Who's Hot Who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Willis McGahee

Buffalo's first-round draft pick in 2003 sure doesn't look like a guy who missed last season recovering from knee surgery. He's taken the starting job from Travis Henry and pushed the Bills (3--5) back toward respectability. He's gained 100 yards in three straight starts, a run accompanied by another, self-imposed, streak: He hasn't changed his (increasingly tattered) game jersey since mid-October.

Chargers

They have the NFL's best record versus spread (7--1), they've scored 85 points in two games, and they have two more wins (six) than they had all last year. This team's so hot its backup QB's a TV star: Doug Flutie cameoed on Jason Alexander's Listen Up on Monday night.

Lovie Smith

Ebony just named the Bears' rookie coach one of the "50 Most Intriguing Blacks of 2004." After a 1--5 start Chicago has won two straight and Smith has team believing it can get into playoff race. Next up is beatable Tennessee. Hmmmm ... intriguing.

Tampa Bay

After 0--4 start, Bucs have won three of four. (Keep an eye on their hair: Coach Jon Gruden has been inspiring team with clips of Idiot Red Sox coming from 0--3 down to beat Yanks.) Meanwhile, locked-out Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier is about to get back on the ice--for star-studded team in Russia.

Arizona State QBs