Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 10, 2007 3:04:13 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/396889.html
Inside Sunday’s other NFL games
Seahawks 42, Cardinals 21
SEATTLE | Matt Hasselbeck threw four touchdown passes — his most this season — and the Seahawks clinched their fourth consecutive NFC West title, ending the supposedly upstart Cardinals’ quest for their first division title since 1975.
Seattle stormed to a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter and cruised to its fifth consecutive victory, its longest streak since a team-record 11-game run two seasons ago that helped the Seahawks reach their first Super Bowl. This current streak has come since coach Mike Holmgren declared he was ditching most of a stalled running game and relying on Hasselbeck’s passing.
Hasselbeck completed 22 of 33 for 272 yards and no interceptions, staying on pace for team records in attempts, completions and yards.
Cowboys 28, Lions 27
DETROIT | Tony Romo and Jason Witten put mistakes behind them well enough to connect on a game-winning touchdown that gave Dallas the NFC East title.
Romo threw a 16-yard pass to Witten with 18 seconds left, shortly after Romo nearly lost a fumble near midfield. Witten lost a fumble on the previous drive.
Witten set a franchise record with 15 receptions and a career high with 138 yards receiving.
Colts 44, Ravens 20
BALTIMORE | Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes, including the 300th of his career, and Indianapolis built a 30-point lead in the second quarter.
The win, combined with Tennessee’s loss to San Diego earlier in the day, assured the Colts a sixth consecutive trip to the postseason. Baltimore has lost a franchise-record seven straight.
Joseph Addai scored three touchdowns, on a 19-yard reception and runs of 1 and 11 yards.
Giants 16, Eagles 13
PHILADELPHIA | Eli Manning threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, former Chiefs Lawrence Tynes made three short field goals, and New York moved closer toward clinching a playoff spot.
The Eagles’ David Akers hit the right upright on a 57-yard attempt with 1 second left after Donovan McNabb drove the Eagles 50 yards in the final minute.
The Giants have all but eliminated the Eagles from playoff contention with their sixth consecutive win on the road. New York is almost locked into the No. 5 seed in the conference with three games left.
Jaguars 37, Panthers 6
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. | The Jaguars’ defense turned in its best performance in two months. Now Jacksonville is a step closer to securing a playoff berth.
Jacksonville harassed Vinny Testaverde, stuffed DeShaun Foster and locked down Steve Smith — the defense’s most complete game since consecutive wins at Denver and Kansas City early in the season.
The Panthers lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell farther back in the NFC playoff picture. With games remaining against division leaders Seattle, Dallas and Tampa Bay, Carolina probably needs to win out to even have a shot at making the postseason.
Bengals 19, Rams 10
CINCINNATI | Rudi Johnson ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Shayne Graham kicked four field goals on a nasty day.
A steady, often driving rain on a 38-degree afternoon made it tough to throw, catch or hold on to the slick footballs — not what the Rams wanted on a day when they were down to third-string quarterback Brock Berlin.
That made it easy on the Bengals, who needed only to contain running back Steven Jackson and avoid mistakes to get a win. They were barely able to do it.
Bills 38, Dolphins 17
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. | The Dolphins confirmed they are the worst team in football this season by making Buffalo’s popgun offense and banged-up defense look spectacular in dropping their 13th straight game.
Rookie Trent Edwards’ four touchdown passes — two each to Lee Evans and Robert Royal — were the most since Drew Bledsoe had that many for Buffalo in 2004.
The Bills’ running attack produced two 100-yard rushers for the first time since 1996, with Fred Jackson having 115 and Marshawn Lynch adding 107.
Texans 28, Buccaneers 14
HOUSTON | The Buccaneers could have secured the NFC South title with a win, but instead their four-game winning streak ended because of miscues and ineffectiveness.
They started Luke McCown as Jeff Garcia missed his second straight game because of a bruised back. McCown had a big game last week in a win against New Orleans but was sacked four times and harassed for most of the day in this one.
Vikings 27, 49ers 7
SAN FRANCISCO | Kevin Williams, a defensive lineman, returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play, and Chester Taylor had an 84-yard TD run in Minnesota’s fourth straight victory.
Robert Ferguson caught a 19-yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson, who passed for 163 yards. Adrian Peterson had a career-low 3 yards in 14 carries, as 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis won the meeting of two high-profile rookies.
Browns 24, Jets 18
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. | Derek Anderson threw two touchdown passes, and Joe Jurevicius recovered two late onside kicks as Cleveland held on. Jamal Lewis had a touchdown catch and added a 31-yard TD run with 1:22 left.
Kellen Clemens led the Jets downfield in the closing minutes and scored on a 1-yard sneak with 2:59 left to get within 17-12, but the two-point conversion pass to Chris Baker fell incomplete.
Inside Sunday’s other NFL games
Seahawks 42, Cardinals 21
SEATTLE | Matt Hasselbeck threw four touchdown passes — his most this season — and the Seahawks clinched their fourth consecutive NFC West title, ending the supposedly upstart Cardinals’ quest for their first division title since 1975.
Seattle stormed to a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter and cruised to its fifth consecutive victory, its longest streak since a team-record 11-game run two seasons ago that helped the Seahawks reach their first Super Bowl. This current streak has come since coach Mike Holmgren declared he was ditching most of a stalled running game and relying on Hasselbeck’s passing.
Hasselbeck completed 22 of 33 for 272 yards and no interceptions, staying on pace for team records in attempts, completions and yards.
Cowboys 28, Lions 27
DETROIT | Tony Romo and Jason Witten put mistakes behind them well enough to connect on a game-winning touchdown that gave Dallas the NFC East title.
Romo threw a 16-yard pass to Witten with 18 seconds left, shortly after Romo nearly lost a fumble near midfield. Witten lost a fumble on the previous drive.
Witten set a franchise record with 15 receptions and a career high with 138 yards receiving.
Colts 44, Ravens 20
BALTIMORE | Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes, including the 300th of his career, and Indianapolis built a 30-point lead in the second quarter.
The win, combined with Tennessee’s loss to San Diego earlier in the day, assured the Colts a sixth consecutive trip to the postseason. Baltimore has lost a franchise-record seven straight.
Joseph Addai scored three touchdowns, on a 19-yard reception and runs of 1 and 11 yards.
Giants 16, Eagles 13
PHILADELPHIA | Eli Manning threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, former Chiefs Lawrence Tynes made three short field goals, and New York moved closer toward clinching a playoff spot.
The Eagles’ David Akers hit the right upright on a 57-yard attempt with 1 second left after Donovan McNabb drove the Eagles 50 yards in the final minute.
The Giants have all but eliminated the Eagles from playoff contention with their sixth consecutive win on the road. New York is almost locked into the No. 5 seed in the conference with three games left.
Jaguars 37, Panthers 6
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. | The Jaguars’ defense turned in its best performance in two months. Now Jacksonville is a step closer to securing a playoff berth.
Jacksonville harassed Vinny Testaverde, stuffed DeShaun Foster and locked down Steve Smith — the defense’s most complete game since consecutive wins at Denver and Kansas City early in the season.
The Panthers lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell farther back in the NFC playoff picture. With games remaining against division leaders Seattle, Dallas and Tampa Bay, Carolina probably needs to win out to even have a shot at making the postseason.
Bengals 19, Rams 10
CINCINNATI | Rudi Johnson ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Shayne Graham kicked four field goals on a nasty day.
A steady, often driving rain on a 38-degree afternoon made it tough to throw, catch or hold on to the slick footballs — not what the Rams wanted on a day when they were down to third-string quarterback Brock Berlin.
That made it easy on the Bengals, who needed only to contain running back Steven Jackson and avoid mistakes to get a win. They were barely able to do it.
Bills 38, Dolphins 17
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. | The Dolphins confirmed they are the worst team in football this season by making Buffalo’s popgun offense and banged-up defense look spectacular in dropping their 13th straight game.
Rookie Trent Edwards’ four touchdown passes — two each to Lee Evans and Robert Royal — were the most since Drew Bledsoe had that many for Buffalo in 2004.
The Bills’ running attack produced two 100-yard rushers for the first time since 1996, with Fred Jackson having 115 and Marshawn Lynch adding 107.
Texans 28, Buccaneers 14
HOUSTON | The Buccaneers could have secured the NFC South title with a win, but instead their four-game winning streak ended because of miscues and ineffectiveness.
They started Luke McCown as Jeff Garcia missed his second straight game because of a bruised back. McCown had a big game last week in a win against New Orleans but was sacked four times and harassed for most of the day in this one.
Vikings 27, 49ers 7
SAN FRANCISCO | Kevin Williams, a defensive lineman, returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play, and Chester Taylor had an 84-yard TD run in Minnesota’s fourth straight victory.
Robert Ferguson caught a 19-yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson, who passed for 163 yards. Adrian Peterson had a career-low 3 yards in 14 carries, as 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis won the meeting of two high-profile rookies.
Browns 24, Jets 18
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. | Derek Anderson threw two touchdown passes, and Joe Jurevicius recovered two late onside kicks as Cleveland held on. Jamal Lewis had a touchdown catch and added a 31-yard TD run with 1:22 left.
Kellen Clemens led the Jets downfield in the closing minutes and scored on a 1-yard sneak with 2:59 left to get within 17-12, but the two-point conversion pass to Chris Baker fell incomplete.