COWBOYS ...38 SEAHAWKS ...17 Miles Austin caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game and Patrick Crayton returned a punt for a score for the second consecutive week, sending Dallas into a share of first place in the NFC East. Since a herky-jerky first month, the Cowboys have found quite a groove, winning three straight. Tony Romo threw for 256 yards, with touchdowns to Austin, Sam Hurd and Roy Williams. ...more

November 2, 2009

TEXANS ...31 BILLS ...10 Running back Ryan Moats, taking over after starter Steve Slaton lost yet another fumble, scored three touchdowns on consecutive fourth-quarter drives, giving Houston a victory over Buffalo. The Texans won their third straight game for their best start in franchise history. Matt Schaub bounced back from two first-half interceptions to lead six scoring drives on seven possessions. The Bills were undone by an offense that managed 204 yards and nine first downs, with only three coming in the second half. Buffalo squandered another opportunistic performance by its defense, which forced three turnovers. ...more

November 2, 2009

COLTS ...18 49ERS ...14 The Colts won their 16th straight regular-season game, the equivalent of an undefeated season, and Jim Caldwell became the first rookie coach since the NFL merger to open his career with seven consecutive wins. Peyton Manning topped 300 yards passing and got credit for another Colts rally, but it was Joseph Addai who won it. The fourth-year running back threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to receiver Reggie Wayne early in the final quarter to give the Colts their only lead. Indianapolis is the last unbeaten team in the AFC for the fourth time in five years. San Francisco has lost three straight after a 3-1 start. ...more

November 2, 2009

BILLS ...20 PANTHERS ...9 Buffalo proved a team can trail badly in nearly every statistical category and still win the game. Rookie Jairus Byrd had two more interceptions, Ryan Fitzpatrick didn't make a big mistake in his first start at quarterback and the Bills took advantage of Carolina's miscues. Buffalo won despite being outgained 425-167. Carolina led in first downs 20-9 and held the ball for nearly 35 minutes. But Jake Delhomme was intercepted three times, Kenny Moore fumbled a punt, John Kasay missed two field-goal attempts, and the Panthers saw their two-game winning streak snapped. Byrd had two interceptions to set up TDs as Buffalo won road games in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2004. ...more

October 26, 2009

BENGALS ...45 BEARS ...10 Cedric Benson got his revenge on Chicago, all right. The rest of Cincinnati's offense had a sweet time, too. Carson Palmer threw five touchdown passes - four of them in a dominant first half - and Benson ran for a career-high 189 yards and a touchdown against the team that let him go after the 2007 season. The Bengals improved to 5-2 for the first time since 2005, when a fast-strike offense got them to the playoffs. There was a strong resemblance in the first half, when Cincinnati scored on all five possessions and went up 31-0. ...more

October 26, 2009

COLTS ...42 RAMS ...6 Peyton Manning threw for three touchdowns but didn't get a chance for a sixth straight 300-yard passing game in Indianapolis' rout of winless St. Louis. It wouldn't have been appropriate for Manning to try to tie the NFL record the way his unbeaten team was beating up on the woeful Rams. The Colts defense got its first score of the year on rookie Jacob Lacey's 35-yard interception return. Looking fresh coming off their bye, the Colts won their 15th straight regular-season game and set a franchise record with their eighth straight road victory. St. Louis lost its 17th straight regular-season game. ...more

October 26, 2009

JETS ...38 RAIDERS ...0 Mark Sanchez shook off the worst start of his young career by running for one touchdown and throwing for another, fellow-rookie Shonn Greene ran for 144 yards and two scores and New York snapped a three-game losing streak. It was a low-pressure day for Sanchez, who started two of his first three drives for the Jets at the Oakland 4 after turnovers by JaMarcus Russell. Those mistakes led to touchdown runs by Thomas Jones and Sanchez, and played a role in Oakland coach Tom Cable's decision to bench the former No. 1 overall pick in the second quarter for former Buc Bruce Gradkowski. ...more

October 26, 2009

TEXANS ...24 49ERS ...21 Steve Slaton scored two touchdowns as Houston built a big lead then held on for the win. The Texans led 21-0 at halftime then withstood a rally led by 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith. Eugene Wilson's interception on fourth down halted a last-gasp drive by San Francisco. The 49ers benched Shaun Hill after a terrible first half, and Smith threw three touchdowns to Vernon Davis to close the gap. Michael Crabtree started in his NFL debut and had five receptions for 56 yards. The Texans won consecutive games for the first time this season. ...more

October 26, 2009

CHARGERS ...37 CHIEFS ...7 Philip Rivers threw three touchdowns passes and LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 71 yards. Rivers was 18 of 30 for 268 yards and three TDs as the Chargers won their third in a row in Kansas City for the first time since 1981. The Chiefs were unable to build on last week's sloppy win against Washington. They fell behind 20-0 in the first half, Matt Cassel threw three interceptions and the Chargers scored their final touchdown when Jacob Hester blocked a punt at the 20, chased the ball into the end zone and fell on it. ...more

October 26, 2009

PACKERS ...31 BROWNS ...3 Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, Ryan Grant rushed for 148 yards and Green Bay warmed up for Brett Favre's first visit back to Lambeau Field next week with a laugher against the Cleveland, which got over the flu but can't shake other problems. It would have been understandable if the Packers had overlooked an inferior opponent with their eyes on Favre's hyped return to Wisconsin with the Minnesota Vikings. But Rodgers and his teammates took care of business against the Browns, who have scored only four offensive touchdowns and 72 points all season. ...more

October 26, 2009