The Nickel Package

5 ACTIVE HEISMAN TROPHY WINNERS

Carson Palmer, Cincinnati, QB -- Could be the NFL’s most valuable player.

* Ron Dayne, Denver, RB -- Third-string running back behind Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell.

* Ricky Williams, Miami, RB -- Doesn’t play much behind rookie Ronnie Brown.

* Vinny Testaverde, New York Jets, QB -- 42-year-old quarterback is now a third-stringer.

* Chris Weinke, Carolina, QB -- Has a 118.2 rating this season ... on eight passes thrown.

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5 LOCKS

* Carolina over New Orleans -- Panthers have all the incentive they need to win this one.

* Jacksonville over San Francisco -- The 49ers have lost 21 of their last 23 road games.

* Seattle over Tennessee -- All four Titan victories have been against last-place teams.

* Cincinnati over Detroit -- At stake for the Bengals: their first division crown since 1990.

* Miami over New York Jets -- Dolphins will end three-game losing streak to Jets.

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5 NO. 1 NIGHTMARES

* Alex Smith, San Francisco -- Lowest rookie passer rating of any top pick, 24.7.

* Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh -- Future star had a 30.4 rating as a rookie in 1970.

* John Elway, Denver -- Didn’t make things look easy with a 54.9 rating in 1983.

* Eli Manning, New York Giants -- His 55.4 rating in 2004 had to make the Chargers smile.

* Troy Aikman, Dallas -- He got off to a rough start in his great career: a 55.7 rating.

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5 STARS: AFC BACKUP QBS

* * * * * Jon Kitna, Cincinnati -- Respectable understudy to red-hot Carson Palmer.

* * * * Philip Rivers, San Diego -- Not much experience, but massive trade value.

* * * Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh -- Ex-Detroit starter is 1-1 as a Steeler fill-in in 2005.

* * Jim Sorgi, Indianapolis -- Huge drop-off from Manning, but who wouldn’t be?

Bradlee Van Pelt, Denver -- Rookie has never thrown a pass in an NFL game.

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5 TELLING STATISTICS

* Since picking off Peyton Manning’s pass in the first quarter of a Week 12 matchup with the Colts, Pittsburgh’s defense has not had a take-away in 11 quarters.

* The Vikings have a plus-14 turnover differential in their six-game winning streak.

* San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson has scored 25 touchdowns in his last 15 road games, seven in his last two.

* Peyton Manning has thrown for 787 yards and four touchdowns in his last two games against the Chargers.

* Bear quarterback Kyle Orton has completed 67.9% of his passes in the fourth quarter of the last six games.

SOURCE: STATS LLC