EAGLES 12, COWBOYS 7
Story line: After Billy Cundiff missed a 46-yard field goal for Dallas (5-9) with 6 minutes 3 seconds left, the Eagles drove from their own 36 and won it on Dorsey Levens’ 2-yard touchdown run with less than 2 minutes to go. The Eagles (13-1) set a franchise record for regular-season victories.
Star: The Eagles’ Brian Westbrook accounted for 126 yards of offense, including eight catches for 78 yards. He leads all running backs with 73 catches.
Extra point: Dallas rookie Julius Jones was held to 80 yards on 25 carries after running for 517 in his last four games.
Quote: “A lot of guys came up to me during that drive and said, `Do what you do.”‘–Donovan McNabb on the Eagles’ game-winning drive when he ran for 12 and 19 yards–his first carries of the game.
RAIDERS 40, TITANS 35
Story line: In the first meeting in Oakland between these teams since the Raiders won the 2002 AFC title game, Kerry Collins picked apart Tennessee’s pass defense for a season-high 371 yards and matched his career high with five TDs. The Titans (4-10) had pulled within 35-28 in the fourth, but a botched fake field goal set up an Oakland field goal and a 10-point Raiders lead.
Stars: Collins hit Jerry Porter with three TDs. . . . Billy Volek had the second-best passing day in Titans franchise history with 492 yards. He threw four TDs, ran for another. . . . Titans WR Drew Bennett caught 13 passes for 160 yards and 2 TDs.
Extra points: The Raiders (5-9) surpassed their win total of last season but also gave up a season-high 527 yards. . . . Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson sat out with a bone contusion on his right knee and is unsure whether he’ll play again this season. . . . Bennett is the first in the franchise to catch 10 TDs in a season since Houston Oiler Drew Hill in ’88.
Quote: “You can’t say enough about our effort offensively. I told the guys inside, `I’ll take this one.’ It’s the head coach’s fault. You can’t take points off the board like I did in the decision to go with the fake field goal.”–Titans coach Jeff Fisher.
CHARGERS 21, BROWNS 0
Story line: San Diego ignored the blowing snow, a game-time temperature of 18 and a subzero windchill in Cleveland to post its first shutout since 1993 and easily handle the Browns (3-11), who lost their eighth straight. One season after a league-worst 4-12 mark, the Chargers (11-3) won their eighth straight and are division champions for the first time since 1994.
Star: LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 111 yards and scored on a pair of 1-yard runs, his 15th and 16th TDs this season.
Extra points: Tomlinson has scored a TD in 11 straight games, two shy of the NFL record shared by John Riggins and George Rogers. . . . San Diego QB Drew Brees attempted only six passes, and 72 of his 85 passing yards came on a second-quarter TD pass to Antonio Gates.
Quote: “Here come the boys from California.”–what San Diego running back Jesse Chatman hollered as the Chargers took the field for pregame warmups.
SAINTS 21, BUCCANEERS 17
Story line: The Saints (6-8) refuse to give up on their season. Aaron Brooks threw two TD passes in the final 4 minutes, including the winner to Donte’ Stallworth with 32 seconds left.
Stars: On the opening kickoff, the Saints’ Aaron Stecker slipped and let the ball roll through his legs — but then picked it up and ran 98 yards for a touchdown. . . . Simeon Rice had 3 1/2 of the Buccaneers’ seven sacks. He now has 12 1/2, his seventh season with at least 10.
Extra point: The Bucs (5-9) became the first team to win the Super Bowl and then post consecutive losing records the next two seasons.
Quote: “I looked up and all I could see was a sea of red. My instincts took over.”–Stecker, on his kick return.
CHIEFS 45, BRONCOS 17
Story line: Taking advantage of numerous Denver mistakes, the Chiefs (6-8) romped. The Broncos (8-6), who have lost three of their last four, committed 100 yards in penalties. They also let Jake Plummer get sacked six times.
Stars: The Chiefs’ Dante Hall returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score. . . . Larry Johnson, the second-year running back who spent most of the year in coach Dick Vermeil’s doghouse, had 151 yards and two TDs on 30 carries. . . . Trent Green threw two of his three TD passes to Eddie Kennison.
Extra point: The Chiefs scored on four of their first five possessions en route to their biggest margin of victory in the long series since a 31-point win in 1983.
Quote: “This game was not a fun game.”–Plummer.
BILLS 33, BENGALS 17
Story line: Buffalo (8-6) bolstered its playoff chances with its fifth straight win, a solid all-around performance. Jon Kitna, filling in for the injured Carson Palmer, threw two interceptions and fumbled a snap, dooming the Bengals (6-8) to their 14th consecutive season without a winning record.
Star: Jason Peters blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for Bills touchdown.
Extra point: Bills running back Willis McGahee twisted his surgically rebuilt left knee and sat out the fourth quarter.
Quote: “I was thinking, `Get up, Willis.’ He’s been so pivotal in us turning this thing around.”
–Bills QB Drew Bledsoe on injured teammate McGahee.
CARDINALS 31, RAMS 7
Story line: The NFC West is so bad that a team with a losing record could win it–even Arizona (5-9). The Rams (6-8) could have secured the NFL’s worst division but fell flat.
Star: Arizona quarterback Josh McCown, starting his second game since being benched for three, went 22 of 34 for 287 yards with no interceptions. He had TD passes of 8 and 4 yards to Larry Fitzgerald, and scoring runs of 1 and 9 yards.
Goat: Rams QB Chris Chandler lasted just one quarter, going 1 of 6 for 1 yard and one interception, before being replaced by Jamie Martin. Rams coach Mike Martz: “It’s tragic . . . for that position to hold this whole football team hostage.”
Extra point: The Rams’ touchdown came on Leonard Little’s 61-yard fumble return with 7 seconds left in the first half.
Quote: “We didn’t see this coming. If there was any game on the schedule that we felt confident about coming in and winning, it would be Arizona.”–Rams receiver Torry Holt.
JETS 37, SEAHAWKS 14
Story line: Chad Pennington shouldered the blame for a disappointing performance last week against Pittsburgh, vowing to play better down the stretch. He more than did that, throwing three touchdown passes as the Jets (10-4) racked up a season-high 482 yards. The Seahawks fell to 7-7.
Stars: Curtis Martin ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns. . . . Jets linebacker Eric Barton had a monster day, with 11 tackles, a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and INT.
Extra point: Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck injured his right elbow later in the quarter, and Trent Dilfer came on.
Quote: “The biggest thing was to not let up.”–Pennington.
Monday night matchup
PATRIOTS (12-1) at DOLPHINS (2-11)
TV/radio: 8 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Patriots by 10.
Last meeting: Patriots won 24-10 at New England on Oct. 10.
Terry Bannon’s pick: Pats 30, Dolphins 17.WEEK 15
