NFL "This and That"

One of the first things Tom Coughlin did after becoming the Giants' head coach was sit Tiki Barber down and insist he change the way he carries the ball. Barber fumbled nine times last season, losing six of them. This season, he's touched the ball 115 times and hasn't fumbled yet.

The Eagles are the only team in the league with a perfect record against the spread. The Colts are 4-0-1 and the Patriots are 3-0-1.

Linebacker Julian Peterson's decision to turn down a six-year, $37.8 million contract offer from the 49ers that included a $15.5 million signing bonus isn't looking very smart right now. Peterson signed a one-year, $6.1 million contact as the club's franchise player. Then, last week against the Chargers, he tore his left Achilles tendon.

Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson sent Cleveland's defensive backs several bottles of Pepto-Bismol this week. The Bengals and Browns play each other Sunday. "Just adding a little spice to the game," Johnson said. "I've been going against the same dudes for the last four years. This will make it a little more fun. I figured I'd send them Pepto because I'm going to make them sick."

In the first five weeks, just four games have been decided by 20 points or more.

There are 11 teams with fewer than two losses through five weeks. That's the second most at this point since 1990. There were 12 in `96.

Minnesota's Randy Moss has at least one touchdown catch in the last nine games. He can become only the fifth player in NFL history to do it in 10 straight with a TD Sunday against the Saints and their 21st-ranked pass defense.

Jags running back Fred Taylor has gone five consecutive games without rushing for 100 yards. That equals the longest 100-yard drought of his career.

The Chargers have scored 72 points in their last two games. That's their largest two-game output since putting up 77 in the final two weeks of the 1993 season.

The Packers have lost the last eight games in which Ahman Green has fumbled.

The Redskins had just 107 offensive yards in their 17-10 loss to the Ravens. That was the fewest by the Redskins since they were held to 97 by the Colts in....1961.

Seahawks are 0-6 under Mike Holmgren in the game after the bye week. Since getting his first NFL head-coaching job with the Packers in 1992, Holmgren is 2-11 in post-bye week games.

Through five games, the Browns have yet to score an offensive touchdown in the first half. They've gone three-and-out on their first possession in each of those five games.