Manning No. 1? Remember, Nobody Is a Shuler Thing

Week 11 and the questions:

1. Peyton Manning? What about that last quarterback from Tennessee who was supposed to be so good?

2. Who has been the most reliable receiver on third down this season? You will never get it.

3. Why does Art Modell say the things he says?

4. This week’s upset prediction?

And the answers:

1. Heath Shuler. Yeah, the lug who continues to reside on the bench, backing up Gus Frerotte, who is not exactly Joe Montana.

Frerotte is the Redskins’ no-doubt-about-it No. 1 quarterback, however, leaving Shuler to contemplate life elsewhere next season.

“Let’s not fool ourselves,” Shuler said. “They’re not going to pay $8 million over the next two years for a backup. If Gus plays the rest of the year, I don’t foresee that I’ll be around next year.”

The Redskins gave Shuler a seven-year, $19.25-million deal, and to date he has earned $8.5 million. The Redskins are expected to let him become a restricted free agent at season’s end to avoid paying him the rest of his contracted money.

2. Jerry Rice? Tim Brown? Cris Carter? Nope. Wayne Chrebet for the Jets. He has 22 catches--four more than anyone else in the league--on third down.

3. Last week was the anniversary of Modell’s announcement that he was moving the Browns to Baltimore, and in two years the team will move into a new stadium.

“I plan on going into Camden Yards with an elite team,” Modell said.

Not if Vinny Testaverde is still his quarterback.

4. Welcome to the jungle. The Cincinnati Bengals, twice upon a time a Super Bowl team, will go 3-0 under Coach Bruce Coslet with a stirring triumph over Pittsburgh.

THE TV GAMES

* TIED FOR FIRST

Buffalo (6-3) at Philadelphia (7-2), 10 a.m., Channel 4: Both teams are involved in division races and cannot afford slip-ups.

--Say what: Buffalo’s Thurman Thomas has 45 100-yard games, and is the fourth player in NFL history to have scored 60 touchdowns rushing and 20 receiving.

--Player to watch: With 102 yards, Ricky Watters will have rushed for 1,000 for the third time in his career. The Eagles are 9-0 when he has rushed for more than 100.

--Finally: The Bills are 15-3 in the ‘90s when they outrush an NFC opponent. They are 12-3 against the NFC East since 1986.

* CHEESEHEADS AND TOMAHAWKS

Green Bay (8-1) at Kansas City (6-3), 10 a.m., Channel 11: The Chiefs have defeated the Packers three times in a row and need to do it again to keep up with Denver in the AFC West.

--Say what: Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith have more sacks against the Packers than any NFC team--three each.

--Player to watch: Kansas City running back Marcus Allen needs 32 yards to pass John Riggins for sixth place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list.

--Finally: Packer quarterback Brett Favre tied Lynn Dickey for second place on the Packers’ list of touchdown passes with 133. Bart Starr had 152.

* COWBOYS ON ROPES

Dallas (5-4) at San Francisco (7-2), 1 p.m., Channel 11: The 49ers have knocked off the Cowboys three consecutive times and registered a 38-20 victory last November when San Francisco sat 5-4, as the Cowboys do now.

--Say what: Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman is 65-42 as a starter. San Francisco’s Steve Young is 65-39.

--Player to watch: In four games against the 49ers, Dallas running back Emmitt Smith has 310 yards and four touchdowns in 77 carries.

--Finally: The 49ers have scored in 299 consecutive games--the longest current streak in the NFL.

* ANYONE FOR ’60 MINUTES’?

New York Giants (4-5) at Carolina (5-4), 5 p.m., ESPN: Panther quarterback Kerry Collins injured his knee a week ago and will try to play against a defense that has given up only 18 points in the last 10 quarters.

--Say what: Panther wide receiver Mark Carrier needs four catches to become the 50th NFL player with 500 receptions.

--Player to watch: New York wide receiver Thomas Lewis has touchdown catches in three consecutive games.

--Finally: Giant running back Rodney Hampton has not rushed for a touchdown in nine games this season and in 12 of his last 13 overall.

MORE YAWNERS

Minnesota (5-4) at Seattle (4-5): The Seahawks are trying to fight back, but have lost wide receiver Brian Blades for six weeks because of a separated left shoulder and fullback Mack Strong for two weeks because of a sprained knee.

--Say what: Minnesota has scored an NFL-best 21 defensive touchdowns since 1992, a span covering 40 games.

--Player to watch: Seattle quarterback John Friesz threw for 323 yards in the Seahawks’ victory over Houston last week, his fourth 300-yard game, and the team’s first since Dave Krieg threw for 379 at San Diego on Nov. 10, 1991.

--Finally: The Vikings signed veteran running back Leroy Hoard to fill the gap left by injured Robert Smith.

Chicago (4-5) at Denver (8-1): How closely do you think the Bears have been watching that Denver injury report? John Elway has been bothered by a sore hamstring. Who would you rather face, Bill Musgrave or Elway?

--Say what: Denver has an AFC-best 29-18 record in November since 1985.

--Player to watch: If Elway is hurting, watch Terrell Davis run. Davis has seven 100-yard games in his first 20 games as a pro.

--Finally: The Broncos haven’t opened 9-1 since 1984.

Baltimore (3-6) at Jacksonville (3-6): Here are teams representing towns wondering why they ever wanted football to ruin a perfectly good Sunday.

--Say what: Vinny Testaverde has produced seven of his 18 300-yard games in the state of Florida.

--Player to watch: Jaguar quarterback Mark Brunell is 5-3 in his last eight division games, having completed 61.1% of his passes for 11 touchdowns.

--Finally: This game features the NFL’s top two passing attacks, although Testaverde and Brunell do not exactly send shivers up any defensive coordinator’s spine.

Indianapolis (5-4) at Miami (4-5): Both teams will be trying to find themselves. The Dolphins want to establish a running game. The Colts want to keep their quarterback from being buried.

--Say what: Five of the last seven games between these two have been decided by four points or less.

--Player to watch: Indianapolis quarterback Jim Harbaugh has completed 56 of his last 76 passes for 619 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions against the Dolphins.

--Finally: The Colts, devastated by injuries earlier this season, upended the Dolphins in Indianapolis, 10-6.

VISITORS’ CHOICE

Pittsburgh (7-2) at Cincinnati (3-6): Coach Bruce Coslet has driven the Bengals to a pair of comeback victories since relieving David Shula, but now he takes on the big boys from Pittsburgh.

--Say what: The Bengals’ 27 takeaways lead the AFC, but can they get the ball away from Jerome Bettis?

--Player to watch: Cincinnati quarterback Jeff Blake has completed 60 of his last 80 passes against the Steelers.

--Finally: Kordell Stewart has caught three touchdown passes--two against the Bengals.

Oakland (4-5) at Tampa Bay (1-8): The Raiders shouldn’t have a problem with the Buccaneers, but they are coming off an emotional Monday night loss.

--Say what: The only other time the Raiders went to Tampa, they left with the Super Bowl XVIII trophy. Seems like a million years ago.

--Player to watch: No one wearing a Buccaneer uniform on offense.

--Finally: The Buccaneers have scored only nine first-quarter points this season.

New England (6-3) at New York Jets (1-8): Jet Coach Rich Kotite is 4-28 in his last 32 games and 0-3 in his last three tries against New England. Would it make a difference if Neil O’Donnell were healthy? He’s not and it wouldn’t.

--Say what: In the 71 games previously played between these teams, the Jets have 21 100-yard receiving games and the Patriots have 21 100-yard receiving games. So who do you pick today?

--Player to watch: New England running back Curtis Martin has averaged 4.9 yards per carry against the Jets and 3.8against the rest of the NFL.

--Finally: The Patriots have averaged 32 points in their last seven games.

Houston (5-4) at New Orleans (2-7): The Saints threw a scare into San Francisco last week. That’s as good as it gets for the Saints.

--Say what: The Oilers have the second-best rushing defense, which will force Jim Everett to throw.

--Player to watch: Houston kicker Al Del Greco has made 42 of his last 46 field goals in domed stadiums.

--Finally: The Saints have beaten the Oilers in four of their last five meetings.

BOTTOM OF BARREL

Atlanta (1-8) at St. Louis (2-7): Ugly. Just plain ugly.

--Say what: The Rams continue to field the No. 30 defense, and the No. 30 offense.

--Player to watch: The Falcons rank 26th running the ball, but Jamal Anderson has three 100-yard games.

--Finally: The Rams and Falcons are a combined minus-14 in takeaways-giveaways. Ugly. Just plain ugly.

PIECE OF CAKE

Arizona (3-6) at Washington (7-2): The Redskins don’t get many breaks in the second half of the season, so they had better take advantage of this one.

--Say what: Washington wide receiver Henry Ellard, let loose by the Rams, has caught 159 passes since joining the Redskins--149 for first downs.

--Player to watch: Boomer Esiason. The aging Arizona quarterback has a sore toe and may give way to Stoney Case.

--Finally: The Cardinals have won five of their last six against the Redskins.