Packers 28, Redskins 14
Story line: Five plays after the host Redskins (2-5) thought they had taken the lead, Ahman Green scored on an 11-yard run to seal the Packers’ third straight victory. Green Bay improved to 4-4.
Stars: Green had 143 total yards with two TDs, and Brett Favre was 20 of 33 for 289 yards and a TD playing with a sprained right hand.
Extra point: Redskins, trailing 20-14, thought they scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 43-yard reception by Clinton Portis with 2:35 to play. But the play was called back for an illegal-motion penalty on receiver James Thrash. On the next play, Al Harris intercepted Mark Brunell’s pass.
Quote: “I know it wasn’t James. … It’s an absolute mystery to me.”–Redskins coach Joe Gibbs on Thrash’s penalty.
Cowboys 31, Lions 21
Story line: Keyshawn Johnson caught two TD passes, including a 38-yarder with 1:54 left that secured the win for the host Cowboys (3-4), who ended a three-game losing streak. Detroit had pulled within 24-21 with 5:29 remaining when Joey Harrington (19 of 32 for 255 yards, two TDs) hit David Kircus with a 50-yard TD pass.
Star: Vinny Testaverde (19 of 24 for 235 yards), two weeks shy of his 41st birthday, threw for three TDs, offsetting three interceptions, and ran for another.
Extra points: Dallas ran 41 times–11 more than in any game this season–for 127 yards, with Eddie George logging season bests of 31 carries and 99 yards. The Cowboys had the ball 17 minutes more than the Lions (4-3).
Quote: “We had to establish the run some way, somehow.”–George.
Falcons 41, Broncos 28
Story line: Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes to Peerless Price and accounted for 367 yards of offense to help the visiting Falcons (6-2) rebound from a 56-10 embarrassment at Kansas City the week before.
Stars: Vick had 252 yards passing and 115 rushing. Jake Plummer threw for a Denver-record 499 yards–a career high and the best mark in the league this year–but also had three interceptions as the Broncos fell to 5-3.
Extra points: Atlanta gained 467 yards against a defense allowing less than 240 a game. The Falcons held Reuben Droughns to 49 yards, the first time he has failed to gain 100 since he became Denver’s featured runner four games ago. The Broncos set a club record with 567 total yards.
Quote: “Is there anybody else like him? Come on, now.”–Broncos CB Champ Bailey on Vick.
Texans 20, Jaguars 6
Story line: Demarcus Faggins returned Byron Leftwich’s errant pass 43 yards for a touchdown with 42 seconds left in Houston as the Texans (4-3) notched their fourth win in the last five games.
Star: Houston QB David Carr was 26 of 34 for 276 yards and a TD.
Extra points: The Texans held Jacksonville (5-3) to 39 yards rushing. Jaguars RB Fred Taylor left the game in the third quarter with a hip pointer.
Quote: “They definitely came in with some cockiness, and we handed it back to them.”–Texans LB Jamie Sharper.
Titans 27, Bengals 20
Story line: Billy Volek, playing for the injured Steve McNair (chest), threw for two TDs and 210 yards as the Titans (3-5) registered their first victory at home this season. Gary Anderson kicked two field goals.
Star: Tennessee RB Chris Brown ignored an aching left big toe in running for a touchdown and 147 yards, his fifth 100-yard performance this season.
Extra point: The Titans sacked Carson Palmer (20 of 36 for 247 yards) four times, batted down four passes behind the line and forced him into an interception and a fumble as the Bengals fell to 2-5.
Quote: “If we would’ve lost this, I hate to say it, but I think the season just would’ve been totally shot.”–Titans cornerback Samari Rolle.
Bills 38, Cardinals 14
Story line: On a wet and windy afternoon in Orchard Park, N.Y., Willis McGahee ran for 102 yards and the first two touchdowns of his NFL career. They were the first rushing TDs in 10 games for Buffalo (2-5). The 38 points for the Bills, who were averaging 13 points a game, matched their best offensive total since a 38-17 win over Jacksonville in Week 2 of last season.
Stars: McGahee, who scored on runs of 5 yards and 1 yard, and Terrence McGee, who returned a kickoff 87 yards for a TD after Arizona (2-5) had pulled within 10-7.
Extra points: The loss was Arizona’s 17th straight on the road, the worst current streak in the NFL, dating to its win at Carolina on Oct. 6, 2002. The Cardinals had 14 penalties for 101 yards.
Quote: “When you see him shucking guys downfield, it gets you excited.”–Bills guard Chris Villarrial on McGahee.
Chargers 42, Raiders 14
Story line: Drew Brees threw for a career-high five TDs and set the Chargers’ single-game record for pass efficiency as host San Diego (5-3) moved into a tie for the AFC West lead with Denver. Tight end Antonio Gates caught scoring passes of 5 yards and 1 yard.
Star: Brees completed his first eight passes and was 22 of 25 overall–88 percent–for 281 yards. He had no interceptions for the fifth time in six games. The previous team record was 81.8 percent by Rick Neuheisel, the replacement quarterback during the 1987 strike.
Extra points: Brees has thrown 14 TD passes against just three interceptions this season, compared to 15 interceptions and 11 TDs last season. The Raiders (2-6) lost their fifth straight. Kerry Collins has thrown 11 INTs in 5 1/2 games.
Quote: “Coach, the way he is playing, let him finish.”–QB Philip Rivers to Marty Schottenheimer, who planned to take Brees out in the final minutes.
Seahawks 23, Panthers 17
Story line: Shaun Alexander rushed for 195 yards on 32 carries and Matt Hasselbeck recovered from a dismal performance, throwing for 201 yards and a TD in Seattle. Josh Brown kicked field goals of 27, 45 and 22 yards in the second half as the Seahawks (4-3) broke a three-game losing streak.
Star: Alexander had a 3-yard TD catch and a 4-yard TD run.
Extra point: Jake Delhomme was 19 of 36 for 248 yards with two TDs and one interception for the Panthers (1-6), who lost their fifth straight.
Quote: “We just kind of vanillaed our offense, and it let us make plays.”–Alexander.
Monday night matchup
DOLPHINS (1-6) AT JETS (5-1)
TV/radio: 8 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Jets by 7.
Last meeting: Jets won 17-9 at Miami on Oct. 3.
Players to watch: Sammy Morris averaging modest 3.6 yards per carry for Dolphins. Jets’ Curtis Martin has 683 yards, second in league, and 4.5 average.
Terry Bannon’s pick: Jets 26, Dolphins 17.
