Tuesday morning quarterback

By JOANNE KORTH
Published December 4, 2007

Three best individual performances

QB Gus Frerotte, Rams

One week after his fumble on a routine center exchange cost the Rams a victory, Frerotte, above, led them to their first home win, throwing for 311 yards and three touchdowns in place of injured starter Marc Bulger in a 28-16 win against the Falcons.

QB Vince Young, Titans

Something about playing his hometown Texans, the same team that didn't pick him No.1 overall in 2006, brings out the best in Young. He threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-20 win.

RB Adrian Peterson,Vikings

After missing the past two games with a knee injury, and wearing a brace, Peterson put the Vikings in the NFC playoff picture with 116 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-10 blowout of the Lions.

Three worst individual performances

QB Trent Dilfer, 49ers

One week after piloting a rousing overtime win against the Cardinals, Dilfer, above, reverted to his creamsicle days with four interceptions against the Panthers. That 44-year-old former Bucs quarterbackVinny Testaverde threw two touchdowns for Carolina only made it worse.

Offensive coordinatorMike Martz, Lions

Martz called 36 passes and seven runs in a blowout loss to the Vikings. Granted, they were playing from behind most of the game, but this is not a new formula for Martz and the Lions, who have lost four straight.

The Dolphins

It takes a total team effort to go 0-12. Why single anyone out?

Three for the record books

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers

Although not scoring touchdowns at anywhere near the record-setting clip he did a year ago, Tomlinson, above, found the end zone twice in San Diego's victory at Kansas City. With 111 career rushing touchdowns, Tomlinson moved past Walter Payton to third all time.

WR Hines Ward, Steelers

The former Super Bowl MVP caught touchdowns of 2 and 8 yards in Pittsburgh's victory against Cincinnati, giving him a franchise record 64 for his career. He broke the team record held by Hall of Fame receiver and Steel City icon John Stallworth.

QB Peyton Manning, Colts

With four touchdown passes in Indianapolis' win against Jacksonville, Manning became the third player in NFL history to throw at least 20 touchdowns in 10 straight seasons. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre holds the record at 12 seasons. Manning joined Dan Marino as the only players with 20 touchdown passes in each of their first 10 seasons.

Brother acts

Move over, Mannings, the NFL has another brother act at quarterback. Peyton and Eli Manning led their teams, the Colts and Giants, respectively, to victories Sunday, and so did Josh and Luke McCown, of the Raiders and Bucs, respectively. This stuff is old hat for the Mannings, but the McCowns started on the same day for just the fourth time, first this season.

Comp.-Att. Yards TDs INTs

Mannings, Peyton and Eli 36-56 483 5 3

McCowns, Josh and Luke 43-58 454 51

Ugliest uniforms

Be thankful the photos on this page are in black and white, because it prevents us from showing a color photo of the most hideous throwback uniforms in the history of dyed garments. Fans of the winless Dolphins have taken to wearing bags over their heads, but Jets fans should consider blindfolds when the team breaks out its circa-1960, navy-and-gold Titans uniforms.

Dumbest decision

Give Saints coach Sean Payton credit for one thing: He accepted the blame for the worst play call of the season. Leading 23-20 with four minutes left and needing a first down to run out the clock, Payton called a reverse on second and 10 at the Saints 49. The toss was fumbled, and Tampa Bay's recovery set up the Bucs' winning touchdown with 14 seconds left. If the Saints miss the playoffs, they'll look back at this play - and wince.

Toughest week

On Tuesday, Redskins safety Sean Taylor died a day after being shot by an intruder in his South Florida home. On Sunday, Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, right, cost his team 15 penalty yards, and possibly a victory, because he did not know it was against the rules to call consecutive timeouts to ice Bills kicker Rian Lindell. The penalty turned Lindell's 51-yard attempt into a 36-yarder, which he nailed for a 17-16 victory. On Thursday, Washington plays the Bears.

Three teamson the rise

1. Seahawks. They've won four straight and lead the NFC West by two games. Running back Shaun Alexander ran for 65 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles after missing the previous three games with a knee sprain.

2. Bucs. Playing without quarterback Jeff Garcia, the Bucs took a commanding three-game lead in the NFC South with a gutsy, come-from-behind victory against the Saints on the road. Any team that wins with a backup quarterback is no fluke.

3. Vikings. Minnesota has won three straight to pull to 6-6, smack in the thick of the wild-card race in the NFC. The Vikings have sensational rookie running back Adrian Peterson and a stingy defense.e_SClBThree teams fading fast

1. Lions. A month ago, Jon Kitna, above, and the Lions looked like a playoff lock. They haven't won since.

2. Saints. After an 0-4 start, the Saints evened their record with a four-game win streak. But they've lost three of their past four, and the defense is plain awful.

3. Redskins. Even before the tragic death of Sean Taylor, the 'Skins had lost three straight. Now, it's four.e_SClBThree best games in Week 14

Steelers at Patriots, 4:15 p.m. Sunday

Assuming the Patriots got past the Ravens late Monday, this was the game experts were pointing to as the toughest remaining challenge on New England's quest for 16-0 perfection.

Chargers at Titans,1 p.m. Sunday

Once again, the up-and-down Chargers face a tough road game against a physical Titans team. Tennessee must win to keep pace in the AFC wild-card race.

Cardinals at Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.Sunday

It's an NFC West rivalry, but its inclusion here doesn't say much for the rest of the Week 14 lineup.

[Last modified December 3, 2007, 23:21:42]