Too early to look at playoff races? In a word: Yes. So let’s allow those things sort themselves out. Instead, let’s focus on this fellow Clinton Portis (below), the rookie running back from Denver. Looking back to 1990 (minimum 100 carries), Portis ranks among the top five rookie running backs in the all-important yards-per-carry.
Running back Team Avg.
Blair Thomas N.Y. Jets 5.04
Mike Anderson Denver 5.01
Clinton Portis* Denver 4.95
Jerome Bettis L.A. Rams 4.86
Corey Dillon Cincinnati 4.85
OBLIGATORY BEARS ITEM
Attention Bears secondary: That noise you hear is an air raid siren, but please do not duck and take cover. If Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre throws a touchdown against the Bears this weekend, that will be 22 straight times against the Bears. Dan Marino owns the longest TD streak against one team when he chucked one in 24 straight games against the N.Y. Jets. Instead of praying for Favre’s early retirement, get the hands up and heads turned around this week, OK?
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
Miami’s Ricky Williams became the club’s single-season 100-yard rushing game leader with six, and he needs just 203 yards to surpass Delvin Williams (1,258 yards in 1978) to become the Dolphins’ all-time single-season rushing leader. Sorry, Delvin, it had to happen some time.
Indianpolis’ Peyton Manning has found his groove this season, but look at each of his pro seasons and they’ve been one long groove too. He needs one TD pass to give him five straight seasons with 20 or more scoring tosses. That would be the fourth-longest streak in NFL history.
St. Louis WR Isaac Bruce is looking for his third 100-yard receiving game in the past four games.
Amazing stat of the week: Raiders S Rod Woodson’s teams are 16-1 on Monday Night Football.
