Just Grin and Bear It

CENTRAL

The Bears appear serious about going after the top pick in the draft--they are going to play Rick Mirer again. Mirer has been moved from No. 3 to No. 2 ahead of Steve Stenstrom, and Mirer is expected to play some against Buffalo. “We just want to get him some work and give him a chance,” Coach Dave Wannstedt said. Sure. . . . The Lions might have to start 5-foot-8 rookie cornerback Kevin Abrams against Miami’s Dan Marino because of Corey Raymond’s foot injury. . . . If Barry Sanders continues to average 6.1 yards a carry, it would be the best performance since Jim Brown averaged 6.4 in 1963. Only three other backs in NFL history have averaged 6.0 or better for a full season--San Francisco’s Joe Perry in 1954, Chicago’s Beattie Feathers in 1934 and some guy named O.J., who played for Buffalo in 1973. . . . The Vikings have not only lost quarterback Brad Johnson because of a neck injury, but will be down to their third center, guard LeShun Daniels, when they play the 49ers, who are known best for having the game’s top defensive tackles.

Trouble: The Lions, needing to win every game to make the playoffs, were forced out of the Silverdome to practice because of a Rolling Stones’ concert. “Who?” Lion Coach Bobby Ross asked. “I don’t know. You got me on that one. . . . I don’t know a whole lot about them, to tell you the truth. Really, they might be great entertainers. Most of you have probably forgotten Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney and people like that.”

WEST / Thanks for the Memories

To dream the impossible dream: Atlanta quarterback Chris Chandler has at least one touchdown pass in nine consecutive games. Tell me that he has at least one concussion in nine consecutive games, and that’s more believable. . . . The Panthers, the storybook team of a year ago, have flopped this season, and inside linebacker Andre Royal says it’s because the team allowed some of its veteran leaders to leave. “When you have chemistry like that, you just can’t break it up. Those guys meant a lot to this team. That’s what we’re missing. We’re missing their attitude.” . . . Sammy Knight, a free-agent safety from USC, has tied a Saint record for rookies with five interceptions. . . . Jerry Rice put on pads and worked with the 49ers’ strength coach while the players had the day off, then returned a day later to practice with the scout team. He says he will play Dec. 15, but team officials still aren’t so sure. . . . In two starts, the Rams’ Jerald Moore has averaged 76 yards rushing and 3.7 yards a carry. Since-departed Lawrence Phillips averaged 57 yards and 3.4 yards a carry.

Trouble: The Falcons have a chance to finish 8-8 after a 0-5 start, and that’s still not good enough for a selfish Jamal Anderson. After the Falcons failed to get a second-half first down in Seattle and he was allowed to carry the ball only four times, he said, “I’m going to play these last three games as hard as I can and then reassess my whole situation with this team. What happened [against Seattle] was ridiculous. It’s crazy what is going on. Some kind of feature back I am, huh?” What happened against Seattle was the Falcons found a way to win.

EAST / Home Is Where Wins Are

If only the Eagles could play every week at home, where they are 6-1 this season and 17-6 overall under Coach Ray Rhodes. . . . Ronald Moore will replace an ineffective Leeland McElroy as the Cardinals’ starting running back. They should be replacing the entire offensive line, which has allowed a league-high 66 sacks. . . . There will be no working in Leon Lett slowly in Dallas; he will start against Carolina on Monday night in place of Tony Casillas. Lett returned this week from a yearlong suspension for flunking a substance-abuse test. Said defensive teammate Broderick Thomas: “He’s in even better shape than when he left here.”

Trouble: The Giants lead the NFC East Division but have scored three touchdowns and 40 points in their last four games. Now there’s talk of bringing Dave Brown back in place of quarterback Danny Kanell. “Danny’s going to need to perform well coming out of the blocks,” Coach Jim Fassel said. “He has to show me that he’s going to go in and function. The first couple of quarters in the game he has to show me he’s going to move this team down the field.”