Martin top rusher by one yard
Peyton Manning set yet another NFL passing record Sunday, finishing the season with a rating of 121.1, more than eight points better than Steve Young’s previous mark.
Curtis Martin worked overtime to capture the league’s rushing title by a yard over Shaun Alexander.
Manning, who last week set a record with 49 touchdown passes for the season, threw just two passes Sunday in Denver before leaving for Jim Sorgi. Manning went 1 for 2 for 6 yards. He would have needed to go 0 for 20 with five interceptions to lose out on the record of 112.8, set by San Francisco’s Steve Young in 1994.
In the rushing race, Martin rushed for 153 yards on 28 carries as the New York Jets lost to St. Louis in overtime. That gave him 1,697 yards, one more than Alexander, who had 80 yards in 19 carries as Seattle beat Atlanta.
The overtime gave Martin the title – he had 24 yards on three carries in the extra period. It was his first rushing title, even though he has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of his 10 pro seasons. Also, Martin passed Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis on the NFL career rushing list with 13,307 yards
Alexander scored more points than any non-kicker, getting 120 on 20 touchdowns, 16 rushing and four receiving. Adam Vinatieri won the overall title with 141 points.
Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez had 14 receptions Sunday to give him the title with 102, a record for a tight end. He was the only receiver over 100 this season; Tennessee’s Derrick Mason was the leading wide receiver with 96 catches.
Carolina’s Muhsin Muhammad led in yards receiving with 1,405, followed by New Orleans’ Joe Horn with 1,399.
Wide receiver Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams became the first player in NFL history with five straight 1,300-yard seasons.
The Colts’ Dwight Freeney led the league with 16 sacks and Baltimore’s Ed Reed got his ninth interception to lead in that category.
Niners end Patriots’ streak
The New England Patriots’ record streak of scoring first ended on Sunday – against the hapless San Francisco 49ers, of all teams.
The Super Bowl champions, with just two losses in their previous 30 games, had scored first in 20 consecutive regular-season games, 23 straight including playoffs.
Vikings’ Chavous breaks elbow
Minnesota Vikings strong safety Corey Chavous broke his left elbow in Sunday’s regular season finale against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md.
Coach Mike Tice said Chavous’ status is uncertain for next weekend’s playoff game against Green Bay, but Chavous said he would not play. The seventh-year safety said he was injured on a running play and had to have his jersey cut off with scissors.