Quick Kicks

Coach can’t bear it

Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt was visibly agitated in his postgame news conference.

He called the Bears’ inability to stop the Vikings’ game-winning two-minute drive “disgusting.” On the turnovers, he said: “It’s almost too damned simple, that’s what it is. We lost the turnover battle twice and we lose two games.”

More head injuries

With San Francisco’s Steve Young already on the sidelines and being encouraged by some to retire because of his repeated concussions, another NFLquarterback had to leave a game because of a concussion Sunday.

Chris Chandler of Atlanta was hit in the head in the second quarter of the Falcons’ game against Carolina, and wasn’t able to return.

New York Giants receiver Ike Hilliard, the No. 7 pick overall out of Florida, injured his neck in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hold the dog jokes for now

Sunday marked the Superdome return of Bleu, the Australian shepherd used by the Saints to fetch the kicking tee from the playing field after kickoffs.

Bleu had performed at Houston games the past three seasons, but the dog became available when the Oilers moved to Tennessee.

Saints kicker Doug Brien was booed on the opening kickoff, picking up the tee before the dog could get to it.

Former Cougar hurt

Eagles rookie linebacker James Darling, a former Washington State University star, injured his right quadricep muscle in the third period and did not return.

Oh, those kickers

Baltimore’s Matt Stover made all three of his field goal attempts and became the NFL’s career field goal percentage leader at .8048 (minimum 100 field goals). He surpassed Cincinnati’s Doug Pelfrey (.7969).

Although Chris Boniol’s streak of consecutive successful field goal tries for Philadelphia ended at 28, he has made 47 straight inside the 45 and has scored in each of his 50 games.

Atlanta’s Morten Andersen kicked two field goals, pushing his streak of consecutive scoring games to 208.

By the numbers

Since 1985, The 49ers are 23-10-1 in games started by backup quarterbacks and they have scored in an NFL-record 307 straight games… . Baltimore’s Earnest Byner ran for 75 yards, giving him 8,086 to move past Freeman McNeil into 20th place on the NFL’s career list… . New England’s David Meggett became the career punt return leader with 3,326 yards… . The Jets lost their 13th straight home game.

Noteworthy

New England’s Drew Bledsoe, another ex-WSU star, has thrown eight TD passes to eight different receivers… . Cincinnati’s loss broke a four-game winning streak, the longest for the Bengals since 1988… . Marquis Walker played cornerback for the Rams and his brother, Darnell, played cornerback for the 49ers. Both wore No. 38.

A final thought

Blame it (Chicago’s loss) if you must on Rashaan Salaam, who shed 10 pounds during the off-season while retaining all 10 of his thumbs. What does he put on those gloves, anyway, pigskin repellent?

- Bob Verdi, Chicago Tribune

, DataTimes