NFL Sidelines: Week 5

AP
Published: October 5, 2008

Arizona Cardinals 41, Buffalo Bills 17

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona has dropped Buffalo from the ranks of the unbeaten in an emphatic fashion, 41-17. The Bills lost more than their first game of the season. Second-year quarterback Trent Edwards, a major reason Buffalo was one of three unbeaten teams entering the day, went down with a concussion on a fierce hit from Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson on the third play of the game.

It was the Bills’ defense that collapsed after that. Edwards was 3-for-3 when he left the game. Backup J.P. Losman completed 15-of-21 passes in relief but couldn’t match Arizona’s high-octane offense. Rookie Tim Hightower had a pair of touchdown runs. Kurt Warner threw to Larry Fitzgerald twice for scores while completing 33-of-42 passes for 250 yards. Arizona is 3-and-2 atop the NFC West. Buffalo is 4-and-2, still atop the AFC East.

New England Patriots 30, San Francisco 49ers 21

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - New England beat San Francisco 30-21 to drop the Niners one game back of division-leading Arizona. The Patriots, meanwhile, improved to 3-and-1, a-half game back of Buffalo in the AFC East. Kevin Faulk rushed for two scores, Matt Cassel had 259 yards passing and the Patriots won in San Francisco for the first time in franchise history. Randy Moss had five catches for 111 yards, including a 66-yard TD catch. Matt Cassel completed 22-of-32 for 259 yards, with one TD and two interceptions.

Denver Broncos 16, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13

DENVER (AP) - In a low-scoring game at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver held off Tampa Bay 16-13 to improve the Broncos’ AFC West-leading mark to 4-and-1. Jay Cutler directed a patient Denver offense by throwing for 227 yards. But it was the much-maligned Denver defense that made a bigger impact. After giving up 33 points to previously winless Kansas City last week, the Broncos defense stiffened considerably. It knocked out Bucs starting QB Brian Griese in the third quarter. You can excuse Griese for thinking that Invesco Field is not his favorite place to play. After five frustrating years in Denver as John Elway’s successor, Griese was knocked out of the game when he was hit by Champ Bailey on a cornerback blitz in the third quarter. Jeff Garcia replaced Griese, but didn’t have much more success as The Bucs fell to 3-and-2, a game back of Carolina in the NFC South.

Dallas Cowboys 31, Cincinnati Bengals 22

IRVING, Texas (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys improved to 4-and-1 with a tougher-than-expected 31-22 victory over winless Cincinnati. The Cowboys were leading only by two points at home when Tony Romo tossed his third TD pass of the game, a 15-yarder to Patrick Crayton with 1:52 left. The Cowboys were stout against the run, however. They held Cincinnati to 61 yards rushing in 23 attempts. Meanwhile, the Cowboys ate up the clock by running 38 times for 198 yards. Felix Jones led the Cowboys with 96 yards rushing while Marion Barber ran 23 times for 84 yards. The Cowboys are tied with Washington, one-half game back of the New York Giants.

New York Giants 44, Seattle Seahawks 6

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - So far there is very little difference between the New York Giants at the end of last season and the team that has begun this season 4-and-0. The Giants won their eighth straight game by scoring on their first five possessions in a 44-6 rout of Seattle. Eli Manning had a nearly perfect afternoon. Manning was 19-for-25 for 267 yards and two TDs. The Super Bowl champions are off to their best start since 1990, when they posted a 13-and-3 record and also won the NFL title. The Giants rolled up 523 yards in total offense, their most since collecting 524 yards against Green Bay in 2002. They did it all without leading receiver Plaxico Burress, who was suspended by coach Tom Coughlin for missing a team meeting. Brandon Jacobs was the anchor of the Giants running game, rushing 15 times for 136 yards. Seattle fell to 1-and-3.

Tennessee Titans 13, Baltimore Ravens 10

BALTIMORE (AP) - The Tennessee Titans are 5-and-0 after riding their top-notch defense and another clutch effort from backup quarterback Kerry Collins in their 13-10 win at Baltimore. Collins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:56 left for the go-ahead score. That capped an 11-play, 80-yard TD drive. Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco was then intercepted by Nick Harper to drop the Ravens to 2-and-2. Flacco finished 18-for-27 for 153 yards and two interceptions. The Titans have a two-and-a-half-game lead in the AFC South.

Washington Redskins 23, Philadelphia Eagles 17

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The 4-and-1 Washington Redskins continue to be the surprise team in the powerful NFC East. The Redskins posted their second straight division road victory by dumping Philadelphia 23-17. Clinton Portis ran for 145 yards and one touchdown against an Eagles defense that had been allowed less than 55 yards rushing a game. Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a TD pass as rookie head coach Jim Zorn continues to enjoy much first-year success. The Redskins are in great position for a playoff run with their next three games against Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis, which are all struggling. Meanwhile, the 2-and-3 Eagles are mired in last place in the NFC East in danger of finishing last for the third time in four years.

Miami Dolphins 17, San Diego Chargers 10

MIAMI (AP) - The Miami Dolphins doubled their 2007 victory total by beating San Diego 17-10 to even their mark at 2-and-2. The Dolphins have reached respectability the old-fashioned way. Ronnie Brown scored the go-ahead touchdown from the single wing formation that Miami revived two weeks ago. Brown ran for 125 yards. He took the direct snap from center 11 times on running plays that netted 49 yards. Chad Pennington had a respectable day through the air, passing for 228 yards. Miami’s defense was stout, holding San Diego to a mere 10 points, some 24 below their season average. The 2-and-3 Chargers have not won on their last six trips to South Florida where they have not won since an overtime playoff win in 1982.

Chicago Bears 34, Detroit Lions 7

DETROIT (AP) - Those fantasy football players who had the foresight to select Kyle Orton as their quarterback enjoyed a fruitful afternoon. The Chicago Bears quarterback had a career day, completing 24-of-34 for a career-best 334 yards and a pair of second-quarter touchdowns in their 34-7 victory over winless Detroit. Orton is 3-and-0 as a starter against Detroit. The Bears had the ball for more than 38 minutes while outgaining the Lions 425-to-185 in total yards. The Bears are 3-and-2 atop the NFC North.

Atlanta Falcons 27, Green Bay Packers 24

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Atlanta rookie quarterback Matt Ryan outplayed Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and the Falcons upset the Packers 27-24 at Lambeau Field. The rookie from Boston College completed 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns to give the 3-and-2 Falcons their first road win of the season. Ryan’s favorite target was wide receiver Roddy White, who caught eight passes for 132 yards and a TD. The Packers fell out of a first-place tie in the NFC North and dropped to 2-and-3.

Carolina Panthers 34, Kansas City Chiefs 0

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Panthers improved to 4-and-1 by handing the dreadful Kansas City Chiefs their first shutout in nearly six years, 34-0. DeAngelo Williams had 123 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns. The Panthers, who’ve missed the playoffs the past two seasons, are off to their best start since reaching the Super Bowl in the 2003 season. Kansas City’s only highlight in a miserable day was a personal milestone. Tony Gonzalez caught a 6-yard pass in the first quarter to move past Shannon Sharpe for the NFL’s career leader for receiving yards for a tight end. Chiefs leading rusher Larry Johnson, who had rushed for 319 yards in the past two games, had 2 yards on seven carries. KC is 1-and-4, having
been outscored 131-to-65.

Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 27

HOUSTON (AP) - Indianapolis scored three touchdowns in a span of just over two minutes to rally past the stunned Houston Texans 31-27. Peyton Manning three two TD passes. Linebacker Gary Brackett returned a fumble by Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels 68 yards for a score in between Manning’s TD throws. Rosenfels fumbled twice during Houston’s late-game meltdown. The backup was playing because Houston’s starting QB, Matt Schaub, was ill. Rosenfels had guided the winless Texans to a 17-point lead before his late mistakes proved costly. The Colts are 2-and-2, two and a-half games back of Tennessee in the AFC South.

Sunday night’s game is at Jacksonville where the Jaguars are hosting Pittsburgh.

The Monday night game is in New Orleans where the 2-and-2 Saints take on the 1-and-3 Minnesota Vikings.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)