Baltimore, MD (My Sportsbook) - Carson Palmer threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell with 22 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, complementing a sterling effort by an emotional Bengals defense in a 17-14 upset of the
Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The play from Palmer to Caldwell was the culmination of an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was extended by three Baltimore penalties, including a personal foul for Ray Lewis on a pass attempt to Chad Ochocinco over the middle of the field, and a pass interference call on Ravens safety Ed Reed. The drive was emblematic of what was a frustrating day for the Ravens (3-2) defense. Cincinnati running back Cedric Benson ran over Baltimore for 120 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, becoming the first player to rush for 100 yards against the Ravens since the Chiefs' Larry Johnson did so on Nov. 10, 2006. The Ravens had gone 39 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. But the Bengals (4-1) defense was the real story in this one. The unit, appearing in its first game since the sudden passing of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's wife, Vikki, on Thursday night, held the third-ranked offense in the league to just 12 first downs and one offensive scoring drive on the day. Zimmer was in attendance at Sunday's game and performed his usual coaching responsibilities.
Final Score: Cleveland 6, Buffalo 3
Buffalo, NY (My Sportsbook) - Billy Cundiff's 18-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter lifted Cleveland over Buffalo, 6-3, at a blustery Ralph Wilson Stadium. Jamal Lewis gained 117 yards on 31 carries for the Browns (1-4), who finally gave new head coach Eric Mangini his first victory with Cleveland. Derek Anderson put forth his worst start as a pro, producing career-lows with 2-of-17 completions for 23 yards and one interception. Trent Edwards was 16-of-31 for 152 yards and a pick for the Bills (1-4), who have dropped three in a row. Marshawn Lynch added 69 yards on 17 rushes and added six catches for 56 yards for Buffalo, which engaged in its lowest-scoring contest since an 8-0 loss at Cleveland on December 16, 2007.
Final Score: Carolina 20, Washington 17
Charlotte, NC (My Sportsbook) - Jonathan Stewart's eight-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference, as the Carolina Panthers rallied for a 20-17 win over the Washington Redskins. Jake Delhomme threw for 181 yards on 16-of-25 passing with a touchdown and an interception, while Stewart rushed for 39 yards on 10 touches for Carolina (1-3), which suffered a 21-7 loss to Dallas on September 28 prior to their bye week. The Panthers rallied from a 17-2 deficit in the third quarter. Jeff King had a TD grab and DeAngelo Williams was limited to 40 yards on 18 carries for the Panthers, who won for only the second time in nine tries against Washington. Steve Smith had five catches for 65 yards, including a two-point conversion reception. Jason Campbell finished 17-of-23 passing for 145 yards and a TD, while Clinton Portis ran 19 times for 57 yards with a score and also added a receiving touchdown for the Redskins (2-3), who were coming off a 16-13 win over Tampa Bay on October 11. Andre Carter finished with 2 1/2 sacks for Washington, which extended its road losing streak to six straight games.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 28, Detroit 20
Detroit, MI (My Sportsbook) - Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes as the Pittsburgh Steelers downed the Detroit Lions, 28-20, at Ford Field. Roethlisberger went 23-for-30 with 277 yards and a pick while Rashard Mendenhall had 77 yards on 15 carries with a score for the Steelers (3-2), who have won their last two games. Hines Ward, Heath Miller and Mike Wallace each caught a score in the win. James Harrison was the defensive star for Pittsburgh as he finished the contest with three sacks and eight tackles. The Steelers defense had seven sacks in the game. The last time Pittsburgh played in Detroit was in Super Bowl XL, which saw the team defeat the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10, for its fifth Super Bowl title. Daunte Culpepper played the game under center for Detroit (1-4) and went 23-for-37 with 282 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Culpepper started in place of rookie Matthew Stafford, who sat out due to a right knee injury he suffered in last week's loss at Chicago. Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who had one catch for two yards, left after the first quarter with a right knee injury. He stayed on the sidelines in the second half with tape on the knee.
Final Score: Dallas 26, Kansas City 20 (OT)
Kansas City, MO (My Sportsbook) - Miles Austin had career day in his first NFL start, catching 10 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning, 60-yard TD catch in overtime, as the Dallas Cowboys outlasted the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, 26-20, in Week 5 at Arrowhead Stadium. Miles, who was filling in for an injured Roy Williams (rib), hauled in a pass from Tony Romo at about the 50-yard-line and broke a tackle before sprinting down the right sideline and into the end zone with 8:22 left in OT for the thrilling victory. The 250 receiving yards by Austin broke a franchise single-game record. Hall of Fame wide receiver Bob Hayes had the previous record with 246 yards receiving on November 13, 1966. Romo completed 20- of-34 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns for Dallas (3-2), which bounced back from a 17-10 loss to the Broncos last week. Tashard Choice rushed for 92 yards and a score on eight carries for the victors. Matt Cassel connected on 23-of-41 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Chiefs (0-5), who have lost 28 of their last 30 games. Dwayne Bowe had five catches for 74 yards and a score in defeat.
Final Score: NY Giants 44, Oakland 7
East Rutherford, NJ (My Sportsbook) - Eli Manning's heel wasn't a problem, as the quarterback threw for 173 yards and a pair of scores in just under two quarters to lead New York in a 44-7 rout of the Oakland Raiders in Week 5 action at Giants Stadium. Manning, who was listed as questionable for the game due to plantar fasciitis in his right heel, led the Giants to scoring drives on each of the team's first four possessions via 8-of-10 efficiency before being replaced by David Carr late in the second quarter. Carr finished 9-for-14 for 90 yards and added 27 yards and a score on four carries in the win. Ahmad Bradshaw tallied 110 yards and two TDs on 11 carries and added a 55-yard reception for the Giants (5-0), who have won the first five games of the season for the first time since 1990, when the team won Super Bowl XXV. Brandon Jacobs added 67 yards on 21 carries, while Steve Smith notched 70 yards on three grabs. Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham each had a touchdown catch for New York, which outgained its opponent 483-124. JaMarcus Russell was a less-than-stellar 8-of-13 for 100 yards for the Raiders (1-4), who have dropped three in a row and will host the Philadelphia Eagles next week. Michael Bush racked up just 37 yards and a score on 12 carries, while Zach Miller led all Oakland receivers with 69 yards on four catches.
Final Score: Philadelphia 33, Tampa Bay 14
Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Donovan McNabb returned to the Eagles' lineup and threw for 264 yards and three scores, as Philadelphia took a 33-14 victory over Tampa Bay, keeping the Buccaneers winless. McNabb had missed the last two games with a cracked rib suffered in the Eagles' season- opening win over Carolina. Philadelphia had a bye last week to allow McNabb to further heal, and he returned Sunday to lead the Eagles' explosive offense. McNabb completed 16-of-21 throws, including touchdowns of 51 and 40 yards to rookie Jeremy Maclin, who finished with six catches for 142 yards. Brian Westbrook had a rushing score and Leonard Weaver caught a touchdown pass for the Eagles (3-1), who have won two in a row. The victory is the 100th regular season win in the coaching career of Philadelphia's Andy Reid, who took over in 1999 -- the same year McNabb made his debut after being selected second overall in the NFL draft. Rookie Josh Johnson got his second start for the Buccaneers and completed 26-of-50 passes for 240 yards and a pair of scores to tight end Kellen Winslow, but was also intercepted three times. Winslow ended with nine catches for 102 yards for Tampa Bay (0-5), which last began the season with five losses in 1996, when the Bucs went 6-10.
Final Score: Minnesota 38, St. Louis 10
St. Louis, MO (My Sportsbook) - Brett Favre threw a touchdown pass and Adrian Peterson added two rushing scores, as the Minnesota Vikings defeated the lowly St. Louis Rams, 38-10, at the Edward Jones Dome. Minnesota was aided by three ill-timed turnovers committed by the Rams inside the red zone. Favre, who turned 40 on Saturday, completed 18-of-24 passes for 232 yards with one interception for the Vikings, who are off to their first 5-0 start since 2003. Peterson totaled 69 yards on 15 carries. Kyle Boller threw for 209 yards and one interception on 20-of-31 attempts for the Rams (0-5), who have lost 15 straight games dating back to last season. Marc Bulger, who missed last week's contest with a bruised right rotator cuff, entered in the fourth quarter and completed all seven passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. Steven Jackson rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries in defeat.
Final Score: Atlanta 45, San Francisco 10
San Francisco, CA (My Sportsbook) - Roddy White caught two touchdowns and Michael Turner rushed for three more -- all in the first half -- as Atlanta jumped all over the 49ers and cruised to a 45-10 victory. San Francisco (3-2) had allowed 16 points or less in three of its first four games, but Atlanta (3-1) scored a franchise record 35 first-half points en route to an emphatic road win. White finished with a career-high 210 yards on eight receptions, while Turner rushed for 97 yards on 22 carries for the Falcons, who had an extra week to prepare after falling to the Patriots in Week 3. Matt Ryan passed for 329 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on 22-of-32 efficiency while also rushing for a score in the lopsided win. Glen Coffee rushed for San Francisco's only TD, totaling 45 yards on 12 carries. Shaun Hill connected on just 15-of-38 attempts for 198 yards with one interception for the 49ers, who were coming off a 35-0 whipping of the Rams. The hosts didn't have the services of rookie wideout Michael Crabtree, who ended his lengthy holdout Wednesday but did not dress.
Final Score: Arizona 28, Houston 21
Glendale, AZ (My Sportsbook) - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Matt Schaub and returned it 49 yards for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, and the Arizona Cardinals used a goal-line stand in the closing minute to beat the Houston Texans, 28-21, at University of Phoenix Stadium. Kurt Warner tallied 302 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26-of-38 passing for the Cardinals (2-2), who were coming off their bye week. Warner notched his 50th career 300-plus-yard game, and became the fifth quarterback in NFL history to record at least 50 300-plus-yard games, joining Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Dan Fouts. Tim Hightower had a rushing score and Larry Fitzgerald recorded two touchdowns and 79 yards on five grabs in the win. Anquan Boldin had 81 yards on seven receptions. Schaub had 371 yards, two scores and a pick on 35-of-50 efficiency for the Texans (2-3), who have alternated wins and losses for the first five games of the season. Schaub also recorded 279 of his passing yards in the second half. Steve Slaton led all Houston rushers with 39 yards on 13 carries and also had 59 yards on six catches. Chris Brown had a rushing score, while Andre Johnson chipped in 101 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches in the setback.
Final Score: Denver 20, New England 17 (OT)
Denver, CO (My Sportsbook) - Matt Prater's 41-yard field goal less than five minutes into overtime sent the Denver Broncos past the New England Patriots, 20-17, in an AFC clash from Invesco Field at Mile High. Kyle Orton finished 35-of-48 for 330 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Broncos, (5-0), who hadn't started a season with five consecutive victories since beginning the 1998 campaign at 13-0 before finishing 14-2 and winning Super Bowl XXXIII. Brandon Marshall caught eight balls for 64 yards and a pair of scores, including an 11-yarder with 5:21 left to tie the game, capping an incredible 12-play, 98-yard drive. Eddie Royal added 10 receptions for 90 yards and Knowshon Moreno rolled for 88 yards on 21 carries in his first pro start. It was also a monumental win for Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, who was part of three Super Bowl wins as an assistant under Bill Belichick with the Patriots from 2001-08. During his three years as offensive coordinator (2006-08), the Patriots scored an NFL-best 1,384 points. Tom Brady went 19-of-33 for 215 yards and two touchdowns for the Patriots (3-2), who had posted home wins over Atlanta and Baltimore the previous two weeks. Wes Welker recorded eight receptions for 86 yards and a score, Ben Watson added a TD catch and Sammy Morris rushed for 68 yards on 17 touches in defeat.
Final Score: Seattle 41, Jacksonville 0
Seattle, WA (My Sportsbook) - Matt Hasselbeck made his return to Seattle's lineup and threw for 241 yards and four touchdowns, as the Seahawks dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 41-0, at Qwest Field. Hasselbeck suffered a fractured rib in Week 2's loss to San Francisco and missed Seattle's last two games, but improved over the course of the practice week and made the start, completing 18-of-30 passes with no interceptions. Nate Burleson caught six passes for 98 yards and a pair of scores, while T.J. Houshmandzadeh had five catches for 77 yards and two TDs - his first in a Seattle uniform since signing with the Seahawks in the offseason. Nick Reed added a 79-yard fumble return for a touchdown for Seattle (2-3), which snapped a three-game slide. David Garrard was 18-for-31 for 188 yards for Jacksonville (2-3), whose two-game winning streak came to an end. The Jaguars suffered their worst defeat since losing 44-0 to Detroit in their inaugural season of 1995.
Final Score: Indianapolis 31, Tennessee 9
Nashville, TN (My Sportsbook) - Peyton Manning threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, all while notching another milestone as the Indianapolis Colts remained unbeaten with a 31-9 rout of the winless Tennessee Titans. Manning, who completed 36-of-44 passes and was intercepted once, has 345 career passing touchdowns, moving him past Fran Tarkenton (342) for the third-most TD tosses in history. Only Brett Favre (473) and Dan Marino (420) are ahead of Manning. The Colts have won their last 14 straight non-playoff contests, last losing a regular season game in Nashville during Week 8 of the 2008 ledger. Austin Collie had eight catches for 97 yards and two scores for the Colts (5-0), who also received a rushing touchdown from Joseph Addai. Kerry Collins connected on 19-of-32 passes for 164 yards with an interception before yielding to Vince Young midway through the fourth quarter for the Titans (0-5), who have witnessed a complete flip from last season. In 2008, Jeff Fisher's team started 10-0 on the way to winning the AFC South. This is also the worst start for the Titans since they went 0-5 to begin the 2006 campaign before a Week 6 victory at Washington.