QUICK SNAPS

A Giant blowhard

Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, last season nominated by the New York media for the NFL’s Good Guy Award, was anything but last week. He repeatedly cut short questions from a television reporter by blasting an air horn he had hidden under his sweat shirt.

No wonder he didn’t want to answer questions about the defense. It has played a big role in the team’s first 0-2 start since 1996. During the Super Bowl era, the Giants have never made it to the playoffs after beginning the season with two losses.

Pushing his luck

Tennessee quarterback Vince Young is a big guy, and he’s tough. But Indianapolis players were a little peeved last Sunday with the way he screamed at the Colts’ sideline after getting knocked down early in the game.

“I don’t think that was smart on his part,” safety Bob Sanders told the Indianapolis Star. “He was running around talking and clapping and chanting. I’m like, ‘Look, we’re hitting you. Are you serious? You’re going to start acting like that?’ ”

Later, Young was flagged for taunting when he flipped the ball at Colts cornerback Tim Jennings.

Battle of the backs

Monday night’s game between the Saints and Titans will not only reunite Reggie Bush and Young -- the Nos. 2 and 3 picks in the 2006 draft -- but Bush and LenDale White, who shared ball-carrying duties with him in the USC backfield.

“It’s going to be a fun one,” White, who gained 64 yards in 15 carries against Indianapolis, told the (Nashville) Tennessean. “I’ve been talking to [Bush] back and forth, just having fun with it. . . . It was the same at SC. He always had the higher profile.”

White, who splits time with Chris Brown, said he’s happy with his role and doesn’t worry about Bush being better-known.

That said, White does care about one thing when it comes to this particular reunion: “I hope I have a better game.”

Going deep

No one has a more improved cast of receivers than New England’s Tom Brady, who has added Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker to his arsenal. The difference is apparent on the scoreboard and on the stat sheet. The Patriots are averaging 9.76 yards per pass play, 2 1/2 yards more than Brady’s career average, 7.04.

“I think the thing about this offense is that we always try to morph into what the guys on our team are good at,” Brady told reporters last week. “Deion [Branch, now in Seattle] is entirely different than what Randy is, and we’re not doing the same things with Randy that Deion did.”

Moss has two consecutive 100-yard receiving games. According to Stats LLC, if he can repeat that feat against Buffalo today, he will become the first receiver in league history to start with three consecutive 100-yard games for a new team.

Fan of Favre

Like many young quarterbacks, San Diego’s Philip Rivers grew up idolizing Green Bay’s Brett Favre. So today’s game at Lambeau Field has even more meaning for him.

“It’s exciting for our football team to be going back there,” Rivers said. “It’s always neat when you can have that atmosphere that adds to the game.

“But then again, we’ve got to make sure we are focused and ready to play the ’07 Packers, who are 2-0 and will be ready for us.”

History is not on San Diego’s side. Favre has never lost to the Chargers, winning in each of their three meetings, with his Packers winning by a combined 111-34.

Can that be the Lions?

Here’s a statistic that could leave you rubbing your eyes: Undefeated Detroit has scored 56 points in two games after scoring 13 in its first two games last season.

-- Sam Farmer