Only talents like Jevon Kearse can overcome this kind of uniform.

He made an early statement, sacking Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon on the first play of the game. "The first sack set the tone right there," Kearse told The Contra Costa Times. "It was a great boost for the defense. Next time, I'll try to get the ball."

Kearse made one of the biggest plays of the game right before the end of the first half. The Raiders had driven to the Titans' 8-yard line when Kearse stripped the ball from Gannon. The Titans recovered the fumble and ran out the clock, keeping the game scoreless heading into halftime. It was the ninth fumble that Kearse has forced this season.

While Kearse's specialty is rushing the quarterback, his tremendous speed allows him to make plays all over the field. Early in the second half, Kearse chased down Raiders fullback Jon Ritchie from behind after an 18-yard catch and run.

"The guy has got a motor," Raiders offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy said. "If he can't get to the quarterback, he's going to make a play downfield."

Kearse has essentially locked up Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and a few more performances like the one he put on Thursday will make him a serious candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

Here's a look at how some of the league's most intriguing rookies fared in Week 14. Each Tuesday during the regular season, ESPN.com offers its report cards for the Class of '99.

PLAYER, STATS	THE SKINNY
Jevon Kearse, DE, Titans vs. Raiders 6 tackles 2 sacks	The rookie defensive end from Florida continues to show that he was a steal with the 16th pick in the first round. He had two sacks on Thursday, raising his season total to an AFC-best 11½. Kearse has at least half a sack in seven consecutive games. "I always feel I can get to the quarterback," Kearse said. "I don't feel like anybody can stop me but myself." Kearse finished the game with six tackles.
Edgerrin James, RB, Colts vs. Patriots 20 att., 101 yds. 2 rec., 8 yds., 1 TD	James rushed for 101 yards and scored a TD to help the Colts stretch their winning streak to nine games with a victory over the Patriots. "It makes it so easy for me when the defense is concentrating on Marvin (Harrison)," said James, who tied an NFL rookie record with his ninth 100-yard rushing game and broke Marshall Faulk's Colts record for rushing yards by a rookie. James leads the AFC with 1,311 yards rushing and is tied for second with 12 touchdowns.
Shaun King, QB, Buccaneers vs. Lions 23-for-37, 293 yds. 2 TDs, 1 INT 2 att., 7 yds.	All King does is win football games. Going back to his days at Tulane, the rookie quarterback hasn't lost a game since Nov. 15, 1997. He ended his college career with a 13-game winning streak and has won the first two games he has started in the NFL. King completed 23 of 37 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns as the Bucs beat the Lions to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC Central.
Tim Couch, QB, Browns at Bengals 16-for-28, 239 yds. 2 TDs, 2 INTs	Couch, playing at Cincinnati front of hundreds of Kentucky fans, put up good numbers in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. Couch finished with 239 yards on 16 completions before giving way to Ty Detmer late in the fourth quarter. He also had two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Kevin Johnson, WR, Browns vs. Bengals 7 rec., 135 yds.	Johnson was one of the few bright spots Sunday on what was otherwise a miserable day for the Browns. The rookie receiver hooked up with Couch seven times for 135 yards, both career highs. That gave Johnson 60 receptions on the season, breaking Eric Metcalf's record for catches by a rookie. "It would look a lot better if you would get a 'W' when you're surpassing records," Johnson told the Akron Beacon Journal.
Ebenezer Ekuban, DE, Cowboys vs. Eagles 3 tackles 2 sacks	The Cowboys' first-round pick from North Carolina recorded his first NFL sack in the first quarter of Sunday's victory over the Eagles, and then got another one in the third quarter. Despite the success, Ekuban wasn't smiling after the game. His increased playing time was due to Greg Eills' season-ending injury. "The fact I was able to help the team feels great," Ekuban told the Dallas Morning News. "But I'm really worried about Greg. This should be a time of jubilation for me. But I'm more concerned about my friend than anything else. I just feel sick."
Joe Montgomery, RB, Giants at Bills 20 att., 77 yds.	Montgomery continues to give the Giants the consistent running attack that they have been lacking all season. The rookie from Ohio State carried the ball 20 times for 77 yards in Sunday's victory over the Bills.
Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles at Cowboys 7-for-17, 49 yds. 0 TD, 1 INT 3 att., 24 yds.	McNabb had a rough game Sunday, completing just seven of 17 passes for 49 yards with an interception before he left late in the third quarter with a sprained left knee. He is tentatively listed as doubtful for this Sunday's game against New England after an MRI Monday confirmed a sprained MCL in his left knee.
Champ Bailey, CB, Redskins vs. Cardinals 5 tackles 1 INT	Bailey had his fifth interception of the season -- and his fourth against the Cardinals -- in Sunday's 28-3 victory over Arizona. The rookie from Georgia picked off a Jake Plummer pass in the end zone in the second quarter, ending the Cardinals' best scoring chance of the game.
Olandis Gary, RB, Broncos at Jaguars	Since taking over as the Broncos' starting running back nine games ago, Gary has rushed for 753 yards and scored six touchdowns. He rushed for 67 yards and scored a second-quarter TD in Monday night's loss to the Jaguars.
Torry Holt, WR, Rams at Saints 6 rec., 113 yds.	The rookie from N.C. State caught six passes for 113 yards on Sunday, both career highs. With defenses concentrating more on Isaac Bruce, Holt could continue to put up big numbers for the rest of the season.
Troy Edwards, WR, Steelers vs. Ravens 6 rec., 64 yds., 1 TD	Edwards caught six passes for 64 yards and one touchdown. For the season, he is second among rookies with 50 receptions, good for 593 yards and four TDs.
Kevin Faulk, RB, Patriots at Colts 2 att., 4 yds.	The rookie from LSU suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Sunday's loss to the Colts. Faulk broke his ankle in the first quarter when his leg collapsed under a pile of tacklers. "I don't really know who rolled on it, I didn't see the replay at all," Faulk told The Boston Globe. "It hurt at the time. It's a tough thing to have to go through right now."