Times NFL writer T.J. Simers poses--and answers--the burning questions on... : GAME DAY

1. Question: With all the coaching vacancies anticipated, beyond the pursuit of Mike Holmgren and talk about Gary Kubiak, Sherm Lewis, Willie Shaw and George Seifert, who’s a sleeper?

Answer: The Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator, Brian Billick, who grew up in Redlands.

The hottest prospects are going to be offensive coordinators. The Vikings will have gone to the playoffs six times in seven years after this season on the strength of their offensive play, and amazingly enough with five starting quarterbacks. Billick, who helped Bill Walsh write a recent football book, is outgoing and respected in the football community. His public persona will increase if the Vikings advance deep into the playoffs.

“Three things have to happen,” Billick said. “You have to have a body of work to represent your knowledge of the game, you have to be good as a team, and it has to be in conjunction with a year where a number of jobs become available.”

2. Q: The NFL isn’t serious about putting another Super Bowl in Detroit, is it?

A: It is. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue visited Detroit recently and said, “We’ve made a commitment to hold the Super Bowl here when the new stadium is up and running. We don’t know what year that will be, but that is our plan--to hold the Super Bowl in Detroit in the near future.”

Detroit, which hosted the 1982 Super Bowl--actually, it was in the Silverdome in Pontiac--is going to build a new downtown stadium to open in 2002 or 2003.

3. Q: Heads or tails?

A: The Giants are 0-5 when they lose the coin toss.

4. Q: What are the chances of the Packers winning in Minnesota?

A: Slim. The Packers will be playing their third consecutive game on the road. In this decade, 61 teams have been put through such a difficult test and only 18 returned home with winning records. The Packers are 1-1.

5. Q What unbelievable, eye-popping streak is in jeopardy this week when the Raiders play the Broncos?

Donald Hollas’ credibility-defying 4-0 record as a starter in the NFL this season.

“When the season started, I just wanted to make the team, quite honestly,” Hollas said. “I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be playing for an extended time on a team that had a chance to make the playoffs.”

He’s not.