Sports: Around the NFC

Around the NFC

By Compiled from Times wires

BEARS: Kicker Paul Edinger was 3-of-7 on field goals from 30 to 49 yards before going 2-of-2 from that range against the Eagles. ... At 1-7, they are off to their worst start since 1997.

CARDINALS: They have been outscored 56-3 in first quarters this season. They have gone 23 games without a first-quarter touchdown from the offense. ... They gained 99 total yards through three quarters against Dallas. They gained 177 in the fourth, but they were stopped on downs inside the 5 twice.

COWBOYS: Running back Emmitt Smith has run for touchdowns in five straight games, his longest streak since 1996. ... Fullback Robert Thomas, a linebacker until last season, has caught touchdowns in consecutive games. ... Against the Jaguars on Sunday, they'll try for their first two-game winning streak since starting last season 3-0.

EAGLES: Coach Andy Reid resorted to trickery early, sending Koy Detmer in to play quarterback and splitting starting quarterback Donovan McNabb out wide. McNabb went in motion and came around for a fake reverse, and Detmer scrambled 8 yards. David Akers kicked a 51-yard field goal two plays later. ... They used the shotgun five times in the first half. They had abandoned the formation since switching to the West Coast offense in 1995. ... Defensive end Hugh Douglas has 11 sacks. His career high is 12.

FALCONS: They hadn't lost five in a row since the beginning of the 1997 season, Dan Reeves' first as coach. ... They converted 1 of 8 third downs, dropping their season percentage to 26 percent.

49ERS: Wide receiver Jerry Rice caught a pass in his 217th straight game, best in the NFL. ... Rice has five touchdown catches in his past five games. ... They had their streak of scoring at least 20 points snapped at 12 games, the franchise's best since 1987-88.

GIANTS: They play three of their next four games at home coming off the bye. They start that stretch Sunday against the Eagles. ... Coach Jim Fassel said Emmanuel McDaniel will start for the injured Jason Sehorn at right cornerback against Philadelphia. Sehorn is expected to miss two games with a fracture to a rib near his clavicle sustained against Dallas on Oct. 15.

LIONS: Running back James Stewart's 116 yards against the Bucs came just over a month after he rushed for 13 in their first meeting. ... They have won five of their past six at Tampa, and quarterback Charlie Batch is 4-0 in games televised by ESPN. ... Wide receiver Herman Moore moved back into a starting role with Germane Crowell out at least six weeks with a broken foot, but he had just one catch for 9 yards.

PACKERS: Quarterback Brett Favre has 245 touchdown passes and needs three to pass Boomer Esiason for 10th place. ... They visit the Dolphins on Sunday coming off the bye. They are 15-7 against AFC teams since 1995. ... Defensive end Cletidus Hunt has four sacks in his past three games.

PANTHERS: They had scored 30 points in the second half of six previous games, but they outscored the 49ers 10-3 over the final 30 minutes. ... Coach George Seifert has 119 combined regular-season and playoff wins, moving him past George Allen for 19th all-time.

RAMS: They were the only NFL team never to lose a regular-season game at Arrowhead Stadium. ... They trailed 20-0 after the first quarter, breaking their record of scoring in the first quarter in 31 straight games. ... Kicker Pete Stoyanovich, signed last week after being cut by the Chiefs, was booed while kicking extra points and laughed at when one kickoff got to the 20.

REDSKINS: Wide receiver Albert Connell's 211 yards were seventh-most in team history. ... Defensive end Bruce Smith had one sack to stay within 181/2 of the NFL record held by Reggie White, who had a sack in Carolina's game against San Francisco. ... Their five-game winning streak is their longest since they won seven straight in 1997. They finished 9-7 that season.

SAINTS: Running back Ricky Williams acknowledged being fined $3,500 for ignoring coach Jim Haslett's request to see a doctor about his aching right knee. "It's not an injury," Williams said. "It's just sore." ... They wasted a scoring chance at the end of the first half when they didn't realize the clock would restart after a grounding penalty.

VIKINGS: Daunte Culpepper became the third quarterback in history to win his first seven starts, joining Mike Tomczak and Dieter Brock. ... Culpepper also became the first Viking to record a quarterback rating of 100.0 or better in four consecutive games.