LEADING OFF

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Photograph by Damian Strohmeyer

LAST WORD BELONGED TO THE HERD Patriots wideout Wes Welker (83) may have left a trail of Bills in his wake all Sunday afternoon, pulling in a career-high 16 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns, but Buffalo responded by picking off Tom Brady four times to hurdle a 21-point first-half deficit for a 34--31 victory, the franchise's first against New England, in 16 meetings, since September 2003 (page 56).

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Photograph by Simon Bruty

PAWS, FOR EFFECT The pregame laying of hands on Howard's Rock by Clemson players and coaches before they run down the Hill above the east end zone of Memorial Stadium has been one of college football's most colorful traditions for nearly five decades. This fall, it has augured especially well. One week after they ended defending-national-champion Auburn's 17-game winning streak, the Tigers took down another titan in Death Valley, defeating ACC favorite Florida State 35--30.

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Photograph by Nancie Battaglia

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT An armada of canoes and kayaks converged in Fourth Lake in upstate New York to form what organizers of a fund-raiser for the Susan B. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research believe to be the largest floating raft in history. The estimated 1,925 boats registered for the aquatic group hug— which, if the number of participants is verified by the Guinness Book of World Records—would eclipse the 1,619-boat floating raft that stands as the current high-water mark.