SPOTLIGHT : A GLANCE AT THIS WEEK IN THE NFL : IN NEED OF RELIEF

The second time around wasn’t kind to several quarterbacks who opened the season to rave reviews.

At Tampa Bay, Vinny Testaverde, the NFL’s top-rated passer after Week 1, completed nine of 18 for 127 yards before being replaced by Chris Chandler late in the third quarter of a 35-14 loss to the Rams.

At Green Bay, Anthony Dilweg, the architect of a 36-24 victory over the Rams last week, was sacked six times, lost two fumbles that led to touchdowns and threw an interception before being replaced by Don Majkowski with 6:54 remaining in a 31-13 loss to Chicago.

At Miami, Buffalo’s Jim Kelly, who passed for 283 yards last week, was benched in favor of Frank Reich after failing to produce a point in a 30-7 loss to Miami.

It was much the same for Rodney Peete of the Detroit Lions. He completed 13 of 26 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, but was replaced by Bob Gagliano after an ineffective third quarter in a 21-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Last week in a 38-21 loss to Tampa Bay, Peete passed for 143 yards and a touchdown before Gagliano came on to lead the Lions’ ill-fated rally.

Testaverde, plagued by interceptions in his first three NFL seasons, threw a costly one on the final play of the first half that cornerback Bobby Humphery returned 44 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 Ram lead.

By game’s end, Testaverde’s impressive first-week statistics (16 of 21 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns) had given way to the hint of a quarterback controversy when he was replaced by Chandler, a former starter with the Indianapolis Colts who was acquired for a first-round draft pick last month.

Tampa Bay Coach Ray Perkins said he replaced Testaverde because “Vinny was shaken up” after Kevin Greene delivered a powerful blind-side hit. Testaverde left the locker room before he could be questioned, leaving Chandler behind to deal with the potential controversy.

“I can’t answer whether I deserve to be the No. 1 quarterback,” Chandler said.

Dilweg, who inherited the Packers’ starting job when Majkowski held out of training camp in a contract dispute, completed 20 of 32 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams. Against a revamped Bear defense, he managed only 14 of 28 for 149 yards.

He had his moments, though, including a stretch in which he completed five consecutive passes to set up a 37-yard field goal by Chris Jacke that brought the Packers to within 17-10 at halftime.

But after Dilweg had an unproductive second half, Majkowski came on to make his season debut, completing eight of 12 passes and throwing an interception.

Buffalo was victimized by poor field position and turnovers, but Kelly offered no excuses. “They gave us a good old-fashioned butt-whipping,” Kelly said.

Kelly completed 14 of 23 passes for 123 yards and threw one interception. Reich, who went 3-0 as a starter last season when Kelly was sidelined with an injury, was five of 12 for 34 yards.

BIG PLAYS

Bobby Humphery returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown at the end of the second quarter and the Rams gained a 35-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Greg Bell scored on a one-yard run with 1:26 remaining, capping a 65-yard drive that gave the Raiders a 17-13 victory over Seattle.

Al Del Greco kicked a 42-yard field goal with 25 seconds to play, lifting Phoenix to a 23-21 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles and giving Joe Bugel his first win as the Cardinals’ coach.

Joe Montana threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Jerry Rice and 49 yards to John Taylor to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 26-13 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Lawrence Taylor batted a Troy Aikman pass into the air, caught it, and sprinted 11 yards for a fourth- quarter touchdown in the New York Giants’ 28-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

David Johnson returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown and Rod Woodson ran back a punt 52 yards for another score to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 20-9 victory over the Houston Oilers.

Eddie Brown caught touchdown passes of 30 and 23 yards in the second half to help rally the Cincinnati Bengals to a 21-16 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

LOWLIGHTS

Robert Banks, Cleveland’s starting right defensive end, was ejected in the second quarter for kicking New York tight end Chris Dressel in the helmet while Dressel was lying on the ground during the Browns’ 24-21 loss to the Jets.

The New Orleans Saints, 32-3 losers to the Minnesota Vikings, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-9 winners over the Houston Oilers, have yet to score a touchdown on offense this season.

MILESTONES

Joe Montana became the San Francisco 49ers’ career passing yardage leader after throwing for 390 yards in a 26-13 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Montana, who completed 29 of 44 passes and threw for two touchdowns, eclipsed John Brodie’s team record of 31,548 with a 37-yard completion to John Taylor in the third quarter. Montana has 31,654 yards overall.

Don Shula earned his 200th victory as coach of the Miami Dolphins. Shula, who previously coached the Baltimore Colts, has 289 career victories, the most of any active coach.

PEACE OF MIND

Chicago Bear defensive tackle Dan Hampton, a veteran of 12 NFL seasons and 10 knee operations who has announced that he is retiring after this season, enjoyed his final visit to Green Bay.

The Bears’ defense recorded six sacks, leading the way to a 31-13 victory over the Packers.

Said Hampton: “When I turn 50 and I think back I’d have really hated the fact that our defense got beat up, up here in my last trip to this beautiful Mecca of civilization. I’m glad we played as well as we did and now I don’t have to worry about ever getting my butt kicked in Green Bay.”

INJURIES

Defensive end Howie Long fractured the middle toe on his right foot in the third quarter of the Raiders’ 17-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Team doctor Robert Rosenfeld estimated Long would miss five to six weeks.

Wide receiver John Taylor of San Francisco suffered a bruised lower back on his final reception in the 49ers’ 26-13 victory over Washington. He had to be helped from the field and did not return. Taylor had eight receptions for 160 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown pass play in the second quarter.

Defensive tackle Mike Pitts of Philadelphia could be sidelined for three weeks after sustaining a knee injury in the Eagles’ 23-21 loss to Phoenix.

The New York Jets lost four players to injury in their 24-21 victory over Cleveland. Running back Blair Thomas strained some ribs, wide receiver Rob Moore bruised a shoulder, safety Brian Washington sustained a bruised thigh, and cornerback Tony Stargell sprained an ankle.

New England lost linebackers Richard Tardits (injured left leg) and linebacker Andre Tippett (pulled right hamstring) in a 16-14 victory over Indianapolis. With Ed Reynolds already out with a knee injury, the Patriots are down to four healthy linebackers for their 3-4 alignment.

IN QUOTES

Minnesota nose tackle Henry Thomas on facing former Viking quarterback Tommy Kramer, who replaced injured New Orleans starter John Fourcade in the Saints’ 32-3 loss: “I couldn’t wait. For years in practice, all I heard was, ‘Hank, don’t hit the quarterback.’ But, oh, this time I could. And I got him.”

Defensive end Trace Armstrong, after the Bears recorded six sacks: “Once you have success getting to the quarterback, you get confidence and feel you can’t do anything wrong. It’s a situation where you know they’ve got to pass and it’s like a , ‘Home Run Derby ‘ --you just tee off.”

Don Shula after winning his 200th game as coach of the Miami Dolphins: “That tells you I’m old. I realize 200 is important to some day look back on. But right now I feel good about this team being where it is at 2-0.”

TONIGHT’S GAME

DENVER vs. KANSAS CITY

Site: Mile High Stadium, Denver

TV: Channels 7, 3, 10, 42. Time: 6 p.m.

Denver returns home, where the elements figure to be less severe, but the opponent potentially overbearing.

After struggling in the heat and smog of the Coliseum in a 14-9 loss to the Raiders last week, the Broncos will attempt to defeat Kansas City for the ninth consecutive time in Denver. The Broncos have won eight of the last 10 meetings.

But Kansas City comes equipped with imposing Christian Okoye, a 260-pound fullback who led the NFL in rushing last season. In a season-opening 24-21 victory over Minnesota last week, Okoye weathered the 130-degree field temperatures of Arrowhead Stadium to rush for 92 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

In two games against Denver last season, Okoye carried a total of only five times because of injuries.

Denver quarterback John Elway was limited to 157 yards passing and Bobby Humphrey to 24 yards rushing in the loss to the Raiders.

Sunday’s Scores

Rams 35, Tampa Bay 14

Raiders 17, Seattle 13

Detroit 21, Atlanta 14

Miami 30, Buffalo 7

Chicago 31, Green Bay 13

New York Jets 24, Cleveland 21

New England 16, Indianapolis 14

Phoenix 23, Philadelphia 21

Cincinnati 21, San Diego 16

Minnesota 32, New Orleans 3

New York Giants 28, Dallas 7

San Francisco 26, Washington 13

Pittsburgh 20, Houston 9

LISTS

Don Shula earned his 200th win as coach of the Miami Dolphins. A look at the leaders in career coaching victories.

Coach Years W L T % GEORGE HALAS 40 326 151 30 67 DON SHULA* 28 289 132 6 68 TOM LANDRY 29 271 180 6 60 CURLY LAMBEAU 33 234 135 43 63 CHUCK NOLL* 22 194 141 1 58 PAUL BROWN 21 170 109 6 61 BUD GRANT 18 168 109 5 61 CHUCK KNOX* 18 162 111 1 59 STEVE OWEN 23 154 108 17 58 HANK STRAM 17 136 100 10 57

* Active

TOP PASSERS

Player, Team Att. Cmp. Yds. TD JOE MONTANA, 49ers 44 29 390 2 BILLY JOE TOLLIVER, Chargers 38 20 284 2 WARREN MOON, Oilers 48 24 284 0 JIM EVERETT, Rams 25 18 269 4 R. CUNNINGHAM, Eagles 24 17 252 2 BOOMER ESIASON, Bengals 34 20 250 3 MARK RYPIEN, Redskins 37 17 241 1 JAY SCHROEDER, Raiders 17 10 236 1 BERNIE KOSAR, Browns 41 24 233 1 DAVE KRIEG, Seahawks 24 19 225 1

TOP RUSHERS

Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD EDDIE BROWN, Bengals 10 178 2 JOHN TAYLOR, 49ers 8 160 1 ANTHONY MILLER, Chargers 9 137 0 GARY CLARK, Redskins 7 106 0 HASSAN JONES, Vikings 4 103 0 MERVYN FERNANDEZ, Raiders 4 93 1 WILLIE GAULT, Raiders 3 80 0 FREEMAN McNEIL, Jets 3 80 0 JERRY RICE, 49ers 6 74 1 ERNEST GIVINS 6 72 0

NFL STANDINGS: NATIONAL CONFERENCE

West W L T San Francisco 2 0 0 Rams 1 1 0 Atlanta 1 1 0 New Orleans 0 2 0 Central W L T Chicago 2 0 0 Green Bay 1 1 0 Tampa Bay 1 1 0 Minnesota 1 1 0 Detroit 1 1 0 East W L T New York Giants 2 0 0 Washington 1 1 0 Dallas 1 1 0 Phoenix 1 1 0 Philadelphia 0 2 0

NFL STANDINGS: AMERICAN CONFERENCE

West W L T Raiders 2 0 0 Kansas City 1 0 0 Denver 0 1 0 San Diego 0 2 0 Seattle 0 2 0 Central W L T Cincinnati 2 0 0 Cleveland 1 1 0 Pittsburgh 1 1 0 Houston 0 2 0 East W L T Miami 2 0 0 Buffalo 1 1 0 New York Jets 1 1 0 New England 1 1 0 Indianapolis 0 2 0