In a game dubbed "The Battle of the Bills," the Bill Belichick-led New England Patriots came out on top, blanking Bill Parcells's Dallas Cowboys 12-0 in a tight encounter on Sunday.
It was a rare shutout loss for a club coached by Parcells, who has suffered just two scoreless efforts in his 249 regular-season games.
The two coaches, who worked together for 15 seasons, winning two Super Bowls, shared a hug at mid-field after the contest.
PHOTO: AFP
The Pats (8-2), wearing their new silver sweaters, did the bulk of their scoring in the opening half.
They got an early 23-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri, the hero of Super Bowl XXXVI.
Antowain Smith then scampered two yards for the game's only touchdown 2:34 from the break.
PHOTO: AP
Vinatieri's subsequent convert try was blocked.
He made amends with another field goal 1:56 from the end.
Smith racked up a team-high 51 yards on the night, with Troy Hambrick topping Dallas (7-3) with 41.
It was a forgettable night for Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter, who was intercepted three times and also fumbled once.
The Pats' Tom Brady played error-free football, throwing for 212 yards.
Parcells previously coached in New England and also steered both New York clubs, beating the pair of them earlier in the season.
However, the two-time Coach of the Year was unable to pull off the sweep of his former teams.
"Both coaches are great for the game," Patriots owner Bob Kraft said.
Chiefs 19, Bengals 24
Peter Warrick scored on a 68-yard punt return and a 77-yard touchdown catch to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a 24-19 victory Sunday that gave the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season.
Trying to become the first team since 1998 to start 10-0, the Chiefs instead lost to the up-and-coming Bengals (5-5), who backed up their boast and finished the day tied for first.
"It would have been much worse if they had beaten us at our best," Chiefs returner Dante Hall said. "But we didn't play well. It's like they say: `On any given Sunday.'"
Trent Green threw two touchdown passes in the final seven minutes, the last a 3-yarder to Jason Dunn with 3:19 to go. The Chiefs never got the ball back.
Panthers 20, Redskins 17
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Stephen Davis scored on a 3-yard run with 1:09 remaining to help the Carolina Panthers beat his old team.
Trying to shake off a nagging ankle sprain that sidelined him last week, Davis had 92 yards rushing on 28 carries for the Panthers (8-2), compared to the 54 yards rushing the Redskins managed.
Eagles 28, Giants 10
In Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns, and Brian Westbrook caught two TD passes and ran for a score in the Eagles' fifth straight victory.
The two-time NFC East champion Eagles (7-3) have won seven of eight after opening the season with two losses at home. The Giants (4-6) have lost two in a row, including an embarrassing 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons last week.
Rams 23, Bears 21
In Chicago, Jeff Wilkins kicked a 31-yard field goal with 38 seconds left to help the Rams win for the sixth time in seven games.
Marshall Faulk ran for 103 yards and the Rams (7-3) overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit. Wilkins' third field goal came after the Rams moved 67 yards behind six completions from Marc Bulger, including a 21-yarder to Torry Holt.
Browns 44, Cardinals 6
In Cleveland, Kelly Holcomb passed for 392 yards and three touchdowns and the Browns showed no signs of disarray in their rout of the Cardinals.
James Jackson had two TD runs and Phil Dawson kicked three field goals for the Browns (4-6), who came into the game with three straight losses and seemingly in turmoil.
Titans 10, Jaguars 3
In Nashville, Tennessee, Steve McNair threw for a touchdown and the defense held off the Jaguars at the goal line in the final minute for the Titans' fifth straight win.
Jacksonville (2-8) had first-and-goal needing to score to force overtime, but the Titans stopped Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala twice up the middle for losses. Scott McGarrahan tackled Cortez Hankton at the 2 after an 8-yard catch, then Byron Leftwich couldn't find a receiver in the end zone on fourth-and-2.
Saints 23, Falcons 20, OT
In New Orleans, John Carney kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime to lift New Orleans, which rallied from a 20-3 first-half deficit.
Deuce McAllister, held to 20 yards in the first half, finished with 173 yards and two touchdowns for the Saints (5-5). McAllister had touchdown runs of 5 and 7 yards in the rally and Carney tied the game with a 26-yard field goal.
Dolphins 9, Ravens 6, OT
In Miami, Olindo Mare hit a 43-yard field goal with 8:48 left in overtime to lift the Dolphins.
Mare missed a 48-yard attempt wide right that would have put Miami (6-4) ahead with 2:29 left in regulation. Last month, he missed two 35-yard tries that would have beaten New England.
Texans 12, Bills 10
In Orchard Park, New York, Tony Banks came off the bench and hit rookie receiver Andre Johnson for a 46-yard touchdown, and Kris Brown made two field goals to spark the Texans.
Banks filled in for David Carr, who hurt his right shoulder in the first quarter.
Packers 20, Buccaneers 13
In Tampa, Florida, playing with a broken right thumb and shrugging off five years of futility at Raymond James Stadium, Brett Favre led a 98-yard second-half drive to lift Green Bay.
Ahman Green finished the march with a 1-yard run that vaulted the Packers (5-5) back into the thick of the NFC playoff race. They dealt the Bucs (4-6) their third straight loss to hurt the defending Super Bowl champions' chances of getting back to the postseason.
Colts 38, Jets 31
In Indianapolis, Edgerrin James ran for a season-high 127 yards and three touchdowns, and punter Hunter Smith raced 21 yards on a fake field goal for the go-ahead score for Indianapolis.
The Jets (3-7) and Colts combined for 862 total yards of offense, 69 points and scored on a myriad of big and strange plays.
Broncos 37, Chargers 8
In Denver, Jake Plummer showed no signs of rust in his first game in a month and the Broncos kept Doug Flutie in check.
Denver (6-4) came flying out of its bye week, totaling 448 yards and taking a 27-0 halftime lead after holding San Diego (2-8) to 18 yards and one first down.
Raiders 28, Vikings 18
In Oakland, California, Phillip Buchanon scored on a 64-yard interception return 49 seconds into the game and third-string quarterback Rick Mirer calmly helped the Raiders end a five-game losing streak.
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