Collins’ arm carries Titans past Bears
LenDale White and Chris Johnson were on their way to history — the wrong kind, because they were running in reverse.
Even though they kept losing yards, the Tennessee Titans refused to lose the game. Now, they’re 9-0 despite one of the worst rushing performances in franchise history: just 20 yards on the ground.
Kerry Collins threw for a season-high 289 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-14 win Sunday over the Bears at Chicago.
The 20 yards rushing were just 1 yard above their franchise low and they had minus-5 in the first half. It was a stunning performance for a team that was third in the league entering the game.
Even so, the Titans set a club record with their 12th straight regular-season win thanks to Collins and a defense that shut down Rex Grossman and the Bears.
Collins completed 12 straight passes at one point and was 30 of 41 without an interception. Brandon Jones caught eight passes for 82 yards, and Bo Scaife had 10 for 78 with a touchdown.
Jets 47, Rams 3: Thomas Jones had three touchdown runs, Jay Feely kicked four field goals — including a franchise record-tying 55-yarder — and New York converted five turnovers into 27 points for the largest margin of victory in team history at East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets’ previous biggest win was 45-3 over Houston in 1988. New York is tied with New England at the top of the AFC East, and the rivals play for sole possession Thursday night at Foxborough, Mass.
Ravens 41, Texans 13: Joe Flacco threw two touchdowns and Ray Lewis had a pair of interceptions to lead Baltimore to its fourth straight win, a victory over the Texans at Houston. Flacco was 15 of 23 for 185 yards and threw touchdowns to Yamon Figurs and Todd Heap, keeping his composure despite being under heavy pressure most of the day. Willis McGahee ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
Jaguars 38, Lions 14: Maurice Jones-Drew ran for a career-high three touchdowns in the second quarter alone after Detroit took the lead and David Garrard threw two touchdown passes in the second half, leading Jacksonville to a victory over the winless Lions at Detroit. Jones-Drew finished with 70 yards rushing after combining for just 62 in the last two losses.
Falcons 34, Saints 20: While rookie Matt Ryan put in another solid day, Drew Brees threw a season-high four interceptions, the last of them returned 95 yards for a touchdown by Chevis Jackson, and the Falcons beat up on New Orleans at Atlanta. Ryan threw two touchdown passes for the Falcons (6-3), who won for the fourth time in five games to remain in the thick of the playoff race.
Patriots 20, Bills 10: Buffalo’s hopes in the tight AFC East race suffered a serious blow in New England’s win at Foxborough, Mass. Patriot BenJarvus Green-Ellis, an undrafted rookie from Mississippi playing because three running backs are hurt, rushed for 105 yards on 26 carries and scored on a 1-yard run with 1:57 left. Matt Cassel, the steadily improving replacement for Tom Brady, completed 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards.
Panthers 17, Raiders 6: Jake Delhomme threw a touchdown pass on the opening drive before matching his career-worst performance with four interceptions and Carolina kept the Raiders out of the end zone in a win at Oakland, Calif. DeAngelo Williams ran for 140 yards and scored on a 69-yard run for the only touchdown after the opening drive for the Panthers (7-2), in first place in the NFC South.
Chargers 20, Chiefs 19: Clinton Hart, the strong safety, knocked down Tyler Thigpen’s 2-point conversion pass with 23 seconds left and the Chargers held on to beat scrappy Kansas City at San Diego. The Chiefs pulled within one on Thigpen’s 3-yard pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez. The Chiefs went for the win, but Thigpen’s pass to Gonzalez was deflected by Hart to cornerback Quentin Jammer, who made the interception.