The Miami Dolphins finally gave their fans reason to celebrate, combining a polished offensive performance with solid defense for their first victory this season, 31-14 over the St. Louis Rams.
After enduring the worst start in their 39-year history, the Dolphins took out their frustration on the Rams, who had at least five players injured Sunday. Much-maligned quarterback Jay Fiedler threw for two touchdowns, embattled coach Dave Wannstedt made some risky calls that paid off and Miami held the Rams' explosive offense in check.
PHOTO: EPA
The Dolphins, the last NFL team to win this season, improved to 1-6. St. Louis (4-3) had won three in a row.
Fiedler, a frequent target of boos, heard none as he went 13-for-17 for 203 yards. He shrugged off five sacks and threw touchdown passes of 42 yards to Randy McMichael and 71 yards to Chris Chambers.
The conservative Wannstedt, his job in jeopardy, took some uncharacteristic gambles to keep St. Louis guessing. A 48-yard pass by receiver Marty Booker set up the game's first score, and Miami also pulled off a fake punt and tried a halfback pass.
The Dolphins scored four touchdowns, matching their total for the first six games.
Jaguars 27, Colts 24
In Indianapolis, Byron Leftwich led a 30-yard drive in the final four minutes and rookie kicker Josh Scobee made a 53-yard field goal to lift Jacksonville to its fifth fourth-quarter win this season.
Leftwich finished 23-of-30 for 300 yards with two touchdowns and was at his best late, ending the game with three straight scoring drives.
Chiefs 56, Falcons 10
In Kansas City, Missouri, Priest Holmes sprained his ankle early in the second half, so Derrick Blaylock scored the other half of Kansas City's NFL-record eight touchdowns rushing.
Shredding what had been the NFL's leading rushing defense, Holmes and Blaylock each scored four times on the ground. Holmes scored on runs of 1, 2, 2 and 15 yards during a 35-0 first-half blitz. He was stopped just a couple of feet short of what would have been his fifth TD rushing for the Chiefs (2-4).
Vikings 20, Titans 3
In Minneapolis, with the injured Randy Moss relegated to two snaps of decoy duty, Daunte Culpepper and the Vikings shifted gears and grinded out a win.
Culpepper completed 24 of 30 mostly low-risk passes, and an aggressive Vikings (5-1) defense knocked quarterback Steve McNair out of the game for the Titans (2-5) when he reinjured his chest.
After throwing 10 touchdowns the last two weeks, Culpepper finished with 183 yards and one score to Marcus Robinson just before halftime. Rookie Mewelde Moore rushed for 138 yards on 20 carries.
Lions 28, Giants 13
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, after going three years without winning on the road, the Lions seem unbeatable away from the Motor City.
Joey Harrington threw two touchdown passes and Chris Cash made a diving interception in the end zone late in the first half to lead the Lions (4-2), who won their third straight away game.,
Bucs 19, Bears 7
In Tampa, Florida, Michael Pittman rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown, sparking the Bucs to victory in a matchup of teams desperately needing to jump-start disappointing seasons.
Brian Griese threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Michael Clayton and Martin Gramatica kicked a pair of 22-yard field goals for Tampa Bay (2-5), which rushed for a season-high 138 yards.
Eagles 34, Browns 31, OT
In Cleveland, David Akers kicked a 50-yard field goal in overtime and Donovan McNabb matched a career high with four touchdown passes -- two to Terrell Owens -- as the Philadelphia Eagles remained unbeaten by downing the Cleveland Browns.
Akers' kick barely cleared the crossbar in front of Cleveland's Dawg Pound with 5:02 remaining in OT as the Eagles (6-0) continued their best start since 1981.
They survived their stiffest test by far this season from the Browns (3-4), who made as many big plays as the Eagles and got a favorable call in the fourth quarter to force OT.
McNabb finished 28-of-43 for 376 yards, but set up Akers' game-winner with a 28-yard run.
Patriots 13, Jets 7
In Foxboro, Massachusetts, Rodney Harrison broke up a fourth-down pass by Chad Pennington with 2:14 remaining, and the Patriots extended their NFL-record victory streak to 21 games, including playoffs.
The Patriots also set the regular-season mark of 18 straight wins, surpassing the 17 won by the 1933-1934 Chicago Bears. They moved to 6-0 for the first time in franchise history while handing the Jets (5-1) their first loss this season.
It was the first matchup of unbeatens with five or more wins since 1973. The game turned into a defensive struggle in the second half.
Packers 41, Cowboys 20
In Green Bay, the Pack ended a three-game losing streak.
Joe Horn had nine receptions for 123 yards, and Jerome Pathon added six catches as the Saints (3-4) used a strong second half to send the Raiders to their fourth straight defeat.
John Carney kicked a 41-yard field goal with 4:31 left, then Colby Bockwoldt scooped up Carlos Francis' fumble on the ensuing kickoff and ran it 6 yards for another Saints score.
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