Quick Kicks

So what’s the good news?

St. Louis started the NFL’s first all-rookie backfield since 1976 Sunday with Tony Banks at quarterback, Lawrence Phillips at tailback and Derrick Harris at fullback.

Phillips, the first-round draft pick of the Rams, gained 26 yards on 10 carries. The controversial former University of Nebraska star has only 136 yards on 59 carries overall.

On Nov. 28, 1976, Richard Todd, Louie Giammona and Clark Gaines started for the New York Jets in a 33-16 loss to the Baltimore Colts.

Catch these stats

Cris Carter became the 14th player in NFL history to catch 600 passes and the 20th with 70 touchdown catches as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Carolina Panthers.

Carter reached 600 catches with his first reception, an 8-yarder in the first quarter. He scored both of the Vikings’ touchdowns, reaching 70 with a 3-yarder early in the third quarter to give Minnesota a 14-0 lead.

Papa Bear mail

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the new George Halas stamp, which will be issued in 1997. The 32-cent stamp, depicting the former Chicago Bears coach on the sideline at a game, is the first ever to honor a pro football coach.

Still getting his kicks

Nick Lowery of the New York Jets tied the NFL career field goal record of his idol, Jan Stenerud, by making a 24-yarder in the third quarter against the Raiders.

Lowery’s 373rd field goal made the score 13-6 in favor of Oakland. Earlier, he kicked a 43-yarder.

Now in his 17th NFL season, Lowery is the career leader in field goal percentage. He has made 373 of 465 (80 percent), including 7 for 10 this season.

New stadium drive

The Detroit Lions want to call the stadium they hope to build the Motordome and they are asking the major automakers to contribute a combined $40 million to help build it, The Detroit News reported.

“The plan was outlined to all three of the automakers,” a senior auto executive briefed on the Motordome plan told the newspaper. “They want to name a stadium gate after each company.”

The Lions have proposed building a stadium near a new Detroit Tigers baseball stadium in a 40-acre, $485 million complex.

Old Moon rising

Warren Moon moved past Dan Fouts into third place on the NFL’s career passing yardage list.

Moon threw for 209 yards against Carolina, giving him 43,105 in 13 NFL seasons. He needs 3,899 more to pass former Viking Fran Tarkenton into second place behind Dan Marino.

By the numbers

Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell set a franchise record by completing 13 consecutive passes in the first half. … Since 1984, San Francisco is 23-9-1 when its backup quarterback starts. … The 49ers have scored in a league-record 295 straight games. … The last time the Packers beat the Bears five straight times was 1960-62. … Guard Jim Dombrowski set the New Orleans record for consecutive games played with his 143rd. … Adrian Murrell became the first Jets running back to gain 100-plus yards in consecutive games since Freeman McNeil did it 1987.