NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

ALWAYS UNPREDICTABLE NFL STARTS SECOND QUARTER

As the NFL kicks off the second quarter of its season this week, only one thing is certain – uncertainty!

The unpredictable nature of the league has been evident through four weeks.  And there’s much more where that came from, beginning with one of Sunday’s most anticipated matchups – the suddenly red-hot New York Giants (3-1) facing their longtime rivals, the Dallas Cowboys (2-1).

After dropping their opener to Philadelphia on Kickoff Weekend, the Giants have roared back with three consecutive victories, punctuated with a 14-7 road win last Sunday over Green Bay.

“That was a phenomenal win for us,” said Giants defensive end MICHAEL STRAHAN.  Linebacker BARRETT GREEN added, “We wanted to show everyone against a credible opponent that we can win.  We’re going to compete against anybody.”

The Giants will face yet another credible opponent this week when they travel to division rival Dallas to face old friend BILL PARCELLS, the Cowboys’ head coach.  New Giants head coach TOM COUGHLIN was an assistant under Parcells in New York from 1988-90, concluding their final season together with a win in Super Bowl XXV.

“We’re in the division, we’re playing an outstanding team in the Dallas Cowboys coming off a bye,” says Coughlin.  “We have a big game to try to get ready for on Sunday.  Coach Parcells is a very good friend of mine, but it’s the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants.”

Nine of the NFC’s 16 teams are 2-2 or better.  And the seven clubs who are sub-.500 find hope in the fact that since 1990, 10 NFL teams have gone from three games below .500 to the postseason.

A look at some of the NFC’s sizzling starts through the first quarter of the season:

ARIZONA:  Quarterback JOSH MC COWN is proving to be an accurate passer, having completed 60.0 percent of his  attempts in five of his six career starts……Running back EMMITT SMITH has rushed for 290 yards, his best start through four games since 1999 (409)……Club’s defense has not allowed a touchdown in 10 consecutive quarters.

ATLANTA:  Falcons seek their first 5-0 start ever…….Quarterback MICHAEL VICK has won his past six starts and has a 16-8-1 (.667) career mark as a starter……Running back WARRICK DUNN is tied for second in the NFL with five rushing touchdowns……DE PATRICK KERNEY is aiming for his fourth consecutive multiple-sack game and needs 3.0 sacks for his third-career double-digit sack season.

CAROLINA:  Quarterback JAKE DELHOMME is averaging 257.3 passing yards per game……WR MUHSIN MUHAMMAD is the leading receiver in team history.  He notched his 20th career 100-yard game last week and is two receptions shy of becoming the first Panther with 500 receptions……DE MIKE RUCKER is closing in on the club sack record.  He has 36.5 sacks and needs 5.5 to surpass KEVIN GREENE (41.5).

CHICAGO:  Running back THOMAS JONES has made an immediate impact in his first season with the club.  Jones has rushed for 361 yards and is on target to increase his rushing total from the previous year for the fourth consecutive season.  Jones ranks second among NFL running backs with 21 receptions (156 yards).

DALLAS:  Quarterback VINNY TESTAVERDE became the first 40-or-older quarterback with consecutive 300-yard passing games when he posted 355 in Week 1 and 322 in Week 2.  Testaverde is on the cusp of several milestones, including needing 10 completions to pass JOE MONTANA (3,409) for the sixth-most in NFL history.

DETROIT:  The 2-1 Lions are off to their best start since 2000, and rookie WR ROY WILLIAMS is a major reason why.  The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for September has posted 17 receptions for 277 yards, including an NFL rookie-high four touchdowns……Return specialist EDDIE DRUMMOND has scored on a punt or kickoff return in each of his first three NFL seasons, helping the Lions this year to an average drive start after kickoffs at the 34.2-yard line, second in the NFL. 

GREEN BAY:  BRETT FAVRE has continued to cement his legacy as one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks.  The Packers’ No. 4 has set the standard for QBs with 193 consecutive starts.  He has also thrown a touchdown pass in 29 games in a row and needs one to tie DAN MARINO (30) for the second longest streak in league history. 

MINNESOTA:  Quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER has been spectacular on third downs, posting an almost perfect 153.8 passer rating (the highest possible rating is 158.3), and completing 15 of 19 attempts for 246 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, best in the NFL……Wide receiver RANDY MOSS plays in his 100th game on Sunday.  He has a touchdown reception in a club-record eight consecutive games. 

NEW ORLEANS:  AARON BROOKS has proven his ability to shine when the going gets tough.  The sixth-year quarterback from Virginia has led the Saints to two wins after they trailed in the fourth quarter, posting an 88.1 fourth-quarter passer rating in 2004.

NEW YORK:  Running back TIKI BARBER is off to the best start of his eight-year career, leading the NFL with 455 yards rushing and 619 yards from scrimmage……The Giants’ defense has been adept at forcing turnovers this season, pacing the NFL with 13 takeaways after totaling 22 for all of 2003. 

PHILADELPHIA:  The undefeated Eagles are aiming for their first 5-0 start since 1981……Quarterback DONOVAN

MC NABB leads the NFL with 1,168 yards passing and his nine touchdown passes are second highest in the league……. Running back BRIAN WESTBROOK, a Philly favorite due to his college days at Villanova, has rushed for 347 yards and leads NFL running backs with 24 catches (206 yards).

ST. LOUIS:  Running back MARSHALL FAULK continues to make his mark among the game’s all-time greats.  Faulk has 99 career rushing touchdowns and needs one to become the sixth player in NFL history with 100.  He is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and has topped 100 yards twice in four games……WR ISAAC BRUCE seeks his fifth consecutive 100-yard receiving game for the first time since 1995.

SAN FRANCISCO: Tight end ERIC JOHNSON is rapidly emerging as one of the club’s top offensive threats.  The fourth-year player from Yale leads all tight ends with 28 receptions and 298 yards receiving.  He is on pace to challenge the team records for catches and yards by a tight end, currently held by BRENT JONES with 68 receptions in 1993 and MONTY STICKLES with 794 yards in 1961. 

SEATTLE:  The Seahawks aim for their first 4-0 start in franchise history……Quarterback MATT HASSELBECK has won 10 consecutive home starts, tossing 15 touchdown passes vs. five interceptions in that span……RB SHAUN ALEXANDER has six touchdowns and is on pace for a franchise-record 32……Seattle’s defense has started the season in fine fashion, seeking this week to hold opponents to seven points-or-less in four consecutive games for the first time.

TAMPA BAY:  Rookie wide receiver MICHAEL CLAYTON from Louisiana State has quickly shown the ability that led the Buccaneers to select him with the No. 15 choice in the first round.  Clayton leads NFL rookies with 19 receptions (240 yards) and has shown the ability to make big plays, posting four catches of at least 20 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown reception last Sunday.

WASHINGTON:  Wide receiver ROD GARDNER is off to the best start of his career, posting 20 receptions for a team-leading 313 yards, his highest totals after four games.  Gardner has displayed his big-play ability, tying for the NFL lead (TERRELL OWENS) with three catches of at least 40 yards……The Redskins have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in five consecutive games and have the NFL’s best run defense, surrendering 59.5 yards per game.