Texans top Tampa Bay; Jaguars win big
Sage Rosenfels threw for 3 touchdowns to lead host Houston (6-7) to a 28-14 win over Tampa Bay. He has won both games he's started in place of the injured Matt Schaub.
Rosenfels lost 2 fumbles, but Tampa Bay (8-5) was only able to convert 1 into points.
The Buccaneers could have secured the NFC South title with a win, but instead saw their four-game winning streak snapped due to miscues and ineffectiveness.
"Four-game win streak or one-game win streak, it really doesn't matter," defensive end Gaines Adams said. "We just didn't get it done. Everything we did today was unacceptable."
Jaguars 37, Panthers 6: Fred Taylor ran for 132 yards and had an 80-yard touchdown, and host Jacksonville (9-4) harassed Vinny Testaverde, stuffed DeShaun Foster and locked down Steve Smith -- the defense's most complete game since consecutive wins at Denver and Kansas City early in the season.
On Taylor's long TD run, he started up the middle, cut left and then ran untouched for the score. He outran several defenders on his way to the end zone and ended up passing Eddie George (10,441) and Tiki Barber (10,449) on the NFL's all-time rushing list.
Taylor now ranks 18th with 10,457 yards. He would have had more yards, but ended up losing 21 yards on a fumble in the second quarter.
"He's one of those guys that can juke you and leave you standing there or he can run you over," center Brad Meester said. "Both are fun to watch."
Browns 24, Jets 18: Derek Anderson threw 2 touchdown passes, and Joe Jurevicius recovered 2 late onside kicks as visiting Cleveland strengthened its playoff chances with a win over the Jets.
Jamal Lewis had a touchdown catch and added a 31-yard TD run with 1:22 left, and the Browns (8-5) moved a game in front of Tennessee and Buffalo in the wild-card race.
Broncos 41, Chiefs 7: Denver manhandled visiting Kansas City, finally playing like the contender the Broncos fancied themselves after an off-season spending spree.
Jay Cutler threw a career-best 4 touchdown passes, Selvin Young rushed for a career-high 156 yards on 17 carries and Elvis Dumervil had 3 sacks and forced a fumble that led to a touchdown. Cutler completed 20 of 27 passes for 244 yards. His favorite target was Brandon Marshall (10 catches, 115 yards, 2 TDs).
Bengals 19, Rams 10: Rudi Johnson ran 1 yard for a touchdown, Shayne Graham kicked 4 field goals on a nasty day, and host Cincinnati took advantage of the Rams' novice quarterback Brock Berlin.
A steady, often driving rain on a 38-degree afternoon made it tough to throw, catch or hold onto the slick footballs -- not what the Rams (3-10) wanted when using their third-string quarterback. Berlin, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, played because injuries wiped out the Rams' top two options. Marc Bulger (concussion) sat out a second straight game, and backup Gus Frerotte was sidelined by an injury to his passing shoulder.
"It's very difficult," said tight end Randy McMichael. "The week before last, he was on the practice squad. We didn't do enough to help him."