adrian peterson

You might not need all the fingers on one hand to count the quarterbacks who grew up in Texas and went on to achieve greatness in the NFL. But you need both hands to count the running backs.

Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson is the latest in a long line of outstanding runners who were born in Texas or grew up in the Lone Star State before they accomplished great things in the NFL.

Peterson, who was raised in Palestine and played at Oklahoma, averages 105.7 yards rushing. He is on a pace for 1,691, which would rank as the second-best total in NFL history for a rookie behind Eric Dickerson, another Texas native.

Dickerson, who grew up in Sealy and played at SMU, rushed for 1,803 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1983.

This season, Peterson is the NFL's second-best back from Texas behind LaDainian Tomlinson, who grew up in Waco and played at TCU before being voted the league's most valuable player last season for the San Diego Chargers.

"As far as my playing style, I'd say I'm most like LaDainian," Peterson said. "I feel like my game is similar as far as his cutting ability and his vision."

Barring injury, Peterson should become the fourth Texas back to rush for at least 1,200 yards as a rookie. Earl Campbell, who was born in Tyler and played at the University of Texas, rushed for 1,450 with the Oilers in 1978. Tomlinson rushed for 1,236 in 2001.

By the way, Campbell and Dickerson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So are Doak Walker, who grew up in Dallas and played at SMU before Detroit drafted him, and Thurman Thomas, who grew up in Houston and played at Oklahoma State before going to Buffalo.

Ollie Matson, another member of the Hall of Fame, was born in Trinity, but his family moved to California when he was a child.

Billy Sims, a Hooks native who played at Oklahoma and Detroit, would be in the Hall of Fame if a knee injury had not cut short his career with the Lions.

Priest Holmes, who grew up in San Antonio and played at Texas, won a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens before becoming one of the league's best backs with Kansas City.


Patriots make their point
The Patriots have scored 149 points in their last three games. That's the most in the NFL in a three-game span since the Rams scored 163 in 1950.

The Rams averaged 38.8 points per game in 1950, making them the highest-scoring team in history. The Patriots average 41.4.


Behind closed doors
To prepare for the Patriots, the Colts shut down practice to local media.

"We're going to the wishbone, and we didn't want anybody to know," coach Tony Dungy said. "Now that the secret's out, maybe we'll open it back up.

"We're changing everything around. We're coming out with some new stuff, and we didn't want anybody to know."

Dungy was kidding.


Wayne's world no fun
The Dolphins are 0-8 for the first time.

They have an 11-game losing streak. Naturally, owner Wayne Huizenga isn't happy.

"I've spent millions and millions and millions," he said. "It's not about money to us. It's about winning.

"When you're in sports, there's nothing else that matters. I can't win from the owner's suite. We have to pick the right people."

Since 2000, the Dolphins have drafted 58 players, and the only one who has made the Pro Bowl ― receiver Chris Chambers ― was traded to San Diego last month.


No passing fancy
Since they beat New Orleans 31-14 on Sept. 24, the Titans haven't thrown a touchdown pass.

That's a streak of four consecutive games ― three started by Vince Young and one by Kerry Collins.

Young had two touchdown passes dropped in the victory over the Raiders last week.


A Giant turnaround
After their 0-2 start in which they were outscored 80-48 by the Cowboys and Packers, the Giants are 6-2.

The last team to be 6-2 after an 0-2 start was the 1993 Cowboys, who finished the regular season 12-4 and won the Super Bowl.


No home edge for Broncos
Beginning with the AFC Championship Game loss to Pittsburgh after the 2005 season, the Broncos are 6-8 at home, including 2-3 this season.

Denver is about to play six road games during an eight-week stretch.

The Broncos and Rams are the only teams that play six of eight on the road. The Texans were the only team to do it last season.

"It might be good for us to get on the road a little bit and play against some loud crowds that are against us," receiver Brandon Marshall said. "Home games are a little more laid-back, but road games are all business."


King of the road
Since Mike McCarthy became Packers coach, they have an 8-3 record on the road, including 3-0 this season.

In their first 11 games on the road, Vince Lombardi was 6-5, Mike Holmgren 4-7 and Mike Sherman 4-7.

Dating to last season, the Packers are 10-1 in their last 11 games, home and road.


Long time coming
Kansas City hosts Green Bay today, and the Chiefs are the only team Brett Favre hasn't beaten.

He is 0-3 against the Chiefs. He has five touchdown passes, five interceptions and 11 sacks.

"I can't wait," Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen said about playing against Favre. "I'm hoping to sack Brett Favre so bad, and then I'm going to ask for his autograph. Either way, I'm asking for his autograph."

Cornerback Ty Law is hoping to intercept Favre.

"That's the one Hall of Famer I don't (have)," Law said about not intercepting Favre. "I have some of the great ones in Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Steve Young, (Troy) Aikman. I've got them all, but I do not have Brett Favre. I would love to add him to the résumé. He's going down as the greatest of all time.

"Brett, if you're listening and you want to give a handout, I'll take it."


Turnover problem
The Buccaneers began 4-2. Quarterback Jeff Garcia didn't throw an interception. They were plus-6 in turnover ratio.

Tampa Bay has lost its last two games. Garcia has thrown three interceptions and lost two fumbles. The Bucs are minus-5 in turnover ratio.


Hot pace for duos
Six teams have two receivers on a pace for 1,000 yards, which would tie for second most in history behind seven in 1999.

The most combined yards by two receivers with at least 1,000 was 3,174 by Detroit's Herman Moore and Brett Perriman in 1995. The only other twosome to have at least 3,000 was St. Louis' Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, who combined for 3,106 in 2000.

The six twosomes on a pace for 1,000 each are New England's Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Cincinnati's Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cleveland's Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, Dallas' Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, San Diego's Antonio Gates and Chris Chambers, and Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe.

Winslow, Witten, Gates and Gonzalez are tight ends.


Impressive combinations
Today's New England-Indianapolis game features the two winningest coach-quarterback combinations since the merger in 1970.

Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy have compiled a .770 winning percentage (67-20 record). Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are .765 (78-24).

Ken Stabler and John Madden of Oakland are third at .756 (60-19-1).


Bengals defense-less
One reason the Bengals are 2-5 is because they are 28th in pass defense, allowing 246.4 yards per game.

Cincinnati has allowed opposing quarterbacks to compile a rating of 100.6, the highest in the NFL.

Quarterbacks are 155-of-234 (66.2 percent) for 1,795 yards. They have 18 touchdown passes and eight interceptions against the Bengals.


Browns are hot
The Browns are 4-3 and better than .500 for the first time since 2004 when they started 1-0.

Their four victories have been against teams that are 6-24, including winless Miami and St. Louis.


Quotable
"Probably, maybe go to a fantasy camp or something like that; downside would probably be, I think, kind."

― Vikings coach Brad Childress on what he would tell Jeff George about the former quarterback being interested in signing with Minnesota.

"Just keeping the Ferrari in the garage today."

― Titans OLB Keith Bulluck on sitting out practice because of a thigh injury.

"We've had tea and (crumpets) No, T.O. and I have talked. It's an issue which we both don't want to go into, and, hopefully, we'll both avoid."

― Eagles QB Donovan McNabb on making up with WR Terrell Owens, his former teammate.


By the numbers
The Chiefs are the only team to limit opponents to 20 or fewer points in every game. ... Since 1992, Bill Cowher's first season as coach, the Steelers have won 11 consecutive home games on Monday night. ... Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is 9-0 in Ohio. ... Pittsburgh's Willie Parker is the league's only back with five 100-yard games. ... In two games against the Ravens last season, Roethlisberger was sacked 14 times. ... Saints quarterback Drew Brees is 3-0 against the 49ers. He has 858 yards and six touchdowns in those three games. ... Last season, the Browns had 16 touchdown passes. This season, Derek Anderson has 17. ... The Raiders rushed for 777 yards in the first four games and 190 in their last three. ... The Jets lost both games to the Bills for the first time since 1997. ... The Packers are 10-1 over their last 11 games. ... In their 31 seasons of existence, the Bucs have never returned a kickoff for a touchdown. ... Since 2000, Vikings safety Darren Sharper has a league-leading 46 interceptions. ... In the Bills' first three games, they allowed 458 yards and 26 points per game. In their last four games, they have surrendered 323.5 yards and 14 points per game. ... Miami has scored one first-quarter TD in its last 12 games.

John McClain covers the Texans and the NFL for the Chronicle. He can be heard on 610 AM on Monday at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday at 10 a.m. and Friday at 4:30 p.m. john.mcclain@chron