'd be willing [to sit out] if I knew it really would help me and would make a world of difference."

Martin has 54 yards on 24 carries. The Pro Bowl runner never has gained less than 1,150 yards in each of his seven NFL seasons and is coming off his best year (1,513 yards).

Not that anyone else on offense is accomplishing much, which is why Edwards is eager to get back to the punishing style he believes serves the team best.

But can they do so with Martin on the sideline and LaMont Jordan carrying the ball? Edwards would prefer not to take that approach, but he will do it if necessary.

"If I make that decision, it is done," Edwards said. "He will be OK with it. What is best for him is best for the football team. Let's see how the week goes.

"It was just a bad ankle sprain. The sprain that he has is usually three weeks. He came back in 3-4 days. And with the position he plays, he is a sitting target. If a running back can't go full speed it is tough."

If Martin is limited or sidelined, second-year player Jordan will get the bulk of the work. Jordan barely has seen any action as a Jet, although he did play the second half in the victory over Buffalo.

Jordan is more of a power back than Martin, although he does have speed and some elusiveness. What he lacks, mainly, is experience, something he isn't likely to get much of when Martin is fit.

"Curtis won't sit down if he can walk," Jordan said. "He wants to be out there on the field, especially at this time."

But if he can't be out there?

"I think I've gone out the last year and in the preseason and gotten the confidence of my teammates and the coaching staff," said Jordan, who has 46 yards on 12 carries this season. "If I am going to carry the load, then I will prepare myself to carry the load. If not, then I would like to know so I can prepare myself that way.

"If I do start, great, but if I don't, that's the life of a backup and I'll be ready."

Other items of interest. ...

Vinny Testaverde and offensive coordinator Paul Hackett are ready to take the blame for the team's current offensive woes.

And while neither is completely at fault -- Hackett and Edwards absolved Testaverde of much of the blame -- both volunteered to take the criticism for a 1-2 start in which the offense has been abysmal.

"We'll stick together as a football team" Testaverde said. "If you want to blame me, go right ahead, put it all on me. That's what I'm standing here telling you."

Testaverde threw two interceptions and fumbled when sacked, with the three turnovers leading to 17 points in Sunday's 30-3 debacle at Miami. That followed a 44-7 home loss to New England, and dropped the Jets in a huge hole behind their undefeated division rivals.

Testaverde had a fumble and an interception returned for TDs in that game.

"The coordination is my responsibility and we are not getting everyone on the same page," Hackett added. "They are not doing their own job and seeing how it makes the pieces fit together."

The pieces in most disarray are on the offensive line.

Although no one will openly admit it, the poor work up front has led to most of the team's woes.

The Jets can't run because the linemen aren't opening holes. They can't get much of a passing attack going with Testaverde often under siege. They can't mount long drives because All-Pro center Kevin Mawae and veteran left tackle Jason Fabini, considered the rocks of the line, have been sieves.

The Jets are averaging 23:22 in time of possession, not even good for a high school team. They have gained 655 yards and yielded 1,210. They've scored 47 points, but 37 were in the opening win at Buffalo, with two touchdowns by kick returner Chad Morton. They have not rushed for a TD.

All of those negative numbers have worn down a defense that has six new starters. Not that anyone on that side of the ball has been a standout, either.

"Right now, we're not hitting on all cylinders, not playing together as a team," said Edwards, who planned to meet with Hackett to review the team's offensive approach. "Guys are trying to make plays and they get out of whack. ..."

As reported by Boston Globe columnist Ron Borges, Edwards reportedly went berserk in a meeting room last Wednesday when the Jets returned to begin preparations for today's game with Miami. He apparently hollered and screamed and slammed papers down on the podium as he lashed the Jets for their 44-7 thrashing at the hands of the Patriots.

Jet players who knew Edwards in Tampa said they had never seen their coach act that way.

He also upbraided the New York media for claiming he may be too laidback to be successful in the NFL. "I think sometimes people think I'm like a surfer," Edwards said. "You don't really know me. You really don't."

And finally. ... What's become of "superstar-to-be" Santana Moss?

The former first-round draft pick saw his most extensive action of the season against the Dolphins -- the Jets used a three-receiver formation as their base offense -- but Moss was held without a catch. By the fourth quarter, he was on the bench, his cranky hamstring acting up again.

In three games, the much-ballyhooed Moss has only two receptions.

Their early off week -- after a stunning offensive breakout against the supposedly rugged Steelers in Pittsburgh -- left the 11 teams remaining on the Raiders' schedule baffled about what their focus should be on stopping Oakland.

The entire NFL watched on national television two weeks ago as quarterback Rich Gannon put on an irrepressibly efficient show that made Dan Fouts' "Air Coryell" days in San Diego look more like Woody Hayes' stodgy, old three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust offense by comparison.

This is the quandary facing the Tennessee Titans when they visit the Coliseum on Sunday:

Load up their overshifted, seize-a-gap defensive schemes to stop Gannon from the lightning-quick, no-huddle passing show that dumped 403 passing yards and 65 pass attempts on the stupefied Steelers -- including 44 passes in the Raiders' 49 first-half plays.

Or dedicate their defense to stop running backs Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley, who combined to plunder Seattle with 221 yards rushing in Oakland's Week 1 domination.

"Teams look at film and don't know who you are or what you are," somewhat satisfied rookie head coach Bill Callahan said.

The former offensive-line coach and play-calling understudy to Jon Gruden is teaming with offensive coordinator Marc Trestman to run a system that is so far more diverse and unpredictably lethal than any editions of his more-heralded predecessor.

"We realize we're going to do whatever -- run or pass. I think we understand that now more than ever," said receiver Tim Brown. The 15-year veteran is a proponent of a balanced offense -- more like the Wheatley-led, 2000 attack than Gruden's pass-heavy, 2001 offense.

Now, opposing defenses are gaining that same realization. Run? Pass? Or both?

But, wait. There's more, much more.

"We have a lot we haven't unveiled yet," Gannon said last week before the Raiders scattered for a three-day vacation. "The interesting thing is, I have no idea what we are going to do each week until we put the game plan in (during Wednesday practices).

"The offense is constantly evolving. Who's to say that we won't run the ball 50 times or throw it 50 times? That's the beauty of it."

And Callahan said he and Trestman haven't even begun to employ all of the shifting and motion before the snap that Gruden used to isolate favorable receiver-on-defender matchups and that this Callahan/Trestman attack still favors.

"We're going to use all the weapons at our disposal," Callahan said. "We've got ... two great wide receivers. Of course, we've got Charlie Garner, who's an outstanding running back."

To Callahan, this chameleon offense is a huge positive of what is everyone says is the Raiders' chief negative: Age.

"The way I see it, we're capable of doing a lot of different things on offense because we have maturity," Callahan said. "We have a guy (Gannon, 36) at the helm who has outstanding leadership ability, who understands the role and can get you in and out of a lot of different things (by calling audibles at the line of scrimmage).

"When you have that capability, you can do a lot of things on offense."

Bell went on to say that no less an expert than 18-year veteran receiver Jerry Rice, who with 49ers Joe Montana, Steve Young and mastermind Bill Walsh ran some of the best, most complex offenses in NFL history, is cuckoo for Callahan's concoctions.

"This offense has so many ideas, it's unbelievable," Rice said.

How many?

Gannon, the Raiders' starting quarterback since 1999, said that last week's game plan for Pittsburgh had "the most plays we've had for a game since I've been here."

"It's all about the execution," Rice said, borrowing Gannon's perfectionist tone. "We ran, what, 87 plays against Pittsburgh? And we could have been up to 100, but we made a lot of mistakes."

"I think we will continue to push the envelope and continue to give our guys as much as we can," Callahan said. "We have a veteran team that is capable of handling a lot of plays. ... And also executing them."

One last note here. ... In an article published last Tuesday, Pro Football Weekly advised readers to expect to see more of the Raiders’ no-huddle attack. One of the big factors of its success is Gannon’s ability to read the defense at the line of scrimmage and find mismatches.

McNabb appears to have fully grasped the offense in his fourth season and third as the starter. He has completed 61.2 percent of his passes, has thrown for eight touchdowns, run for two more and has just two interceptions, neither of them since Week 1.

McNabb credits his success to the continued development of receivers James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, Antonio Freeman and Freddie Mitchell.

"The wide receiving corps has a little more experience out there and we're definitely confident in everything we do with each other," McNabb said. "The tight ends do a wonderful job working the middle, and now we have Antonio Freeman. Our receivers have really made a mark for themselves. People are staring to respect our receivers. The other good thing is that we spread the ball around so you can't concentrate on one or two guys. Everyone is getting involved each game."

Thrash had six catches for 107 yards and one touchdown against Washington. Freeman had six receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown and Pinkston had two TDs against Dallas.

"There's a lot of guys you can get the ball to and you never know if they'll make big plays," McNabb said. "Our running back situation we're all excited about and confident about. Our tight end situation is the same. And then you go to our wide receivers, for so many people talking down on them, they've been doing an excellent job."

Other notes of interest. ...

The Eagles had some tricks up their sleeves last Sunday, including a play in which McNabb rolled right and pitched to rookie Brian Westbrook, who threw a tight spiral to Pinkston on the run for the former Villanova star's first NFL touchdown. Also, head coach Andy Reid called a double reverse that resulted in a 32-yard run by Thrash and a fake field goal in which place-kicker David Akers ran 10 yards for a first down. ...

The last time the Eagles scored on a halfback pass was in 1990, when Keith Byars threw a touchdown to Calvin Williams. ...

In Reid's first three seasons as coach, the Eagles had trouble scoring early: 58 first-quarter points last season, 57 in 2000 and 71 in 1999. However, the Eagles have been coming out of the gate swinging so far this year. In fact, Philadelphia has outscored the opposition 67-27 before intermission.

Taking that a step further, the Eagles scored 81 points in six days, recording two straight wins by 30 points or more for the first time since 1980.

Reid attributes the improved production to experience.

"The longer you're together, and the more you mature," Reid said, "those are things that add up to fast starts. I've been stressing it since we got here."

And finally. ... Akers' 51-yard field goal on the opening possession was his longest since hitting a 51-yarder against Chicago on Oct. 22, 2000. Since then, Akers had booted two from 50 yards out, while missing another 50-yard attempt. Now 5-of-8 from 50 or more yards, his longest was 53 yards at Miami in 1999.

Stewart's turnovers are a big reason the Steelers are not controlling the football. Last year, the team led the NFL in average time of possession (34:10). After two games, their average is nearly nine minutes less.

That puts a tired defense back on the field too quickly, which helps explain why the defense has struggled stopping teams on third down, allowing 17 conversions in 33 attempts. ...

In an article published last Tuesday, Pro Football Weekly noted the Steelers are going to make a point to get the ball to Plaxico Burress.

Burress had only one catch in Week 1 while fellow wideouts Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El combined for 14 catches, 177 yards and a touchdown. Burress saw some double coverage against New England, but he was not smothered.

In Week 2, Burress again caught only one pass while Ward had seven receptions.

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey hopes to use Burress to regain, and then maintain, Stewart’s confidence. Burress is the big-play threat in the offense, and he is going to have increased opportunities down the field until the Steelers get a spark from their running game.

Head coach Mike Martz said Faulk had no numbness in his neck after injuring it when he was tackled in the second quarter of Monday night's 26-14 loss at Tampa Bay that dropped the Rams to 0-3.

Faulk, who appeared to have sprained ligaments in his neck, was scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday, but results will not be made available until Wednesday, a team spokesman said.

"I'm not sure what Marshall's situation is going to be," Martz said Tuesday. "It doesn't appear to be nearly as serious as we had thought."

Faulk felt "quite a bit better" Tuesday.

"He's just got general neck soreness and he is much improved, so we're encouraged by that as you can imagine," Martz said. "It didn't appear to be nearly as dramatic or serious as what we initially thought."

Faulk, who has scored four of the Rams' six touchdowns this season, was upended by Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks with 11:20 to go in the second quarter. He returned to the bench for the second half but did not re-enter the game, although he tried in the fourth quarter.

"They really had to demand that he not go back in," Martz said.

Rookie Lamar Gordon, the Rams' third-round draft pick, would start ahead of Trung Canidate against the Cowboys if Faulk can't play. Canidate has been Faulk's backup since being taken in the first round of the 2000 draft, but Martz was unhappy with his play against the Bucs.

Gordon scored on a 21-yard run in the fourth quarter and had 44 yards on four carries along with two catches for 15 yards. Canidate had 15 yards on six carries and one catch for five yards.

"When you look at him on tape, he's very impressive," Martz said. "His size and his speed and his run reads and his ability to jump-cut in the hole -- all those things that you hoped he would be they all showed up last night."

Martz said Monday night he was "very disappointed" with Canidate's play. On Tuesday, he backed off a bit.

"We've got to get Trung back up to where he was a year ago," Martz said. "I'm a little frustrated with him right now, obviously."

Also of interest. ...

Faulk's touchdown moved him ahead of Hall of Famer Lenny Moore into eighth place on the all-time list with 114. ...

And finally. ... In an article published Sunday, Detroit News staffer Mike O'Hara noted that place-kicker Jeff Wilkins had missed 2-of-5 field goal attempts heading into last weekend's game -- including a 35-yarder against the Giants. Martz was asked whether Wilkins would be more accurate if he didn't kick barefoot.

"I know nothing about kicking," Martz said. "It's just like a quarterback missing a throw. If you miss, you miss. I don't think there's anything else really to explain about it."

Nonetheless, the second-year man came through with a game-high 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

"That guy is a beast," Charger lineman Vaughn Parker said. "That's all you can say."

Said Tomlinson: "It's hard to run against a defense like that, as obviously they had designed to stop me. I think they did a pretty good job and I'm just happy to get the yards we got. ..."

Also of interest. ...

In an article published Tuesday, San Diego Union-Tribune staffer Jim Trotter noted that Stephen Alexander was signed in the offseason largely because of his ability to work the seams and the middle of the field with his speed.

Alexander has excellent size (6-4, 250) and solid hands, and although he's not a devastating blocker, he has shown a willingness to stick his nose in and help out in the running game.

As a receiver, Alexander doesn't always use his size to his advantage when trying to free himself against smaller safeties. When he catches the ball, jukes are not part of his package. He simply catches the ball and turns upfield.

None of which means a whole lot right now. Nor is it likely to mean much until Alexander, who only has six catches so far this season, picks it up a notch or two.

"I'm not going to bite my tongue," Owens said Tuesday as the 49ers packed up for several days off during their bye week. "Like I said, we need to develop killer instinct, for whatever reason. That's it. I said what I had to say. I'm not going to backtrack on what I said. I said what I said Sunday, and that's what I meant."

Owens stirred his first controversy of the season following San Francisco's easy 20-10 victory over Washington. Owens was angry head coach Steve Mariucci ordered the team to kneel on the ball for the final two plays of an eight-minute drive, running out the clock at the Redskins 16.

Mariucci said he decided to play conservatively because several of his players were out with injuries, and many more were ill from a stomach virus that infected most of the team.

But in typically brash fashion, Owens discounted the 49ers' problems and said his team lacked "killer instinct" -- the latest in a long line of swipes at Mariucci.

While not backing down from his comments on Tuesday, Owens also accused the media of magnifying his statements.

"What can anybody say?" Owens asked. "Everybody is trying to get us into that, 'Terrell said this,' and Mooch reads it, and then it's a whole big argument again. Don't even try to bait me like that. It's not working."

Owens was among several 49ers who wanted to pound the Redskins, in part because of Washington's 38-7 exhibition victory over San Francisco in Osaka, Japan, seven weeks earlier. Offensive lineman Derrick Deese also was initially upset by Mariucci's decision.

"While I was playing, I didn't realize how many guys we had lost (to injuries)," Deese said. "When we got in the locker room, I'm looking around, and there are all these guys on crutches, and then I could see what Mooch was thinking about."

But Owens wasn't swayed. The 49ers had enough healthy players to play, and he wanted to go for the Redskins' throat -- the same way Washington did in a meaningless preseason game.

"If [Redskins head coach] Steve Spurrier would've been down there, he wouldn't have kneeled down on it," Owens said. "That's the same thing I said Sunday. ..."

On Monday, Mariucci downplayed his All-Pro receiver's latest outburst The much-publicized détente in this rocky relationship didn't even last to the bye week -- though Mariucci, ever the public peacemaker, insisted this was only a hiccup caused by Owens' admirable competitive nature.

"There's no relapse. There's no fester here," Mariucci said.

It should be noted that most of Owens' complaints about Mariucci traditionally have been sparked by a lack of production from Owens, who has meager numbers this season. Facing constant double-teams and zones designed to harass him, Owens has just 11 catches for 112 yards and one touchdown, though he scored on a 38-yard run against Washington.

It's also worth noting that Jeff Garcia defended both Mariucci and Owens in this instance.

"I don't think we lacked killer instinct," Garcia said. "I know T.O. speaks from a [position] of being very intense, of wanting to be a difference-maker. In some ways, I think that if more people had his mentality of wanting to win so badly, better things would happen for this offense."

Maybe so, but it still seems like the team would be better off without Owens constantly bitching and moaning. ...

And what about the now well-publicized illness that hit the team Saturday and Saturday night?

First of all, I have to commend the Niners for keeping as tight a lid on the story as they did. Even though the virus didn't actually hit the team until Saturday, the fact I heard nary a whisper about the problem prior to kickoff is surprising.

According to reports out of the Bay Area on Monday, the trouble started Saturday at the 49ers' walk-through practice, where face masks were optional but surgical masks were plentiful. Many players donned them in an effort to keep from being infected. A lot of good it did.

"It was like a hospital at one point," Owens said of the M*A*S*H-like setting at the team's airport hotel Saturday night. "In the team meeting, we hardly had anybody there. I was one of the fortunate ones.

"I was just hoping it didn't get to me. A lot of guys gutted it out. At halftime, [defensive end] Andre [Carter] was walking through the locker room getting an IV, with somebody holding the bag. Guys made a great effort."

"I really didn't realize we had as many guys sick as we did," general manager Terry Donahue said. "I didn't know it would come up to game time like it did. When we went out for the pregame warm-ups, Eric Johnson was in the tunnel throwing up in a bucket.

"That's when I said, 'We've got an issue here with this guy for sure.' And then I find out we had had 10 to 12 guys getting IV's. I'd say the team really responded and did a great job in that situation."

Among those who were greener than the field they were standing on Sunday were Garcia -- who left the game in the third quarter, after an IV at halftime -- and Mariucci.

All told, San Francisco’s players went through 20 IV bags before the game and three more at halftime.

Until now, that is.

Holmgren is off to a rocky start in his fourth season in Seattle, where the Seahawks are winless in three games and the offense is flat.

Yet the weather was sunny Monday, and so was Holmgren.

"We can't bury our heads in the sand," he said. "We're disappointed in our start. I didn't expect this. The players didn't expect this. But here we are. The players know it, and I don't need to talk to them about it very much."

Holmgren was pleased with Seattle's defense in Sunday's 9-6 loss to the New York Giants. "If you hold the other team to nine points, you should win," Holmgren said. "I'm very disappointed we didn't score enough points."

Which brings us to the offense. ...

The Seahawks generated only 40 yards rushing and Trent Dilfer, who missed the opener because of a sprained right knee sustained in the preseason, was 16-of-25 for 118 yards with an interception at New York.

All-Pro offensive tackle Walter Jones ended his contract dispute last week, returning to play the Giants. Yet Shaun Alexander ran for only 37 yards, just as he did the week before against Arizona and barely better than his 36 yards in the opener at Oakland.

It's still early, though, and the Seahawks aren't ready to quit yet. To hear Holmgren and his players, they're close to making everything better.

"It's all timing," guard Steve Hutchinson said. "When you watch the films, we're getting good blocks and the running backs are running up hard. I think it's just a little bit of us not being on the same page."

Holmgren said it's taking longer than he expected for the offense to finds its rhythm. He added that it's not fair to single out any player, and Alexander wasn't about to argue.

"He's right. It's a different guy on each play," Alexander said. "Our problems are simple to fix, but it will take a lot from each person to fix them."

If there's any consolation, it's that this week's opponent is also 0-3. Minnesota visits Sunday, and Holmgren is confident the Seahawks can do a better job converting third downs and reaching the end zone.

"We just didn't get off to the start everyone expected," Holmgren said. "What do we do about it? That's the question we all need to answer."

Other notes of interest. ...

According to Boston Globe columnist Ron Borges, when Matt Hasselbeck signed his big contract in Seattle a year ago, much of the money was backloaded to protect the team because he was untested. Hasselbeck got only a $2 million signing bonus up front and minimum salaries the first two seasons. Next year he stands to collect $5 million in salary.

That's a pink slip waiting to be delivered unless he can win back the starting job from Dilfer and show he's more than Mr. August. ...

As reported by Seattle Post-Intelligencer staffer Clare Farnsworth, after four seasons of too many dropped passes and not enough consistency, tight end Itula Mili is becoming the player the team envisioned him being when it drafted him in 1997.

With the departure of Christian Fauria as a free agent, Mili is the best blocking tight end on the team. He also has found a way to purge the mental lapses that had been plaguing him and the offense.

Rookie first-round pick Jerramy Stevens is expected to become the preferred option in the passing game, especially in the red zone, but it is Mili who leads the club with two touchdown catches.

And finally. ... The Seattle Times is reporting that third-string QB Dave Dickenson has been waived and that Jeff Kelly has been promoted from the practice squad to take his place.

This after a unit that failed to score a single point against the Ravens two weeks ago finally started doing the little things right Monday night.

Enough little things, at least, to earn a 26-14 victory.

And those little things came from a lot of people.

Quarterback Brad Johnson was 23-of-32 for 199 yards and a touchdown. Johnson opened the game playing with the kind of savvy that makes him appear a perfect fit for Jon Gruden's offense.

Using smart, high-percentage passes, Johnson completed his first six and finished the first half 16-of-21 for 161 yards and a score.

Johnson piloted the Bucs to drives of 11 and 10 plays that took 10 minutes off the clock.

Then there were the tight ends. The position promised to feature prominently in the Bucs' plans and Tampa Bay's trio each contributed.

Starter Ken Dilger routinely got open and had five receptions for 38 yards.

Backup Todd Yoder, in his third year, chipped in with a 16-yard reception in the second quarter to keep alive the only touchdown drive of the half.

And newly-signed Rickey Dudley, who joined the team Wednesday, made his debut in a Bucs uniform memorable by catching a nine-yard touchdown.

"It felt great," Dudley said. "I haven't been on Monday Night Football since my days with the Raiders, so it was big."

The running backs, maligned for not generating enough yardage on the ground through the first two games, were slightly better.

Michael Pittman had 53 yards on 11 carries and added six catches for 28 yards.

And Mike Alstott, quiet for the bulk of the game, scored a touchdown on a classic two-yard bulldozer special with 10:42 left in which he ran over linebacker Tommy Polley and gave the Bucs a 19-7 lead.

"[Gruden] has brought so many people new to the offense, so it is going to take some time for everything to work," Pittman said. "We're getting better every week."

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published last Sunday, SportsLine.com insider Jay Glazer noted that shortly after signing Dudley last week, the Bucs phoned several teams with the attempt of trading tight end Marco Battaglia, signed as a free agent this offseason.

Battaglia started his career with the Bengals and is considered somewhat of a folk hero in the New York area. Dudley was a first-round pick of the Raiders and played under Gruden when the pair was in Oakland together. Dudley then went to the Browns but injuries plagued his stay in Cleveland.

Unable to trade him, the Bucs released Battaglia Tuesday. In the end -- with Dilger, Dudley and Yoder on the 53-man roster and former Panther Casey Crawford on the practice squad -- the team still has plenty of talent.

One last note here. ... Right tackle Kenyatta Walker and left guard Kerry Jenkins each will be sidelined up to four weeks. Walker likely will miss a month with a high left ankle sprain. Left guard Kerry Jenkins will be out 2-to-4 weeks with a small crack in his left leg.

Cornell Green, who started at right tackle in the Bucs' season opener against New Orleans, will move back into the lineup in place of Walker. Todd Washington, who started the opener at right guard because Cosey Coleman was still recovering from knee surgery, will take over for Jenkins at left guard.

Gruden said the team also is exploring the prospect of signing a lineman.

"We have to look at it optimistically," Gruden said. "At the same time, we're concerned about our depth on the offensive line."

George was on crutches as late as Wednesday last week. He ran some in Friday's practice before playing all the way in Sunday's loss to the Browns. He rushed for just 59 yards on 23 carries.

"I didn't have any difficulty during the game," George said. "My feet are fine."

George did have his right foot re-taped during the first quarter. He had surgery on his right foot before the 2001 season and had surgery on his right ankle this offseason.

"That one particular incident that had nothing to do with taping," George said. "I use a steel shank in my [right] shoe. It was a new steel shank and it was causing my other toes to go numb. I had to take that out and go with a different system. It was perfectly fine."

George is averaging just 2.8 yards a carry. His 60 carries are fifth-most in the AFC and his 166 yards overall are 10th best.

Other notes of interest. ...

Head coach Jeff Fisher said he hopes the return of tight ends Shad Meier and Erron Kinney to the practice field this week will help the offense.

Meier (shoulder) did not play against the Browns, while Kinney (ankle) played sparingly. Frank Wycheck has been the lone healthy tight end most of the past two games.

A big slice of Tennessee's playbook includes two-tight end formations. Fisher believes when the offense uses two tight ends, it makes it easier to predict what the defense can do. The defense has to balance out the formation to match up.

"There's really no strong side or weak side then," Wycheck said. "You can find some gaps."

Kinney and Meier are expected to be ready for Sunday's game at Oakland, Fisher said. ...

The Titans were expected to lose tight end Dan O'Leary off their practice squad to the Steelers.

O'Leary, a sixth-round draft pick by the Bills in 2001, was signed by the Titans on Sept. 11. Players on a practice squad can be signed to any team's active roster. The Titans would have had to promote O'Leary to their 53-man roster to keep him. ...

Kevin and Andre Dyson became the first siblings to score a touchdown for the same team in the same game in NFL history last Sunday. Andre Dyson returned an interception 16 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Kevin Dyson caught a 7-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter.

The last set of brothers to score a TD in the same game were Willie and Terry Jackson -- who played for the Saints and Falcons respectively -- in 2000.

"I'm sure some day we'll look at it," Kevin Dyson said. "But right now all you think about is that we were winning by 14 points and we didn't win the game. ..."

And finally. ... The Titans quote of the week comes from Steve McNair, who replied as follows when asked about the frequent boos from the Coliseum crowd:

"The fans pay money to see wins. When you come out here with a 14-point lead with five minutes left in the game and they come back and win the ballgame, I'd probably boo too."

"Is it time to think about giving him a full opportunity? Or see how Shane is? Or get Patrick ready?" Spurrier said. "That's what we'll debate this week and make some kind of announcement next week."

Ramsey, the No. 32 overall pick in April's draft, has yet to play in a regular season

. The speculation comes after Spurrier yanked Matthews in favor of Wuerffel for the second week in a row last Sunday. Unfortunately, neither of the former Gators could get the Redskins going, and Wuerffel threw an interception on the Redskins' final drive.

Washington's offense, which couldn't get into the end zone last week against Philadelphia, moved the ball well in the first half, including two scoring drives of 12 plays apiece. Zeron Flemister caught a 19-yard TD pass from Matthews late in the first half.

Matthews was 17-of-28 for 169 yards, but nothing worked for Washington after halftime. Wuerffel took over with 11:50 left in the fourth quarter, but the Redskins did nothing in his two drives.

Other notes of interest. ...

Sports Illustrated insider Peter King offered readers the following comment on Monday: "I think I was wowed [last] Monday night when Boomer Esiason lit into Steve Spurrier when he went for it on fourth-and-10 at about midfield nearing halftime of the Eagles-Redskins game, Washington down 20-7. Washington failed to convert, and Philly went on to kick a field goal to make it 23-7 at halftime.

"'It's one thing to be arrogant or aggressive,' said Esiason. 'It's another thing to be downright stupid.'"

And finally. ... In an article published last Tuesday, Pro Football Weekly reported that team officials say they've found their kicker for the season in relative unknown James Tuthill, but that's no guarantee he won't be replaced at some point during the season.

Tuthill was just a 52 percent kicker in college but has reportedly fixed his mechanics since then. The team inquired about 49ers draft choice and former Gator Jeff Chandler but were told he’s not available. Shayne Graham and Tim Seder were brought in for workouts, and either one could be next in line.