Pats Dump Dolphins Bledsoe Throws 2 Tds In Patriots’ 34-17 Win

Two deflected passes bounced New England’s way, and the Patriots spoiled Dan Marino’s record-setting day.

Marino threw for 333 yards and broke Fran Tarkenton’s NFL career record for passing yardage Sunday, but Ben Coates caught a pass deflected by a teammate for the tie-breaking score to help New England beat the Miami Dolphins 34-17.

Marino’s last chance to tie the game ended early in the fourth quarter when he caught his own pass - his first career reception - for a 6-yard loss on fourth down after the throw was deflected by Chris Slade.

Two late New England scores, one following a Marino interception, clinched the Patriots’ first victory at Miami’s Joe Robbie Stadium since 1988.

Former Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw two touchdown passes, increasing his total this season to five.

Marino broke Tarkenton’s record by completing a 9-yard pass to Irving Fryar 4 minutes into the game. Marino, 34, has thrown for 47,299 yards in 13 seasons. Tarkenton threw for 47,003 yards in 18 years.

Packers 35, Bears 28

Brett Favre tied a team record with a career-best five touchdown passes as Green Bay won a shootout with visiting Chicago to move into a tie for the NFC Central lead with the Bears.

Favre, his severely sprained ankle heavily wrapped, extended his NFL-leading streak to 55 consecutive starts, completing 25 of 33 passes for 336 yards and no interceptions.

Chiefs 22, Chargers 7

Steve Bono and Marcus Allen scored on short runs as Kansas City beat bitter AFC West rival San Diego on the road to improve to 9-1, the same start the Chiefs had in 1969 en route to winning the Super Bowl.

Allen scored the clinching touchdown on a 1-yard run with 6:16 to play in the third quarter, giving Kansas City a 19-7 lead.

Raiders 17, Giants 13

With winds gusting to 35 mph, Oakland quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who led the New York Giants to a victory over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV, guided the Raiders on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter on the Giants’ home turf. Harvey Williams’ 6-yard run with 6:52 remaining gave the visiting Raiders the win.

Lions 27, Buccaneers 24

Clutch catches by Brett Perriman and two interceptions by Willie Clay helped Detroit beat visiting Tampa Bay.

This game was the 56th win for Detroit coach Wayne Fontes, enabling him to pass George Wilson as the Lions’ winningest coach.

However, Detroit owner William Clay Ford said if the Lions don’t make the playoffs this season, he may fire Fontes.

Vikings 30, Cardinals 24 (OT)

Warren Moon threw a 50-yard touchdown pass, his fourth of the day, to Qadry Ismail with 12:44 left in overtime to lift Minnesota past host Arizona.

Minnesota took a 24-16 lead with 12:17 left in regulation. But the Cardinals drove 80 yards, with Dave Krieg throwing a 2-yard TD pass to Wendall Gaines and a 2-point conversion pass to Rob Moore.

Bills 23, Falcons 17

Buffalo gave coach Marv Levy his team back the way he left it - with sole possession of the lead in the AFC East.

Jim Kelly completed 22 of 36 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns to Bill Brooks as the Bills beat visiting Atlanta.

It marked Levy’s first game since he underwent prostate-cancer surgery four weeks ago.

Eagles 31, Broncos 13

Philadelphia delivered a knockout punch to John Elway and Denver couldn’t get off the ground.

Rodney Peete ran for a touchdown and threw another, and Ricky Watters had two short touchdown runs as the Eagles beat the Broncos after Elway missed most of the game’s final three quarters with a concussion.

Elway was caught between Mike Mamula and William Fuller as he threw the ball early in the second quarter, with Mamula hitting Elway helmet to helmet.

Rams 28, Panthers 17

St. Louis forced six turnovers and scored its first defensive touchdown since a 4-0 start, and Isaac Bruce had his sixth consecutive 100-yard receiving game as the Rams opened the city of St. Louis’ $280 million Trans World Dome with a win over Carolina.

Carolina’s Kerry Collins was picked off four times and lost two fumbles.

Saints 17, Colts 14

New Orleans rolled to a win with a little help from Indianapolis’ Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh ruined what would have been a first-and-goal from the Saints’ 1 by throwing the ball after he crossed the line of scrimmage. Cary Blanchard’s try for a game-tying 41-yard field goal was wide left with 13 seconds left leaving host New Orleans with the win.

Bengals 32, Oilers 25

Cincinnati’s defense sure didn’t play like the worst in the NFL.

With Jeff Blake throwing for two touchdowns to Carl Pickens and the Bengals coming up with four turnovers and four sacks, Cincinnati beat host Houston.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SUNDAY’S BEST Quarterbacks Warren Moon, Vikings24-43-342 Brett Favre, Packers25-33-336 Running backs Chris Warren, Seahawks27-121-1 Curtis Martin, Patriots30-142-1 Receivers Jerry Rice, 49ers5-161-1 Robert Brooks, Packers6-138-2