The Rushing is Coming! The Rushing Is Coming!

1.

Question: Who has the best chance of winning down the stretch?

Answer: That’s an easy one. Teams that can run the ball. In the last five weeks, 33 players have run for 100 or more yards. Thirty of those performances have been in victories.

2.

Q: If you were having the kind of success Mike Ditka is having, how would your boss react?

A: Guess. In the last four seasons on the job, including his final year with Chicago, Ditka has a 19-42 record.

3.

Q: Is there anything to those Matt Millen-to-San Francisco as general manager rumors?

A: Of course there is, because everyone is denying them. Coach Steve Mariucci cannot coexist with General Manager Bill Walsh, so either Walsh or Mariucci must go. Last year there was talk of Millen going to Detroit as GM with the intention of luring Mariucci one day as his coach.

“Matt’s a good friend of mine,” Mariucci said. “I think he’d be great in some front office.”

The off-season power struggle between Walsh and Mariucci should be more competitive than any of the games played by the 49ers this season.

4.

Q: Time for Arizona to make its playoff push?

A: No. Sure, they were 6-7 a year ago, then finished 9-7 and advanced to the playoffs, but this team lacks one little attribute--it can’t score.

The Cardinals have not scored a touchdown on offense in the first quarter of any game this season. So much for practice. They rank 30th among 31 teams in the league in offense.

5.

Q: How old is Washington cornerback Darrell Green?

A: Old enough that he will be playing against his third second-generation player, after having played against the father, when the Redskins play the Colts.

He intercepted a pass by Archie Manning in 1984, when Manning was playing for Minnesota, and will now be matched against Manning’s son, Peyton.

He also played against Dallas running back Tony Dorsett and his son, Tennessee Titan cornerback Anthony Dorsett, as well as Dallas running back Ron Springs and his Seattle son, cornerback Shawn Springs.

By the way, Green is 39.

6.

Q: What’s the truth about Brad Johnson’s arm?

A: Johnson has thrown 10 interceptions in the last six games after suffering two in his first seven games. There have been Internet rumors that Johnson is hiding an arm injury.

“You can’t stop rumors,” Johnson said.

That’s why it’s being mentioned here.