Crescent-News.com - Titans toppled by Brett's Jets

Associated Press

Brett Favre and the New York Jets made their statement to the league by toppling the NFL's last undefeated team.

Now that they've knocked off Tennessee -- something no one else this year has managed to do -- what other AFC titans might they be ready to slay?

If the Jets can hang on to their division lead, they might just find out -- especially with more games like they had Sunday. Favre threw two touchdown passes, Leon Washington ran for two scores and the New York Jets routed the Titans 34-13.

"It felt like we were on the sideline forever just watching Brett Favre play," Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said. "The defense, I felt bad that we on offense couldn't get anything going and keep them off the field."

One perfect team does remain in the NFL, though: The Detroit Lions came close to ending their unbroken run of losses to start the season by taking an early 17-point lead, but they managed to lose to Tampa Bay 38-20.

The Jets (8-3) came in atop the AFC East after a victory over New England at Foxborough. They have won five straight for the first time since October 2004 and seven of their last eight. The win also got them within two of Tennessee (10-1) with five to play in the race for home-field advantage through the playoffs.

"Now people are going to start looking at us and say, 'They are a team you have to reckon with,"' Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas said.

The Titans had won 13 straight regular-season games dating to Dec. 16, 2007, becoming only the 11th team since 1970 to win its first 10 games.

"It was a great run, and we've got to win our next game," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

That shouldn't be too hard: The Lions are up next for Tennessee.

Favre threw fast and often, and the Jets wore the Titans' defense down by keeping it on the field for more than 40 minutes. New York overcame two turnovers and two sacks in the first half by outgaining Tennessee 409-281.

It was a comprehensive victory, but it was still just one.

"I'm not going to sit here and say we've established ourselves as the best team in football," Favre said. "All it says is I think we beat the best team in football today, definitely if you go by record and the way that they've played. They have been the best team in football."

Colts 23, Chargers 20

At San Diego, Adam Vinatieri made a 51-yard field goal as time expired to lift Peyton Manning and the Colts to a heart-stopping win over the Chargers.

Manning threw two touchdown passes for the Colts (7-4), who won their fourth straight.

San Diego (4-7) has lost four of five and remains two games behind division leader Denver.

Patriots 48, Dolphins 28

At Miami, Matt Cassel threw for 415 yards, Randy Moss caught three touchdown passes and the resilient Patriots avoided being swept in a season series by a division opponent for the first time since 2000.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Dolphins (6-5) and hurt their chances of an improbable playoff berth after going 1-15 last year. Chad Pennington threw for a career-high 341 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score.

Cassel had his second consecutive 400-yard day for New England (7-4), completing 30 of 43 passes, including touchdowns of 25, 8 and 29 yards to Moss.

Cowboys 35, 49ers 22

At Irving, Texas, Terrell Owens broke out with seven catches for 213 yards, helping Dallas to consecutive victories for the first time since a 3-0 start.

Owens' total was the second-highest of his career -- he had 283 yards and caught an NFL-record 20 passes against the 49ers in 2000 -- and tied for fourth-best in Cowboys history.

Tony Romo was 23-of-39 for 341 yards and three touchdowns for the Cowboys (7-4), playing his second game with a splint covering the broken pinkie on his passing hand.

Shaun Hill was 21-of-33 for 303 yards for the 49ers (3-8), but was sacked four times.

Ravens 36, Eagles 7

At Baltimore, Donovan McNabb watched from the sideline as Baltimore gave first-year coach John Harbaugh a lopsided victory over the team he served as an assistant for 10 years.

Ed Reed picked off McNabb's replacement, Kevin Kolb, and returned the interception an NFL-record 108 yards for a touchdown to give Baltimore (7-4) a 22-point cushion with 7:24 left.

McNabb was 8-for-18 for 59 yards with two interceptions and a fumble in the first half -- a miserable 13.2 quarterback rating.

Kolb failed to cure the ailing Eagles offense, going 10-for-23 for 73 yards and two interceptions. The Eagles' only TD came on a 100-yard kickoff return by Quintin Demps.

Bills 54, Chiefs 31

At Kansas City, Mo., Trent Edwards threw for two touchdowns, ran for two others and Buffalo rang up more points than had ever been scored against Kansas City.

Rian Lindell kicked four field goals and Leodis McKelvin returned an interception 64 yards for a score for the Bills.

The Chiefs (1-10) lost three fumbles and Tyler Thigpen threw two interceptions in Kansas City's 19th loss in 20 games.

Vikings 30, Jaguars 12

At Jacksonville, Fla., Adrian Peterson ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, and the Vikings used two scores in the first 1:41 to beat Jacksonville.

With its second road win of the season, Minnesota (6-5) kept pace with Chicago in the NFC North. The Jaguars (4-7) fell to 1-5 at home, and faded further back in the AFC playoff race.

Jacksonville had five turnovers, none more costly than two fumbles to open the game.

Bears 27, Rams 3

At St. Louis, rookie Matt Forte had a season-high 132 yards rushing and scored on two long runs, and Marc Bulger lasted only five plays before sustaining a concussion against a defense that had three of a season-best five sacks by the break.

Kyle Orton set a franchise record by throwing 185 consecutive passes without an interception for the Bears (6-5), who led by 21 at halftime.

The Rams (2-9) have lost five straight.

Giants 37, Cardinals 29

At Glendale, Ariz., Eli Manning threw for three TDs in his return to the scene of his Super Bowl MVP performance, and the Giants snapped the Cardinals' seven-game home winning streak.

With starting running back Brandon Jacobs out with a knee injury, the Giants (10-1) took to the air to win their sixth in a row. Manning completed 26 of 33 passes for 240 yards without an interception.

Kurt Warner was 32-for-52 for 351 yards and a touchdown for Arizona (7-4). He was intercepted once and fumbled once, both leading to Giants touchdowns.

Raiders 31, Broncos 10

At Denver, Ashley Lelie, who forced a trade out of Denver in 2006 after a bitter holdout, returned to Invesco Field and helped lead Oakland to a stunning win over the Broncos by catching a touchdown pass and setting up another with a spectacular 51-yard reception.

Darren McFadden ran for two touchdowns and the Raiders (3-8) snapped a four-game losing streak and avenged their 41-14 thrashing at the hands of the Broncos (6-5) in the opener.

Falcons 45, Panthers 28

At Atlanta, Michael Turner scored four touchdowns and rookie Harry Douglas scored his first career TD on a 7-yard end-around, caught a 69-yard pass that set up a TD, then finished off the Panthers with a 61-yard punt return.

Atlanta (7-4) closed within a game of the division lead, setting a season high for points.

Jake Delhomme was 21-of-35 for 295 yards for the Panthers (8-3), hooking up with Steve Smith on eight passes for 168 yards.

Redskins 20, Seahawks 17

At Seattle, Clinton Portis darted and pounded for 143 yards on 29 carries, including key runs late that helped preserve the Redskins' first victory in almost a month.

Portis was questionable after missing most of practice this week because of his sprained knee. Then, the NFL's leader in yards from scrimmage injured a muscle near his hip late in the first half, when he rushed for 69 of his yards.

He kept running, finishing with his first 100-yard day since the Redskins' last win, on Oct. 26 at Detroit, and helping end a two-game losing streak for Washington (7-4).

Seattle (2-9) lost its fourth straight at home and is off to its worst start since 1992.