Sal’s Celebrity Selectors — Week 11

The number 104, statistically, can mean a lot of good things in the NFL.

Any rusher or receiver who totals 104 yards would certainly call it a productive performance. A quarterback with a passer rating of 104 has done a nice job of tossing the pigskin.

But when 104 represents the number of points you’ve scored after nine games, things aren’t so good. Such is the case with the San Francisco 49ers, fresh off a shutout loss to Seattle on Monday night, the team’s seventh consecutive defeat.

The Niners should be called the Eleveners – as in their league-worst 11.6 points-per-game average. No other team in the league has scored fewer than 135 points. Not surprisingly, San Francisco ranks last in total yards per game (218.6) and passing yards per game (128.4).

Just how bad is this team when they have the ball? The New England Patriots had scored 30 or more points in every game this season until the Colts held them to 24 a couple of weeks ago. The 49ers haven’t scored more than 20 points in any game in 2007. In their seven-game losing streak, they are averaging in single digits.

Quarterback Alex Smith and his 57.2 passer rating – worst in the league among quarterbacks who qualify for that statistic -- acknowledged this week that he has been playing with a serious arm injury, and the starting job has been handed over, for now, to 14-year veteran Trent Dilfer – whose passer rating is actually worse than Smith’s at 55.0, but he hasn’t played enough to make the league stat sheet in that category. This does give him something to shoot for, however.

The good news is that San Francisco’s opponent this week is actually behind them in the division – the 1-8 St. Louis Rams, who the Niners beat 17-16 back in Week 2, the team’s last victory. The bad news is that the Rams are fresh off the “1” in that 1-8 mark, and have starting QB Marc Bulger and RB Steven Jackson back on the field.

Perhaps the Barry Bonds distraction will keep the city preoccupied until this season is over and San Francisco can look toward next season. They were 7-9 a year ago and seemed headed in the right direction, and they have a talented running back in Frank Gore and a decent tight end (Vernon Davis). But with Smith’s arm issues, this offensive offense would be better off just taking a sack for the rest of the season.

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The celebrity picks:

Lance Burton, Monte Carlo headliner

(16-12-2)

Packers –9 1/2 vs. Panthers

Texans –1 vs. Saints

Broncos –2 vs. Titans

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Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular"

(15-12-3)

Packers –9 1/2 vs. Panthers

Rams –2 1/2 at 49ers

Bengals –3 vs. Cardinals

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Danny Gans, Mirage headliner

(14-14-2)

Cowboys –10 1/2 vs. Redskins

Raiders +5 at Vikings

Steelers –9 1/2 at Jets

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Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas

(18-11-1)

Steelers –9 1/2 at Jets

Patriots –16 at Bills

Packers –9 1/2 vs. Panthers

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Hans Klok, Planet Hollywood headliner

(16-13-1)

Steelers –9 1/2 vs. Browns

Browns -3 at Ravens

Colts –14 1/2 vs. Chiefs

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Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas"

(10-16-4)

Rams –2 1/2 at 49ers

Patriots –16 at Bills

Raiders +5 at Vikings

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Penn & Teller, Rio headliners

(19-11)

Giants –2 1/2 at Lions

Eagles –10 vs. Dolphins

Patriots –16 at Bills

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Rita Rudner, Harrah's headliner

(16-10-1)

Jaguars –3 vs. Chargers

Cowboys –10 1/2 vs. Redskins

Steelers –9 1/2 at Jets