Mark Curnutte

The seven are Baltimore's Jamal Lewis, Denver's Clinton Portis, Green Bay's Ahman Green, New Orleans' Deuce McAllister, Carolina's Stephen Davis, San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson and Kansas City's Priest Holmes.

Lewis, Green and Portis are on a pace to rush for at least 1,800. McAllister is on a pace for 1,799. The record is two in a season, 1998, Terrell Davis and Jamal Anderson.

Only 12 players in history have rushed for at least 1,800.

VICK'S BACK: Since the start of last season, the Falcons are 9-6-1 with Michael Vick as their starter and 3-10 without him.

Vick now has two of the three best rushing games for a quarterback. His 141 yards Sunday night in beating Carolina was third behind his 173 last season and Tobin Rote's 150 in 1951.

The Panthers pounded Atlanta 23-3 when Vick was hurt, but that all changed with his return.

"In my mind, he might be the best running back in the National Football League," Carolina coach John Fox said.

PATRIOT GAMES: New England has won 24 in a row when leading after three quarters. In 2003, the Patriots are 7-0 against teams that had winning records when they played.

BILL SAYS: The Cowboys (8-5) have lost two in a row. They are two games behind the Eagles in the NFC East and tied with the Seahawks, only one game in front of the Packers, for the two wild-card berths.

Coach Bill Parcells put the situation into his own unique perspective: "I realize it's doom and gloom around here, and that's fine," he said. "But I remind all of you, if someone said we'd be 8-5 going into the last three weeks of the season, you guys would've had a conga line here before the season started."

SICK BAY: The Bengals aren't the only team battling the flu bug. In Houston, quarterback David Carr was so sick he spent Sunday night in the hospital getting IVs. His weight dropped from 223 pounds to 210.

RAM TOUGH: St. Louis has emerged as a leading defensive team this season. The Rams are pulling in defensive honors.

This week, safety Aeneas Williams garnered the NFC defensive player of the week award for his two interceptions - one of which Williams returned for a touchdown - against the Browns. The safety also notched his first sack with the Rams as well as a pair of pass deflections and 10 tackles.

The Rams now have the last two NFC defensive players of the week. Defensive lineman Leonard Little won last week's honor for his four sacks and two forced fumbles against Minnesota. Safety Adam Archuleta is also the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Month.

NUMBERS GAME: The Jaguars have allowed only 33 points in their last four games, including 10-3 and 13-10 losses on the road to the Titans and Jets. ... Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt, he of the 37 consecutive field goal streak, needs eight points to tie his own club record (145) set in 1999. ... The Chiefs have won 11 straight games at Arrowhead Stadium, and a victory over Detroit would give them a franchise-record 12 wins in a row at home. ... The Lions, by contrast, have lost an NFL record 24 straight road games.

AFC NORTH: The Ravens are feeling pretty good about themselves right now. Running back Jamal Lewis looks strong again after rushing for 180 yards on 30 carries against the Bengals. The components appear to be in place for the Ravens to make another surprising run: excellent defense, though not as dominating as 2000; strong running game; solid special teams. The Ravens would get Tennessee at home in the first game, and they like that match.

• The quarterback soap opera continues in Cleveland. Tim Couch is back as the starter, and Kelly Holcomb is back in his career role as backup. Holcomb, who was promoted in training camp, essentially has forsaken a career opportunity that may never come again.

• Steelers end Kimo von Oelhoffen, the former Bengal, leads the team with eight sacks. No end has led them in sacks since Keith Willis did it in 1985 and '86, also while playing in a 3-4 defense.

---

Written from notes submitted by NFL beat writers.

Return to Bengals front page...