SPOTLIGHT : A GLANCE AT THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

MILESTONES

Cincinnati’s Jim Breech, not known for long kicks, set an NFL scoring record with a 46-yard field goal that started the Bengals to a 41-7 victory over New England.

Breech’s longest field goal of the season extended his consecutive-

game scoring streak to 152, one better than Fred Cox of Minnesota.

The record kick came on the same field where Cox’s streak ended on Dec. 2, 1973, in a 27-0 Cincinnati victory. Cox missed a 49-yard attempt in that game, ending a streak that began in 1963.

Breech’s kick came just two minutes into the game. “I wanted to get it over with quick,” Breech said. “I didn’t know it would be two minutes into the first quarter. It was nice that it came on a field goal, too.”

One year ago, Breech was unemployed. The Bengals cut him to keep Jim Gallery, who could kick from longer distances. But Gallery made just two of six kicks in the Bengals’ first four games, prompting the Bengals to bring Breech back.

“I thought my career was done,” Breech said, cradling the record ball in his left arm. “I feel it’s a real blessing for me. Everything that happens from here on out is icing on the cake. If I can play for a few more years, that’s great.”

Ottis Anderson of the Giants moved ahead of Earl Campbell to become the NFL’s No. 8 rusher. Anderson had 72 yards against the Dolphins to give him 9,433 career rushing yards. Campbell had 9,407.

Roger Craig of the 49ers tied Walter Payton’s record for career receptions by a running back in the second quarter of San Francisco’s 19-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Craig’s second catch of the game gave him 492 in his career.

FRIENDS AND FOES

All week long Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer and Green Bay’s Lindy Infante answered questions about their friendship.

The two had masterminded the Cleveland Browns’ drive to the AFC championship games in 1986 and 1987, Schottenheimer as the head coach and Infante as his offensive coordinator.

Last December the Chiefs all but knocked the Packers out of the playoffs with a 21-3 victory. Because Schottenheimer is familiar with Infante’s offense, the Chiefs’ defense apparently had an advantage.

“It’s really players against players,” said Schottenheimer after a 17-3 Chiefs victory Sunday at Green Bay, Wis. “This business is strange. I had a number of people ask me before the game, ‘Is it hard to get ready and prepare to play against somebody who is such a personal friend?’ And I said ‘No.’ “And I believed that during the course of the week. But now that it’s over, you know it’s bittersweet. We want to win obviously. But I hadn’t thought much about it until after the game. I certainly would feel a hell of a lot worse if it were on the other side of the ledger.”

Did the Kansas City defense have an advantage because Schottenheimer and Infante run much the same offense? “We didn’t know their plays but we knew what to expect in certain situations,” said defensive back Kevin Ross.

BIG PLAYS

Mervyn Fernandez caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Jay Schroeder moments after Marcus Allen scored on a one-yard run to help the Raiders draw away to a 20-3 victory over the Steelers.

Bobby Humphrey ran 26 yards on a draw play, setting up David Treadwell’s 25-yard field goal 9:14 into overtime to lift the Denver Broncos past the Seattle Seahawks, 34-31.

Kevin Butler’s 52-yard field goal with four seconds remaining led the Chicago Bears to a 19-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

TOP PASSERS

Player, Team Cmp. Att. Yds. TD JOE MONTANA, 49ers 24 36 398 2 CHRIS MILLER, Falcons 25 41 337 1 WARREN MOON, Oilers 29 39 308 3 JOHN ELWAY, Broncos 30 40 297 3 BOOMER ESIASON, Bengals 15 26 271 1 MARC WILSON, Patriots 23 41 267 1 JIM EVERETT, Rams 17 35 260 2 R. CUNNINGHAM, Eagles 18 29 248 2 BERNIE KOSAR, Browns 17 36 232 0 DAVE KRIEG, Seahawks 20 28 213 1

INJURIES

Cornerback Garry Lewis of the Raiders sustained a broken clavicle on the first series against the Steelers. He will be sidelined indefinitely.

Giant linebacker Lawrence Taylor apparently injured his left hamstring on the final play against Miami and his status for next Sunday’s game with Dallas is uncertain.

Minnesota quarterback Wade Wilson sprained his right thumb on the Vikings’ final offensive play in a 19-16 loss to the Bears and might need surgery. Rich Gannon and Sean Salisbury are the backups.

Quarterback Mark Rypien of the Redskins sustained a sprained left knee in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys, forcing him to miss the rest of the game. X-rays taken at RFK Stadium showed Rypien did not break a bone. But he did not return and he’ll be examined further.

Third-year player Stan Humphries, the only other quarterback on the roster, took over after Rypien was hit by defensive tackle Dean Hamel while throwing a pass with two minutes left in the first half.

Four Cowboys left the Washington game with injuries. Defensive back Stan Smagala sustained a broken left forearm; quarterback Troy Aikman suffered a bruised thigh on the next-to-last play; guard John Gesek sprained his right elbow and offensive tackle Mark Tuinei sprained his left ankle.

Indianapolis lost all three of its quarterbacks to ailments in a 24-10 loss to the Houston Oilers. Starter Jeff George left in the second quarter with an undisclosed stomach ailment, Jack Trudeau injured his passing hand and third-stringer Mark Herrmann sustained a collarbone injury late in the fourth quarter, necessitating George’s return.

Running back Steve Broussard, the Falcons’ 1990 No. 1 draft choice, suffered a sprained knee after a hit by Ronnie Lott late in the third quarter of the 49ers 19-13 victory over the Falcons. He did not return.

TOP RUSHERS

Player, Team Car. Yds. TD DERRICK FENNER, Seahawks 22 144 3 BOBBY HUMPHREY, Broncos 25 129 0 CHRISTIAN OKOYE, Chiefs 23 122 1 ANTHONY TONEY, Eagles 24 103 0 RUEBEN MAYES, Saints 16 99 3 RODNEY PEETE, Lions 8 97 1 NEAL ANDERSON, Bears 23 91 1 BRAD MUSTER, Bears 14 90 0 MARION BUTTS, Chargers 24 90 0 HERSCHEL WALKER, Vikings 18 72 0

HISTORY REPEATS

Sunday, Kevin Butler kicked four field goals for Chicago, including a 52-yarder with four seconds to play to defeat Minnesota, 19-16. Donald Igwebuike kicked three field goals for Minnesota.

Six years ago Saturday, Butler kicked four field goals for the University of Georgia, including a 60-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining to defeat Clemson, 26-23. Igwebuike kicked three field goals for Clemson.

This was the 19th time in NFL history a kicker made two 50-yard field goals in the same game.

TOP RECEIVERS

Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD JERRY RICE, 49ers 8 171 1 TIM McGEE, Bengals 6 163 0 HENRY ELLARD, Rams 7 145 1 MERVYN FERNANDEZ, Raiders 5 130 1 BRENT JONES, 49ers 5 125 1 ANDRE RISON, Falcons 11 128 0 VANCE JOHNSON, Broncos 9 120 0 RICKY SANDERS, Redskins 7 78 0 KEITH JACKSON, Eagles 4 77 0 MARK JACKSON, Broncos 7 76 2

BRONCOS’ KAY CAN PLAY

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Sunday he has given Denver Bronco tight end Clarence Kay the go-ahead to continue playing despite his status as a three-time offender of the league’s drug policy.

In a brief interview on NBC-TV’s halftime show, Tagliabue said: “Clarence should be permitted to play with the Broncos and I’ve informed the Broncos of that recently.”

Kay faced the possibility of a lifetime ban because of his conviction last September in Edgewater, Colo., for driving while impaired by alcohol.

IN QUOTES

Minnesota defensive tackle Keith Millard, after Chicago rushed for 215 yards in a 19-16 victory over the Vikings: “Now that the Bears have established a running game, everybody is going to try to run on us.”

Chicago Coach Mike Ditka, after utilizing 43 rushing plays and only 16 passes: “If I think we have to run it 70 times a game to beat somebody, then we’ll run it 70 times a game.”

Green Bay quarterback Don Majkowski, who was sacked six times in his first start of the season, a 17-3 loss to Kansas City. “I would sum it up as a tough day.”

New York Giant Coach Bill Parcells, asked why Lawrence Taylor, who pulled a hamstring, was in for the final play of the Giants’ 20-3 victory over Dolphins. “That’s a good question. I can’t think for everyone here. “

Cleveland Coach Bud Carson, on the Browns’ 24-14 loss to San Diego: “We did some things that are mind-boggling at this stage of the season.”

Phoenix Coach Joe Bugel on New Orleans quarterback John Fourcade: “He’s like a wild dog. You back him into a corner, and he comes out fighting.”

New England quarterback Marc Wilson, on the Patriots’ 41-7 loss to Cincinnati: “Everything that could happen to us did today. Maybe that’s good--we got out everything that could go wrong.”

NAMES AND NUMBERS

Saint quarterback John Fourcade entered Sunday’s contest against Phoenix with the NFL’s lowest quarterback efficiency rating, 17.7. His opposite number, the Cardinals’ Timm Rosenbach had a 35.4 rating, second lowest in the league.

How did this clash of the titans go? Fourcade completed 11 of 23 passes for 151 yards in the Saints’ 28-7 victory. Rosenbach completed 14 of 26 passes for 191 yards.

Miami’s Sammie Smith, who led the league in rushing with 215 yards entering Sunday’s game against the Giants, gained nine yards on five carries. The Giants’ defense held its opponent below 20 minutes of possession for the second week in a row.

Jimmy Johnson’s 2-17 record in his second year in Dallas gives him half as many losses he had in 10 years of coaching Oklahoma State and the University of Miami, where his combined record was 81-34.