Who's Hot/who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Doug Flutie

Will his minimarvels never cease? At 42, 20 years after winning the Heisman at Boston College, the 5'10" ex- USFL, ex-CFL, Chargers QB made what may be his last NFL start. "It was fun to go out and play with the kids again," he said after running for a TD, passing for another and assuring San Diego that it has some sweet playoff insurance behind Drew Brees.

Miami

Despite a sore-ribbed Shaq, Heat (behind smokin' point guard Dwyane Wade, left) reeled off a three-week winning streak. And--Happy New Year!--Hurricanes stomped rival Florida in Peach Bowl and started crowing about a national title next season, while Dolphins, new coach on the way, at last closed out nightmarish '04.

Mike Martz

One week after his Rams whipped the Eagles and gave him the game ball, the coach presided over a playoff-saving win over Jets, and players rallied to support their maligned leader. "He's a pi�ata to you guys," St. Louis lineman Tyoka Jackson told reporters. "[But] for everybody in here [that's] a joke."

Steelers

Before Sunday's kickoff, police snagged three men who'd allegedly taken $63,000 in goods from WR Plaxico Burress's town house. Then Pittsburgh's backups stole win in Buffalo and became, in the words of exultant RB Duce Staley, "15-1, baby!"--the only AFC team ever to do so.

Vincents