OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE THAT WE’RE BAD TEAMS

First, the national anthem was flubbed, and the New York Giants and Jets took it from there.

The scoring really wasn’t the story of this game. The errors were, and there were plenty of humorous ones.

Giant linebacker Jessie Armstead tripped while returning an interception deep in Jet territory and fumbled away a chance to score with the Jets leading, 3-0, in the second quarter.

Scott Gragg, a 325-pound Giants’ offensive tackle, fell attempting a celebratory cartwheel following Dave Brown’s touchdown pass play to Chris Calloway, ending an 80-yard drive for a 7-3 lead.

A fumble by the Giants’ Rodney Hampton early in the third quarter helped the Jets get within a point as Nick Lowery kicked a 39-yard field goal. However, Lowery had to kick the ball twice because a holding penalty nullified his 29-yarder the play earlier. The Giants were offsides on the second, but the Jets took the points.

A muffed punt by Wayne Chrebet late in the third quarter led to the first of two 20-yard field goals in the fourth quarter by Daluiso, and a 10-6 Giant lead. However, the Giants had to settle for the field goal after Hampton was stopped on three tries from the 1 following a pass interference call against Ray Mickens.

The Giants’ final three points were also courtesy of the Jets, with two personal fouls for late hits and a 22-yard pass from Brown to Lawrence Dawsey providing most of the yards.

By the way, the words to the national anthem were flubbed by Tom Humbert, who should have listened to the first part of his last name. After all, if you don’t know the words. . . .

THEY’RE NOT EXACTLY RUSHING TO VICTORY

James Stewart was the only running back who carried the ball for Jacksonville in a 28-25 loss to New England, and he gained only five yards in nine attempts. Quarterback Mark Brunell gained the other 24 yards in two carries. The Jaguars’ 29 rushing yards gave them only 170 in their last three games, all losses.

OTHER THAN THAT EVERYTHING’S DANDY

Tampa Bay Buccaneer Coach Tony Dungy, on his winless team:

“Basically, we haven’t executed. The offensive line has had problems pass protecting, the receivers have had problems running routes and catching the ball, the quarterbacks have had problems hitting open receivers, and the running backs have had problems running to the right holes. I think I covered every position.”

NEXT WEEK, CALL DIONNE WARWICK

During the Arizona-New Orleans game, a 15-foot voodoo doll sat in the second deck of the Superdome. Earlier this week, the High Priestess of Voodoo, who would not give her name naturally, since High Priestess of Voodoo says it all, put the doll there in an attempt to break the Saints’ string of losses in September. About 30 minutes after the Saints lost, 28-14, the doll was hauled down to the field and put in a trash bin. The doll was then taken to a secret site and buried.

YEAH, AND CUSTER HAD A BAD HAIR DAY

Green Bay left tackle Gary Brown had a horrible game in the 30-21 loss to Minnesota. He was called for two penalties, including a hold that wiped out a 66-yard pass to Robert Brooks in the second quarter. Later in the quarter, Martin Harrison beat Brown for both his sacks. “He was having a rough day,” Harrison said.

PUT OUT THE UNWELCOME MAT

The game between the Vikings and Packers drew a Metrodome-record crowd of 64,168, and it sounded like an even split between Minnesota and Green Bay fans. That ticked off the Vikings, several of whom ripped down a few Packer-backer signs after the game. Robert Brooks also galled the Vikings when he replicated his Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown.

“We kind of felt like, ‘What are you doing? This is our home stadium,’ ” said Viking defensive end Derrick Alexander. “Don’t come here putting up all those different things. And then when Brooks jumped in the stands, we kind of took that personal.”

CAN YOU PLEASE SIGN OUR PAYCHECKS NOW?

After Kansas City’s 17-14 victory over Denver, the Chiefs voted to give owner Lamar Hunt the game ball, as their 4-0 start is their best in their 37-year history.

I’M NOT A DOCTOR, BUT I PLAY ONE ON THIS PAGE

Chief receiver Lake Dawson was taken off the field on a cart in the second quarter against Denver because of a right knee sprain and did not return to the game. . . . Saint cornerback J.J. McCleskey suffered a strained hamstring in the third quarter against Arizona and did not return. . . . Ram center Mike Gruttadauria left the game against Washington in the third quarter because of a bruised right foot and was replaced by Bern Brostek. Backup linebacker Percell Gaskins injured his groin in the first half and special teams player Antonio Goss injured a hamstring in the second half. . . . Panther wide receiver Willie Green injured his back in the third quarter against the 49ers and did not return. San Francisco defensive end Roy Barker broke a bone in his left hand in the first half and also did not return. . . . The Giants’ 13-6 victory over the Jets did not come without a price. Starting safety Tito Wooten sustained a hairline fracture of his right fibula and will probably be sidelined about a month. . . . Todd Collins, filling in for the injured Jim Kelly as Buffalo’s quarterback, sprained his right ankle late in the third quarter against Dallas. . . . Buffalo defensive end Phil Hansen suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter. . . . Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Kevin Williams sat out most of the second half because of an injured right foot. . . . Detroit tight end David Sloan caught three passes for 19 yards before spraining his left knee late in the first quarter against Chicago. He did not return.

THAT’S CODE FOR ‘WE DIDN’T PAY THE BILL’

Telephone service in the press box and throughout the TWA Dome was interrupted for almost the entire game between the St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins.

Ram officials said the disruption was caused by a “programming problem.”

Next time Georgia, when the envelope marked AT&T; arrives, it’s probably a good idea for you to open it.

AFTER BREAKFAST, THEY CALLED HIM SNEEZY

Linebacker Pepper Johnson of the Detroit Lions, real name Michael, on how he acquired his nickname:

“I put pepper on my cereal when I was two years old. They didn’t think I was going to eat it, but I did and I wanted another bowl.”

--Compiled by HOUSTON MITCHELL