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Jets end Titans' perfect record
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-25 09:22

NASHVILLE, Tennessee: The New York Jets ended the Tennessee Titans' undefeated start to the season on Sunday with a crushing 34-13 victory.

Kevin Vickerson (right) of the Tennessee Titans lifts and tackles running back Thomas Jones (center) of the New York Jets during their NFL game at LP Field on Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jets won the game 34-13. [Agencies]

Tennessee, the NFL's last unbeaten team, had won 10 successive games before the loss. The Jets (8-3) claimed their fifth consecutive win.

"It was one of those days we didn't play particularly well and you don't play like we played and win a ballgame," Titans coach Jeff Fisher told reporters. " The challenge is to put this one behind us."

New York quarterback Brett Favre threw for two touchdowns and Leon Washington rushed for two more in the one-sided victory that enabled the Jets to keep the AFC East lead.

The Jets defense also was outstanding, holding the Titans to two field goals and a touchdown.

"I have to give our team a lot of credit," Favre told reporters. "To come down here and play the best team in football and play the way we did."

Favre broke an NFL record with the touchdowns, marking the 14th season he has completed at least 20 TD passes. Favre and former Miami quarterback Dan Marino shared the previous record of 13.

Favre threw 10 yards to Thomas Jones for the game's opening touchdown and then connected with Laveranues Coles with a two-yard toss in the third quarter to give the Jets a 20-3 lead.

"A lot of the pass plays today were run plays," said the quick-throwing Favre who completed 25 of 32 tosses for 224 yards, connecting with seven different receivers. "We are trying to make teams play us honest, and I think we are doing a better job of that," Favre said of the mixture of plays.

"It's not about throwing the ball down the field 50 yards... It's take what they give you. We have the guys, like I had in Green Bay last year, who can run after the catch."

Tennessee's only points came on two Rob Bironas field goals and a six-yard pass from Kerry Collins to Ahmard Hall in the fourth quarter after the Jets trailed 27-6.

Patriots 48, Dolphins 28

At Miami, Matt Cassel threw for 415 yards, Randy Moss caught three touchdown passes and the resilient Patriots won a shootout.

The Patriots, who remained a game behind the AFC East-leading New York Jets, avenged an upset loss to Miami in September. New England hasn't been swept in a season series by a division opponent since 2000.

For the Dolphins (6-5), the loss snapped a four-game winning streak and hurt their chances of an improbable playoff berth after going 1-15 last year.

Cowboys 35, 49ers 22

At Irving, Texas, Terrell Owens broke out with seven catches for 213 yards to help Dallas beat San Francisco.

Owens' total was the second-most of his career, behind only the 283 yards he had in the 2000 game in which he caught an NFL-record 20 passes, back when he played for the 49ers, and tied the fourth-best in Cowboys history. Shaun Hill was 21-of-33 for 303 yards for the 49ers (3-8), but was sacked four times.

Ravens 36, Eagles 7

At Baltimore, Donovan McNabb watched from the sideline as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Philadelphia Eagles, presenting first-year coach John Harbaugh with a lopsided victory over the team he served as an assistant for 10 years.

Ed Reed picked off McNabb's halftime replacement, Kevin Kolb, and returned the interception an NFL-record 108 yards for a touchdown to give Baltimore (7-4) a 22-point cushion with 7:24 left.

Bills 54, Chiefs 31

At Kansas City, Missouri, Trent Edwards threw for two touchdowns, ran for two others and Buffalo scored more points than had ever been scored against Kansas City.

The Bills (6-5) pounced on five Kansas City turnovers and came within four points of matching their 42-year-old record for most points in a game. The previous high against the Chiefs was 51 in an overtime loss at Seattle in 1983.

Vikings 30, Jaguars 12

At Jacksonville, Florida, Adrian Peterson ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, Minnesota's defense harassed the Jaguars in all sorts of ways and the Vikings used two scores in the first 1:41 to beat Jacksonville.

With their second road win of the season, the Vikings (6-5) kept pace with Chicago in the National Football Conference North. The Jaguars (4-7) fell to 1-5 at home, and faded even further back in the AFC playoff race.

Texans 16, Browns 6

At Cleveland, Sage Rosenfels passed for 275 yards and a touchdown, and Kris Brown kicked three field goals as Houston snapped an eight-game losing streak outside Texas with a win over the bumbling Browns.

The Texans (4-7) had lost five straight road games this season and hadn't won away from home since Nov. 4, 2007, at Oakland. But all it took was a weekend in Cleveland to fix their travel woes.

Bears 27, Rams 3

At St. Louis, rookie Matt Forte had a season-high 132 yards rushing and scored on two long runs, and Marc Bulger lasted only five plays before sustaining a concussion against a defense that had three of a season-best five sacks by the break and helped Chicago build a 21-point cushion.

Kyle Orton set a franchise record by throwing 185 consecutive passes without an interception as the Bears (6-5) rebounded from a blowout loss at Green Bay last week and kept a share of first place in the balanced NFC North.

Agencies