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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rookie rallies Steelers


Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress attempts to make a first-quarter catch with Dallas' Terence Newman draped all over him. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

Ben Roethlisberger completed 21 of 25 passes and two touchdowns, completing 11 straight throws on Pittsburgh’s last two scoring drives Sunday in Dallas, leading the Steelers to a 24-20 comeback win over the Cowboys.

Roethlisberger is the first rookie quarterback to go 4-0 since Phil Simms on the 1979 New York Giants. He also became the first Pittsburgh quarterback to beat Dallas since Terry Bradshaw in 1982.

And while a rookie led the way, it was a timely Dallas fumble and a short TD from a Steelers old-timer that provided Pittsburgh with the winning points.

After the Cowboys’ Vinny Testaverde fumbled late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers drove to the 2. Jerome Bettis rumbled in for the final touchdown in the last minute.

Jaguars 22, Chiefs 16

Byron Leftwich threw two touchdown passes, including a 14-yarder to Cortez Hankton with 45 seconds to play, to lift Jacksonville to a victory over visiting Kansas City.

Leftwich also ran for a score as the Jaguars snapped a two-game losing streak and won in the final minute for the fourth time this season.

Kansas City took a 16-14 lead on a touchdown pass from Trent Green to Priest Holmes with about five minutes remaining, but Lawrence Tynes missed the extra point. He also missed a 41-yard field goal with 2:16 to play.

Packers 38, Lions 10

Brett Favre threw two touchdown passes, moved up among career passing leaders and led visiting Green Bay to a win over Detroit.

The game was close until Darren Sharper intercepted a pass early in the third quarter and returned it 36 yards — with a juke move and a hurdle into the end zone — to give the Packers a 24-10 lead.

Favre was 25 of 38 for 257 yards. He extended his streak with a TD pass to 31 games, passing Dan Marino and trailing only Johnny Unitas’ record run of 47 straight. Favre played in his 197th game with the Packers, passing Bart Starr for No. 1 in franchise history. With 165 yards passing in the first half, Favre surpassed Fran Tarkenton for fourth place on the NFL career list with 47,106.

Texans 20, Titans 10

David Carr threw for 266 yards and a touchdown, and Kris Brown kicked field goals of 21 and 50 yards, as Houston beat host Tennessee for their first victory over the team they replaced in Houston.

The Texans improved to 3-3 for the first time in the franchise’s three-season history by winning in the stadium Nashville built to lure the former Oilers away from Houston. The Texans did it with defense, intercepting four passes and sacking Steve McNair once.

Falcons 21, Chargers 20

Michael Vick overcame a 10-point deficit by running for one touchdown, throwing for another and then taking care of the clock in Atlanta’s victory over visiting San Diego.

Vick threw for 130 of his 218 yards in the fourth quarter and had a hand in all three Atlanta TDs.

Vikings 38, Saints 31

Daunte Culpepper threw for 425 yards and five touchdowns to lead Minnesota to a road win over New Orleans. He did it without having Randy Moss for the second half.

It was the third time this season Culpepper threw five TD passes in a game, an NFL record.

Moss, who leads the NFL in TDs receiving, injured his hamstring in the second quarter. He had two receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. It was the 10th consecutive game in which Moss had a touchdown reception.

Broncos 31, Raiders 3

Jake Plummer and Reuben Droughns led Denver to a rout of host Oakland.

Plummer passed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, while Droughns rushed for 176 yards and a score.

Jeb Putzier, Dwayne Carswell and Ashley Lelie caught first-half touchdown passes from Plummer, who led the Broncos to a 28-point cushion in the third quarter and 444 total yards. Droughns rushed for 176 yards and a TD.

Redskins 13, Bears 10

Running back Clinton Portis rushed for 171 yards and Washington throttled Chicago’s inept offense in a road victory.

Ending a four-game losing streak, the Redskins sacked struggling Bears quarterback Jonathan Quinn three times in the final three minutes before Sean Taylor’s closing-seconds interception sealed the victory.

Eagles 30, Panthers 8

Overmatched and undermanned, visiting Carolina had no chance against Philadelphia in a rematch of last season’s NFC championship game .

Terrell Owens had all of his 123 yards receiving in the first half and Lito Sheppard returned an interception 64 yards for a score, leading the undefeated Eagles to a victory.

Bills 20, Dolphins 13

Takeo Spikes returned an interception 11 yards for a touchdown, helping spark Buffalo’s win over Miami in Orchard Park, N.Y., in a game between the NFL’s winless teams.

Buffalo went ahead for good when Drew Bledsoe capped a four-play, 37-yard drive with a 5-yard pass to Mark Campbell midway through the third quarter.

Browns 34, Bengals 17

Jeff Garcia threw four touchdown passes — one a 99-yarder to Andre’ Davis — and Cleveland rolled to a victory over visiting Cincinnati.

William Green rushed for 115 yards and Lee Suggs caught a 59-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter from Garcia.