Chargers take charge in AFC West

Monday, Dec. 6, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

The AFC playoff race got even clearer, while things are even more muddled in the NFC.

San Diego took charge in the AFC West with a 20-17 win over Denver on Sunday that gave the Chargers a two-game lead. The victory also assured the Chargers (9-3) their first winning season since 1995 - less than a year after finishing 4-12.

"Obviously, nothing has been won yet," quarterback Drew Brees said. "We're one step closer to our goal, but nowhere near it quite yet."

Indianapolis, also 9-3, moved closer to the NFC South title, with Peyton Manning having another incredible passing game in a 51-24 win over Tennessee. Manning threw for 317 yards in the first half, when receivers Brandon Stokley and Marvin Harrison each topped 100 yards, and finished 25-for-33 for 425 yards with three TDs. He moved within four TD passes of Dan Marino's single-season record (48).

"Obviously we have been on a hot streak," Manning said. "The idea is always to be playing your best football in December and January."

New England solidified its position atop the AFC East with a 42-15 rout of Cleveland. The Patriots are 11-1, the best start in franchise history and two games in front of the New York Jets. The Jets (9-3) also strengthened their postseason possibilities with a 29-7 victory over Houston.

Pittsburgh (11-1) closed in on the AFC North crown with a 17-16 win in Jacksonville. AFC North runner-up Baltimore fell to 7-5 when Cincinnati got its first road win over a winning team since 1990, rallying for a 27-26 victory.

Not much was cleared up in the NFC, though. Philadelphia reaffirmed its stature as the NFC's best team with a 47-17 romp over Green Bay, which had won six in a row. But the Eagles (11-1) already had clinched the East.

The Packers (7-5) remained tied with Minnesota atop the NFC North after the Vikings fell in Chicago, 24-14. St. Louis (6-6) took care of the league's worst team, beating San Francisco 16-6, and the other NFC West contender, Seattle (6-5) will face visiting Dallas (4-7) on Monday night.

Atlanta could have clinched the South, but was blanked 27-0 in Tampa Bay. The Falcons (9-3) still have a four-game lead with four to play, but the Bucs and Panthers both are 5-7 and in wild-card contention.

Carolina got there with its fourth successive win, 32-21 in New Orleans.

In other games, it was: Buffalo 42, Miami 32; Detroit 26, Arizona 12; Kansas City 34, Oakland 27; and Washington 31, the New York Giants 7.

Chargers 20, Broncos 17

At San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson ran for two touchdowns, and San Diego intercepted Jake Plummer four times on a rainy and windy day.

San Diego extended its winning streak to six games.

"Our defense carried us," Tomlinson said. "They were the reason we won."

Denver (7-5) has lost four of six.

Eagles 47, Packers 17

At Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb threw a career-high five touchdown passes in the first half and finished with a team-record 464 yards passing.

Brian Westbrook had 11 catches for 156 yards and three TDs, and Terrell Owens caught eight passes for 161 yards and one score. McNabb set a team record by completing his first 14 passes and finished 32-of-43.

Brett Favre threw two interceptions that led to Philadelphia's first two scores. His streak of games with a TD pass was snapped at 36, second in NFL history to Johnny Unitas' 47 straight.

Colts 51, Titans 24

At Indianapolis, Edgerrin James ran for two scores and Indianapolis returned a blocked field goal for another TD.

Indianapolis won its fifth straight by tying the NFL record for most consecutive 40-point games with four. Manning also tied Unitas' 45-year-old record by throwing for multiple touchdowns in 12 straight games to start a season.

Stokley had eight catches for a career-high 153 yards and a TD, Harrison added four receptions for 106 yards and a score, and James ran for 105 yards.

The Titans are 4-8.

Steelers 17, Jaguars 16

At Jacksonville, Fla., Ben Roethlisberger set a rookie record for wins by a quarterback with his 10th in 10 tries, setting up Jeff Reed's winning 37-yard field goal with 18 seconds left.

Roethlisberger finished 14-of-17 for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Scobee made a 36-yard field goal with 1:55 left to give the Jaguars (6-6) the lead.

Patriots 42, Browns 15

At Cleveland, Bethel Johnson returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, and Corey Dillon ran for 98 yards and two TDs before halftime.

Randall Gay ran in a fumble 41 yards for a TD early in the second half to help the Patriots win for the 26th time in 27 regular-season games.

Dillon, who bruised his leg in the first half, carried just once in the second half and finished with 100 yards - his seventh 100-yard game this season.

The Browns (3-9) lost their sixth straight game and first under interim coach Terry Robiskie. On Tuesday, coach Butch Davis resigned.

Jets 29, Texans 7

At East Rutherford, N.J., Curtis Martin ran for 134 yards on 23 carries, going over the 1,300-yard mark on the season.

Chad Pennington, back after missing three games with a shoulder injury, directed three second-half touchdown drives. Houston is 5-7.

Bengals 27, Ravens 26

At Baltimore, Shayne Graham kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Bengals (6-6) their first win in Baltimore in eight tries since 1996.

Down by 17 points entering the fourth quarter, the Bengals pierced the proud Baltimore defense for 24 points in the final 15 minutes. Carson Palmer was 29-for-36 for a career-high 382 yards, T.J. Houshmandzadeh had 10 catches for 171 yards, and Chad Johnson added 161 yards on 10 receptions.

Baltimore's Chester Taylor ran for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Bears 24, Vikings 14

At Chicago, Daunte Culpepper, was intercepted three times - he had only seven before Sunday - and the Vikings were held scoreless in the second half.

Chad Hutchinson made his first start for the Bears (5-7) a memorable one, throwing three TD passes.

Rams 16, 49ers 6

At St. Louis, Steven Jackson ran for 119 yards to help St. Louis compensate for Marc Bulger's first-quarter shoulder injury.

Torry Holt had 10 catches for 160 yards, and the Rams got three field goals from Jeff Wilkins, two from 52 yards. St. Louis held the 49ers (1-11) to 63 yards rushing.

Redskins 31, Giants 7

At Landover, Md., the Redskins (4-8) broke a three-game losing streak and broke the 20-point barrier for the first time since Joe Gibbs returned as coach.

Clinton Portis ran for 148 yards and scored twice. He has 1,093 yards on the season, giving him 1,000-plus in each of his first three years.

Derrick Ward's 92-yard kickoff return in the third quarter was the only score for the Giants (5-7), who have lost five straight.

Buccaneers 27, Falcons 0

At Tampa, Fla., Simeon Rice became the 22nd player in league history to reach 100 sacks, getting Michael Vick on the ground twice and forcing a fumble to set up a touchdown. Rice boosted his total to 101 in nine seasons.

Panthers 32, Saints 21

At New Orleans, John Kasay kept Carolina's run for a playoff berth going with a team-record six field goals. The Saints dropped to 4-8.

Bills 42, Dolphins 32

At Miami, Drew Bledsoe threw four touchdown passes, and the Bills (6-6) forced seven turnovers. Terrence McGee opened the game with a Buffalo-record 104-yard kickoff return for a TD. Miami is 2-10.

Lions 26, Cardinals 12

At Detroit, rookie Kevin Jones ran for 196 yards and a touchdown to help end the Lions' five-game losing streak. Jason Hanson was 4-for-4 on field goals and Dre' Bly had two interceptions for the Lions (5-7). Arizona is 4-8.

Chiefs 34, Raiders 27

At Oakland, Calif., Trent Green completed 14 of 15 passes after halftime for 229 of his 340 yards for the Chiefs (4-8). The Raiders dropped to 4-8.