PHILADELPHIA - (KRT) - Week 3 was a banner week for NFL quarterbacks. Not since the second week of the 2000 season had five players passed for more than 350 yards, but last weekend, Peyton Manning, Daunte Culpepper, Brett Favre, Marc Bulger and Donovan McNabb did just that.

The most explosive and entertaining matchup was Manning against Favre, with Manning passing for an NFL season-high 393 yards, with five touchdowns, no interceptions and a 140.9 passer rating.

Packers linebacker Na'il Diggs called Manning's offensive machine "better than anyone I've ever played against. They were catching everything. Peyton was throwing everything on time. It just seemed like everything we had was the wrong call at the wrong time."

Manning has thrown 99 straight passes without a pick and has a solid 119.9 passer rating.

"You still have to show up every single Sunday and do it," Manning said last week. "That's why, when you play well against Tennessee or Green Bay, it feels good because of all the hard work you put into that week, it paid off. But just because you did it one week doesn't mean you'll do it again the next week."

In other impressive performances last week, Favre tallied 360 passing yards, as did Minnesota's Culpepper, followed by St. Louis' Bulger (358) and McNabb (356).

Smackoff

Oh, this week's homage to Jim Rome is a good one. Call it the fat man versus the classy man.

During Fox's telecast of the Detroit-Philadelphia game last Sunday, Tony Siragusa, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman turned sideline reporter, opined on Joey Harrington, the young Lions quarterback.

Among Siragusa's gems were these: "Not a meat-and-potato guy. ... I wouldn't see him going out and ordering a beer anytime soon. ... He's the kind of guy that's on the other side of the club than I am. He's over there with the champagne and caviar and also the strawberries and chocolate."

The usually even-keeled Harrington was irked. "Am I supposed to care what he says?" Harrington said. "I'm not his kind of guy? Why? Because I was cordial in the production meeting? Because I tried to be articulate? Because I smile when I play? Because I enjoy myself out there? Because I'm not a Billy Bad-Ass?"

Harrington took a shot at Siragusa. "It's nice playing in front of the best linebacker in the history of the game (Ray Lewis), isn't it?" Harrington said.

A few days later, Siragusa responded but did not retract his statements. The only thing he praised Harrington for was firing back at him.

"I'll tell you what," Siragusa said. "Now that I've heard he's actually come back and snapped back at me - whatever he said, I don't know, I didn't read any papers - I'm starting to like the guy a little more now."

End of the line

Rich Gannon probably has played his last NFL game. Last Sunday in the Raiders' 30-20 win over Tampa Bay, Gannon, 38, had a head-to-head collision with Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks while running toward the goal line and broke a vertebra in his neck.

Although the Raiders say Gannon could return in December, they likely will put him on the season-ending injured-reserve list, possibly this week.

Gannon's teammates were shaken by the ordeal, including Kerry Collins, who will make his first start this season on Sunday against Houston.

"Really, I'm glad it's not more than what it was," Collins said. "You see those helmet-to-helmet hits, and you see a lot worse come out of it."

One year later

Seattle knows how little a 3-0 record can mean. The Seahawks were there last season, and how did they do? They finished 10-6, but didn't get to host a playoff game.

But this season, Seattle's expectations are higher thanks to an improved defense. At this point last season, the Seahawks had allowed 11.0 points and 317.7 yards per game, and ranked 20th in total defense, tied for 12th against the run and 22d against the pass. This year, they have allowed just 4.3 points and 242.3 yards per game, and rank second in total defense, third against the run and tied for sixth against the pass.

Seattle's D owns or is tied for the lead in interceptions (five), yards allowed per play (4.1), and third-down conversion percentage (.214).

"Time will tell," coach Mike Holmgren said when asked about finishing stronger than 10-6. "Our defense is playing at a level that is better than last year, so we have improved, at least early on, in that area."

Self-destruction

In what is sure to be a riveting interview airing this month, former Carolina Panthers defensive end Jason Peter told HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel that he became addicted to painkillers in college and eventually abused cocaine and heroin.

Peter told "Real Sports that while he was a Panther, he ingested up to 80 Vicodins a day. That led him to use cocaine and Ecstasy, and, once out of the NFL, heroin. Peter said he now is in rehab.

"Anytime that somebody you know, somebody you went to school with, somebody you played with in the National Football League comes out with a story like that, it shocks you, even if you might have an idea that he's doing that," said Carolina safety Mike Minter, who played with Peter at Nebraska.

He said it, Part I

Miami defensive end Jason Taylor once needed a police escort to walk through Times Square. He might need one the next time he goes back.

Earlier this week, Taylor said he expected a heavy Jets contingent at Pro Player Stadium on Sunday: "We'll have some fans there for us, and a bunch of (Jets fans) in there chanting their (stupid) chant ... and being the ignorant fans they are. I said it. I don't care if they get mad at me or not. They don't like me anyway."

He said it, Part II

Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez is expecting the worst Monday night when the winless Chiefs travel to Baltimore for ABC's signature game. Stories about the Chiefs' demise. Analysis about why Kansas City is 0-3.

How does Gonzalez feel? "Like someone's got me in a headlock, and I can't get out of it," he said.

BY ASHLEY MCGEACHY FOX


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