The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 22

THE DESERT SUN NFL WEEK 12 I OP QUA RTf8A( KS Player, team C-A-l Yds Kurt Wamer, Cardinals 34-48-2 484 Brett Favre, Packers 31-41-0 381 Tom Brady, Patriots 34-54-0 380 AJ. Feeley, Eagles 27-42-3 345 WIDf Iff TD I Player, team Rec Yds TD 2 I Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals 9 156 2 3 Wes Welker, Patriots 13 149 0 1 Donald Driver, Packers 10 147 0 3 Kellen Winslow, Browns 10 107 1 4 1 Stud: Bucs defense Tampa Bay leaned on its defense, forcing six takeaways. Dud: Eli Manning The Giants QB threw four interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. Stud: Justin Fargas The Raiders' back rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown. Dud: David Carr The former No.

1 pick was benched after his second pick. He was 10 of 22 for only 95 yards. Player, team Att Yds TD Kolby Smith, Chiefs 31 150 2 Justin Fargas, Raiders 22 139 1 Jamal Lewis, Browns 29 134 1 Frank Gore, 49ers 21 116 2 C4 MONDAY. NOYKMBKR 26, Raiders a chiefs TWO-MINUTE 1 i 1 Lowly Raiders snap West skid Generation gap Before Sunday, no Oakland running back had gained 100 yards in Arrowhead Stadium since Arthur Whittington had 134 on Nov. 5, 1978.

fu) yS misers .17 1 1 San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson (left) fights for yardage with Baltimore Ravens' Dawan Landry on a 7-yard pass reception during the first quarter Sunday in San Diego. The Ravens held Tomlinson to 77 yards rushing, but San Diego won 32-14. Recharged Chargers rejuvenated after dominating Ravens By Jason Jones THE SACRAMENTO BEE KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Oakland Raiders have spent the past couple years trying to convince including themselves that being the AFC West doormat wasn't significant. The Raiders had lost 17 consecutive division games since a Nov.

28, 2004, victory at Denver, the longest such streak since the 1 970 AFL-NFL merger. After the Raiders ended their AFC West futility with a 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, one thing was evident. Beating a team in the division mattered. "When it's a divisional opponent, a team that you're going to see two times in a year, there's a little bit of extra incentive," running back Justin Fargas said. The Raiders had lost nine in a row to the Chiefs since a 24-0 victory in 2002.

"You think about that on the way to the stadium, during warm-ups," Fargas said. "Even during the game, you think, like, 'Man, they've gotten us so many times and it's been so close so many You're tired of coming out on the losing end. It's about time that the Raiders and the Raider Nation got the feel of a win over the Chiefs." The Raiders ended a six-game losing streak thanks to a solid stretch on offense in the fourth quarter that was buoyed by Fargas and the arm of Daunte Culpepper. Coach Lane Kiffin abandoned the safe approach late and it paid off. After the Chiefs missed a 33-yard field-goal attempt, the Raiders had three consecutive first downs on two passes by Culpepper and a 14-yard scoring run by Fargas with 9:40 to play to give the Raiders a 20-17 lead.

mnm I to 7 it -5' iff- I Ht Overtime "We talked about it last night, putting it in our players' hands, giving them a chance to win and make sure we weren't going to play conservative," Kiffin said. "We weren't going to play (not) to lose, we were going to play to win." The Raiders got the ball back with 4:22 to play and bucked the trend of giving the opposition a chance to win by getting first downs on three consecutive plays. Fargas' 21 -yard run on third and 1 1 allowed the Raiders to run out the clock. The final drive was set up by the defense, which had been run through by rookie tailback Kolby Smith (150 rushing yards, two touchdowns), stuffed him on fourth and one from the Raiders' 23. But unlike the first game between the teams this season, a 12-10 Chiefs victory, the Raiders made plays late.

Fargas ran for 94 of his 1 39 yards in the second half, and Culpepper threw for 112 of his 170 yards after halftime. "For once we came in and executed the things we had to do," guard Robert Gallery said. And for all his talk of every game being the same, Kiffin admitted it was good to be rid of the streak. "I'm really happy for the guys in the locker room who have been here a long time," he said. "You guys have nothing to write about anymore because there's no 17-game streak in the division." True.

But when was the last time the Raiders won a division game at home? Dec. 28, 2003, against San Diego. That's 1 2 consecutive division losses in Oakland. The Raiders can end that streak this coming weekend when Denver visits. Oakland Raiders running back Justin Fargas runs past Kansas City Chiefs' Bernard Pollard for 21 yards and a first down late in the fourth quarter Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.

Fargas finished with 139 yards rushing on 22 carries in the Raiders' 20-17 victory. ASSOCIATED PRESS fumble to mf '4 Next up for Chargers Opponent Kansas City Chiefs When: 10 a.m., Sunday Where: Kansas City TV: CBS been searching for for 12 weeks," said Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, who caught six passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. "I'm especially happy for Philip because he's been taking a lot of criticism." San Diego was searching for a little consistency and searching for a way to build. The Chargers opened 1-3, won three in a row, dropped two of three. Rivers looked indecisive and made some poor decisions, with interceptions (12) outnumbering touchdown passes (11) through 10 games.

Though he wasn't overly sharp early against the Ravens, he said he felt better about his approach than he had in recent weeks. "I was trying to be too careful. I was trying not to have those negative plays and it was hurting me," he said. Now? "See it. Believe it.

Go." The Chargers made the Ravens honor the run and regularly fed the ball to LaDainian Tomlinson despite the stubborn Ravens front. He broke a 36-yard run in the third quarter la la Milestones San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson became the 23rd player in NFL history rush for 10.000 yards, reaching the milestone on a 36-yard run in the Chargers' 32-14 win over Baltimore. Phil Dawson kicked field goals of 25 and 27 yards to move past Hall of Famer Jim Brown on Cleveland's career sconng list with 759 points. Chad Johnson eclipsed Carl Pickens' Cincinnati Bengals mark with his 531st career reception. Jacksonville's David Garrard set a team record for consecutive passes without an interception (209).

Streaks Oakland's 20-17 victory at Kansas City ended the Raiders' 17-game skid against AFC West teams. They had dropped nine in a row to Kansas City, and six in a row overall. Oakland hadn't won a game in its division since a 25-24 squeaker over Denver on Nov. 28. 2004, the longest ongoing streak of divisional futility in the NFL.

Kolby Smith's 10-yard sconng run in the first quarter of Kansas City's loss to Oakland snapped a string of 36 consecutive touchdowns rushing by Larry Johnson, an NFL record for most consecutive TDs rushing by the same player on the same team. In addition, it was the first TD on the ground by anyone but Priest Holmes and Johnson for the Chiefs in 45 games. Cincinnati's Shayne Graham missed from 26 yards, ending his club-record streak of 21 field goals in a row. Stats Carolina managed 195 yards of offense in losing its fourth in a row and dropping to 0-5 at home with a 31-6 loss to New Orleans. DeShaun Foster rushed nine times for minus-5 yards and lost a fumble.

Cincinnati converted 14 of its 18 third-down chances in a 35-6 rout over Tennessee. Playoff bound New England clinched its fifth AFC East title in a row before even stepping on the field Sunday. The Patriots won the division with second-place Buffalo's 36-14 loss to Jacksonville. Swings Seattle won its third in a row by rallying for 17 unanswered second-half points against St. Louis after falling behind 19-7.

Tampa Bay had 177 yards total offense to Washington's 96 in the first two quarters, but wound up being outgained 412-192 in a 19-13 win. The Buccaneers held on despite being outgained 316-16 and not making a first down in the second half. Sidelined St. Louis' Marc Bulger left with a concussion after he was hit by several Seattle players in the first quarter, and threw a pass that was intercepted by defensive end Patrick Kemey. Coach Scott Linehan said Bulger was initially hurt on the Rams' first possession on a blindside sack by Leroy Hill.

Tampa Bay played most of the day without quarterback Jeff Garcia, who hurt his back on the first play and remained on the sideline until Washington pulled within a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Garcia's injury was described as a lower back bruise. Chicago running back Cedric Benson hurt his left ankle at the end of a 21 -yard run early in the second quarter against Denver and had to leave the field on a cart. Thk Asmm iait.d Press TODAY'S GAME Dolphins (0-10) at Steelers (7-3) TIME: 5:30 p.m., fy TV: ESPN rZS LINE: Steelers by 16 LAST MEETING: Steelers won, 28-17, at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2006.

KEY STAT: Dolphins losing by 9.1 points per game. FANTASY FACTOR: Ex-Bear Marty Booker has 29 catches but one TD for Dolphins. Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger rolling along with 23 TD passes vs. only eight INTs. THE BUZZ: At some point, Dolphins to steal win, but it's not likely to road and certainly not in Pittsburgh.

THE PICK: Steelers 37, Dolphins 17 Chicago Tribune I Hfc ASSOCIATED PRESS that put him over 10,000 career yards, but the Ravens followed the generally accepted script of stopping Tomlinson at all costs and putting Rivers in the role of playmaker. Tomlinson carried 24 times for 77 yards, 10 times for 8 in the first half. "Every team in the league is going to stack the box and make us beat them through the air," receiver Vincent Jackson said. Midway through the second quarter, the beating commenced. Receivers came open as the Ravens focused on Tomlinson and the Chargers offensive line kept the pass rushers away.

Rivers threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Gates to give the Chargers a 9-7 lead (they botched the snap on the extra point) and they never trailed again. Rivers' three touchdown passes tied a career high. Having assembled the sort of game they'd been missing the defense allowed only 210 yards, special teams forced a fumble that led to a field goal the Chargers now need to make it fit into the type of season they anticipated after winning an NFL-high 14 games in 2006. "We're battling through this thing. We're not through it yet," Rivers cautioned.

"Maybe this is the start of something special." sive end Darryl Tapp swooped in I to bring down Frerotte for a 4-yard loss. The Seahawks took over, quar- terback Matt Hasselbeck took a knee and Seattle took with them a season sweep of the Rams (the Seahawks' sixth consecutive victory over St. Louis) and increased their lead in the NFC West, improving to 7-4. "We needed a little luck," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "Sometimes it goes against you for a while and then you get a little lucky and you get one that way." The ending was fitting for a Seahawks defense that intercepted two passes, forced four fumbles (without a recovery) and sacked Rams' quarterbacks four times, three by defensive end Patrick Kerney.

The Seahawks were especially stout against the run, keeping Rams back Steven Jackson out of the end zone the play before the bad snap and holding Jackson to 24 yards on 17 carries after the first quarter, when he scored on a 53-yard run. "We took that first half to get a feel for those guys," Tapp said. By Larry Weisman I SA TODAY SAN DIEGO The San Diego Chargers got what they needed. That wish list started with a fading, slipping opponent but it included much more. The Chargers simply had to have a commanding performance from CHARGERS 3 quarterback Philip Rivers.

Had to have a defensive effort that equaled the team's talent. Had to have a victory. The Baltimore Ravpns 'u fhpir 14 Part- The Chargers handled the rest in a 32-14 victory that moved them into sole possession of first place in the AFC West. Rivers passed for 249 yards and three touchdowns, while not being sacked or turning the ball over. The defense stifled the Ravens and sacked quarterback Kyle Boiler four times.

The Chargers (6-5), so desperate to find unity and continuity, took advantage of the injury-depleted Ravens (4-7) at every turn, handing Baltimore a club-record fifth consecutive defeat. "Putting drives together, we felt like this is the offense we've Seahawks By Jose Miguel Romero IHh SEAI ILh TIMES ST. LOUIS Another week, another confounding and rocky start for the Seattle Seahawks. But oh, what a finish. For all the Seahawks didn't do in the first half, including going without a first down and totaling minus-1 yards in the first quarter, they survived Sundav.

SEAKAWXS 24 Beating the St. Louis Rams 24-19 wasn't just a matter of a faster tempo on offense and a stubborn defense in the second half, it was also good mq fortune. Because in 1 the end, the Rams were the ones handing victory to the Seahawks. A botched center-to-quarterback exchange the Seahawks can surely relate, having lost the opportunity for a victory at Arizona earlier this season on a quarterback-running back exchange at Seattle's 1-yard line sealed the Rams' fate. Facing fourth-and-goal and RAVENS RAMS St.

21 accept Rams' gift dooms Cardinals i. By Bob Baum THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GLEN DALE, Ariz. Everybody beats the San Francisco 49ers except the Arizona Cardinals. Tully Banta-Cain pounced on Kurt Warner's fumble in the Cardinals' end zone to give the 49ers a wild 37-31 overtime victory and end their eight-game losing streak Sunday. "You could have swnrp VUP il let imn Vi a CARDINALS Super Bowl the way we were celebrating," Banta-Cain said.

The 49ers are 2-0 ''VmJy against Arizona, 1-8 against everybody 3 else. The Cardinals (5-6) could have won moments before Warner's fumble, but Neil Rackers missed a 32-yard field goal. First-year Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt acknowledged he made several mistakes on the sidelines, probably none more important than on that bizarre field goal sequence. Rackers initially lined up for a 27-yard try, and kicked it through the uprights. But a delay-of-game penalty nullified the kick and pushed Rackers 5 yards back, where he hooked his attempt just to the left of the upright.

"The clock ran out fast," Whisenhunt said. "That's my fault. I take full responsibility for that. I thought we had time. It wasn't any different than normal.

Obviously, I should have called a timeout there." Moments later, the Cardinals found themselves pinned on their own 3. Warner dropped back to pass and was hit by Ronald Fields. The quarterback fumbled, then Banta-Cain fell on the ball to give San Francisco (2-9) its first victory since Sept. 16. "The ball was supposed to be out quick," Whisenhunt said.

"We had success with that before, and we couldn't do it. In hindsight, yes, I would have liked to run the ball." Warner, playing with a torn ligament in his non-throwing elbow, completed 34 of 48 passes for 484 yards and two touchdowns. i THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck celebrates after completing a pass during the fourth quarter Sunday against the Louis Rams. Hassselbeck was of 38 for 249 yards in the Seahawks' 24-19 victory. needing a touchdown to take the lead with 29 seconds left, Rams quarterback Gus Frerotte came out from under center without the ball in his hands.

He managed to pick it up, but Seahawks defen- 4.