Who's Hot / Who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Seahawks
A 4--4 start was disappointing. Three straight wins and pulling away in the NFC West? That's more like it. End Patrick Kerney (above) is especially pleased: Last year he was a Falcon. Today he's coming off back-to-back three-sack games. Said coach Mike Holmgren to his stud defender, "Keep eating the same breakfast."

Stars
In Dallas the Stars and captain Brenden Morrow (right) have skated to five straight wins since they changed G.M.'s (SI, Nov. 26). On TV those dancing Stars—IndyCar's Helio Castroneves had made it to the finals—continue to lead in the ratings game.

James Johnson
The 5'7" Roughriders defensive back, who never played football as a high schooler in South Central L.A. and who once worked in an oil refinery, had three picks in Saskatchewan's Grey Cup final win on Sunday—good for Most Outstanding Player and a $10,000 bonus. Then he met the media dandling his baby boy (Desmond) on his knee.

Dwight Howard
Can't help but watch him. Back-to-back 34-point games, a rebounding average of better than 14—no wonder those Celtics-slaying Magic were 12--3 at week's end. And the best is yet to come: Howard's still only 21.

WHO'S Not

Bills
Four straight wins were nice. The last two losses, by a combined 92--24? Not so much. Bills QB J.P. Losman (above) had called last Sunday's game against Jacksonville "the most important game of my career." Then he had two picks and lost a fumble. Winter's come early: Buffalo's playoff hopes are nearly dead.

Rams QBs
The current one ( Gus Frerotte) fumbled the ball one yard from the end zone to blow the game. The best one ever (two-time MVP Kurt Warner, now with Arizona) lost the ball in the end zone, where the 49ers picked it up for an OT win.

Steve Smith
Guess who misses Jake Delhomme. The 5'9" Panthers receiver out of South Central L.A. just isn't getting the ball—he's had only 16 receptions over the last four games—which means he isn't scoring (zero TDS in that span), and now, harrumph, he isn't talking to the media, either. Oh, yes: His Panthers are 4--7.

Eli Manning
With Big Brother watching—literally, Peyton was on hand—the Giants QB unraveled. His lousy day against the Vikings (three picks returned for TDs, voluminous boos) may be just the start of his troubles; Eli struggles when the temperature dips.