Week at a Glance

Early returns have Chiefs' Hall in thick of MVP race

By B. Duane Cross, SI.com

Dante Hall has propelled the Chiefs with late-game returns for TDs the past two weeks. Dave Kaup/Getty Images

Dante Hall of Fame? Well let's not get ahead of ourselves, but the Chiefs' "Human Joy Stick" is quickly emerging as a bona fide MVP candidate.

Kansas City travels to Green Bay for only the third time Sunday in a matchup that could hinge on Hall's return skills. Through five games, Hall is averaging an NFL-best 21.6 yards on 12 punt returns with two touchdowns and also leads the league with a 32.7-yard average on 15 kickoff returns and two TDs.

"I thought I'd seen an electric player before in Jermaine Lewis," Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said of his former Maryland teammate, "but Dante is in a league of his own."

"We do things in practice where we try to tackle Dante. He makes guys look stupid all the time in practice," teammate Lyle West told the Kansas City Star. "So I don't think we're as surprised as everyone else is because we see it all the time. But he still does things that amaze you."

However, the Packers' special teams unit has held its own this season. Playing under the direction of first-year special teams coordinator John Bonamego (who lived at 1010 Bartlet Loop while coaching at Army -- the same home in which Vince Lombardi resided during his tenure at West Point), Green Bay leads the NFL in lowest punt-return average allowed (4.4), and ranks third in average kickoff yards allowed (19.0).

Another interesting sidebar is that Hall was at Texas A&M (1996-99) when Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman served as the Aggies' O-line coach (1989-93, 95-96). "I'm the reason why he does what he does today," Sherman joked.

Carolina at Indianapolis -- 1 p.m. ET Sunday

A lot has been made about Stephen Davis revving up the Panthers' offense, and we all know about Peyton Manning and the Colts' O. But both teams' defense has been key to their early season success: Carolina and Indy have allowed only one rushing TD this season. Also, the Panthers have allowed only three 100-yard rushers in their past 20 games, while the Colts have surrendered only three in their last 17 games.

Philadelphia at Dallas -- 1 p.m. ET Sunday

How's this for a dose of reality for the Cowboys, who are riding their first three-game winning streak since 1999: "I don't want anybody to think we're doing great," head coach Bill Parcells said, "because we're not." Never mind that Dallas has the NFL's No. 1 offense. ... The Eagles' defense, meanwhile, is looking for an identity. Philadelphia is first against the run (55.5 ypg) and 31st against the pass (257.5 ypg).

Tampa Bay at Washington -- 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The good news for Redskins fans is that this isn't an NFC East game. The bad news is that the Buccaneers have won 12 of 15 games since 2000 when coming off a regular-season loss, including their last eight, and Jon Gruden has not lost two in a row with Tampa Bay. Washington's two losses are by five points combined, while the Bucs' two have been by six, and expect the ol' ball coach to go after Bucs CB Tim Wansley -- that is, if he makes the trip to Maryland.

If you win the turnover battle, more often than not, you win the game. Since 2002, the team that finishes at least even in turnovers is 280-107-1, while teams have at least a minus-1 are 49-222-1. Case in point, Seattle. The Seahawks were plus-12 in winning their first three games, but were minus-2 in last week's loss at Green Bay.

As the architect behind "Ground Chuck," former NFL coach Chuck Knox says, "You've got to be able to run the football." The teams with the top five rushing offenses in the NFL through Week 5 are a combined 20-3, led by 2-2 Baltimore with 196.3 ypg. And the other four teams -- Carolina, Denver, Minnesota and Kansas City -- average at least 30 minutes in time of possession.

Greg Kellogg notes that Arizona has been fairly stiff against the run, while Baltimore has depended on the run to move the ball. But the way the Cardinals play pass defense, don't be too surprised if Ravens head coach Brian Billick turns to his passing game Sunday. And the surprise hero could be Travis Taylor. Get the scoop with this week's Snap, Crackle and Pop fantasy column.

Byron Leftwich has a 95.8 passer rating. AP

QB Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville -- The No. 7 pick in the draft, Leftwich has started the past two games with mixed results. In Week 4, he had the Jags in position to beat Houston but fumbled late in the fourth quarter (and deep in his own territory) to set up David Carr's game-winning plunge. Last week, Lord Byron lit up the Chargers for 336 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-21 victory.

And now comes the much-anticipated QB controversy.

One of the most prolific passers in college history, Leftwich set Mid-American Conference career records for passing yards (11,903) and total offense (12,090) at Marshall. Meanwhile, Mark Brunell was setting every Jaguars passing record. But when Jacksonville tabbed Leftwich with its first-round choice, the clock was ticking on Brunell's tenure in teal.

Two weeks ago Brunell sustained an elbow injury that required stitches, and opened the door for Leftwich's first start at Houston. Last week, Brunell deemed himself fit for action, but watched from the sidelines as the rookie engineered the Jags to their first win of the year.

Leftwich's 95.8 passer rating is third-best in the league; his 8.97 yards per pass attempt is the best in the NFL.

"The bottom line is, I'll continue to play the best 11," first-year head coach Jack Del Rio said Monday. "Realistically, I thought Byron did a nice job."

This week's topic:

What is most intriguing storyline that no one is talking about -- yet?

Last week's topic: What did ESPN expect when it hired Rush Limbaugh? Did he cross the line in his assessment of Donovan McNabb? Should Limbaugh have resigned? Given that ESPN hired Limbaugh for his comments, should it have accepted his resignation?

What did ESPN expect when they hired an extreme right-wing conservative pig like Rush? That's comparable to Dennis Miller on ABC's Monday Night Football but worse. At least sometimes Dennis is funny. Come on Disney, the public would like to be taken seriously sometimes. -- Daniel, Columbia, S.C.

ESPN expected Rush Limbaugh to be controversial. He succeeded. His comments, however, were not racist. Indeed, he was accusing the media of being racist. That being said, his comments showed his extreme ignorance of the game. Donovan McNabb is one of the best and most exciting QBs in the NFL. For his ignorance, Limbaugh absolutely should have resigned. -- Howard, Newhall, Calif.

Don't ask for someone's opinion and then tell them to shut up when you don't like what their opinion is. ESPN knew Rush would be controversial. The rest of us nee to learn how to accept the opinions of others. -- Charles, Minneapolis

Limbaugh is a conservative whose comments, while not racist, were critical of a liberal media, and ESPN knew his reputation from the onset. He did not cross the line in his assessment as this was his opinion which he has a First Amendment right to express. He should not have resigned, but ESPN had no choice to accept it because had they kept him on they would have become the target of the liberal media which Limbaugh saw fit to criticize. -- Chad, Warren, Pa.

Rush Limbaugh had no business on the show in the first place. He is not qualified to talk about sports. This situation is ironic in light of his criticism of affirmative action. Affirmative action requires that the candidate at least be qualified for the position. By the way, whose bright idea was it to put him on the show? -- Laurence, Bowie, Ma.

Mr. Limbaugh resign? Ha! He got what he deserved being sacked by a crass network interested only in ratings points, not NFL points. Football used to be about being a good sport and professionalism, neither of which Mr. Limbaugh has ever projected. -- Patrick, Galax, Va.

What's the big deal? I don't remember such a big hoopla when somebody said that Larry Bird was an overrated basketball player because he is white. -- Joey, New York

As Al Franken stated so succinctly, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot. -- Mike, Highland Park, N.J.