Jerry Rice, who has caught a pass in 165 consecutive regular-season games, talked to Stokes. "He just told me to trust my hands," Stokes said. "Everybody's pointed out to me that he went through the same situation."
Stokes will have plenty of time to relax; he dislocated his right wrist in practice Thursday and will be sidelined at least two weeks.
--Baltimore cornerback Antonio Langham has given up a touchdown pass in each of the team's six games. "It's not wearing on me," Langham said. "I'm not doubting myself. I just need to step up and make the plays. There's no need to doubt myself. I can play."
EXTRA POINTS
--The St. Louis Rams were outscored by 32 points by a team--Carolina--that had never scored more than 30 points in franchise history.
--Tampa Bay's Robb Thomas caught two touchdown passes against Minnesota for the first time since 1988--when he was playing for Oregon State against USC.
--In six games, Giant kicker Brad Daluiso has tried five extra points. In seven games, Packer kicker Chris Jacke has tried 26.
--In 1976 the NFL did not have a single 300-pounder playing in the league. In 1986 there were 13. Now, according to the league offices, there are 178.
Today, the smallest NFL offensive lineman is Houston center Mark Stepnoski, who is listed at 269.
WINNING IS . . .
Two weeks ago Philadelphia Coach Ray Rhodes made it clear how much he wanted to beat the Cowboys: He continued to play quarterback Ty Detmer, although Detmer had suffered a concussion.
Detmer called several incorrect formations because he was having trouble thinking clearly.
"Really, I was out of character in keeping the kid in the game," Rhodes said. "Normally, I wouldn't have put him back in the game. It's a gray area. It was one in which [Detmer] couldn't focus and couldn't remember a lot of things. But it was a serious enough concussion that he was out of it and a little dazed. If I had it to do over again, once I realized he was [messing] things up, I probably would have gone to Bobby [Hoying]."
Hello, is anybody home? Said Detmer: "I don't know if the coaches were asking if I wanted to come out or what. A lot of things I still don't remember."
