The Houston Texans have a four-game winning streak for the first time in franchise history. After a 0-4 start, the Texans are 7-3. They play at Oakland and host Chicago to finish the season. If they win out, they'll finish with a franchise-best 9-7 record. Coach Gary Kubiak looked to be on his way out for much of the season, but the turnaround has likely saved his job. Of course, now expectations will be sky high for next season. So Kubiak's time off the hot-seat will be short-lived.

WHO'S NOT

Jim Zorn was a favorite for coach of the year as his Washington Redskins started 6-2 with victories over New Orleans, Dallas, Philadelphia and Arizona. The Redskins have since lost five of six games. The only victory was by a field goal over 3-11 Seattle. "There's so much frustration right now, I don't know if I can talk anymore," said receiver Santana Moss. Don't know if Zorn will have a job anymore, either. Daniel Snyder, the George Steinbrenner of the NFL, isn't a patient man.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Former Packers cornerback Frank Walker, now a backup with the Baltimore Ravens, admitted he spit in the face of Pittsburgh Steelers punter Mitch Berger during Sunday's game, but said it was unintentional. "It was just a slobber moment," Walker said. "Yeah, say it, don't spray it." Berger and kicker Jeff Reed didn't buy Walker's explanation. "I had my mouth open and was about to say something when he spit right on me," Berger told Pittsburgh reporters. "It wasn't something that happens by accident when you're talking sometimes. There was the full noise. He made the full spitting noise. I was trying to tell the ref the guy spit on me. Look at my facemask. It was shocking. I was surprised. We came face to face when I was reacting to come between him and Jeff. I have no reason to make something like that up. He knows it happened." NFL spokesman Corry Rush said in an e-mail that there was no visual evidence of the exchange.

BY THE NUMBERS

$1 million Amount of money earned by receiver Jerry Porter for each of the 10 games he played this season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. With a $10 million guaranteed salary this season, Porter may have been the worst free-agent signing of the year. He caught 11 passes so that's just slightly less than a $1 million a catch.

19 League-leading sacks by Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Heading into tonight's game against the Baltimore Ravens, Ware is chasing former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan's NFL record for sacks with 22.5 seven years ago. Ware has recorded the most sacks in a season since Strahan and has already tied Mark Gastineau (New York Jets, 1983), Bruce Smith (Buffalo Bills, 1990) and Clyde Simmons (Philadelphia Eagles, 1992) for the eighth-most sacks in one year in league history.

752 Yards New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees needs in the final two games to break Dan Marino's single-season league record of 5,084 yards set in 1984. "That's a huge record," Brees said. "Would it be an honor to break it? Yes. Would it be something we could all share in? Absolutely."

GAME OF THE WEEK

Carolina Panthers (11-3) at New York Giants (11-3) The two best teams in the NFC meet with home field at stake. The Panthers have never played a game where a victory meant they could stay home throughout the postseason. All three times they've played in the NFC Championship Game in their 14-year history, they've been on the road. The Panthers definitely want to stay home at Bank of America Stadium. They're 8-0 there for the first time since '96.

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