Game Day

Question: Why are the Saints a good bet to go 3-0?

Answer: Motivation. Seventeen of the 53 players on New Orleans’ roster were there when Jim Mora quit, walking away from a 2-6 team, returning now as coach of the Colts.

“When I’m tired and sucking wind, I’ll look across the field and see him and get a second wind,� said fullback Ray Zellars, suspended by Mora for a game for cussing him out in practice. “He’ll be my biggest inspiration.�

Q: Is there a secret to being successful against Barry Sanders?

A: Don’t make him upset. Viking safety Orlando Thomas explains: “Last year in Detroit, I put a little extra hit on him, and I don’t think Barry liked it. He gave me a look--a look like he was mad. Then he just started tearing it up, going even harder. I found out that the worst thing you can do with Barry Sanders is to make him mad. . . . [You want to tackle him] as quickly and quietly as possible.�

Q: Aren’t the Giants better than the Chargers?

A: Of course, but the Giants have lost seven consecutive games on the West Coast since winning the 1990 NFC championship game in San Francisco, and now they are in San Diego. They last won a road game against an AFC West opponent in 1989--in Denver.

Q: How bad is the Eagles’ offense?

A: The Eagles have scored 15 points in three games--their worst start since 1939 when they scored three points in three games, but stood 0-2-1, tying the Brooklyn Dodgers 0-0--that’s how long it has been.

Q: Why is everybody so down on Redskin wide receiver Michael Westbrook?

A: In addition to beating up teammate Stephen Davis, being penalized at crucial times and not living up to expectations, recently he missed practice because he was sick but was spotted later in the day at a local circus.

Teammate Brian Mitchell was asked on a radio show about it, and Mitchell said, what was he supposed to do, stay home? Yes.

Coach Norv Turner benched him for the team’s first two offensive series last week as punishment.