Times NFL writer T.J. Simers poses--and answers--the burning questions on . . . GAME DAY

1. Question: Who’s to blame for Kevin Gilbride’s hiring and firing?

Answer: Bobby Beathard, of course, but few people will say so. Most reporters around the country claim Bobby among their best friends, since he returns telephone calls, so they will not criticize him. But Gilbride’s quick dismissal has people around the league looking more closely at the Chargers. “It did surprise me,” St. Louis Ram Coach Dick Vermeil said. “And it bothers me. When someone takes over a losing program, there’s a reason for the program losing. Normally, it is not because it was poorly coached. Sooner or later someone else [besides the coach] has to be held responsible. How many head coaches has San Diego had? When Bobby Ross can’t stay there . . . “

2. Q: What do the title of Terry Bradshaw’s book, “Looking Deep,” and Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart have in common?

A: Nothing. Stewart has completed one pass longer than 30 yards in five games, and more confounding than that, he has balked at even trying to throw the ball deep, despite plays called to do so.

“He’s got to do it,” offensive coordinator Ray Sherman said. “There’s no doubt he’s got to do it. He knows he’s got to do it.”

3. Q: Who’s the smartest football man in America?

A: Regis Philbin. For now. He’s a friend of Viking owner Red McCombs and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, and after consulting with them, picked Minnesota to win the Super Bowl before the season began.

“I want you to know that I rarely make Super Bowl picks,” the talk-show host said. But fortunately for America this year, he did.

4. Q: Why are there so many more long touchdowns this season?

A: Because so many people lie awake nights, asking that very question, the answer is, zone blitzes. That will put you to sleep.

The Steelers and Panthers made the zone blitz popular. It’s a defensive scheme in which anyone is likely to blitz, which leaves defensive linemen and linebackers sometimes covering offensive players far faster and more explosive than they are.

In 1996, there were only a dozen pass plays of 70 yards or longer for touchdowns. Last year there were 11. But already this season, even before we reach the halfway mark, there have been 14.

5. Q: Why should the 49ers be kicking themselves?

A: They gave away too many good kickers. Former 49er kickers have made 34 of 36 field-goal attempts, while Wade Richey, San Francisco’s kicker this season, is six for 10.