How many NFL owners turned their backs on Marvin Lewis, when everyone in the coaching fraternity was saying he would make a heck of a coach?
How many owners looked at his defensive-oriented resume and thought, "Nah, this guy won't know a thing about offense, and it's offense that wins championships, right?"
You know, "Thanks, but no thanks, Marvin."
Bengals president Mike Brown didn't buy the hype and hired Lewis. Ten games into his first season the team is 5-5, in first place in the AFC North (it holds the tiebreaker over the 5-5 Ravens) and looking like a franchise about to turn its fortunes around.
"I was part of a team (in Baltimore) that Marvin (Lewis) led as a defensive coordinator, and he was able to rally those guys together to play spectacular ball," Chiefs running back Priest Holmes told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "(The Ravens) were aggressive, hungry. Even with mistakes, they could overcome them with big plays. ... Well, that's what I saw in his team (Sunday), and I knew that I would."
Holmes should know. The NFL's touchdown leader was held to 62 yards rushing and no touchdowns as the Bengals did something nine other teams failed to do this season: beat the Chiefs.
"That's his character, that's his quality," Holmes said. "Every one of their (defensive) players was in the right position. It caused us to go three and out on the first four series. That's not like us. He had the schemes and his players executed them with intensity. That's Marvin."
Here's more for Lewis' street credibility: In the five seasons preceding him, the Bengals were 2-14 (2002), 6-10 (2001), 4-12 (2000), 4-12 (1999) and 3-13 (1998).
"I've been here for four years and things haven't been going the way I expected them to," receiver Peter Warrick said. "Right now, we have a team that is willing and ready to win."
OH, SO NOW YOU'RE CONTRITE: With his team atop its division and running back Rudi Johnson looking like the future starter, embattled Bengals running back Corey Dillon has decided it's important to make amends with those he has infuriated.
"I know I said some things people probably did not appreciate, and that's just me sometimes," Dillon said. "I know the fans have supported me through a whole lot of stuff. One of the biggest things for me was coming back and trying to get accepted by them. I expected the worst - I thought some beer bottles might be coming (my way). But I showed them that I care about them and I love them. What was said is what I said, and I apologize for it."
Interesting timing, wouldn't you say?
SOARING EAGLES: It was a little more than a month ago when the boo birds were ready to pluck Donovan McNabb from the starting lineup, if not the city. But the quarterback and the Eagles persevered and, after a 28-10 thrashing of the Giants on Sunday, are tied with Dallas atop the NFC East (The Cowboys hold the tiebreaker with their win over Philly last month).
"I don't get caught up in the hype," McNabb told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I don't get caught up in negativity. My job is to be the leader and to be the guy that brings everybody together. You never show it in the locker room when you're down. You never show it when you're up."
To the dismay of the NFC teams still in the playoff picture, McNabb's performance against the Giants was eerily similar to the breathtaking efforts he has had in the past. He was 24-of-30 for 314 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. It included passes to nine receivers and a 10-of-10 effort in the second half.
"What you've seen is a determined bunch," McNabb said. "We've erased the negativity in the minds of some of the Philadelphia fans and some of the people across the country and just expressed some of the positive things we can do."
CRITICAL CALL: Running back Stephen Davis' 3-yard scoring run with 1:09 left in the game propelled the Panthers to a 20-17 win over Washington, but it didn't come without drama.
Stopped short of the end zone by linebacker LaVar Arrington, Davis lunged for the goal line and had the ball knocked out of his hands by safety Matt Bowen. The Redskins recovered the apparent fumble at the 2.
But head linesman John Schleyer, who was on the goal line, said Davis was able to get the ball over the goal line before the fumble. After reviewing the play, referee Gerald Austin said: "There is not visual evidence to change the play on the field."
It didn't sit well with the Redskins.
"His knee was down," cornerback Fred Smoot told the Washington Post. "The ball didn't get to the plane. He put it out there and we knocked it out. He did not get in."
Added linebacker Jessie Armstead: "I'm biased, but it looked like it was our ball."
HOME COOKING: He grew up a little more than an hour's drive away, in Baton Rouge, so it makes sense that Falcons running back Warrick Dunn would do well in New Orleans.
Dunn rushed for 162 yards on 23 carries against the Saints on the Superdome's new AstroPlay surface. In last year's visit to the Superdome, this time on AstroTurf, Dunn rushed for 142 yards on 26 carries.
Those are his third and fifth best performances of his seven-year career.
By the way, Dunn has 340 rushing yards the past two weeks, 658 for the year.
NFL, ON A ROLL: After 10 games, Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice and Panthers defensive end Mike Rucker lead the league with 11 sacks. ... Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper entered Sunday's game in Oakland with six turnovers. He had five against the Raiders, three interceptions and two fumbles. ... Speaking of the Vikings, receiver Randy Moss said, "It's the coaches' fault," for not getting him the ball in the second half. ... After racking up 190 yards against the Bucs, Green Bay has the top-ranked rushing offense. The Packers average 166.5 yards. ... Holmes and Packers running back Ahman Green each have 14 touchdowns, tops in the league.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
