Sports: Around the NFC

Around the NFC

Compiled from Times wires

BEARS: There were 17,802 no-shows for the game against the Bucs, less than a week after the team and the city of Chicago unveiled a plan for refurbishing Soldier Field.

CARDINALS: Simeon Rice had a career-high three sacks against Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb, his former high school teammate. All came in the first half. ... Backup quarterback Dave Brown will get extra work in practice in case starter Jake Plummer can't play next weekend against the Giants, coach Dave McGinnis said.

COWBOYS: Strong safety Darren Woodson left in the second quarter against Baltimore with a forearm injury. X-rays were negative, and he will be re-evaluated. ... Replacement punter/kicker Barry Cantrell averaged 37.1 yards on seven punt attempts with two downed inside the 20. His one kickoff was taken at the 14-yard line.

EAGLES: Defensive tackle Corey Simon had 11/2 sacks. He entered the game leading all rookies with seven sacks. ... Philadelphia has won three in a row for the first time since 1996. But no one is talking about playoffs, or possibly playing a home game in January. "If you start looking ahead, you'll be in trouble," coach Andy Reid said. "If they take it one game at a time, everything will be okay."

FALCONS: Chris Chandler returned against San Francisco from the concussion he sustained against the Bucs, and was 16-of-33 for 154 yards, He was sacked four times. ... Rather than travel back to Atlanta and make the trip back West to face Oakland on Sunday, the team will stay in the San Francisco Bay area.

49ERS: After two sacks Sunday against Atlanta, defensive end Bryant Young has seven in the past five games. ... With 16-6 win against Atlanta to add to last week's 21-7 victory against Kansas City, San Francisco has held opponents to seven or fewer points in consecutive games for the first time since 1997. ... The team must decide today whether to activate Garrison Hearst for the season's final four games or place him on injured reserve. "We'll probably announce (the decision) about one minute before one o'clock," coach Steve Mariucci said. "We don't want to be rushed."

GIANTS: Wide receiver Amani Toomer, who missed the second half of the previous week's game with a concussion, had eight receptions for 108 yards against Detroit.

LIONS: Defensive end Robert Porcher had three of Detroit's four sacks against New York. He needs 21/2 more to surpass Bubba Baker (751/2) as the team's career sack leader.

PACKERS: By beating Indianapolis, Green Bay avoided its first 0-4 AFC record since 1985. ... Running back Ahman Green, playing again in place of injured starter Dorsey Levens, gained a career-best 153 yards on 24 carries against Indianapolis.

PANTHERS: Playing without fullback William Floyd and running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka, Carolina got rushing touchdowns against Minnesota on 1-yard runs by Steve Beuerlein and Chris Hetherington. The team had three rushing touchdowns coming into the game.

RAMS: Two pins were removed from the little finger of Kurt Warner's throwing hand Monday, but he's still probably two weeks away from returning. Warner is expected back for Game 13 at Carolina on Dec. 3. Team spokesman Rick Smith said Warner likely would have a limited role in practice this week. ... Az-Zahir Hakim went into the game Monday against the Redskins leading the NFL in punt returns with a 19.4-yard average, including an 86-yard scoring return.

REDSKINS: Running back Stephen Davis went into the game against St. Louis with 988 yards rushing and an NFC-leading 10 rushing touchdowns.

SAINTS: New Orleans had been 7-0 when scoring 20 or more points, but scored 22 in a loss to Oakland.

VIKINGS: An interception by Robert Tate against the Panthers was the first by Minnesota in seven games. ... The team is hoping that fullback Jim Kleinsasser, who missed the game against Carolina because of a hamstring injury, will play Thursday at Dallas. ... Running back Robert Smith says he is in top health. "I feel so good, it's almost scary," he said. "It's as good as I've ever felt this far into a season."