Just as winning breeds harmony, losing breeds discontent. The Oakland Raiders have been there and done both. On the heels of a four-game winning streak, they've lost three in a row. Tension is starting to simmer.
Two weeks ago, wide receiver Tim Brown, who has led the team in receptions the past 10 years, publicly questioned why Jerry Rice was getting more passes thrown to him. Last Sunday, Brown caught 13 passes for 144 yards in a 20-10 loss in Kansas City.
Then it was Rice's turn. After catching five passes for 45 yards in that game, he complained that he couldn't get into a rhythm because he had few opportunities.
The man in the middle was quarterback Rich Gannon and he nearly snapped when Rice's comments were relayed to him.
"What do you want me to do?" he said. "I'm doing the best I can. I don't control who gets the ball in this offense.
"We threw it 55 times today. There's plenty of throws out there for everybody. So I'm not going to get into who gets the ball. I'm just telling you we're doing the best we can with what we have. Am I frustrated? Absolutely."
That's the backdrop to today's game in Oakland against the San Francisco 49ers. The Raiders need desperately to win to stay within reach of the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos in the torrid AFC West. The 49ers, less desperate, are attempting to maintain their NFC West lead. Although it's only the 10th meeting between the Bay Area teams, the rivalry is bitter.
After a 1981 exhibition game, Raiders assistant Charlie Sumner punched 49ers assistant Sam Wyche. In 1985, Raiders defensive end Howie Long, upset with the leg-whipping technique of 49ers linemen, chased 49ers assistant Bobb McKittrick down the tunnel at the L.A. Coliseum. And in 1991, 49ers defensive end Charles Haley was shouting and pounding on walls after a 12-6 loss to the Raiders, and had to be calmed down by Oakland safety Ronnie Lott, a close friend.
All of which is to say this is a game that produces a lot of emotion. Should the Raiders lose, their locker room might become an inferno.
Hilliard's bottom line
The latest in a rash of injurious helmet hits ended New York Giants wide receiver Ike Hilliard's season with a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum. The aggressor, Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, was fined $50,000 for hitting Hilliard with his helmet after a pass fell incomplete. Dawkins expressed remorse and called it a "stupid play." The Giants called it a dirty play, but Hilliard stopped short of that.
"It's not for me to determine whether or not it was a dirty hit," he said. "It was late. Dawkins is a good, aggressive player. I'm not one to shy away from contact, so I'm not going to cry about it. ... It's irrelevant whether or not it was dirty. Determining that won't make any difference to my shoulder right now."
Favorable schedules
Judging by second-half schedules, the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers could meet in the 37th Super Bowl. The Saints (6-2) have the easiest finishing schedule of the seven NFC teams with winning records. Despite their 1-3 start, the Steelers (4-3) conceivably still could gain home-field advantage in the AFC.
Here's why. Pittsburgh has just two teams left on its schedule with a winning record (Atlanta and Tampa Bay), and the Steelers' seven other opponents are a combined 18-33.
New Orleans has just two winning teams left (Atlanta and Tampa Bay also) and plays four of its last six games in the Superdome. The Saints' final four opponents are 8-21 (.275).
Run support
What's a running game worth? Just about everything to Titans quarterback Steve McNair. Running back Eddie George had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in the last two weeks for the first time since October 2000 and McNair's numbers reflect that upturn.
He threw four touchdown passes with no interceptions in those games - both wins - and was sacked just twice. In the two previous games, both losses, he threw three TD passes, seven interceptions and was sacked six times.
Audibles
After scoring just seven touchdowns in seven games, Giants coach Jim Fassel will take over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Sean Payton tonight against Jacksonville. ... Only two teams, the Ravens in 2000 and the Los Angeles Rams in 1979, reached the Super Bowl after losing three consecutive games during the regular season. No team has lost four in a row and made it. ... The New York Jets have been outscored, 121-47, in the second half this season and their offense has generated just four second-half TDs in 37 possessions. ... The 49ers' defense has been shredded for more than 400 yards in three of its last four games.
Saints running back Deuce McAllister was arrested for driving with a suspended license after he was clocked doing 70 mph in a 40 mph zone. ... Among the many gifts Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith received for breaking the NFL's all-time rush record were a Lamborghini from his wife, Pat, and a 5-carat diamond earring, valued at $4,200, from an Addison, Texas, custom jewelry store. ... Four of the past five games between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots have been decided in overtime, and their past eight meetings have been decided by 10 points or fewer. ... Coach Jon Gruden was hired to resuscitate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense, but the Bucs haven't scored an offensive touchdown in eight quarters, dating to Oct. 13.
The last word
Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt took his team to the Blockbuster IMAX Theater in Fort Lauderdale for a private screening of a movie about the life of Sir Ernest Shackleton. Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure tells how the explorer's crew got stuck in ice en route to Antarctica in the early 20th century. Despite several failed rescue attempts, Shackleton's persistence helped save his entire 26-man crew after almost a year.
Before boarding a bus to the theater, middle linebacker Zach Thomas said he thought the movie was about "some guy saving some people in the mountains."
"I think they're getting us ready for these next two cold-weather games," Thomas said, referring to games in Green Bay and New York.
Compiled from interviews, wire services and reports from other newspapers.