Colts, Cards and Jags Win Shootouts

[TalonRider]

Colts, Cards and Jags Win Shootouts

By The Associated Press

Mon Nov 21, 5:03 AM

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning throws against the Cincinnati ...

The Colts, Cardinals and Jaguars won shootouts, while the Broncos and Browns had shutouts.

Indianapolis outscored Cincinnati 45-37 to remain the NFL's only unbeaten team. Arizona won 38-28 in former Rams hero Kurt Warner's return to St. Louis. And Jacksonville, which until last week couldn't find its way to 30 points, beat Tennessee 31-28.

"It's been a while since we've been in a shootout," Peyton Manning said after guiding the Colts to the first 10-0 start since Denver did it in 1998. Manning went 24-of-40 for 365 yards and three touchdowns. "We had been running the ball, and I think Cincinnati came in and said, 'Hey, we don't want to let Edgerrin James get established.' We were kind of thinking they might be thinking that. So we came out and threw it."

It didn't matter how much the Jets and Dolphins threw, ran or had the ball in their possession. They couldn't do anything and were blanked _ New York 27-0 at Denver, Miami 22-0 at Cleveland.

"It feels good," Broncos linebacker Al Wilson said. "Anytime you get it, I think it says a lot about the character of the defense."

In other games, it was Chicago 13, Carolina 3; Tampa Bay 30, Atlanta 27; Baltimore 16, Pittsburgh 13 in overtime; Seattle 27, San Francisco 25; San Diego 48, Buffalo 10; New York Giants 27, Philadelphia 17; Dallas 20, Detroit 7; New England 24, New Orleans 17; Oakland 16, Washington 13; and Kansas City 45, Houston 17.

On Monday night, Minnesota is at Green Bay.

Colts 45, Bengals 37

At Cincinnati, the Colts' offense reached the end zone on its first five possessions and Indianapolis became the 17th team to go 10-0. The Bengals (7-3) couldn't stop Manning, who has 18 touchdown passes in the last seven games.

Marvin Harrison had five catches to reach 900 career receptions faster than anyone in NFL history.

Cincinnati's Carson Palmer finished 25-of-38 for 335 yards, and Chad Johnson had eight catches for a career-high 189 yards.

Cardinals 38, Rams 28

Warner produced a pair of Super Bowl teams and a pair of MVP awards in St. Louis. He came back and beat the Rams (4-6) by throwing three touchdown passes, going 27-for-39 for 285 yards.

"I've been here a lot of times when I had everybody in here cheering for me and I don't know if I fed off it, but I definitely know I was focused and feeling good," Warner said.

Anquan Boldin caught eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Larry Fitzgerald had nine receptions for 104 yards and a 7-yard score for the Cardinals (3-7). Neil Rackers also continued a perfect season with three field goals, including a 51-yarder in the third quarter. He's 31-for-31 on the year, and his field goal total is a franchise season record.

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, who replaced Warner in 2003, hurt his shoulder for the second time this season.

Jaguars 31, Titans 28

Byron Leftwich threw for three touchdowns for the first time in his NFL career and ran for another score as Jacksonville (7-3) won its third straight for its best start since the 1999 season when it last went to the playoffs. Leftwich finished 22-of-38 for 258 yards.

Steve McNair had his 150th career TD pass, a 15-yarder to Chris Brown, for the Titans (2-8).

Broncos 27, Jets 0

At Denver, the Broncos (8-2) got their first shutout in eight years. Jake Plummer threw for 225 yards and no interceptions and Mike Anderson ran for 113 yards and three scores. Plummer increased his team-record streak to 219 passes without an interception.

New York (2-8) lost its fifth straight, went without a touchdown for the third time this season and was shutout for the first time since 1995. It also lost Brooks Bollinger with a concussion and Vinny Testaverde with an ankle problem.

Browns 22, Dolphins 0

At Cleveland, the Browns earned their second shutout in 107 games since returning to the NFL in 1999, holding Miami (3-7) to 55 yards passing. Reuben Droughns scored on a 75-yard run on Cleveland's first play and finished with 166 yards for Cleveland (4-6).

In their sixth loss in seven games, the Dolphins also lost linebacker Zach Thomas, a five-time Pro Bowl selection. He injured his right shoulder.

Bears 13, Panthers 3

At Chicago, Nathan Vasher intercepted two passes that set up scores, and NFC North-leading Chicago (7-3) won its sixth straight. One week after returning a missed field goal a record 108 yards, Vasher's first pick led to a 3-yard touchdown reception for former Panther Muhsin Muhammad, and the second resulted in a 33-yard field goal by Robbie Gould.

Adewale Ogunleye had three sacks, and Alex Brown added two and forced two fumbles for the Bears.

The NFC South-leading Panthers (7-3) saw their six-game win streak end, but Steve Smith, the NFL's leader with 937 yards receiving entering the game, caught 14 passes for 169 yards.

Buccaneers 30, Falcons 27

At Atlanta, Derrick Brooks knocked the ball away from Falcons quarterback Michael Vick with just over a minute remaining, Tampa Bay recovered and Matt Bryant kicked a 45-yard field goal with 42 seconds left.

The Bucs (7-3) moved into a tie for first in the NFC South with Carolina. The Falcons (6-4) remained one game back after their second straight loss at home.

Vick threw for 306 yards, only the second 300-yard passing game of his career.

Ravens 16, Steelers 13, OT

At Baltimore, Matt Stover's 44-yard field goal with 4:09 left in overtime snapped a four-game losing streak for the Ravens (3-7). Pittsburgh (7-3) had won 11 straight on the road since losing in Baltimore in September 2004.

Tommy Maddox produced only one touchdown playing in place of injured Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and finished 19-for-36 for 230 yards and an interception. He also lost a fumble.

Seahawks 27, 49ers 25

At San Francisco, Shaun Alexander rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and Seattle stopped the 49ers' 2-point conversion attempt with 28 seconds left for its sixth straight victory and an NFC-leading 8-2 record.

Matt Hasselbeck was 19-of-31 for 233 yards and one TD as the league's most prolific offense dominated the first three quarters, racking up 357 yards. The Seahawks matched the best start in franchise history, also accomplished in 1999 and 1984 _ the last time they won a playoff game.

The 49ers (2-8) nearly rallied from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter with backups making most of the big plays.

Chargers 48, Bills 10

At San Diego, Drew Brees threw for 339 yards and a season-high four touchdowns, and the Chargers (6-4) overcame the loss of Pro Bowl tight end Antiono Gates to win their third straight. Brees completed 28 of 33 passes.

J.P. Losman was sacked six times, and Willis McGahee was held to 39 yards on 10 carries for Buffalo (4-6), which is winless in five road games.

Giants 27, Eagles 17

Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes, including a 61-yarder to Plaxico Burress late in the fourth quarter, as the Giants (7-3) held off a Philadelphia team without Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens.

Third-string quarterback Mike McMahon ran for one touchdown and threw for another for the plummeting Eagles (4-6), who have lost four in a row.

Tiki Barber rushed 21 times for 112 yards for host New York.

Cowboys 20, Lions 7

Marion Barber III scored on a pair of short runs, Billy Cundiff kicked a franchise-record 56-yard field goal and Dallas took advantage of 17 penalties for 129 yards to beat Detroit (4-6).

Barber scored on the opening drive, and the host Cowboys (7-3) led the rest of the way for a third straight win and fifth in six games.

Patriots 24, Saints 17

Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and led two scoring drives of more than 90 yards to help New England (6-4) win consecutive games for the first time this season.

Bill Belichick coached the Patriots after his father's death on Saturday night. Steve Belichick died of heart failure at the age of 86.

Visiting New Orleans (2-8) dropped its sixth in a row and has scored more than 17 points only once during that slide.

Raiders 16, Redskins 13

Sebastian Janikowski's third field goal, a 19-yarder with 1:08 remaining, helped Oakland (4-6) snap a two-game losing streak and gave coach Norv Turner a victory in his first game in Washington since being fired by owner Dan Snyder with three games remaining in the 2000 season.

Kerry Collins went 5-for-6 and moved Oakland (4-6) 50 yards in the winning series. Jerry Porter finished with six catches for a season-high 142 yards.

Clinton Portis lost two fumbles for the Redskins, negating his 92 yards on 22 carries for Washington (5-5), which has lost five of seven.

Chiefs 45, Texans 17

At Houston, Larry Johnson broke the Chiefs' rushing record with 211 yards and scored two touchdowns. The third-year player has gained more than 100 yards in both of his starts since Holmes was placed on injured reserve because of head and neck injuries.

The 211 yards were the most allowed to a single player in Texans history and the seventh time this season an opponent has gained more than 100 yards against the Texans' league-worst run defense.The Texans (1-9) had only 129 yards at halftime to 292 by Kansas City (6-4), which piled up 31 first-half points a week after managing only three points in a loss at Buffalo.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.