Who's Hot / Who's Not

WHO'S HOT

LaDainian Tomlinson
Official winner of last Sunday's pass, catch and run competition (he did each for a TD), the Chargers tailback also tied an NFL record with a touchdown in his 18th straight game. Declared San Diego QB Drew Brees , "He just never ceases to amaze me."

Jared Allen
Chiefs DE was relentless in a win over Washington : two forced fumbles (he recovered both) and three sacks. Said coach Dick Vermeil of the 6'6" 265-pounder, "Such an unbelievable motor.... He's got a little Tasmanian devil in him."

Ottawa Senators
Yeah, Canada ! Capital city's speedy pucksters are scoring (they've been winning by almost three goals a game), saving (goalie Dominik Hasek just got his 300th career win) and cruising--they went into a stretch of five straight off days at 5-0.

NFC East
Everyone's a winner here, and what QBs! With Drew Bledsoe in Dallas , Eli Manning blooming as a Giant, Mark Brunell firing in D.C. and--oh, yes--Mr. McNabb, this group is well-armed.

WHO'S NOT

Tommy Maddox
Tommy sure could hear them. Steelers quarterback said he "was disappointed" in the home crowd's booing--well, fans were let down too. Filling in for the injured Ben Roethlisberger , Maddox tossed three interceptions (the last one cost the game in overtime) and lost a fumble. Afterward he blamed the wind.

Patriots
These guys are not supposed to be fallible (they'd won 34 of 38 games coming into the year) and are not supposed to be tied with the Bills (3-3) in the AFC East . But all those injuries and a defense that gives up more than 27 points a game have created a vulnerability that not even returning LB Tedy Bruschi can erase.

Toronto Raptors
Ugh, Canada ! Not even last year's 33-49 record prepared Raptors faithful for this: a 105-103 loss to Israel 's Maccabi Tel Aviv --the first loss by an NBA team to a non-NBA team in 17 years. Headline in Canada 's National Post: RAPTORS SINK TO NEW LOW.

NFC North
Nothing but losers here. The home of those appalling Vikings (page 48) is also the division of the Lions (2-3), the Bears (2-3) and, oh my, those 1-4 Packers . The teams are a combined 3-11 in games outside the division.