PATRIOTS 24, RAVENS 3
Story line: A rare game in which the Ravens had the second-best defense on the field. The Patriots showed they also can dominate on defense by holding the Ravens (7-4) to 124 yards. In a heavy rain, New England (10-1) scored two TDs in the first minute of the fourth to increase its 9-3 lead.
Stars: New England’s Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals of 28, 40 and 48 yards, stretching his streak to 21 straight successful kicks. . . . Corey Dillon rushed for 123 yards and a TD.
Extra point: The Patriots set an NFL record by scoring first in their 16th straight regular-season game.
Quote: “That’s a tough defense. They’re known for intimidating people. I’d rather do the hitting than be hit.”–Dillon.
CHARGERS 34, CHIEFS 31
Story line: San Diego (8-3) made the big plays and got expert quarterbacking from Drew Brees in the Chargers’ fifth straight win. Nate Kaeding made up for missing two field goals with a tiebreaking 43-yarder with 2:24 left.
Stars: Antonio Gates caught two fourth-quarter TD passes, the latter tying it 31-31. . . . Brees was 28 of 37 for 378 yards. He has 18 TD passes and one interception in eight games.
Extra point: Dante Hall sped 77 yards with the second-half kickoff and was a few steps from the end zone when the ball popped out of his hands. He atoned for the fumble with a 96-yard burst that put the Chiefs (3-8) up 31-24.
Quote: “Kassim Osgood made what, in my mind, is as fine a play as I’ve seen in my entire career in football.”–Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, on the receiver’s 65-yard run-and-catch on second-and-22 that set up Gates’ tying TD.
FALCONS 24, SAINTS 21
Story line: Just another day for No. 7. Michael Vick looked to his left, cut to the right, darted back to the left, broke through an attempted tackle and unleashed the winning 20-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:22 to go.
Star: Vick was 16 of 29 for 212 yards and two TDs. He also ran for a TD, leading Atlanta (9-2) with 69 yards on 10 carries.
Extra point: The Saints (4-7) have been outscored 84-10 in the first quarter, their only points coming back in Week 2.
Quote: “You’ve got to tip your hat to the guy. He’s from another world.”–Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie on Vick.
EAGLES 27, GIANTS 6
Story line: Philadelphia (10-1) wrapped up a fourth consecutive NFC East title the same way it won the first three–with an awesome defense that made Eli Manning look like a rookie. The Eagles’ defense limited Manning to 14 yards passing in the second half and a woeful 16.9 quarterback rating. The Giants (5-6) lost their fourth straight and fifth in six games.
Star: Brian Westbrook iced the game with a 1-yard TD run and a 34-yard TD catch on a screen pass.
Extra point: The Eagles are the third team since the 16-game schedule began in 1978 to win a division title by its 11th game, joining the Bears in 1985 and the 49ers in 1997.
Quote: “We made a lot of big plays today. That’s what we do.” –Eagles safety Quintin Mikell.
PANTHERS 21, BUCCANEERS 14
Story line: The Bucs (4-7) had a chance to break a 14-14 tie with 1:48 to play when Martin Gramatica missed a 37-yard field goal. Jake Delhomme then marched Carolina (4-7) down the field and threw a 40-yard TD pass to Keary Colbert with 20 seconds to play for the Panthers’ third straight win.
Star: Julius Peppers ran an interception back 46 yards for a score, blocked a field goal and had a sack.
Quote: “When he missed it, we knew it was time to step up. It was an uplifting deal for us.”–Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, on Gramatica’s missed field goal.
BILLS 38, SEAHAWKS 9
Story line: Willis McGahee had 116 yards rushing and four TDs, helping the Bills (5-6) snap a six-game road losing streak dating to last season. It was the most lopsided loss of coach Mike Holmgren’s tenure in Seattle.
Star: Bills QB Drew Bledsoe offset his three interceptions by completing two-thirds of his passes for 275 yards and a TD.
Extra point: Shaun Alexander, the NFL’s leading rusher, was held to 39 yards on 13 carries for the Seahawks (6-5) .
Quote: “The offensive line did a great job. I was just a robot running behind them.”–McGahee.
STEELERS 16, REDSKINS 7
Story line: The Steelers’ nine-game winning streak is their longest since 1976. They are 10-1 for the first time since 1975, the second of their four Super Bowl championship seasons. The Redskins (3-8) were held to 156 yards and haven’t scored more than 18 points in a game this season.
Star: Antwaan Randle El cut through the Redskins on punt returns of 60 and 43 yards to set up two first-half scores.
Extra point: Pittsburgh has allowed only 209 yards rushing in its last five games.
Quote: “One of our goals is to score 21 points. We’ve got to do that.”–Redskins QB Patrick Ramsey.
TEXANS 31, TITANS 21
Story line: The Texans (5-6) rallied from an 18-point deficit to snap a three-game losing streak. The Titans (4-7) wasted a brilliant first-half performance from Steve McNair. McNair completed his first seven passes for 80 yards, including a couple of TD throws to Erron Kinney for a 14-0 lead.
Stars: David Carr threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns and Domanick Davis rushed for a season-high 129 yards.
Extra point: The Titans’ Antowain Smith rushed for 90 yards on 21 carries in his second start for the injured Chris Brown.
Quote: “We just had to hold our ground and keep fighting. We kept with the game plan and never got scared.”–Carr.
JETS 13, CARDINALS 3
Story line: Quincy Carter came back from a TKO to deliver the knockout blow against the Cardinals (4-7). The quarterback left with a head injury after the third play of the game, but returned to throw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss–the longest reception in Moss’ four-year NFL career.
Stars: Curtis Martin carried 24 times for 99 yards and Doug Brien kicked field goals of 28 and 46 yards for the Jets (8-3).
Extra point: Martin and Emmitt Smith brought 30,817 career yards rushing into the game–the most by two backs playing in the same contest in NFL history.
Quote: “This is a tough league, man, and you’re going to take some bites and you’re going to take some hits. It’s how you get back up and respond.”–Carter.
DOLPHINS 24, 49ERS 17
Story line: The game of the weak. Miami (2-9) converted five fourth-quarter fumbles by the 49ers (1-10) into 17 points, including Randy McMichael’s 15-yard touchdown catch that put the Dolphins ahead for good at 14-10 with 10:35 to play.
Extra point: The Niners have a shot at the worst record in franchise history: they went 2-14 in 1978 and 1979.
Quote: “It’s been a mess, there isn’t any other way to put it.”–Niners coach Dennis Erickson.
Monday night matchup
RAMS (5-5) AT PACKERS (6-4)
TV/radio: 8 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Packers by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: Rams won 34-24 at St. Louis on Oct. 19, 2003.
Key stat: Packers have allowed NFL-low five sacks.
Terry Bannon’s pick: Packers 28, Rams 20.
