BUCCANEERS 27, FALCONS 0
Story line: Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks made the challenge of stopping Michael Vick personal. It worked. Vick was sacked five times, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles. Tampa (5-7) scored after each of the turnovers.
Star: Brooks tipped a pass that resulted in an interception, had two sacks and forced a fumble that led to a field goal.
Extra point: Despite reaching Tampa Bay’s 1-yard line twice, Atlanta (9-3) was shut out for first time since Oct. 13, 2003.
Quote: “At any moment he’s carrying the ball, he can either make you look bad or you can put some punishment on him.”–Brooks on Vick.
CHARGERS 20, BRONCOS 17
Story line: The Chargers (9-3) took control of the AFC West behind their defense, which intercepted Jake Plummer four times, including in the end zone in the final minutes.
Star: LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 113 yards, pushing him past the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season.
Extra points: Drew Brees’ Chargers team-record streak of 194 passes without an interception ended in the first quarter. . . . The Broncos (7-5) hadn’t thrown four INTs since 2001.
Quote: “Our defense carried us today.”–Tomlinson.
COLTS 51, TITANS 24
Story line: Tennessee (4-8) played short-handed without quarterback Steve McNair. The Colts (9-3) won their fifth straight despite the Titans’ attempts at playing keep away–they tried three onside kicks in the first quarter.
Star: Colts receiver Brandon Stokley finished with eight catches for a career-high 153 yards and a touchdown.
Extra point: With 431 points, the Colts are on pace to break the single-season scoring record Minnesota set in 1998 (556).
Quote: “You knew they were going to try some stuff, but three onside kicks in a row?”–Stokley.
CHIEFS 34, RAIDERS 27
Story line: It took a near-perfect half by Trent Green, tender ribs and all, to get the Chiefs (4-8) the comeback win. He completed 14 of 15 passes after the half for 229 of his 340 yards and hit Eddie Kennison for a tie-breaking 70-yard TD.
Star: The Chiefs’ Larry Johnson scored two second-half TDs.
Extra point: Receiver Ronald Curry, who was having a career game for the Raiders (4-8) with 141 yards and two TDs, is likely out for the year with a torn left Achilles’ tendon.
Quote: “Trent did a beautiful job. Sometimes you take him for granted because you see him do so many wonderful things.”–Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil.
REDSKINS 31, GIANTS 7
Story line: The Redskins (4-8) scored 20 in a game for the first time this season. They hit 30 for the first time since Week 2 of last season. The Giants (5-7) have lost five straight.
Stars: Clinton Portis ran for 148 yards and scored twice and Patrick Ramsey threw three TD passes for Washington.
Extra point: The Redskins are 4-0 when Portis runs for 100 yards, 0-8 when he doesn’t.
Quote: “We physically got whipped up front on both sides of the ball.”–Giants coach Tom Coughlin.
BILLS 42, DOLPHINS 32
Story line: The Bills’ Drew Bledsoe threw two of his four TD passes to Lee Evans. The Bills (6-6) forced seven turnovers, including Pat Williams’ 20-yard interception return for a TD.
Star: Willis McGahee, playing in South Florida for the first time since his college career with Miami, ran for 91 yards.
Not helping: A.J. Feeley tossed three TDs, but also had five interceptions. Miami (2-10) has had eight turnovers returned for scores this season, six involving Feeley.
Extra point: The Bills, who started 0-4, have scored 117 points while winning their past three games.
Quote: “Sometimes you get in a street fight. They came out swinging, and so did we.”–Evans.
PATRIOTS 42, BROWNS 15
Story line: Bethel Johnson gave New England (11-1) a fast start, returning the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. The Browns (3-9) lost their sixth straight.
Star: Corey Dillon rushed for 98 yards and two TDs before halftime. He carried just once in the second half and finished with 100 yards–his seventh 100-yard game this season.
Extra point: The Browns, 58-48 losers at Cincinnati a week ago, have given up 100 points in their last two games–the most ever in consecutive games since joining the NFL in ’50.
Quote: “We got manhandled.”
–Browns interim coach Terry Robiskie.
RAMS 16, 49ERS 6
Story line: Marshall Faulk’s understudy showed he’s ready for full-time duty. Rams rookie Steven Jackson took advantage of Faulk’s bruised left knee to gain 119 yards–his first career 100-yard game. The woeful 49ers fell to 1-11.
Stars: Torry Holt had 10 catches for 160 yards and a TD. . . . Jeff Wilkins kicked three field goals, two from 52 yards.
Extra point: The Rams (6-6) are the fifth NFL franchise to win 500 games, following the Bears, Packers, Giants, Redskins.
Quote: “He’s a heck of a player, he really is. One good recruit I got, anyway.”–Niners coach Dennis Erickson on Jackson, whom he coached for two years at Oregon State.
PANTHERS 32, SAINTS 21
Story line: John Kasay’s six field goals kept the Panthers (5-7) in the middle of the wild-card race in the weak NFC. The Saints (4-8) have lost three straight and seven of nine.
Stars: Nick Goings ran for 122 yards on 36 carries and Muhsin Muhammad had 10 receptions for 179 yards for Carolina.
Extra point: Jake Delhomme is the first Carolina QB to throw 20 TDs since Steve Beuerlein’s 36 in 1999.
Quote: “The first half was bad, ugly football.”
–Saints coach Jim Haslett.
LIONS 26, CARDINALS 12
Story line: Rookie Kevin Jones bullied the Cardinals for 196 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (5-7). Arizona (4-8) lost its third straight with its third quarterback in four weeks. Rookie John Navarre threw four interceptions.
Star: Dre’ Bly had two interceptions for the Lions
Extra point: Jason Hanson was 4-for-4 on field goals; the Lions are 15-2 when Hanson makes at least four field goals.
Quote: “If you don’t stop the run, you have a hard time winning.”–Cardinals coach Dennis Green.
JETS 29, TEXANS 7
Story line: Curtis Martin ran for 134 yards, his seventh 100-yard game of the season, and the defense shut out the Texans (5-7) in the second half–the sixth time this season the Jets (9-3) blanked an opponent over the final two quarters.
Star: Martin needs 26 yards to become the fifth back to reach 13,000 in a career.
Extra point: Houston linebacker Jay Foreman is out for the season with a sprained left ankle that will require surgery.
Quote: “We are better than this.”–Texans QB David Carr.
Monday night matchup
COWBOYS (4-7) at SEAHAWKS (6-5)
TV/radio: 8 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7, (joined in progress on WSCR-AM 670 at 9:30 p.m.).
Line: Seahawks by 7.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 17-14 at Dallas on Oct. 27, ’02.
Terry Bannon’s pick: Seahawks 27, Cowboys 17.
