Ronnie Brown and the lowly Miami Dolphins ended the Patriots’ record winning streak at 21 and made New England’s defense look as shaky as its Tom Brady-less offense on Sunday.
Brown scored a team record four touchdowns rushing and threw for another — with four of the scores coming on direct snaps to the running back — as Miami stunned New England 38-13.
The loss ended the Patriots’ NFL mark that began after a 21-0 loss to the Dolphins on Dec. 10, 2006, in which Brady was sacked four times. It also ended New England’s chance for a second straight unbeaten regular season.
The Dolphins, who lost their first 13 games last year and finished 1-15, won for just the second time in 22 games. It was the first victory for first-year coach Tony Sparano, and it was a stunner.
BILLS 24, RAIDERS 23
At Orchard Park, New York, Rian Lindell hit a 38-yard field goal as the clock ran out after Trent Edwards engineered three scoring drives in the final quarter to help Buffalo twice overcome 9-point deficits in the last 8 minutes.
Edwards finished 24-of-39 for 279 yards and a touchdown a week after he rallied the Bills to a 20-16 win at Jacksonville.
That the victory came against the hard-luck and dysfunctional Raiders (1-2) didn’t matter for a Bills team off to its first 3-0 start since 1992.
GIANTS 26, BENGALS 23, OT
At East Rutherford, New Jersey, John Carney kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:39 left in the extra session as New York (3-0) got off to its best start since 2000.
The play that set up the winning kick was a 31-yard pass from Eli Manning to Amani Toomer down the left sideline on a third-and-10 from the Bengals 38. It was difficult to tell whether Toomer got both feet in bounds. The Giants hustled to the line of scrimmage and handed the ball to Derrick Ward for a 3-yard run to the Bengals 4, precluding a video review.
COWBOYS 27, PACKERS 16
At Green Bay, Wisconsin, Marion Barber ran for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown and rookie Felix Jones added a 60-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Miles Austin, a backup who plays mostly on special teams, sealed the win with a 52-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
Tony Romo was 17-of-30 for 260 yards and Terrell Owens was held to two catches for 17 yards as Dallas (3-0) joined the reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants as the NFC’s only undefeated teams.
BUCCANEERS 27, BEARS 24, OT
At Chicago, Brian Griese set up Matt Bryant’s winning 21-yard field goal in overtime with a 38-yard pass to Antonio Bryant.
After blowing a 14-point lead in a 20-17 loss at Carolina last week, the Bears (1-2) couldn’t protect a 24-14 advantage in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers got a 35-yard field goal from Bryant with 3:11 left and Griese orchestrated a 79-yard touchdown drive in the final 1:49, hitting Jerramy Stevens with a 1-yard pass in the closing seconds of regulation.
After Tampa Bay (2-1) punted in overtime, Rashied Davis dropped a third-down pass at the Buccaneers 35. Tampa Bay then took over at its 7 and had third-and-nine at the 8 when Griese hit Stevens with a 2-yard pass.
BRONCOS 34, SAINTS 32
At Denver, Martin Gramatica’s 43-yard field goal try with 1:55 remaining went wide right to allow Denver to improve to 3-0 for the first time in five years.
New Orleans (1-2) never led, but made a game of it after falling behind 21-3 early in the second quarter with Drew Brees completing 39 of 48 passes for 421 yards and a touchdown, and Reggie Bush piling up 178 all-purpose yards and two TDs. Brandon Marshall led the Broncs with six receptions for 155 yards.
In other NFL action, it was:
• Jaguars 23, Colts 21
• Eagles 15, Steelers 6
• 49ers 31, Lions 13
• Seahawks 37, Rams 13
• Ravens 28, Browns 10
• Vikings 20, Panthers 10
• Titans 31, Texans 12
• Redskins 24, Cardinals 17
• Falcons 38, Chiefs 14
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