First, how about a round of applause for the No. 9 Detroit Lions? After seeing their 19-game losing streak come to a tragic end, the always-say-die Lions went out and started a new one with a 24-48 defeat to Chicago.

Winless and hopeless St. Louis, meanwhile, took over first place by shutting itself out against San Francisco. The 49ers seem to bring out the worst in the Lambs. It was two decades ago that Jim Everett, the Lambs shell-shocked quarterback, registered a rare self-sack against the 49ers, falling to the ground when no one hit him en route to a 3-30 beating.

This year, the Lambs have rolled up 24 points in four games, which puts them on a pace to score 96. That would break the record for fewest points in a 16-game season (140 by Seattle in 1992).

Oakland, averaging all of 10 points per game, travels to New Jersey to play the Giants and the first 20 rows of the stadium will be empty to minimize the chances of an errant JaMarcus Russell pass skulling a spectator.

Wreck, Record; Last Loss; Next Loss

1. St. Louis (0-4); 0-35, San Francisco; Minnehaha

2. Oakland (1-3); 6-29, Houston; N.J. Giants

3. Cleveland (0-4); 20-23, Cincinnati; Buffalo

4. Grampa Bay (0-4); 13-16, Washington; Philadelphia

5. Kansas City (0-4); 16-27, N.J. Giants; Dallas

6. Tennessee (0-4); 7. Dallas (2-2); 8. Miami (Fla.) (1-3); 9.Detroit (1-3); 10. Jacksonville (leads NFL in most season tickets canceled since last year -- 17,000.)

Crummy game of the week: Dallas (2-2) at Kansas City (0-4).

Rout of the week: Oakland (1-3) at N.J. Giants (4-0).

Special citation: Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour was fined $7,500 for pulling the hair of Denver tackle Ryan Clady after a play. Girls, girls . . .

Fantasy flops: RB Adrian Peterson (Minn.) 25 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD; QB Mark Sanchez (N.J. Jets), 14 of 27 for 138 yards with three interceptions, no TDs; RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville), 6 carries, 14 yards, 1 TD.