Showing last week why he was a first-round pick, McNown is improving in Chicago.

T. Wheatley and N. Kaufman RB, Oakland Raiders
Oakland's power/finesse duo combined for 233 yards on 27 carries and four touchdowns against Tampa Bay's normally dominant defense. The Raiders unconventionally attacked the heart of the Bucs' defense, focusing their running game between the tackles. Now that the front office has Wheatley under contract for the next three years, it must do everything possible to lock down Kaufman in the free agent signing period. Head coach Jon Gruden should get tremendous credit for the vision he had for this offense.

Cade McNown QB, Chicago Bears
In his first complete game of the season, McNown became the first rookie in franchise history to throw for over 300 yards in the team's surprising 28-10 victory over Detroit. McNown has always seen the field well but the difference last Sunday compared to the past was the patience he displayed within the system. While hooking up with former World League MVP Marcus Robinson, the ex-UCLA star proved that he is capable making all the necessary throws, regardless of where the Bears were on the field.

Tony Gonzalez TE, Kansas City Chiefs
The Tony Gonzalez Pro Bowl bandwagon steam-rolled Bill Cowher's Steelers last Saturday, as the former No. 1 pick caught six passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Gonzalez had not played up to his potential until this, his third season, but his consistent threat down the middle of the field is what makes the Chiefs' offense tough to defend. There isn't a tight end in the league that works zone defenses better than Gonzalez and his athleticism often requires opponents to cover him with a cornerback. He could end up being as good, if not better, than Denver's Shannon Sharpe.

Chad Bratzke DE, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis' prize free agent signing registered three more sacks last week against a formidable Redskins' offensive line, tying him for the franchise-record with five multiple-sack games. Bratzke, who was geared up to play one of his ex-NFC East rivals, does not have great burst or quick first-step but he's a natural play-maker that finds a way to get to the quarterback. Many skeptics passed off his production in New York as a reflection of Michael Strahan's work on the left side. With Strahan struggling through a disappointing season with the Giants, maybe that logic should be reversed.

Dainon Sydney DC, Tennessee Titans
This second-year player out of Alabama-Birmingham is the real deal. Sure, he's given up some big plays just like any other young corner in the league. But Sydney has something that all teams covet-size. In the Titans' attacking 46 defense, Jeff Fisher feels comfortable leaving him in man coverage on the perimeter against the opponent's biggest receiver. Last Sunday against the Falcons, Sydney intercepted two passes and his tight coverage allowed the Titans to use a blitz-heavy scheme that ultimately knocked QB Danny Kanell from the game.

Who's Not?

George Koonce OLB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers signed Koonce to a lucrative contract in the off-season but he has done little to repay them with his performance on the field. Koonce, who is in his eighth season in Green Bay, has never been a top-flight starter but his versatility and smarts have kept him competitive. Struggles in pass coverage and the inability to make impact plays are finally catching up with him. In last Monday's loss at Minnesota, the Packers used first-year player Jim Nelson a good part of the game and his performance in the nickel package could keep Koonce on the sideline.

Herman Moore WR, Detroit Lions
Since returning from injury on Thanksgiving Day, the greatest receiver in Lions history has been a shadow of his former self. Not wanting to disrupt the chemistry of the offense, Head Coach Bobby Ross has smartly decided to stick with his starting tandem of Johnnie Morton and Germaine Crowell, opting to use Moore in the team's multiple-receiver sets. Working against Bears' nickel back Jerry Azumah, who played running back last year in college, Moore dropped two easy passes and was again a non-factor in the Lions' offense.

Ramos McDonald DC, San Francisco 49ers
Although the Niners' secondary has taken a lot of abuse this season, it's hard to underscore the lack of talent in this unit. Essentially, San Francisco's defense is lining up every Sunday with a collection of nickel and dime backs at the corners. McDonald is no exception. Not only couldn't the ex-Viking cover anyone last week against Carolina, he was also benched for missing numerous coverage assignments. The Panthers' offense shouldn't be that difficult to diagnose, it's the same one McDonald sees everyday in practice. While he can't shoulder all of the blame, McDonald is a big reason Patrick Jeffers (138) and Mushin Muhammad (126) both went over the 100-yard mark.

Troy Aikman QB, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys' disappointing loss to the Jets mirrored Aikman's struggles in the passing game. Still regarded as one of the most accurate passers in the game, Aikman completed only 12-of-28 passes (42 percent) for 158 yards and two interceptions. While it is clear that the team's instability at wide receiver has effected the timing of the offense, the majority of Aikman's problems stem from a breakdown in fundamentals. His footwork has tended to be sloppy and he is short-arming many throws.

Edwin Mulitalo LOG, Baltimore Ravens
The rookie probably wishes he wouldn't have shown up to last Sunday's game against New Orleans. Mulitalo was dominated in every facet by the Saints' La'Roi Glover, who sacked Tony Banks three times and added a team-high 11 tackles-an unheard of figure for a down lineman. Glover used his quick feet and hands to get in the backfield with his first move and Mulitalo simply didn't have the athletic ability to compete. The knock on Mulitalo coming out of college was that he had limited range and tended to play sluggish. Unfortunately for the Ravens, both attributes were apparent last week.

The Sleepers...

Mike Mamula DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Injuries have slowed him down the past couple of seasons but Mamula erupted last week with a three-sack performance against the fading Patriots. The former No. 1 has always been considered a one-dimensional edge rusher because his lack of girth makes it difficult to hold up against the run. Philadelphia's problem has been getting even that one dimension from him. If he can stay healthy and continue to develop some effective second rush moves, the Eagles could have a solid pair of rush ends when Hugh Douglas returns next season.

Darrin Chiaverini WR, Cleveland Browns
With fellow rookie WR Kevin Johnson garnering all the media attention, it's easy to overlook Chiaverini's development over the course of the season. Last week, working against a solid pair of Jacksonville corners, Chiaverini caught 10 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. The 148th pick in the fifth round of last April's draft, Chiaverini does nice job of finding open areas in zones and is a crisp route runner. This guy could develop into a solid possession receiver for the Browns. Will remind people in Cleveland of a taller Brian Brennan.

Ray Crockett DC, Denver Broncos
This is the type of quiet difference-maker that all great teams possess. Though he went largely unnoticed during the Broncos' two Super Bowl seasons, Crockett is one of the most vital members of their defense. In overtime of last week's matchup against the Seahawks, Crockett came free on a corner blitz and jarred the ball loose from QB Jon Kitna to setup the game-winning score by OLB Glenn Cadrez. It's plays like that, which make Crockett invaluable to Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson.

Eric Barton OLB, Oakland Raiders
Defensive Coordinator Willie Shaw has shuffled in linebacker corps in recent weeks in search of the right mix. The rookie out of Maryland made an auspicious debut at the "Will" linebacker spot against Tampa Bay, notching his first career sack and seven solo tackles. Barton is an undersized athlete with great range and good cover skills and at the very least could develop into a solid nickel 'backer. If he shows the ability to play over the tight end and hold the point of attack, the Raiders could consider moving him to the strong side next season.