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The Seahawks have five new starters on defense - rookie safety Ken Hamlin, rookie cornerback Marcus Trufant, linebacker Randall Godfrey, end Chike Okeafor and tackle Norman Hand.

The defense, hitting harder than it had in years, has assumed Rhodes' hard-nosed demeanor.

The Seahawks are plus-10 in turnover differential. They've forced 10 turnovers and committed none.

BURNING COLES: The $13 million signing bonus paid by the Redskins to wide receiver Laveranues Coles looks like money well spent.

After getting 106 yards on five catches against his old team, the Jets, Coles had 11 receptions for 180 yards at Atlanta.

"You're expected to do big things when you're given a big payday," said Coles, who's the receiver Michael Westbrook - the fourth overall pick in the 1995 draft - never was in seven years with the Redskins.

HOLD THAT LEAD: After his Cowboys beat the Giants, coach Bill Parcells is 39-2 when leading by 13 or more at halftime. Dallas led 20-7 at halftime. He is 50-0 when leading by 12 or more entering the fourth quarter. Dallas led 26-14 entering the fourth quarter.

LINEBACKER U.: The University of Miami produced three NFL linebackers from its 1992 team who are still in the league: the Giants' Mike Barrow, Redskins' Jessie Armstead and Saints' Darrin Smith.

THAT'S FAST: Tennessee left tackle Brad Hopkins, who goes against defensive end Jevon Kearse in practice, thinks Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, playing inside on the RCA Dome artificial turf, is now the fastest defensive player in the league.

FLAG FESTIVAL: The Panthers were penalized 16 times for 120 yards, and the Buccaneers 17 times for 168 yards last Sunday.

NEVER SURRENDER: Lions coach Steve Mariucci was asked this week if his team could only hope to contain Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss. "You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him, huh?" Mariucci said. "Who made that up - Winston Churchill?"

OVERWORKED PRIEST: The Chiefs have not reduced the workload of running back Priest Holmes, who signed a new contract on the eve of the season.

Holmes, now almost 30, missed practice Wednesday because of aches and pains, notably sore ribs.

Holmes is on pace for almost 400 touches for the third straight season. Last season, he carried 313 times and caught 70 passes in 14 games, for 383 touches. In 2001, he led the NFL in rushing, carrying 327 times and catching 62 passes for 389 touches.

SUN DOWN: Only two games into the season, both daily newspapers in the Valley of the Sun are speculating whether Arizona can become the first winless team since the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Arizona has given up a league-worst 80 points in two games.

But, alas, say the newspapers, the schedule seems to have a number of "winnable" games - including meetings with the Bengals, Chicago and Cleveland, a combined 0-6.

AFC NORTH: Quarterback Kelly Holcomb has one touchdown and four interceptions in two starts and has blamed his offensive linemen for penalties and his receivers for not getting open. By Wednesday, though, Holcomb had changed his tune, referencing how badly he played at least 19 times in a 20-minute interview. ... Browns coach Butch Davis has joined five other teams in keeping only two quarterbacks. Davis released No. 3 Josh Booty to sign offensive lineman Craig Osika.

The Ravens passing game is last in the league, and rookie Kyle Boller appears to be in over his head. He has a passer rating of 31.0. Browns defensive end Kenard Lang knocked out Boller with a sprained knee on two sacks. Before he left, Boller threw an interception and had two fumbles, one of which he lost. Ravens owner Art Modell said: "We're going to ride (Boller). If we made a mistake, it was an organizational mistake. But we have confidence in Kyle Boller." ... Single-game rushing record holder Jamal Lewis needs 182 yards against the Chargers to become the most prolific two-game rusher since the merger in 1970; O.J. Simpson had 476 in 1976 (273 and 203).

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Compiled from notes submitted by NFL beat writers.

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