Scores, Recaps, And Fan Reactions From Sunday's Games

The thunderstorm is below, but for the plane that flies in it, visit our Seahawks blog, Field Gulls, and our Rams blog, Turf Show Times.

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) – Justin Forsett rushed for 130 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns, as the Seattle Seahawks downed the St. Louis Rams, 27-17, in an NFC West matchup at the Edward Jones Dome.

Matt Hasselbeck completed 14-of-25 throws for 102 yards, while Josh Wilson returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown for Seattle (4-7), which was hammered 35-9 at Minnesota last Sunday. The Seahawks had lost four of five coming into the contest. Olindo Mare added two field goals.

Running back Julius Jones missed the game with a lung contusion for Seattle.

Kyle Boller threw for 282 yards on 28-of-46 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Rams (1-10), who have dropped three straight with their lone win coming at Detroit on November 1. Donnie Avery had four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Josh Brown kicked a 55-yard field goal.

Steven Jackson, who was nursing a back injury, rushed for 89 yards on 23 handles and a touchdown.

Starting quarterback Marc Bulger remained out with a fracture just below his left knee and is expected to miss at least three weeks.

After Brown’s 46-yard field goal try early in the first quarter sailed wide right, Seattle opened the scoring on Forsett’s three-yard touchdown run up the middle that capped an eight-play, 64-yard drive.

Louis Rankin’s fumble led to a Boller-to-Avery one-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7 in the early stages of the second.

With St. Louis driving and facing a 4th-and-4 from the Seattle 34, Boller’s pass was tipped high in the air and picked off by Wilson, who took it 65 yards for the score with 1:38 left. Brown’s 55-yard field goal as time expired got the Rams to within 14-10 at the half.

St. Louis was on the move again midway through the third quarter, but Boller was picked again, this time by Jordan Babineaux in the end zone which led to Mare’s 29-yard field goal.

Seattle then blew things open in the fourth quarter when Forsett’s two-yard TD run and Mare’s 38-yard make stretched the lead to 27-10. Jackson’s one-yard dive with under a minute remaining got St. Louis to within 10, but the Rams’ onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and the Seahawks ran out the remaining seconds.

St. Louis will play at Chicago next Sunday, while Seattle hosts San Francisco…The Seahawks improved to 14-9 in the all-time series with the Rams and have won 10 straight over their NFC West rivals.

- Via Sports Network.

The novelty talking wall fish is below. But for the batteries that power it, visit our Eagles blog, Bleeding Green Nation, and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – David Akers made four field goals, the last a 32-yarder with 1:48 remaining in regulation to give the Eagles a 27-24 comeback victory over NFC East rival Washington.

Eldra Buckley scored on a one-yard touchdown run to pull Philadelphia (7-4) within 24-22 midway though the fourth. Donovan McNabb’s shovel pass to LeSean McCoy on the two-point conversion tied the game, and the Eagles defense denied the Redskins (3-8) on their final two possessions to steal a second straight win.

McNabb threw for 260 yards with an interception and a touchdown to DeSean Jackson, while McCoy ended with 76 yards on 17 carries for the victors.

“It’s not really how you start, it’s how you finish,” said McNabb. “I thought this team really came together and was able to pull it out and do what was supposed to be done, and guys stepped up and made big plays.”

Jason Campbell tossed two touchdowns and finished with 231 yards on 22-of-37 attempts for the Redskins, who were coming off a 7-6 loss to Dallas. Campbell was also picked off twice by Asante Samuel.

“I would never use the ‘here we go again’ (excuse),” said Washington head coach Jim Zorn. “Our guys play hard. It’s hard to come back after a loss like we had last weekend and this week, but our guys are doing that. I don’t see any drop off at all. (The Eagles) made plays at the end and they deserve to win.”

The Eagles went three-and-out on each of their three drives in the third quarter, and on their first touch in the fourth, McNabb threw an interception in his own territory.

Washington turned the turnover into a Shaun Suisham 25-yard field goal for a 24-16 lead with 11:42 to play.

The Eagles embarked on a 10-play, 90-yard drive that Buckley ended with a powerful plunge into paydirt from a yard out on third down. Philly called a timeout for the two-point try, and McCoy barreled in after catching the shovel pass to tie the game.

“That was just a great single effort, taking the hit, putting his hand down and getting enough power to go forward into the end zone,” said McNabb about McCoy. “He just continues to progress. He progresses every week.”

After a Washington punt, the Eagles took over at their own 20 and quickly moved into field goal range. Akers was true from 32 yards out under the two- minute warning, and Campbell short-hopped Santana Moss on fourth down to end the Redskins’ final drive.

Washington scored just 1:54 into the game after the Eagles were unsuccessful with a surprising onsides kick to start the game. Campbell took it in himself from a yard out for the early lead.

An offensive pass interference penalty negated a Jackson one-yard TD grab on the first drive for the Eagles, who settled for a 29-yard Akers kick.

Jackson was able to bring one in from 35 yards out later in the frame for a 10-7 Philadelphia lead, but the Redskins countered in the second when Campbell hit Moss on a four-yard slant to finish a 13-play, 80-yard march.

A pair of Samuel interceptions before the half set up field goals of 24 and 41 yards from Akers to give the Eagles a 16-14 lead.

Washington scored on its first touch of the second half, as Fred Davis capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a 10-yard TD with 8:34 left in the third.

The Eagles swept the season series against the Redskins…Davis and Moss each caught four passes for 43 and 28 yards, respectively for Washington…Rock Cartwright led the ’Skins in rushing with 38 yards on 15 carries…Jason Avant logged 94 yards on five catches for Philadelphia. Jackson ended with 41 yards on his two grabs…The Eagles next head to Atlanta, while the Redskins host New Orleans.

- VIa Sports Network.

Here’s the cheese. But for the mousetrap, visit our Jets blog, Gang Green Nation, and our Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader.

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) – Darrelle Revis picked off Jake Delhomme twice and returned one 67 yards for a touchdown, sparking the Jets to a 17-6 victory over Carolina.

Thomas Jones finished with 75 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries for New York (5-6), which halted a three-game slide. Mark Sanchez was 13-of-17 for 154 yards with an interception in the win.

The Jets held the powerful Panthers running game to 75 yards.

Delhomme’s four interceptions doomed the Panthers (4-7), who have dropped three of their last four games. The QB completed just 14-of-34 passes for 130 yards, while DeAngelo Williams gained a mere 40 yards on 16 carries in defeat.

The Panthers gained three first downs on a lengthy opening drive, but on 3rd- and-9 from the New York 39 yard-line, Delhomme’s quick pass caromed off the back leg of an unsuspecting Steve Smith and into the arms of Revis, who went untouched 67 yards the other way for the score.

John Kasay got the Panthers on the board with a 40-yard field goal 4:49 into the second quarter, but another Revis pick set up a Jones’ three-yard touchdown run just before halftime.

Dustin Keller had a chance to extend the lead early in the second half but fumbled the ball into the end zone after hauling in a 16-yard pass.

Several punts ensued before a Chris Gamble interception set Carolina up at midfield early in the fourth. The Panthers moved into the red zone and appeared to get closer on a Smith 10-yard TD grab. However, instant replay overturned the call and Kasay booted a 28-yarder with 3:15 gone in the frame.

Jay Feely, who missed a 48-yard kick in the opening quarter, made a 47-yarder with 3:39 to go for a two-possession affair.

Kerry Rhodes’ second interception of the game with a little over a minute to play sealed the win. The pick came a play after Dwayne Jarrett’s offensive pass interference penalty negated his 28-yard TD grab.

Keller recorded a game-high 68 yards on four catches, while Sanchez, who left the game briefly with an apparent leg injury, added 27 yards on three carries for the victors…Dante Rosario had a team-high four catches for 62 yards for Carolina, which received a two-catch performance from Smith…New York heads to Buffalo next week, while Carolina hosts Tampa Bay.

- Via Sports Network.

The fulcrum is below. But for the lever, visit our Colts blog, Stampede Blue, and our Texans blog, Battle Red Blog.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Peyton Manning tossed three touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts rallied from a poor first half to take a 35-27 win over the Houston Texans and move a step closer to clinching the AFC South.

The Colts (11-0) will clinch the division for the sixth time in the past seven years if Jacksonville loses to San Francisco later Sunday.

Manning went 27-for-35 with 244 yards and two interceptions while Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne each caught a score for Indianapolis, which has won 20 straight regular season contests. The Colts are now one away from tying New England’s record of 21 straight regular season wins.

Joseph Addai finished the contest with 69 yards on 15 carries and Chad Simpson had a late rushing touchdown for the Colts, who have won six straight against Houston.

Matt Schaub was 31-for-42 with 284 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Texans (5-6), who have dropped three straight and took a big blow to their playoff hopes. Steve Slaton had 57 yards on 10 carries while Vonta Leach and Jacoby Jones each caught a score and Chris Brown ran one in.

Trailing by 13 points, the Colts started the second half with the ball and put it into the end zone. The nine-play, 80-yard drive was helped by a pair of pass interference calls on Houston, with the second giving the team a 1st- and-goal at the one. Manning then connected with Wayne on a corner fade three plays later to make it a 20-14 game 3:40 into the third.

Schaub was intercepted on the following touch, but the Colts punted then forced a punt from Houston.

Starting with the ball at their own 35 and under five minutes left in the third, the Colts marched the ball down to the Houston 14, but were held there and a 32-yard field goal from Matt Stover went wide right with 13:21 to play.

Houston was forced to punt after four plays and the Colts got the ball back at their own 11.

Manning was 4-for-4 with 60 yards on the drive, which included a 17-yard pass interference call and a 11-yard run from Addai, and gave his team its first lead of the game on a six-yard toss over the middle to Clark for a 21-20 lead with 8:24 to play.

On the second play of Houston’s next touch, Clint Session stepped in front of a Schaub pass and took it into the end zone from 27 yards out for a 28-20 advantage with 8:09 left.

Schaub fumbled the ball as he was sacked on the next possession and Simpson sealed the win with a 23-yard run up the middle with under three minutes to play.

Houston got a 10-yard touchdown catch from Jones to make it a 35-27 game, but it was with 18 seconds to play and Indianapolis recovered the onsides kick to seal the win.

Houston started the game with the ball and put together an 11-play drive that covered 79 yards and ate up 6:35 of clock time. The march was capped as Schaub used play action, rolled out to the left and hit Leach, who caught the ball in the flat and took it into the end zone from seven yards out for a 7-0 lead with 8:25 left in the first.

The Texans forced the Colts to punt on the ensuing touch and were able to add to their lead. It took just seven plays on a combination of runs and passes with Brown banging into the end zone from five yards out for a 14-0 advantage with 2:10 left on the first quarter clock.

Manning was picked off by Brian Cushing deep in Houston territory on the first play of the second quarter and he took it back 35 yards, coupled with an unnecessary roughness call on the Colts.

On 1st-and-10 at the Colts 29, Schaub threw the ball up to the left corner of the end zone and Andre Johnson came down with the leaping reception, but he dropped it as he hit the ground and the play was ruled incomplete. Houston challenged the call and the ruling on the field was upheld. Kris Brown booted a 35-yard field goal several plays later for a 17-0 lead with 10:49 left in the half.

The Colts finally put together a successful scoring drive on their next touch as, on 3rd-and-4 at the Houston nine-yard line, Manning threw the ball into the end zone where Garcon made a bobbling catch to cut the deficit to 17-7 with 5:46 left in the half.

Houston, though, responded with an 11-play drive that covered 65 yards and was finished on a 33-yard field goal from Brown for a 20-7 lead with one minute left in the half.

Indianapolis was driving in the final minute of the half, but Manning was picked off by Brice McCain to preserve Houston’s 13-point lead heading into the locker room.

The Colts host Tennessee next Sunday…Houston plays at Jacksonville next Sunday…Manning is 15-1 in his career against Houston with 36 touchdown passes…Clark finished the game with nine catches for 63 yards while Garcon had five catches for 63 yards.

- Via Sports Network.

The drink is below. But for the straw that stirs it, visit our Bengals blog, Cincy Jungle, and our Browns blog, Dawgs By Nature.

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) – Carson Palmer completed 13-of-24 passes for 110 yards and a score, as the Cincinnati Bengals bounced back from a bad loss last week to defeat the Cleveland Browns, 16-7, in Week 12 action at Paul Brown Stadium.

Larry Johnson carried the ball 22 times for 107 yards while rookie Bernard Scott rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries for the Bengals (8-3), who gave up 10 points in the final minute last Sunday on the way to a 20-17 loss to the Raiders.

J.P. Foschi caught two passes for 11 yards and a TD for Cincinnati, which wrapped up a perfect 6-0 mark in AFC North play this season.

The Bengals were without starting running back Cedric Benson (hip) for a second straight game, and were also missing linebacker Keith Rivers (calf) for a third consecutive contest.

Brady Quinn connected on 15-of-34 passes for 100 yards for the Browns (1-10), who have lost six in a row since their lone win of the season against the Bills on October 11. Quinn also rushed for a score. Jamal Lewis carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards in defeat.

The Bengals got a field goal on their first possession of the game, thanks to converting on 3-of-4 third downs on a drive that lasted almost nine minutes in length. Faced with a 3rd-and-11 at the Cleveland 35, Palmer connected with Chad Ochocinco for exactly 11 yards. An illegal formation penalty set Cincinnati back five yards on first down. They couldn’t make up that yardage and had to settle for a 37-yard Shayne Graham field goal with 3:06 left.

Cincinnati scored the first touchdown of the game late in the second frame. Scott got the march going with a 21-yard run on 1st-and-20, and Palmer capped the drive when he found Foschi in the end zone from four yards out for a 10-0 lead with 1:10 to go.

After forcing the Browns to go three-and-out, Cincinnati got the ball back at the Cleveland 40 with 21 ticks remaining due to a 37-yard punt. Graham drilled a 53-yarder as time expired for a 13-0 margin at the half.

The Browns got on the board with their first possession of the third stanza. On 3rd-and-5, Josh Cribbs took a direct snap and threw 18 yards to Quinn. The eight-play, 55-yard drive was capped with Quinn’s nine-yard TD run on a QB sneak, cutting the gap to 13-7 with 6:52 left.

Cincinnati responded with an 11-play, 62-yard drive that Graham topped off with a 28-yarder to make it 16-7 with 50 seconds remaining.

Neither team could do much of anything on offense in a scoreless fourth quarter, and the Bengals held on for the victory.

Ochocinco caught three passes for 38 yards…Chansi Stuckey caught four passes for 44 yards for the Browns…The Bengals outgained the Browns, 306-169, including a 210-58 advantage in rushing yards….Cincinnati rookie right tackle Andre Smith was active for the first time this season…Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter…The Bengals set a franchise mark with their seventh straight division victory…Cribbs became the first player in NFL history to record more than 1,000 kickoff return yards in each of his first five seasons…The Bengals lead the all-time series with the Browns, 38-35, including a 23-20 overtime win in Cleveland in Week 4…The Browns welcome San Diego to town next Sunday, while the Bengals host the Lions.

- Via Sports Network.

The substance is here. For the style, check out our Dolphins blog, The Phinsider, and our Bills blog, Buffalo Rumblings.

Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) – Rian Lindell kicked a career-long 56-yard field goal to put Buffalo on top late in the fourth quarter and Ryan Fitzpatrick sealed the victory with a lengthy touchdown pass to Terrell Owens, as the Bills defeated Miami, 31-14, at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Fitzpatrick also ran for a score while completing 17-of-26 attempts for 246 yards with one interception. Owens had 96 yards on five receptions, and Fred Jackson had two rushing touchdowns for the Bills (4-7), who recorded 24 points in the final 15 minutes to snap a three-game skid.

The win was the first for Perry Fewell as interim head coach. The former defensive coordinator replaced the fired Dick Jauron earlier this month.

Chad Henne was intercepted on the Dolphins’ final three drives following the go-ahead boot by Lindell with 3:35 remaining. Henne ended with 175 yards and one touchdown on 17-of-31 efficiency for Miami (5-6), who were looking to extend its winning streak to three games.

Ricky Williams rushed for 115 yards and a score on 27 carries in defeat.

Following the break, Miami orchestrated a drive that covered 83 yards in 16 plays and consumed nine minutes of the clock. The Dolphins faced a 3rd-and-3 from their own 39 and Henne found Lousaka Polite for a 10-yard gain. Later on the march, Miami opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the Buffalo 28. Polite bulled his way up the middle to move the chains. A 20-yard completion to Brian Hartline on third down placed the ball at the one. Williams scored two plays later to put Miami up 14-7 with 5:53 left in the third quarter.

Buffalo countered with an equally impressive time-consuming drive of its own to draw even. Fitzpatrick used his legs on two occasions to keep the offense on the field. The Harvard quarterback scrambled for six yards to the Miami 45 on 3rd-and-five. He then picked up eight yards on 4th-and-1 from the 36.

On the next play, Fitzpatrick found Owens for a 12-yard gain near the sideline to end the quarter. A five-yard run and a eight-yard catch by Jackson moved the ball to the three before the third-year running back scampered into the end zone, capping the 13-play jaunt that originated from Buffalo’s own 25 and chewed up seven minutes of the clock.

Buffalo got the ball at the Miami 39 after the Dolphins were forced to punt in the shadow of their own end zone. Lindell’s boot gave the Bills a 17-14 lead.

Drayton Florence then picked off Henne on the ensuing drive. On the first play following the change of possession, Fitzpatrick hit a streaking Owens for a 51-yard touchdown.

The woes continued for Henne as he was intercepted by Donte Whitner inside the two-minute warning. Jackson tacked on a seven-yard TD run with 80 seconds to go.

Bills defensive tackle Corey Mace secured a tipped pass to cap a frustrating quarter for Henne.

Miami had success moving the ball, pounding Buffalo with the ground attack on its maiden drive following a three-and-out by the Bills to begin the game. On first-and-goal, the Dolphins lined up in the wildcat formation. Williams took the direct snap, faking as if he was going to run before dropping back, but his intended toss to tight end Joey Haynos was picked off in the end zone by Chris Draft.

After Lindell missed a 44-yard field goal attempt on Buffalo’s next possession, Henne led the Dolphins on a nine-play, 66-yard march that culminated in a four-yard touchdown pass to Hartline in the early stages of the second quarter.

The Bills tied the game when Fitzpatrick galloped 31 yards down the right sideline for a score with 5:23 remaining in the first half.

Jackson and Fitzpatrick totaled 73 and 50 yards, respectively, on the ground…The Miami defense registered six sacks…Buffalo has won five of its last six against Miami in the month of November…Buffalo hosts the Jets on Thursday…The Dolphins host New England next Sunday.

- Via Sports Network.

For more, check out our Falcons blog, The Falcoholic, and our Buccaneers blog, Buc ’Em.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) – Chris Redman took over for an injured Matt Ryan and orchestrated a late touchdown drive to help the Atlanta Falcons take a 20-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ryan left the game in the first quarter with a right big toe injury and Redman stepped in, throwing two scores on 23-of-41 passing with 243 yards for the Falcons (6-5), who had dropped four of five coming into the game.

“It was a good win all around,” said Redman. “We didn’t want to come down to the last second, but that’s how it turned out and we showed great determination. Everyone hung tough and no one quit. Everybody stepped up and made some great plays and it makes me proud to be a part of this team.”

Tony Gonzalez had nine catches for 83 yards, while Jerious Norwood and Roddy White each caught a score. White’s go-ahead TD came with 23 seconds to play, helping Atlanta improve to 5-0 at home this season.

Falcons running back Michael Turner, who had just 33 yards on 12 carries, aggravated a right ankle injury that had caused him to miss last week’s game and had his status as doubtful for Sunday’s contest. He suffered the injury in the third quarter and did not return.

“Bottom line is that we got the win,” said Atlanta kicker Jason Elam. “I’m really happy that we were able to pull it out. Chris played a great game coming in for Matt. I can’t remember the last time I came off the field feeling really good about things. We have to just keep grinding.”

Josh Freeman was 20-for-29 with 250 yards and two scores for Tampa Bay. Antonio Bryant and Cadillac Williams each caught a touchdown for the Buccaneers (1-10), who have dropped their last three games.

After Connor Barth missed a 51-yard field goal attempt that would have put Tampa up by seven points, Atlanta got the ball back at its own 41 with 2:30 to play.

Short passes to Gonzalez and Eric Weems got the ball across midfield and an 11-yard catch from Gonzalez followed by a 10-yard catch from Michael Jenkins gave Atlanta a first down at the Tampa 25.

Gonzalez then caught passes of nine and six yards for a first down at the Tampa 10. A spike and an incompletion saw Atlanta faced with a third down and a pass to Gonzalez fell incomplete, but Derrick Roberson was called for holding to give the Falcons a fresh set of downs at the five-yard line.

The next three passes went incomplete, but on fourth down Redman lasered a pass between traffic to White, who caught the ball in the end zone and the extra point gave the Falcons a 20-17 lead with 23 seconds to play.

Tampa ran out of time with the last play, which consisted of a series of laterals that ultimately fell short.

“I was trying to get it to seven,” said Tampa coach Raheem Morris about the 51-yard field goal attempt. “Thinking about kicking off and thinking about making them go the distance to beat us. They went to the short field and beat us and it’s a credit to them.”

Driving with the ball to start the second quarter after a scoreless first 15 minutes, Atlanta took a 3-0 lead on an Elam 45-yard field goal with 10:44 left in the first half to cap a 15-play, 53-yard drive that ate up almost 7 1/2 minutes.

After a three-and-out from Tampa Bay, the Falcons added to their lead on a 22- yard shovel pass from Redman to Norwood for a 10-0 advantage with 6:31 left in the half.

However, the Bucs needed just two plays to get into the end zone on their ensuing possession. On the first play, Freeman connected with Bryant on a 38- yard catch. On the next play, Bryant hauled in a 42-yard bomb and went into the end zone to make it a 10-7 game with 5:40 left in the half.

The Falcons were held to a three-and-out on their next touch and a 39-yard field goal from Barth in the final moments of the half tied the game heading into the locker room.

Tampa had to punt away its first possession of the second half, but then blocked an Atlanta punt to give the team the ball at the Atlanta eight-yard line. Two plays later, Freeman and Williams hooked up on an eight-yard score for a 17-10 lead with 11:42 left in the third.

Atlanta answered with a nine-play, 50-yard drive that was capped on a 37-yard field goal from Elam with 6:42 to play in the third to make it a 17-13 game.

The Falcons host the Philadelphia Eagles and former quarterback Michael Vick next Sunday…Tampa plays at Carolina next Sunday…Tampa had won three of the previous four games against Atlanta coming into the contest…Bryant finished the game with three catches for 91 yards…Jenkins had seven catches for 80 yards…Tampa had six sacks in the game, with Stylez White recording 2 1/2.

- Via Sports Network.