Monday, November 15, 2004
AFC
Patriots 29, Bills 6
FOXBORO, Mass. -- After Curt Schilling and Johnny Damon participated in a pregame ceremony for the World Series champion Red Sox, Adam Vinatieri kicked five field goals, Corey Dillon rushed for 151 yards on 26 carries and New England picked off four passes. Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes. The Patriots put together their second straight impressive performance after their 21-game winning streak ended at Pittsburgh. They outgained the Bills 428 yards to 125. Buffalo scored on a punt return of 70 yards by Jonathan Smith.
Ravens 20, Jets 17, OT
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Matt Stover kicked a 42-yard field goal with 7:39 remaining in overtime. Kyle Boller got the Ravens in position for the winning score by converting a third-and-5 from the Baltimore 49 with a 21-yard pass to Kevin Johnson. Boller then completed a 10-yard pass to Travis Taylor on third-and-14 from the Jets 34 to put the Ravens in field goal range. Boller was 19-of-33 for 213 yards with two touchdowns, both to rookie Clarence Moore. Jamal Lewis had 30 carries for 68 yards. The Jets, losers of three of their last four games, led 14-0, but Ed Reed's end zone interception of Lamont Jordan's halfback pass and return to the New York 36 turned things around.
Colts 49, Texans 14
INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning threw five touchdowns and completed 18-of-27 passes for 320 yards. After three quarters, Manning had just one more incompletion (six) than he did touchdown passes, and he surpassed his last year's TD total of 29. The 2003 co-MVP has 31 touchdown passes this year; Dan Marino's NFL record is 48. Robert Mathis had three sacks and forced three fumbles and the Colts finished with a season-high five sacks. They also returned a fumble and an interception for touchdowns.
NFC
Rams 23, Seahawks 12
ST. LOUIS -- Marc Bulger got off to a hot start and a beleaguered defense held Seattle to three field goals in five trips inside the 20. The Rams led 17-0 early in the second quarter. Shaun Alexander had 176 yards on 22 carries, giving him 531 yards the last three games and putting him over 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season. But Alexander's fumble after a 35-yard gain to the St. Louis 9 early in the fourth quarter blew the Seahawks' chance to tie it. Marshall Faulk finished with a season-best 139 yards on 18 carries, and the Rams totaled a season-best 202 yards on the ground. The Seahawks were limited to four field goals by Josh Brown.
Packers 34, Vikings 31
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Ryan Longwell's 33-yard field goal as time expired gave the Packers the victory. The Vikings, losers of three straight, rallied to tie it with two touchdowns in the final 2:53. After Daunte Culpepper's fourth touchdown toss, Robert Ferguson returned the kickoff to midfield, where Antoine Winfield forced a fumble. Officials ruled Packers tight end Ben Steele recovered, even though Minnesota's Larry Ned emerged from the scrum with the ball. Brett Favre, who also threw four touchdown passes, guided Green Bay to the Vikings 15, where Longwell split the uprights. It was Favre's 18th game with four or more touchdowns, second only to Dan Marino's 21. Minnesota All-Pro receiver Randy Moss sat out his second straight game because of a strained hamstring.
Cardinals 17, Giants 14
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Just like the old days in Dallas, Emmitt Smith made life miserable for the Giants, who aided greatly in their own demise. Smith rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Arizona sacked Kurt Warner six times, including four by Bertrand Berry. Smith rushed for 67 yards on 19 carries, 30 yards on Arizona's go-ahead touchdown drive. He had scoring runs of 2 and 3 yards en route to passing 18,000 yards rushing in his career. It was the first time in two seasons Smith ran for two scores in a game. Tiki Barber rushed for 108 yards on 21 carries. New York was penalized 10 times for 97 yard.
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 14
ATLANTA -- Bouncing back after the officials denied an apparent defensive TD, Alge Crumpler hauled in a 49-yard scoring pass from Michael Vick to clinch the victory. Crumpler had four catches for a career-best 118 yards, and the Falcons rushed for 205 yards. The Atlanta defense had a season-high seven sacks of Brian Griese.
INTERCONFERENCE
Jaguars 23, Lions 17, OT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- David Garrard threw two touchdown passes, including a 36-yarder to Jimmy Smith in overtime. Garrard, making his first start in nearly two years, finished 19-of-36 for 198 yards and added 42 yards rushing. Fred Taylor had a season-high 144 yards rushing as the Lions were outgained on the ground for a second consecutive week and lost their third straight game. The Lions sent it to overtime because Eddie Drummond returned two punts for touchdowns in the fourth quarter, a 55-yarder and then an 83-yarder with 46 seconds remaining. Smith finished with seven catches for 109 yards and passed James Lofton for 12th on the all-time receptions list.
Bears 19, Titans 17, OT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Alex Brown sacked backup Billy Volek in the end zone and knocked the ball loose for a safety. It was only the second time an NFL game has ended in overtime on a safety. The Titans came up with five sacks and forced three turnovers while holding Chicago to 176 yards total offense. But Tennessee made some costly mistakes, including an interception returned for a touchdown by R. W. McQuarters and two fumbles by Chris Brown.
Saints 27, Chiefs 20
NEW ORLEANS -- Aaron Brooks threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Joe Horn midway through the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 20, the Saints drove 72 yards to take the lead with 5:35 remaining. The Chiefs responded by driving to the Saints 17, but Derrick Blaylock could not handle a pass from Trent Green and linebacker Orlando Ruff grabbed it to preserve the victory.
Associated Press
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