Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) For the second straight game, the New England Patriots led 31-14 in the fourth quarter. This time they completed the job.

Avoiding the rush: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady scrambles as Jets linebacker Calvin Pace tries to give chase during the first quarter of their game on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 31-14. AP PHOTO

The defense Bill Belichick didn't want to put on the field a week earlier had three of its five turnovers in the fourth quarter Sunday in a 31-14 win over the New York Jets. Last Sunday's stunning 35-34 loss to the Indianapolis Colts had unleashed criticism of Belichick's decision-making.

Leigh Bodden had three interceptions, starting with a 53-yard touchdown return for the first score of the game.

"There was a lot of emotion from last week, not finishing the game," Bodden said. "We definitely wanted to finish this game."

The defense picked off four of Mark Sanchez's passes and allowed just one touchdown and 226 yards. The victory gave the Patriots (7-3) a two-game lead in the AFC East and sent the Jets (4-6) to their sixth loss in seven games.

"We are a desperate football team," New York linebacker Bart Scott said. "There is no magic remedy."

The critics had piled on Belichick for going for it on fourth-and-2 at his 28-yard line rather than punt to the Colts and hope his defense could stop Peyton Manning. The play failed and the Colts moved 29 yards to Manning's scoring pass and a decisive extra point.

Lions 38, Browns 37: In Detroit, Matthew Stafford was flat on his back, getting his left shoulder evaluated on the sideline by the Lions medical staff.

The Browns called a timeout and gave the rookie a chance to get back in the game.

Stafford threw his fifth touchdown pass from 1 yard to Brandon Pettigrew and Jason Hanson's extra point with no time on the clock gave Detroit a thrilling 38-37 win over Cleveland on Sunday.

"That was wild," Stafford said with ice strapped around his shoulder.

Detroit was given the untimed play because safety Hank Poteat was called for pass interference in the end zone when Stafford heaved a desperation attempt.

Stafford was hit after his throw to the end zone and replaced by Daunte Culpepper. But he was able to return because the Browns stopped the game with their timeout.

Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said he was trying to get his team ready for the play.

"He just said, 'I'm ready,' " Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. "He could walk.

"There was no one who was going to stop him from going back on the field. He had come way too far in that game to not finish it."

Schwartz said X-rays showed Stafford's collarbone wasn't broken, adding more tests are needed.

"Matt's best play of the day might have been eluding four team doctors to get back on the field," Schwartz joked.

Colts 17, Ravens 15: In Baltimore, undefeated Indianapolis found yet another way to win a close game, the Colts' 19th straight victory.

Saints 38, Buccaneers 7: In Tampa, Drew Brees threw for three touchdowns and New Orleans shrugged off a slow start defensively to remain unbeaten.

Chiefs 27, Steelers 24 (OT): In Kansas City, Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime after Chris Chambers' 61-yard catch-and-run, and the Chiefs snapped a team-record 10-game home losing streak.

Chargers 32, Broncos 3: In Englewood, Colo., Philip Rivers and a dominant defense led San Diego into sole possession of first place.

Raiders 20, Raiders 17: In Oakland, Bruce Gradkowski threw a 29-yard tying touchdown pass to Louis Murphy with 33 seconds left and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 33-yard field goal after Andre Caldwell fumbled the ensuing kickoff.

Vikings 35, Seahawks 9: In Minneapolis, Minn., Brett Favre completed a career-high 88 percent of his passes for 213 yards and four touchdown passes.

Giants 34, Falcons 31 (OT): In East Rutherford, N.J., Lawrence Tynes kicked a 36-yard field goal 3:54 into overtime to make up for an earlier miss.

Cardinals 21, Rams 13: In St. Louis, Kurt Warner spent the second half pacing the sideline after taking a blow to the head, still in uniform but shut down for the day.

Cowboys 7, Redskins 6: In Arlington, Texas, Tony Romo led a single scoring drive, hitting Patrick Crayton for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 2:41 left to preserve first place in the NFC East.

Packers 30, 49ers 24: In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers made San Francisco pay for a draft-day snub in 2005. Rodgers threw touchdowns to Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, and Ryan Grant rushed for 129 yards and a score.

Jaguars 18, Bills 15: In Jacksonville, David Garrard's second game-winning drive in as many weeks gave the Jaguars their first three-game winning streak in nearly two years.

Eagles 24, Bears 20: In Chicago, Donovan McNabb threw for 244 yards against his hometown team, and LeSean McCoy scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 10-yard run following Antonio Dixon's block of a field goal attempt.

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