AMERICAN FOOTBALL NFL:A WEEK after scoring 62 points in beating the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints slumped to a shock defeat against the previously winless St Louis Rams. The Rams were 0-6 going into Sunday's game, but stormed into a 24-0 lead on the back of two touchdowns from Steven Jackson.
The Saints threatened a comeback after recovering a fumble for a touchdown and scoring another through Pierre Thomas, but the home side intercepted Drew Brees for another touchdown to seal a stunning 31-21 victory.
The Miami Dolphins also threatened to claim their first win of the season before going down 20-17 to the New York Giants. Touchdown runs from Steve Slaton and quarterback Matt Moore gave the Dolphins an 11-point lead before Eli Manning rallied the Giants, completing 31 of 45 passes for 345 yards. The second of Manning’s touchdown passes to Victor Cruz with under six minutes to play secured the win.
Another winless team are the Indianapolis Colts, who are 0-8 after losing 27-10 to the Tennessee Titans. Matt Hasselbeck threw for 224 yards and a touchdown, Nate Washington scored twice and the Titans recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to improve to 4-3.
It turned into a tale of two field goals in Carolina as the Panthers lost 24-21 to the Minnesota Vikings. Ryan Longwell kicked a 31-yard field goal with under three minutes left to give the Vikings the lead, but Olindo Mare missed from the same distance with 26 seconds left to prevent the Panthers taking it to overtime.
Billy Cundiff had no such problems to kick the Baltimore Ravens to a 30-27 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Cundiff converted from 25 yards as time expired as the Ravens rallied from a 21-point deficit – the biggest comeback in their history – on the back of three touchdowns from Ray Rice.
Elsewhere, Arian Foster rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown as the Houston Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-14.
Ben Roethlisberger got the better of Tom Brady as the Pittsburgh Steelers won their eagerly-anticipated clash with the New England Patriots 25-17. Roethlisberger passed for 365 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 36 of his 50 passes as the Steelers (6-2) starved the Patriots of possession. They held the ball for more than 39 minutes and Brady, who passed for two touchdowns but threw for just 198 yards, could not inspire a response.
Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Scott Chandler for two touchdowns as the Buffalo Bulls – whose defence had nine sacks and two interceptions – beat the Washington Redskins 23-0. Tim Tebow had a night to forget in Denver as he was sacked seven times and saw his two turnovers turned into touchdowns as the Detroit Lions hammered the Denver Broncos 45-10. Chris Houston went 100 yards for an interception return as the Lions went 6-2 with Matthew Stafford throwing for three touchdowns.
The Cincinnati Bengals are tied with the Ravens for second place in AFC North after a 34-12 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Andy Dalton threw a pair of first-half touchdowns to help the Bengals to a fourth straight win.
The San Francisco 49ers recorded their fifth straight win as they got the better of the Cleveland Browns 20-10.
Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes and LeSean McCoy had a career-best 185 yards rushing and scored twice as the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the Dallas Cowboys 34-7.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
AFC EASTWLTPF PA PCtBuffalo520211 147 .714
New England520202 160 .714NY Jets430172 152 .571Miami070107 166 0
AFC NORTHWLTPF PAPCT
Pittsburgh620176 139 .750Cincinnati520171 123 .714
Baltimore520182 110 .714
Cleveland340107 140 .429
AFC SOUTHWLTPF PA PCT
Houston530206 142 .625Tennessee430139 145 .571
Jacksonville26098 163 .250
Indianapolis080121 252 0
AFC WESTWLTPF PA PCT
San Diego420141 136 .667
Oakland430160 178 .571
Kansas City330105 150 .500
Denver250133 200 .286
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
NFC EASTWLTPF PA PCT
NY Giants520174 164 .714
Philadelphia340179 152 .429
Dallas340156 162 .429
Washington340116 139 .429
NFC NORTH WLTPF PA PCT
Green Bay700230 141 1.00
Detroit620239 147 .750
Chicago430170 150 .571
Minnesota260172 199 .250
NFC SOUTH WLTPF PA PCT
New Orleans530260 186 .625
Tampa Bay430128 169 .571
Atlanta430158 163 .571
Carolina260187 207 .250
NFC WESTWLTPF PA PCT
SanFrancisco610187 107 .857
Seattle250109 162 .286
St Louis16087 192 .143Arizona160143 183 .143
Weekend Results (home team in CAPS) – TENNESSEE 27 Indianapolis 10, ST LOUIS 31 New Orleans 21, NY GIANTS 20 Miami 17, Minnesota 24 CAROLINA 21, BALTIMORE 30 Arizona 27, HOUSTON 24 Jacksonville 14, BUFFALO 23 Washington 0, Detroit 45 DENVER 10, PITTSBURGH 25 New England 17, SAN FRANCISCO 20 Cleveland 10, Cincinnati 34 SEATTLE 12, PHILADELPHIA 34 Dallas 7.
