EAST / It’s Really Rocky at the Top Levels

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning has the same number of interceptions--11--in four NFL games as he did his senior season at Tennessee while attempting 477 passes. Manning lost only six games in his career at Tennessee, but has lost four in a row with the Colts. “Shoot, Peyton hasn’t lost four games in a row since he played in the backyard against me,” said Cooper Manning, Peyton’s older brother.

The Colts signed “Ironhead” Heyward, who had been a first-round pick of Jim Mora’s in New Orleans a decade ago. Mora had tired of Heyward’s off-the-field activities but agreed to sign him after Heyward assured him he had changed. “I’m a different person now than I was in New Orleans,” Heyward said. “My whole thing my first few years was to try to be the best drinker I could be. Or know the best spots.”

Doug Flutie continues to back up Rob Johnson in Buffalo, but he said he never had a chance to establish himself in the NFL. “It was obvious that I ran into a mentality that I wasn’t looked at as a franchise quarterback. So instead of beating my head against a wall my entire career, I went and had fun [in Canada] for eight years. Ryan Leaf had a real rough day last week, and if I had one of those days, it would have been because I was too short. That’s what I ran into whenever I struggled. We still won a majority of the games I played in, but when I did struggle, it was because I was too short, in their minds.”

He is too short, and that’s why he’s backing up Johnson.

CENTRAL / It’s Not How You Start, Well, Actually It Is

They have not exactly emulated Secretariat in breaking to the front and extending their lead. Since 1991, the Bengals are 10-50 in games played during the first half of the season, continuing the trend this season at 1-3.

“We can’t let it be demoralizing,” said cornerback Ashley Ambrose. “When you get down and you start feeling like you’re in a slump, you won’t do anything about it.”

The Ravens traded away a pair of third-round picks to acquire quarterback Jim Harbaugh and running back Errict Rhett. What a waste--on their own roster sat quarterback Eric Zeier and running back Priest Holmes, who now carry the day for the Ravens.

“I think we found our halfback,” said Coach Ted Marchibroda. “I knew during the course of the year that I’d need Zeier. I’m going to need Harbaugh before this season is over. I know that.”

Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor will earn an additional $150,000 if he reaches 1,000 yards, another $200,000 for 1,200 and $500,000 more for 1,300. He has 290 in 55 carries one-quarter of the way into the season.

WEST / Somehow, the Broncos Just Keep Improving

The Broncos won the Super Bowl a year ago, and yet this year look better. They are 4-0, have the league’s leading rusher and leading passer, the AFC’s leader in receiving yards, the league’s top punter, the AFC’s best red zone offense and the best third-down offense. And yet John Elway has not finished two of the three games he has started and has not played in another.

“We go out there and we feel like we can’t lose,” linebacker John Mobley said. “We don’t need to lose. Nobody out there’s going to beat us if we have that state of mind. . . . It is a better team than last year’s.”

The Chargers hired Kevin Gilbride in part because he delivered offense, something the fans in San Diego came to love and expect after following Don Coryell’s teams. But in Gilbride’s first 20 games with the Chargers, his offense has scored more than one touchdown only five times.

The Chargers are also 6-14 under Gilbride.