Nashville, Tenn. ? Lovie Smith demanded a fast start from his Bears after a sluggish performance a week ago.
They certainly responded.
Charles Tillman forced four fumbles. Brian Urlacher scored on a 46-yard interception return. Plus, Chicago turned a blocked punt into a touchdown.
Jay Cutler threw three TD passes to Brandon Marshall and the Bears put up their highest point total since 1980, routing the Titans 51-20 on Sunday for their sixth straight win.
"We didn't want to have a repeat of last week against Carolina," Tillman said of a 22-20 victory. "This week our whole motto was, 'Let's start fast.' To create a turnover on the first play of the game was the mindset going into the game."
Tillman did just that, stripping Titans receiver Kenny Britt on Tennessee's first offensive play and proving how exceptionally dangerous these Bears are even when they don't start with the ball.
The Bears (7-1) scored a franchise-record 28 points in the first quarter. They took control by creating three turnovers in the first 13 minutes, resulting in 14 points.
Urged on by its coach, Chicago wound up with takeaways, beginning with the first Tennessee snap.
"It has to be upsetting when you know our reputation coming in," Smith said. "It's not like it's the first one we've done. Every team we've played has the mindset that this team will strip the ball. That's who we are."
Urlacher became the latest Bears defender to score on an interception return. They have done it a club record seven times ? no other NFL team had returned six for TDs through the first seven games of any season.
The Bears had already topped the 50-point mark with 10 minutes still left. They posted their highest-scoring game since matching a team record in a 61-7 win over Green Bay on Dec. 7, 1980. Chicago fans took over LP Field, booing any video highlights featuring the rival Packers and frequently chanting "Let's go, Bears."
"It was weird," Cutler said of all the Bears fans. "I had to hush the crowd down in the red zone, and they got quiet really quick. We have the best fans in the world."
The Titans (3-6) lost their second straight, giving up the most points since a 59-0 loss to New England on Oct. 18, 2009. Coach Mike Munchak said they had warned the Titans all week how crucial protecting the ball would be against the Bears.
"We made it easy on the Bears to beat us," Munchak said. "But they took advantage of all the opportunities we gave them."
Tennessee's lone highlight when Chris Johnson scored on an 80-yard run in the fourth quarter. Johnson finished with 141 yards on 16 carries against the NFL's best rushing defense.
Tillman, the NFC defensive player for October, started the Bears' first-quarter spree with the strip of Britt the Bears' 24th turnover this season. The cornerback also forced two fumbles by Johnson and later stripped tight end Jared Cook.
"He just finds a way of getting his hands on the ball, knocking the ball out and always being around the ball," Johnson said.
Cutler tossed TDs of 13, 39 and 5 yards to Marshall and finished with 229 yards passing. Cutler, who starred in Nashville in college at Vanderbilt, spent the final 10 minutes watching Jason Campbell mop up. Matt Forte ran for a TD and finished with 103 yards.
Pittsburgh 24, (at) N.Y. Giants 20
The Steelers tried to beat themselves before they beat the Giants.
Overcoming unusual sloppiness, the Steelers dominated the second half for a victory as Isaac Redman rushed for 147 yards and the winning touchdown from 1 yard with 4:02 to go.
Temporary relief from the destruction of Superstorm Sandy was what New York's fans sought, and the Giants provided it for a while. But they couldn't stop Redman, who had little relief with Pittsburgh's other two main backs injured.
The Steelers (5-3) arrived in New Jersey hours before the game, which might have accounted for their carelessness. They had the fewest giveaways in the NFL entering the game, but were neglectful with the ball and in pass coverage; cornerback Keenan Lewis had 87 yards on two pass interference penalties. They wasted some great kick returns, too.
But when Pittsburgh came on relentlessly, the one-quarter of the 80,991 seats occupied by Terrible Towel-waving Steelers faithful could celebrate an impressive comeback victory, coach Mike Tomlin's 60th win. This is one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL, although the teams have met only five times in 18 years. It had to feel weird for the Giants to have the ballpark rock when the visitors took charge.
The Giants (6-3) saw their four-game winning streak end. They seemed in control as Michael Boley sprinted 70 yards with a fumble recovery in the second quarter.
Ben Roethlisberger cocked his arm to throw and defensive end Osi Umenyiora hit it. The ball came loose and while the quarterback signaled that his arm was coming forward, Boley sped down the right sideline for the score. Video replay upheld the touchdown for a 14-7 New York lead.
The Steelers' long day began with a plane ride to New Jersey, a short side trip to their team hotel ? they couldn't get enough rooms to stay in the area on Saturday night and needed a league travel waiver to arrive on game day ? then on to the stadium.
Pittsburgh needed to straighten itself out and did just in time.
Among the gaffes: a fake field goal from the New York 3 early in the fourth quarter on which kicker Shaun Suisham lost a yard. That wasted a 63-yard punt return by Sanders on his first such runback all season.
Ike Taylor's interception of Eli Manning's pass for Victor Cruz into double coverage set up Pittsburgh's 58-yard drive to Sanders' leaping 4-yard catch in the back of the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Back immediately came the Giants, helped by a 41-yard interference call on Lewis. Andre Brown powered in from the 1 a play after Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark's late hit on Cruz in the end zone gave New York a first down.
(At) Green Bay 31, Arizona 17
Tom Crabtree had a 72-yard touchdown that was Green Bay's longest of the season, Randall Cobb added two scoring catches and the Packers (6-3) handed the Cardinals their fifth straight loss.
"Honestly, I'm still really tired," Crabtree said. "I need to spend this bye week doing some gassers or something."
The Packers finished with a season-high 176 yards rushing on 39 carries.
James Jones also had a touchdown reception.
(At) Indianapolis 23, Miami 20
Andrew Luck broke the NFL's single-game rookie record by throwing for 433 yards.
Luck broke Cam Newton's previous mark of 422 yards set last season.
"The kid, he continues to amaze," receiver Reggie Wayne said of Luck after catching seven passes for 78 yards. "Hopefully I can help, you know, add on to his legacy that he's about to build."
Indy (5-3) has won three straight.
Miami (4-4) got another strong performance from rookie QB Ryan Tannehill. He went 22 of 38 for 290 yards with one TD.
Luck's 36-yard TD pass to T.Y. Hilton gave Indy a 20-17 lead, and Adam Vinatieri's 43-yard field goal with 6:03 left broke a 20-20 tie.
(At) Houston 21, Buffalo 9
Matt Schaub threw two touchdown passes, and Arian Foster ran for 111 yards and scored for the fifth straight game for Houston (7-1).
Schaub won for the 10th time in 11 starts. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 268 yards and threw multiple TD passes for the second straight game.
"We're happy to be 7-1 at the halfway mark," Schaub said. "But we're not finished."
Carolina 21, (at) Washington 13
Cam Newton completed 13 of 23 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown and ran eight times for 37 yards and a score as the Panthers (2-6) ended a five-game losing streak.
Newton had a 19-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith and an 82-yard completion that set up a score.
Robert Griffin III was 23 for 39 for 215 yards, ran 11 times for 53 yards and was sacked four times as the Redskins (3-6) lost their third straight.
"You lose a game like that, now you're playing to see who obviously is going to be on your football team for years to come. I'll get a chance to evaluate players and see where we're at," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said.
Denver 31, (at) Cincinnati 23
Peyton Manning overcame a pair of interceptions by throwing three touchdown passes.
Trindon Holliday also returned a kickoff a Broncos-record 105 yards for a touchdown.
Manning improved to 8-0 for his career against Cincinnati (3-5), which has lost four in a row.
His 48th winning drive, bringing Denver back from a 20-17 deficit, moved him ahead of Dan Marino for the NFL record.
"He is special at it," coach John Fox said.
Baltimore 25, (at) Cleveland 15
Joe Flacco threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith with 4:26 left as the Ravens (6-2) won their 11th straight AFC North game and 10th straight against the Browns (2-7).
It was also Baltimore's 15th straight win following a loss.
Baltimore improved to 5-0 after a bye week under coach John Harbaugh, who is 10-0 in his career against Cleveland.
"Whew," Harbaugh said. "That was a fight. That's a really good football team. They are well coached, tough and physical. They are building something here.
"That was an AFC North battle."
Phil Dawson kicked five field goals for the Browns.
Tampa Bay 42, (at) Oakland 32
Rookie Doug Martin rushed for a franchise-record 251 yards and four touchdowns and Ahmad Black intercepted a Carson Palmer pass after Oakland (3-5) had cut an 18-point deficit to three late in the fourth quarter for the Buccaneers.
Martin, who was born in Oakland, had a memorable homecoming for the Bucs (4-4) by scoring on runs of 1, 45, 67 and 70 yards in the second half.
Martin, the 31st pick in April out of Boise State, became the first back since at least 1940 to score on three TD runs of at least 45 yards in one game, according to STATS LLC.
(At) Seattle 30, Minnesota 20
Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch had all the answers for Adrian Peterson and the Vikings.
Lynch ran for 124 yards and a touchdown, Wilson threw three first-half touchdown passes, and the Seahawks overcame 182 yards by Peterson in a win over the Vikings. The Vikings host the Lions next Sunday.
Wilson threw touchdown passes of 11 yards to Sidney Rice and two to Golden Tate. The first to Tate came on a 6-yard throw in the first quarter.
The second of Tate's touchdowns gave Seattle a 20-17 lead at halftime.
Lynch had a 3-yard TD run in the third quarter to give Seattle a 10-point lead.
Notes
Payton says he plans to stay with Saints
Saints coach Sean Payton , serving a year's suspension for his role in the New Orleans bounty scandal, told Jay Glazer of Fox Sports he "absolutely plans" on returning to the Saints in 2013.
Payton's statement was in response to a report by ESPN's AdamSchefter that the multiyear contract extension he signed in Sept., 2011 was voided by the NFL and he will become a free agent at the end of the season.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told Payton his extension was unsatisfactory as it initially was constituted, ESPN reported.
In the interim, the league has granted Payton permission to work for Saints owner Tom Benson 's NBA New Orleans Hornets, the report said.
The suspended head coach has been doing some spot work there to earn income. Joe Vitt is the Saints' interim coach.
In a statement issued Sunday morning, the NFL said it had "made no determination" on the status of Payton's contract for next year.
The ESPN report speculates Payton could return to Dallas if Cowboys coach Jason Garrett is fired after the season.
Payton was the Cowboys offensive coordinator when he was hired by the Saints.
Colts' Pagano watches game from coaches' box
Colts coach Chuck Pagano watched Sunday's victory over the Dolphins from the coaches' box at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It was the first time he was back inside Indy's home stadium since being diagnosed with leukemia.
"His presence is felt every day in the facility," Luck said. "But to see him in the flesh, in the locker room, to hear him speak I think gave all the guys a boost."
It seemed to give Pagano a boost, too.
"I've got circumstances. You guys understand it, I understand it," Pagano told them. "It's already beat.
"Congratulations, I love all of you."
Pagano was hospitalized from Sept. 26 until Oct. 21, when doctors released him to return home.
Pagano, 52, stayed in a controlled environment during the game so he could avoid the risk of infection.
He's scheduled to begin a second round of chemotherapy this week.
Giants fans gain relief from storm damage
Courtney Davis has no idea what her house looks like because her town of Sea Bright, N.J., was washed away by Superstorm Sandy.
Yet she was at the Meadowlands on Sunday for Steelers-Giants.
"We need this," Davis said. "We could really use this game and having a good time."
Davis and many other fans tailgating outside MetLife Stadium said they were thankful NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did not postpone the game or order it moved to Pittsburgh. Goodell stopped by to do some tailgating himself, then met on the field and congratulated first responders, calling them "heroes."
Asked about concerns for playing the game, Goodell said:
"I sure didn't hear that here. I didn't hear it out in the parking lot. In fact, exactly the opposite of that."
Ref curses in front of crowd, TV audience
An NFL referee lost his temper and used an obscenity during the Dolphins-Colts game.
A member of referee Tony Corrente 's crew asked for a conference following a penalty with 5:22 left in the game. Indy's defense had just been called for having 12 men on the field, and it appeared the question was about where to spot the ball.
As a second official called over to the referee, and with Corrente's microphone on, Corrente shouted: "What in the (bleep) are you guys doing?"
That part was heard by the crowd of 66,479, but did not make it on the air.
The rest of the discussion did, including Corrente explaining the spot was correct by shouting "That was ... god---- it."
CBS broadcaster Kevin Harlan immediately apologized.
Bills DE Williams booed in return to Houston
Bills DE Mario Williams had a sack and five tackles in his first game at Reliant Stadium since signing a six-year, $100 million contract as a free agent in the offseason. The Texans made Williams the top overall pick in the 2006 draft and he's still Houston's career sacks leader (53).
Williams said this week he was upset Houston general manager Rick Smith never made him an offer to stay. He was showered with boos every time he made a play on Sunday.
After the game, though, he exchanged handshakes and hugs with several Texans and coach Gary Kubiak .
"It was great," Williams said. "I think the biggest thing for me is if you go out and make a play and you get booed, I know I'm in your heart. That's the most important thing. If it had been quiet, then I would have felt something different. But I know you're thinking about me."
Inadvertent whistle blown on Panthers TD
The referee for Carolina's 21-13 victory over Washington says there was an inadvertent whistle by the line judge on the first-quarter play when Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams scored on a 30-yard run.
According to a pool report, referee Carl Cheffers says the touchdown stood after the officials discussed the play because, "We just felt when the whistle blew, that the player would have already scored."
Williams, for his part, says he didn't hear a whistle and it "didn't seem like" the Redskins heard a whistle either: "I don't think anybody stopped playing."
Injuries
Raiders RB McFadden suffers leg injury
RB Darren McFadden left the Raiders' game against the Buccaneers because of a leg injury late in the second quarter Sunday. It was unclear how he was injured. The team says X-rays on McFadden's leg were negative.
McFadden missed 19 games in his first four seasons because of foot, toe, shoulder, knee and hamstring injuries.
Steelers WR Brown has ankle injury
Steelers WR Antonio Brown (Central Michigan) injured his left ankle against the Giants
Brown, who was hurt in the first half, has 40 catches for 480 yards and a touchdown this season to lead the Steelers.
Giants WR Victor Cruz was shaken up in the second quarter on a late hit by S Ryan Clark but returned.
Personnel dept.
Titans rookie WR Kendall Wright hurt his right elbow in the third quarter against the Bears.
? The Packers lost LB Clay Matthews (hamstring), WR Jordy Nelson (ankle) and OT Bryan Bulaga (hip) during Sunday's victory over the Cardinals.
? Seahawks LB K.J. Wright suffered a concussion in the first quarter against the Vikings.
Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121104/SPORTS0101/211040347/1126/rss14
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