AFC

AFC
Chargers 21, Raiders 14
SAN DIEGO -- With LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers looking all too human against Oakland, the star running back keyed yet another second-half rally to give the AFC West-leading Chargers (9-2) their fifth straight win. Tomlinson, in the midst of an MVP-type season, rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another. He has 24 touchdowns this season, needing five in the last five games to break the NFL record of 28 set by Shaun Alexander during his MVP season of 2005. Tomlinson threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Gates to tie the game at 14. Tomlinson threw his second TD pass of the season and the sixth of his career. After the Raiders (2-9) punted, Tomlinson broke a 44-yard run on first down, then capped the drive with a 10-yard scoring run. It was his 21st touchdown in seven games.
Bills 27, Jaguars 24
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- J.P. Losman hit Roscoe Parrish for a 30-yard completion to set up Rian Lindell's 42-yard field goal as time ran out, lifting Buffalo over Jacksonville. The Bills, who never trailed, scored 28 seconds after the Jaguars tied it when David Garrard hit Matt Jones for a 3-yard touchdown. Losman, who finished 21-of-28 for 169 yards, rallied the Bills. After a 6-yard completion to Parrish, the quarterback stepped up in the pocket and threw to the left sideline for Parrish, who kept both toes in bounds. It was the second straight week Losman engineered a last-minute, game-winning drive. Bills running back Willis McGahee had 63 yards rushing and two touchdowns in his first game after missing the past two with broken ribs. Parrish also scored on an 82-yard punt return.
Jets 26, Texans 11
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Chad Pennington had his finest passing day in weeks, throwing for 286 yards and a touchdown in New York's 26-11 victory over Houston. Pennington, who left briefly in the third quarter after an injury scare, finished 24-of-31. He connected with Laveranues Coles nine times for 111 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Jerricho Cotchery had seven catches for 110 yards. Mike Nugent tied a career high with four field goals, including a career-long 54-yarder for the Jets. Pennington was 5-for-5 for 89 yards on the Jets' first possession of the third quarter. He found Chris Baker for 28 yards and Cotchery for 35 to get to the 12. Pennington then lofted a pass to the left front corner of the end zone, and Coles leaped for the score. Cedric Houston added a 1-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter to make it 23-3. Andre Johnson caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from David Carr with 3:51 left to cap a 76-yard drive for the Texans (3-8), and Wali Lundy's short reception completed the 2-point conversion.
NFC
Vikings 31, Cardinals 26
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brad Johnson threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns in Minnesota's victory against Arizona. Chester Taylor added 136 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Vikings (5-6), and the defense forced five turnovers and allowing just 17 yards rushing to snap a four-game losing streak. The Cardinals (2-9) got a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by J.J. Arrington on the opening play of the game and a 99-yard fumble return for a score by Adrian Wilson in the fourth, but couldn't overcome turnovers, penalties and a suddenly productive Vikings offense. Rookie Matt Leinart played well for Arizona, completing 31 of 52 passes for a career-high 405 yards and two interceptions, but managed only one TD -- a 9-yard pass to Anquan Boldin with 39 seconds to play -- that came too little, too late. That spoiled the return to Minnesota of former Vikings coach Dennis Green. All the Cardinals leader could do was stare blankly at the field as he watched his young team give away another game.
Redskins 17, Panthers 13
LANDOVER, Md. -- Chris Cooley's 66-yard touchdown reception was the difference in Washington's win over Carolina. The victory broke a two-game losing streak for the Redskins (4-7) and gave quarterback Jason Campbell his first win in his second NFL start. The team returned to running the ball and stopping the run, but it took the big play to Cooley with 4:26 remaining to beat the Panthers (6-5). Campbell had only 52 yards passing when he hit Cooley on a third-and-8 at the Washington 34. Campbell finished 11-for-23 for 118 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Ladell Betts, the Redskins featured running back now that Clinton Portis is out for the year, ran for 104 yards on 24 carries. The Redskins defense had its first good game, holding the Panthers to 264 total yards. The much maligned secondary limited Smith to 34 yards on five catches. Safety Sean Taylor made a tackle on fourth down to stop Carolina's next-to-last drive, and he intercepted Jake Delhomme in the end zone on the Panthers' last possession.
Saints 31, Falcons 13
ATLANTA -- Drew Brees threw a 76-yard touchdown to Devery Henderson on the third play of the game, then lofted a 48-yarder to Terrance Copper on the final play of the first half, leading New Orleans past bumbling Atlanta. New Orleans bounced back from losing three of four, boosted its playoff hopes and delivered a crushing blow to an NFC West rival. The Saints (7-4) won without rookie star Marques Colston, who didn't play because of a sprained ankle. The Falcons (5-6) lost their fourth straight. Even though quarterback Michael Vick ran for 166 yards, Atlanta couldn't overcome five dropped passes and a shocking defensive breakdown just before halftime. Brees had no such problems with his receivers, completing 21-of-30 for 349 yards -- the fifth straight 300-yard game for the Saints' first-year quarterback.
INTERCONFERENCE
Titans 24, Giants 21
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vince Young and Adam "Pacman" Jones never gave up, leading a stunning Tennessee fourth-quarter comeback. The Titans cornerback intercepted two passes and had a 23-yard punt return that revived his teammates in the fourth quarter. Then rookie quarterback Young finished off an improbable rally from a 21-point deficit. Young ran for a touchdown and threw for two more in the final 9:35 and finished with a career-high 249 yards passing. Rob Bironas kicked a 49-yard field goal with 6 seconds left to win it. The Giants (6-5) lost their third straight and fell a game behind the Dallas Cowboys (7-4) in the NFC East going into next week's game in the Meadowlands.
Associated Press
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