Print

Mail

wiki links

NFL Eagles, Bengals play out rare tie

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes, left, eludes San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips during their NFL game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

Donovan McNabb fumbled and threw three interceptions in regulation and nearly had another pass picked off in overtime on Sunday as the Eagles and Bengals played to a 13-13 tie, the NFL’s first in six years.

Cincinnati’s Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal with 7 seconds left in overtime, falling to the ground as the ball sailed just wide to the right.

It was the first tied game in the NFL since Nov. 10, 2002, when the Falcons and Steelers finished 34-34 with Michael Vick and Tommy Maddox matching each other pass for pass. In this one, the teams matched each other gaffe for gaffe.

The Eagles (5-4-1) have yet to win a close game this season, going 0-4 with a tie in games decided by less than a touchdown.

McNabb had a big hand in this one, matching his career high with three interceptions and setting up 10 of Cincinnati’s points.

Each team had three chances in the extra 15-minute quarter, but only the Bengals (1-8-1) got close enough to try a field goal. Considering what went on the previous three hours, no one was surprised when Graham, 6-for-6 this season from 40 yards to 49 yards away, sliced it just outside the right upright.

TITANS 24, JAGUARS 14

In Jacksonville, Florida, Kerry Collins threw three touchdown passes, Albert Haynesworth dominated defensively again and the Titans improved to 10-0.

Tennessee overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit, got solid play from third-string cornerback Chris Carr and extended their franchise-record winning streak in the regular season to 13. The Titans also won their seventh consecutive regular-season game on the road.

The Jaguars (4-6) lost for the fourth time in six games, fell six games behind AFC South leaders Tennessee and probably ended any chance they had of returning to the post-season.

Collins was at his best when the team needed him most, directing consecutive touchdown drives in the third quarter that turned an 11-point deficit into a three-point lead. He sealed the victory with a perfect 38-yard touchdown pass to Justin Gage with 3 minutes, 57 seconds remaining.

STEELERS 11, CHARGERS 10

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the only thing perfect on a snowy, frigid day when the weather and the offenses were equally awful was San Diego’s regular-season record in Pittsburgh.

Make it 0-13, losing the first 11-10 final score in NFL history.

Ben Roethlisberger stayed away from the mistakes that cost the Steelers their previous two home games, Willie Parker ran for 115 yards and Jeff Reed’s third field goal won it — a 32-yarder with 11 seconds remaining.

The unusual final score was in jeopardy when Troy Polamalu returned an errant lateral 12 yards for an apparent touchdown on the final play. But it was overturned on replay — called an illegal forward pass — and the 11-10 score was restored.

The Steelers out-gained the Chargers 410-213 and most teams with a 300-yard passer and a 115-yard rusher normally have plenty of offense. But the Steelers couldn’t get into the end zone even as Roethlisberger went 31-of-41 for 308 yards, partly because they had 13 penalties for 115 yards to San Diego’s two for 5 yards.

A snow squall about 45 minutes before the late-afternoon kickoff left Heinz’s grass surface snowy white at the start and snow splotches remained the rest of the game.

COWBOYS 14, REDSKINS 10

In Landover, Maryland, Tony Romo overcame a pair of first-half interceptions to complete 19 of 27 passes for 198 yards and threw a 25-yard pass to rookie Martellus Bennett for the winning touchdown in a 14-10 victory over the Washington Redskins.

The victory gave the Cowboys a season split against their NFC East rivals and improved their record to 6-4, tied with the Redskins and a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dallas had gone 2-4 after a 3-0 start and performed miserably on offense during Romo’s absence because of a broken finger.

Fortuitously, last week’s bye gave Romo, cornerback Terence Newman and left guard Kyle Kosier a chance to heal.

CARDINALS 26, SEAHAWKS 20

In Seattle, Kurt Warner completed 32 of 44 passes for 395 yards — his franchise-record fourth straight 300-yard game — and J.J. Arrington scored a career-high two touchdowns. The 37-year-old veteran completed 19 of his first 21 passes, while Anquan Boldin, who had 13 catches for a career-best 186 yards, and Larry Fitzgerald — 10 receptions, 151 yards — roamed free all day in Arizona’s first win at Seattle since 2002.

Sunday’s other NFL scores:

• Giants 30, Ravens 10

• Panthers 31, Lions 22

• Bucs 19, Vikings 13

• Broncos 24, Falcons 20

• Colts 33, Texans 27

• Packers 37, Bears 3

• Dolphins 17, Raiders 15

• Saints 30, Chiefs 20

• 49ers 35, Rams 16
This story has been viewed 974 times.