On the NFL: Rare mark within reach for Portis

Redskins running back Clinton Portis has a chance to do something today that only O.J. Simpson has done before. And I mean that in a good, on-the-field kind of way.

If Portis can reach 120 yards against Detroit's 31st-ranked run defense, he will join Simpson as the only players in NFL history to rush for at least 120 yards in five consecutive games twice in a career. Simpson did it with the Bills in 1973 and 1975. Portis first did it over two seasons with four games with Denver in 2003 and one game with Washington in 2004.

Portis is somewhat of a surprise as the league's leading rusher. His 818 yards, which are 134 more than No. 2 rusher Adrian Peterson, have come in a West Coast system that has excess aerial power and is being run by a former quarterback in coach Jim Zorn. Yet Zorn has called 234 runs and 217 passes this season.

"I feel like the opportunity [to run] is there," Portis said. "It's about having a healthy line and a passing attack. [It's] making defenses play honest. The line's blocking great, and I'm following my blockers."

Portis is on pace for 373 carries, two fewer than the 1983 franchise record of Hall of Famer John Riggins.

$235,294: The lost game check for Browns tight end Kellen Winslow II, who was suspended for today's game against Jacksonville for making comments detrimental to the franchise.

This won't make Scott Linehan feel any better, but it isn't out of the question that the Rams could be playing for a share of first place in the NFC West at home a week from today.

If the red-hot Rams (2-4) win at New England today and Arizona (4-2) loses at Carolina, the Rams could move into first place with a victory over the visiting Cardinals on Nov. 2.

If that happens, the Rams would be 4-0 under Jim Haslett and 0-4 under Linehan, who was fired.

"It's a whole different attitude around here, a whole different swagger," defensive tackle Clifton Ryan said. "We're more motivated, we're more positive with each other. We're here to win now."

"I wouldn't say 'anger' as much as, 'Here we go again.' "-- Jets quarterback Brett Favre, when asked if he was angry about the report that he called then-Lions President Matt Millen to offer inside information on the Packers earlier this season. Favre denied calling Millen or giving the Lions the Packers' game plan.

The analysts who have been screaming at Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens to shut up and essentially conform to No Fun League protocol can rest easy. For now, your job is complete.

When asked this week if he would like to go in motion more to free him up, Owens said, "I can't put myself in motion. I'm just going out there with the plays that are called."

When asked if there is something he would do to get himself more involved following a three-game stretch in which he has caught only eight passes, T.O. said, "I'm not the offensive coordinator, so you're asking the wrong guy. Again, I just told you, I'm going with the plays that are called."

Zzzzzzz. Hope everybody's happy now.

The Texans are in their seventh year of existence. They have played 102 games. And, believe it or not, they've never had a winning streak longer than two stinking games.

That could change today when the winless Bengals visit. A victory would send Houston to the Metrodome riding a three-game winning streak.

Of course, the last time Cincinnati started 0-7 was 2002. The Bengals' eighth game was against the Texans at Houston. They won 38-3.