HOT | NOT

HOT: HUSKER POWER

Nebraska's 32--23 victory over Penn State was its fourth comeback win this season. The Cornhuskers (8--2), ranked 105th in FBS in turnover margin, held the Nittany Lions to just a field goal in the second half—thanks to a disputed fourth-quarter goal line fumble recovery.

NOT: PISTON JAM

Detroit lost its first seven games this season for just the third time in franchise history, and its -11.43 point differential is by far the NBA's worst. Said coach Lawrence Frank after his team's 96--82 loss to Houston last Saturday, "There was no offensive energy out there at all."

HOT: PEY DEY

Denver's won five of six after beating Carolina 36--14 on Sunday, as Peyton Manning threw for 301 yards and his 420th career touchdown, tying him with Dan Marino for second all time (behind Brett Favre's 508). The D chipped in with a safety and a pick-six.

NOT: BILL OF PLIGHTS

Buffalo had a fun 2--1 start but has dropped three straight and fallen to the bottom of the AFC East. Again. On their way to an eighth straight losing season, the Bills (3--6) need to fix their woeful D: 410.0 ypg (31st in the NFL). Any good news? Four of their next five games are at home.

HOT: LIONEL'S RICHES

Lionel Messi scored his 75th and 76th goals of this calendar year in Barcelona's 4--2 win over Mallorca on Sunday, moving to within nine of Gerd M√ºller's record, set in 1972 with Bayern Munich. It was Messi's seventh multigoal game this season—giving him a La Liga--best 15.

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DAVID RAMOS/GETTY IMAGES (MESSI)

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MARK J. REBILAS/US PRESSWIRE (BILLS)

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MARK J. REBILAS/US PRESSWIRE (PISTONS)

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PETER READ MILLER (MANNING)

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JOSH WOLFE/ICON SMI (NEBRASKA)