SPOTLIGHT: A GLANCE AT THIS WEEK IN THE NFL : TAKING A BITE OUT OF EAGLES

After their decisive victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, the Philadelphia Eagles became the cover boys of the NFL.

During their 24-17 loss to Kansas City on Sunday, the Eagles couldn’t cover anyone.

The Chiefs and quarterback Dave Krieg found a hole in the vaunted Philadelphia defense by going deep.

“They were biting on play-action,� said J.J. Birden, who had touchdown catches of 24 and 43 yards.

The Eagles came in giving up an average of about 148 passing yards per game. The Chiefs’ Willie Davis gained 167 yards in five catches.

Davis, who was previously best known for attending Central Arkansas at the same time as Scottie Pippen, was open by almost 20 yards when he caught as pass from Krieg and completed a 74-yard play for a touchdown in the third quarter.

“It was like the ball hung in the air for an hour,� Davis said. “I was waiting and waiting. You just want it to come down.�

The Chiefs, who usually pound it out on the ground, had only 19 rushing plays, their lowest in two years.

“They game-planned us well,� said Philadelphia defensive end Reggie White. “We were biting on the play-action too much. It killed us.�

GONE CHOPPING

Maybe it’s because the Atlanta Braves are doing so well. Maybe it’s because “Last of the Mohicans� is boffo at the box office. Whatever, the tomahawk chop was back in vogue at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, and just about all of the more than 76,000 fans took part.

The Chiefs had said before the start of the season that they would discourage the chop, bowing to the protests of some Indian groups.

Small groups of fans did the chop on their own at the Chiefs’ two previous home games, but the whole stadium had not done so.

The Chiefs took out a full-page newspaper ad in the Kansas City Star on Saturday to say they were bringing back the chop in response to demands from fans and players.

With the encouragement of the band and the team cheerleaders, the ninth-largest crowd in Arrowhead Stadium history commenced chopping during a timeout in the first quarter.

“All those people making all that noise can sure get you pumped up,� said Chief lineman Dave Szott.

JUST ASKING

Given, the San Francisco 49ers didn’t have as easy a time as expected against the New England Patriots, but let’s see a show of hands: How many of you would rather have watched Double-Duty Deion Sanders and Atlanta try to stop unbeaten Miami and Dan Marino?

That much said, let’s say this: The 49ers are going to be very tough to beat this year.

Steve (No, He’s Not Joe Montana) Young is one of the most exciting players in the NFL. He is a Fran Tarkenton with wide receiver speed.

And Rickey Watters gives the 49ers a dimension not seen since Roger Craig was in his prime several years ago. Watters ran for 104 yards in 19 carries and caught eight passes for 84 yards against the Patriots.

But Miami-Atlanta still would have been better.

DARK DAY

The Falcons may be having some second thoughts about Jerry Glanville’s choice of jersey color.

Cornerback Bobby Butler noted that the 87-degree heat in Miami bothered the team in the 21-17 loss to the Dolphins, and pointed out, “We had on the hot black jerseys and they were wearing their cool white jerseys and aqua pants.�

Andre Rison expressed displeasure with the officiating, saying, “Maybe it’s because we wear black.�

NAMES AND NUMBERS

Warren Moon’s five touchdowns moved him ahead of George Blanda for the team career record of 169. . . . Lorenzo White’s 149 yards rushing was the most by an Oiler back since Oct. 11, 1981, when Earl Campbell ran for 186 in a 35-17 victory over Seattle. . . . The Bengals lost quarterback Boomer Esiason to a bruised passing arm in the fourth quarter. He is listed as questionable for next week.

Indianapolis linebacker Tony Walker sang the national anthem before the 6-3 victory over the New York Jets and the Colts are 4-0 when one of their players sings the anthem before a game. Steve Knight sang before the three previous victories. . . . Freeman McNeil of the Jets gained four yards on the first offensive play of the second half, becoming the 15th player in NFL history to rush for more than 8,000 yards.

New York Giant linebacker Corey Miller had the first interception of his two-year pro career. On the play, Miller tried to lateral to defensive back Mark Collins, who sprained his left ankle on the play and was forced out of the game. . . . Giant linebacker Lawrence Taylor suffered a pinched nerve in his neck and a bruised hand, but continued to play.

The return of Cleveland’s Kevin Mack from a pulled calf muscle proved painful for the Steelers. Three Pittsburgh players were injured on plays when Mack carried the ball: nose tackle Gerald Williams sprained his knee, and safety Larry Griffin and linebacker Greg Lloyd also were shaken up. . . . The Browns’ offensive line has made great strides since giving up 11 sacks in the season opener. Mike Tomczak was sacked once Sunday, the only sack the Browns have given up in the last three games.

Miami’s Dan Marino didn’t throw a touchdown pass Sunday, only the 18th time in his 10-year career that has happened.

Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas sacked Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham three times, the fifth time in his career he had three or more in a game.

San Francisco’s Jerry Rice scored the 99th touchdown of his career, one behind Franco Harris for seventh place on the career list.

The Cowboys’ Lin Elliot has made 100 consecutive extra-point attempts dating to his days at Texas Tech.

THE LAST WORDS

Miami linebacker John Offerdahl: “We have to realize we’re 5-0, but we’re not God’s gift to football.�

Atlanta Coach Jerry Glanville on Dan Marino, who rallied the Dolphins to victory over the Falcons: “Nothing changes. He’s the best.�

San Francisco quarterback Steve Young, on the 49ers’ victory over the Patriots: “You can look at the glass as being half full or half empty. You can say we came back when we needed to, or that we made a lot of mistakes. It’s half full as far as I’m concerned.�

New England quarterback Hugh Millen: “We made a better account of ourselves, but nobody walks into the door at 10 o’clock Sunday morning and says, ‘Boy, I hope we make a good account of ourselves.’ At this point, we’re still winless.�

Seattle Coach Tom Flores, on why the Seahawks ran out the clock instead of passing at the end of a 27-0 loss to Dallas: “We just wanted to get out of town. This one was over.�

New York Giant offensive coordinator Jim Fassel on 31-21 victory over Phoenix: “Sometimes the best way to win a game is not to beat yourself.�

TONIGHT’S GAME

DENVER (4-1) at WASHINGTON (2-2)

Time: 6 p.m. TV: Channel 7, 3, 10, 42

What was the the most-asked question in the nation’s capital this week?

A) Who will come out on top in the debate?

B) Can Bush overcome Clinton’s lead in the polls?

C) How did you vote on the cable-TV bill, Senator?

D) What’s wrong with the Redskins?

Actually, the only thing that kept the defending Super Bowl champions from being 3-1 is a poor fourth quarter in a 27-24 loss to the Phoenix Cardinals last week.

And if Washington shows any weakness in the fourth quarter tonight, Denver quarterback John Elway is the man who can take advantage.

Elway rallied the Broncos to a 20-19 victory over Kansas City last week with two touchdown passes in the last four minutes, but the Broncos’ 4-1 record is not as glossy as it looks. Denver has given up more points (75) than it has scored (70).

This will be Elway’s first appearance against the Redskins since Super Bowl XXII (Washington 42, Denver 10) after the 1987 season.

The Broncos did beat the Redskins, 14-10, in a 1989 Monday night game at RFK Stadium, but Elway was ill. He either had flu or got food poisoning while dining at the White House. He’s not sure which, but he didn’t visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this time.

When the Redskins beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl, they did it with a 35-point second quarter. When Doug Williams wasn’t throwing touchdown passes, Washington’s huge offensive line was pushing around Denver’s smallish defensive line, allowing Tim Smith to run for a Super Bowl-record 204 yards.

Williams and Smith are long gone, but the size inequalities remain.

“We’re not a big team up front, and we rely more on our quickness,� Denver Coach Dan Reeves said. “We realize they’re going to test us on the run, and our linebackers have got to help and our safeties have got to help.�