Who's Hot / Who's Not

WHO'S HOT

New England Patriots
Autumn is well under way, which means pumpkins, pullovers and the persistent Pats, now 5--1 and atop the AFC East with hardly anyone among the league leaders. How do Belichick's boys swing it? Tight end Ben Watson (above) explains, "Just do your job and we'll win."

Harts
In Michigan: Underappreciated running back Mike Hart (right) topped 1,000 yards and is a spark plug for the unbeaten Wolverines. (Teammate Lamarr Woodley advises opponents, "You better make sure the full team tackles him.") In San Jose: Last season's Hart Trophy winner, Joe Thornton, had a team-best nine assists for the Sharks, 6-2 through Sunday.

Raptors
It's only preseason, but Toronto (27-55 last year) was 5-0 after winning on Sunday with Samuel L. Jackson courtside. The Raptors also rolled to a 118-84 win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv--the team that, embarrassingly, beat them before last season.

Vicks
Michael's big day (four TDs) was complemented by Marcus's big gain: He made Miami's 53-man roster, and he could stick as a multipurpose threat.

WHO'S NOT

Arizona Cardinals
What's worse: squandering a huge second-half lead to an unbeaten team ( Bears) or getting rolled over by a winless one ( Raiders)? Ask any Cardinal, including Matt Leinart (above) or coach Denny Green, who a week after a post-Bears tirade was in a post- Oakland funk. Said Green, "I've been soul-searching."

Heads
On the gridiron: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (below) was knocked cold against Atlanta. En route to the gridiron: Colts tackle Montae Reagor suffered a head wound in a car accident and missed Sunday's game. In the city: Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot won the Chicago Marathon but slipped and bonked his noggin at the finish line.

Cavaliers
It's only preseason, but Cleveland (50--32 last year) was 1--5 with four losses to nonplayoff teams. The Cavs--and Eric Snow, left--got a scare when center Zydrunas Ilgauskas left Sunday's game with a bruised knee.

Bolts
The Chargers lost, and two of their stars fell: Linebacker Shaun Phillips is out with a calf injury; linebacker Shawne (Lights Out) Merriman got a four-game ban for steroid use.