Now Is Time for AFC Teams to Make a Move Out of Pack

Week 3, and the questions:

1. Who looks to have the best chance in the AFC to challenge the NFC in the Super Bowl?

2. What’s going on in New York?

3. How many starting quarterbacks are in danger of losing their jobs?

4. What’s wrong with Detroit quarterback Scott Mitchell and the Lions’ high-powered offense?

5. Who will spring the weekend’s biggest upset?

And the answers:

1. Whoever goes 3-0. Twelve of the 13 teams to start 3-0 in the American Football Conference since 1990 have made the playoffs. San Diego and Indianapolis--each 2-0--figure to take a fall today, so that leaves undefeated Buffalo, Denver, Kansas City and Miami in prime position.

The Bills play the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on Monday night and would make a national statement with a victory. The Broncos and Chiefs are headed for an early-season showdown the next week, and no one can quite figure out the Dolphins. Is Jimmy Johnson’s team for real? After taking on the Jets, Miami gets banged-up Indianapolis next Monday night and then a home game against downtrodden Seattle. The Dolphins might have a better record than the Cowboys when they tangle in Miami on Oct. 27.

2. The Jets and Giants meet in the Peyton Manning Bowl next week at Giants Stadium.

3. Only one quarterback in the AFC, Rick Mirer, is in jeopardy. He may be surrendering his job to John Friesz. So far, the Seahawks have followed the golden rule: The guy making the most money plays. Three quarterbacks in the NFC are in trouble: Boomer Esiason in Arizona, Steve Walsh in St. Louis and Rodney Peete in Philadelphia. Best bet to lose his job first--Mirer. Coach Dennis Erickson follows his own golden rule: “We win or I lose my job.”

4. Trouble in Detroit? “This whole thing is really stupid,” Mitchell said. “People just need to relax a little bit and not get so bent out of shape and up-tight about it.”

5. Would you believe the Jets? For the first time since early in the exhibition season they will have all their offensive starters together. Of course, the Jets will start Mike Chalenski in place of Marvin Washington at left defensive end, Chad Cascadden at left linebacker and Marc Spindler at left defensive tackle for Erik Howard. Maybe Johnson and the Dolphins won’t notice and will run right.

ON TV

* NEXT VICTIM, PLEASE

San Diego (2-0) at Green Bay (2-0), 10 a.m., Channel 4: The Packers have established themselves as the team to beat; the Chargers have been lucky. San Diego won at home against a pair of perennial losers, and if the Chargers managed only one sack against the likes of Jeff Blake and Mirer, how much damage will an unchallenged Brett Favre do?

--Say what? The Chargers should stay home; the Packers have won 13 of their last 14 at Lambeau Field, and Favre has gone 10-5 in his last 15 starts against AFC teams.

--Player to watch: Running back Leonard Russell. The Chargers’ best chance for success is plowing through the Packers’ line, hogging the ball and keeping Favre on the sideline.

--Finally: Fret not, Cheeseheads.

* THEY USED TO SCORE

Detroit (1-1) at Philadelphia (1-1), 10 a.m., Channel 11: A year ago, they played the NFL’s highest-scoring playoff game with the Eagles prevailing, 58-37. Both offenses now excel at turning the ball over.

--Say what? Have a new baby? Don’t let Ricky Watters hold it. Watters, whose 15 fumbles over the last two seasons lead the NFL, has had one in each game this year.

--Player to watch: Barry Sanders. The Detroit running back, who leads the NFL in rushing with two 100-yard games and a total of 288 yards, will be matched against the NFL’s No. 29 rushing defense.

--Finally: Eagle quarterback Peete is 6-0 in Philadelphia, 3-5 away from home. The Eagles are home today.

* PSL: PLEASE STOP LAUGHING

Jacksonville (1-1) at Oakland (0-2), 1 p.m, Channel 4: The Raiders get quarterback Jeff Hostetler back and 20,000 tickets remain unsold. Didn’t know that Billy Joe Hobert Fan Club was so big.

--Say what? The Raiders haven’t scored a touchdown rushing in 30 quarters; you would think Oakland could figure this out on its own--use Napoleon Kaufman more.

--Player to watch: Mark Brunell. The Jaguars’ starting quarterback completed 27 of 38 passes for 302 yards a week ago against a good Oiler defense, and now he’s taking aim at a secondary playing with a one-armed substitute safety in Darren Carrington, who has a sore wrist.

--Finally: The Raiders have never lost to a team from Florida (10-0) while playing in Oakland.

* HALFTIME MERCY RULE?

Tampa Bay (0-2) at Denver (2-0), 5 p.m., TNT: They call off baseball games after the fifth inning in some places if a team leads by 10 runs; shouldn’t they have a similar Buccaneers’ rule in football? You think you’re having a bad day? Trent Dilfer is having a bad career. This season he has completed less than half of his passes, and has thrown six interceptions. He has not thrown a touchdown pass. His rating is 17.6.

--Say what? Tampa Bay kicker Michael Husted is the only player in franchise history to have scored 75 or more points in three consecutive seasons. Hey, we’re not talking Green Bay Packers here.

--Player to watch: John Elway. The Buccaneers and Dolphins are the only non-expansion teams the Denver quarterback hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass against. And so then there were only the Dolphins.

--Finally: In 20 starts to date, Dilfer has completed 17 of those without a touchdown pass.

WORTH A PEEK

Minnesota (2-0) at Chicago (1-1): The Bears haven’t given up a sack in three of their last four games, but they can’t keep quarterback Erik Kramer from being knocked here. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass this season. The Vikings have gone undefeated with quarterback Warren Moon sidelined by injuries but now have benched Brad Johnson, to come back with Moon. Suggestion to Johnson: Keep your arm loose.

--Say what? Wide receiver Cris Carter, the guy Buddy Ryan thought could not play, needs six receptions and four touchdowns to become the Vikings’ career leader. If Ryan Buddy were still coaching the Bear defense, Carter might have a chance to do both today.

--Players to watch: Minnesota’s Robert Smith and Chicago’s Robert Green. Whichever Robert runs better probably wins.

--Finally: Isn’t it time Minnesota lost? Yes.

Indianapolis (2-0) at Dallas (1-1): After slapping around the Giants, the Cowboys probably feel pretty good about themselves, but pardner, if the Colts weren’t so banged up, Dallas would be in for another downer. The Colts’ injury report, however, reads like an “E.R.” script.

--Say what? Emmitt Smith’s touchdown catch last week was only the fifth in his career. Hard to believe, he had none in 1995 en route to an NFL-record 25 touchdowns.

--Player to watch: Troy Aikman. The Cowboys have compiled a 33-2 record when Aikman completes 70% of his passes, and let’s have a big Texas welcome this week for the Colts, who have the NFL’s worst pass defense.

--Finally: Hint--the Colts gave up 359 yards in total offense to the Jets.

Baltimore (1-1) at Houston (1-1): Location, location, location. Cleveland and Houston weren’t good enough for owners Art Modell and Bud Adams, although the fans were known nationally for filling their stadiums. The fans in Cleveland were even willing to embrace Vinny Testaverde.

--Say what? Houston quarterback Chris Chandler has thrown 51 passes--four for touchdowns--which is the best scoring percentage in the AFC.

--Player to watch: Running back Earnest Byner. The Ravens’ running game has been horrible, but Byner ran for a career-high 188 yards against Houston--12 years ago.

--Finally: In the Oilers’ first game at home, there were 27,725 fans and 32,244 empty seats.

SOMEBODY HAS TO WIN

New Orleans (0-2) at Cincinnati (0-2): The Bengals play in newly named “Cinergy Field,” with the same old disappointing crew. Ki-Jana Carter has run 21 times and averaged 1.3 yards a carry. It’s hard to be that bad.

--Say what? Since 1987, the Saints’ 27-9 (.750) record against the AFC is tied for the conference best with the 49ers. They only stink when matched against the NFC.

--Player to watch: Quarterback Jeff Blake. The Bengals were awesome on offense a year ago with Blake but currently are averaging only 246 yards and 15 points.

--Finally: Quarterback Jim Everett has thrown 50 touchdown passes since leaving the Rams to play for the Saints. New Orleans has gone 14-20 with Everett as its starter.

Arizona (0-2) at New England (0-2): The Cardinals have a 60-116 mark since 1985 and have a retread at quarterback in Esiason. So what does New England have to look forward to? A new coach to make Drew Bledsoe live up to expectations.

--Say what? Esiason did not throw a touchdown pass in the exhibition season and has not thrown one in the regular season.

--Player to watch: None.

--Finally: How long before Kent Graham is the Cardinals’ starting quarterback. How long before anyone cares?

UPSET POTENTIAL

Washington (1-1) at New York Giants (0-2): How bad can a bad team play? No worse than the Giants in last week’s debacle against Dallas, but then Giant Coach Dan Reeves’ track record shows his teams have a penchant for rebounding after woeful performances.

--Say what? The Redskins have turned the ball over once in two games; the Giants will need more help than that.

--Player to watch: In 13 games against the Giants, Washington wide receiver Henry Ellard has averaged 20.3 yards a catch. As you can see, the Rams were right, Ellard has lost a step.

--Finally: In four games against the Redskins, Giant quarterback Dave Brown has completed 45 of 70 passes for 632 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

New York Jets (0-2) at Miami (2-0): The Jets don’t look as if they can beat anyone, but they have won eight of the last 11 against the Dolphins.

--Say what? New Dolphin kicker Joe Nedney is only two for four in field goals; the Jets have not tried one this season.

--Player to watch: What outrageous thing will Jet wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson do next?

--Finally: Jet Coach Rich Kotite is 3-22 in the last 25 games.

Kansas City (2-0) at Seattle (0-2): This should be a breeze for the Chiefs, but when does running back Chris Warren take over and kick-start the Seahawks?

--Say what? The Chiefs are 31-0 when posting 30 or more rushing attempts.

--Players to watch: Seattle defensive end Michael Sinclair and Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas. Who gets to the opposition’s quarterback first?

--Finally: Friesz has the second-best rating in the AFC, but Mirer will continue to start.