Bills RB Lynch runs, throws for touchdowns
Who needs to debate the Bills' revolving door at quarterback when Marshawn Lynch showed he can effectively fill two positions?
The rookie running back threw a touchdown pass and ran for another on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions, sparking Buffalo's popgun attack in a 33-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
No big deal, said Lynch, the first-round pick who has now helped produce six of the Bills' nine offensive touchdowns this season.
"Aw, man, it was high school. Pitch and catch with Robert Royal," Lynch said, referring to his 8-yard pass to the tight end that put the Bills up for good, 26-21 with 5:51 remaining. "I just wanted to make sure I got that tight spiral on the ball."
He was as effective as J.P. Losman, who put up big numbers but lacked finish in attempting to win back his starting job.
Losman went 24 of 34 for 295 yards with a touchdown and interception in making his first start in five weeks. He was filling in for rookie Trent Edwards, who sprained his right hand in a 13-3 win at the New York Jets last week.
Losman's problem is the same that plagued Edwards so far this season. Against Cincinnati, after Lee Evans (165 receiving yards) caught an 8-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession, the Bills settled for 4 field goals on four trips inside the Bengals 20 before Lynch took over.
Lynch finished with a career-best 153 yards rushing, capped by a splendid 56-yard touchdown run with 2:22 left. He helped the Bills produce 479 yards offense, matching their most since a 49-31 loss to Oakland on Oct. 6, 2002.
The Bills (4-4) have won three straight and four of five to overcome an 0-3 start.
Titans 20, Panthers 7: Vince Young and LenDale White each ran for a touchdown, and Albert Haynesworth had 3 of the Titans' season-high 7 sacks as host Tennessee got its third straight victory.
The Titans (6-2) finished their trip through the NFC South at 3-1 and ruined the Panthers' first game at Tennessee. White finished with 100 yards, his third straight game with 100 or more.
Buccaneers 17, Cardinals 10: Stingy defense was the Buccaneers' hallmark for most of the past decade, and it was the key as they surpassed their victory total for last season.
In addition to Tanard Jackson's second-quarter interception, which set up a field goal, the Bucs limited the visiting Cardinals to 1 first down and 78 yards total offense in the opening half. Arizona (3-5), averaging 337.3 yards per game, finished with a season-low 195.
Jeff Garcia threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway, while Earnest Graham scored on a 2-yard run and had his first 100-yard rushing performance as a pro (124) for the Bucs (5-4), whose 4-12 record a year ago was the franchise's worst since 1991.
Redskins 23, Jets 20 (OT) Shaun Suisham tied a franchise record with his fifth field goal, a 46-yarder with 7:43 left in overtime.
Clinton Portis rushed for 196 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries as Washington (5-3) beat host New York for the eighth time in nine meetings. The Redskins, who won their second overtime game of the season after beating Miami in the season opener, had to erase a 14-point deficit in this one.
The Jets (1-8) tied it at 20-20 with 10 seconds left in regulation on Mike Nugent's 30-yard field goal, but New York couldn't do much after getting a 39-yard reception by Jerricho Cotchery to open the extra period.
Falcons 20, Niners 16: Warrick Dunn became the first Atlanta back to run for 100 yards this season, Ovie Mughelli had the first rushing TD of his career and the host Falcons (2-6) won a matchup between two of the league's worst teams. The game was blacked out locally, the first time that's happened in Atlanta since 2001. The Georgia Dome was far from packed after 56 consecutive sellouts, the city clearly losing interest in a losing squad that no longer has Michael Vick to liven things up.
San Francisco fell to 2-6.