(Sports Network) - One thing about the National Football League is that it is a league of copycats. If one team finds success a certain way, other teams are sure to try it themselves. So surely the San Francisco 49ers knew that Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens have all made it the Super Bowl during the past nine seasons with less-than-stellar signal-callers, with Tampa Bay and Baltimore claiming titles with the likes of Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer, respectively, under center.

Having a running back the caliber of Frank Gore allowed the 49ers to take a chance on journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan at quarterback to start the season. Banking on an improved defense, the 49ers must have thought that if O'Sullivan could do enough not to lose games -- just complete passes and not turn the ball over -- they might have a shot at a playoff run.

Yet, through three games O'Sullivan has far exceeded the expectations head coach Mike Nolan and offensive coordinator Mike Martz could have had for him. He threw for 189 yards and two touchdown passes in Sunday's 31-13 win over Detroit, a victory that pushed San Francisco to 2-1 on the season and into a first-place tie with Arizona in the NFC West.

Coupled with its 33 points scored in Week 2, San Francisco's offense, which at one time contained the likes of Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Roger Craig, posted back-to-back 30-point efforts for the first time since 2003.

While O'Sullivan hasn't been lighting up the stat sheet on his own -- he has thrown three TD passes through three contests and is averaging 235 passing yards per game -- his solid, low-risk play has benefited an offense that couldn't find consistency with Alex Smith and coincidentally, Dilfer taking most of the snaps in 2007.

Nolan said one of the keys for O'Sullivan, who is playing with his fifth different team in six seasons, is that he isn't forcing things.

"It's not really that complicated," Nolan added. "It's just that (O'Sullivan's) a good player and he continues to get better. The guys around him continue to be more accountable and that's critical to J.T.s success as well."

O'Sullivan's solid play and ability to complete passes has perhaps most benefited Gore early on. After setting franchise records in carries (312), rushing yards (1,695) and total yards from scrimmage (2,180) in 2006, Gore's numbers slipped a bit last year as teams decided to focus on stopping him while letting Smith and Dilfer try to beat them.

"The passing game is a whole lot better (this year)," said Gore. "The more we throw the ball, the more the receiver catches the ball, the better it's going to be for me in the run game. Whatever it takes to win, I'm with it."

The former Miami-Florida running back posted 1,102 rushing yards and saw his touchdown total slip from eight to five in 2007, but has been finding space so far this year. Through three games, Gore has totaled 287 rushing yards, three touchdowns and another 125 yards through the air.

NOTES: O'Sullivan was sacked 12 times through the first two games, but was taken down just once versus Detroit...First-year 49er Isaac Bruce played in his 200th game on Sunday...Cornerback/punt returner Allen Rossum played the first offensive down of his career on Sunday and scored on a one-yard end- around. It was the eighth touchdown of his career.

INJURIES: Offensive lineman Jonas Jennings (shoulder) missed the Lion game due to a shoulder injury. Barry Sims, signed as a free agent before the season, started at right tackle in his place. Cornerback Shawntae Spencer is battling a knee injury.

WEEK 4: The 49ers head east to take on the 1-2 New Orleans Saints on Sunday. New Orleans has won its last four tests against San Francisco, which hasn't defeated the Saints since the 2001 season.

SEAHAWKS: TURN TO THE GROUND GAME

What do you do if you have a quarterback coming off a training-camp back injury and six wideouts currently injured? How about get the running game going.

Seattle churned out 245 total yards on the ground in a Week 3 victory over St. Louis, the club's first win of the season (1-2). The Seahawks got 140 yards and a score out of Julius Jones, while backup T.J. Duckett added two more short touchdown runs.

Seattle struggled last year with a broken-down Shaun Alexander in the backfield, but on Sunday the team displayed a power and speed combination similar to Alexander's 2005 MVP season, though it took two players to do it.

Still minus receivers Bobby Engram (shoulder) and Deion Branch (knee) as well as running back Maurice Morris due to injuries, Seattle got 41 combined carries out of Jones and Duckett. That helped limit the load on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who had attempted 77 passes through the first two games -- completing 35 of them -- before going 12-for-20 on pass tries Sunday.

The play of Jones should land him the bulk of the carries from here on out, even when Morris returns from a knee injury. The former Cowboy has rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games, and his 140 total yards were his most in a contest since he posted 194 versus Carolina on December 24, 2005.

His effort was also a part of Seattle's largest output on the ground since they posted a club-record 320 rushing yards versus the Houston Texans on October 16, 2005.

Seattle now heads into its bye week and will try to get healthier at the wideout spot. However, even when Branch and Engram return, Jones is establishing himself as a work horse for Seattle.

"I think we are starting to play better," Hasselbeck said. "And it looks like some of the injured players might begin to practice, so there (are) positives all around."

Throw in Duckett, whose 19 carries were his most in a single game since he ran the ball 19 times versus Detroit in 2005 while with Atlanta, and Seattle should be able to give Hasselbeck some offensive help, even if he has no one to throw to.

NOTES: At 1-2, Seattle is a game back of Arizona and San Francisco for first place in the NFC West...Wide receiver Keary Colbert, acquired from Denver earlier in the week, had one catch for eight yards...Head coach Mike Holmgren posted the 171st win of his coaching career, tied with Joe Gibbs for 10th all- time.

INJURIES: In addition to Engram and Branch, newly-signed wideout Koren Robinson was inactive due to a knee ailment as he tries to get into football shape. Wide receivers Logan Payne, Nate Burleson and Ben Obomanu are all on injured reserve. Cornerback Kelly Jennings played on Sunday despite a rib injury.

WEEK 4: Seattle is off this weekend and then plays in New York against the Giants on October 5.



ST. LOUIS: MORE CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE

It is officially time to blow things up in St. Louis.

Yes, the season is only three weeks old, but that has been enough time for the powers-that-be who run the team to see that things aren't working in the current form.

How bad has the Rams' second 0-3 start in two years under head coach Scott Linehan been? The club has been outscored 116-29 and is allowing 456.7 yards per game, worst in the NFL. It doesn't help that St. Louis' 202.3 offensive yards per game is the second-worst total in the NFL.

The Rams have scored just two offensive touchdowns, a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Marc Bulger to Torry Holt and Dane Looker, and have trailed two of their games by large margins heading into halftime.

Rumors on Monday had the Oakland Raiders ready to fire head coach Lane Kiffin, but is there a head coach who deserves the ax more than Linehan?

The infighting has already begun -- Holt called out his offensive line late last week -- and Linehan has been unable to get Bulger and Steven Jackson going. While the embattled head coach can't go out there himself and block for his Pro Bowl quarterback and running back, the blame falls on him as the sideline general.

Linehan is just 11-24 in his two-plus years as St. Louis' head coach. He was already recently warned by management that changes will come if the Rams don't improve.

The Rams' coach was asked on Monday if he was considering trying something different for this weekend's game and responded, "Yeah, I think we'd be crazy if we didn't try something different because what we've done for the first three weeks is not working."

Crazy was the right word, as Linehan named Trent Green the starting quarterback for this Sunday's test with Buffalo. Green started five games with the Dolphins last year, throwing for 987 yards and five scores while getting picked off seven times.

In an effort to save his job, it appears as if Linehan has pushed the panic button.

NOTES: Jackson rushed for a season-high 66 yards versus Seattle and has totaled just 159 yards on the ground so far this year...The Rams trailed 27-6 at halftime versus Seattle. The club fell behind 21-0 at the half in Week 1 versus Philadelphia...Former Seattle kicker Josh Brown faced his former team for the first time on Sunday, connecting on both of his field goal attempts.

INJURIES: Defensive end Leonard Little and guard Jacob Bell were both out on Sunday due to hamstring injuries. Offensive tackle Orlando Pace suffered a strained groin and the extent of the injury is unknown. Running back Antonio Pittman suffered a sprained lower leg versus Seattle, while guard Richie Incognito injured his knee. Pittman will be out for a bit, according to Linehan, with Brian Leonard replacing him as Jackson's backup.

WEEK 4: With or without Linehan, the Rams return home to face the 3-0 Buffalo Bills this Sunday. Buffalo has won four of its last five versus St. Louis and leads the all-time series, 5-4. These clubs haven't met since 2004 and haven't squared off in St. Louis since 1995.



ARIZONA: OFFICIALS AGAIN IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Cardinals' 24-17 loss to Washington could have been a lot different. And much like the Chargers-Broncos fiasco from a week ago, the NFL officials were again in the center of a debate.

Down 7-0 in the first quarter, Arizona faced a 4th-and-1 at the Washington 41- yard line and elected to go for it. Quarterback Kurt Warner then connected with Ben Patrick on a pass play that looked to be a game-tying touchdown for the Cardinals. Except that the refs had already blown the whistle for a delay of game.

Warner didn't agree.

"There's no doubt in my mind I got the play off," said Warner after the setback that dropped the Cardinals to 2-1 and into a tie for first place with the 49ers in the NFC West.

Usually very calm and collected, Warner was visibly upset after the call. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt agreed with Warner that there was one second left on the play clock.

So instead of there being a tie game, the Cardinals, now backed up five yards, punted.

Now, obviously Arizona's two turnovers on the day hurt the club more than the Arizona-viewed blown call, especially Warner's interception late in the game that led to Washington's tie-breaking touchdown. However, it was just the latest incident in what has been a rough season so far for NFL officials.

NOTES: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald hauled in a 62-yard touchdown catch versus Washington, the second-longest scoring play of his career. His longest reception came last weekend versus Miami, a 75-yard catch...Wideout Jerheme Urban, who played quarterback in high school, completed an 18-yard pass to running back Tim Hightower in the game...The Cardinals failed to score at least 20 points for the first time in 11 games. Their 10-game streak was the longest active run in the league...Arizona was attempting to start out 3-0 for the first time since 1974.

INJURIES: Defensive end Bertrand Berry suffered a groin injury early on Sunday but played in most of the game. He should be able to play this weekend.

WEEK 4: The Cardinals continue their East Coast tour with a game versus the New York Jets on Sunday. Arizona hasn't faced the Jets since 2004 and has lost each of its last four matchups against them. The Cards will be playing the Jets on the road for the first time since 1999.



















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