The Sacramento Bee from Sacramento, California • C8

0 8 3 V1N39VIAI novia 609LU-8-WNid-aaaovs C8 The Sacramento Bee I Monday, November 16, 2009 NFL Week 10 CHARGERS 31, EAGLES 23 Tomlinson climbs charts as Chargers roll CHARGERS 31, EAGLES 23 my locker. It said, 'Open I thought it was a necklace. It was a pregnancy test." The child will be the couple's first. LaTorsha Tomlinson suffered a miscarriage in 2005. Fired up about fatherhood, Tomlinson passed Thurman Thomas and Franco Harris and moved into 12th place all-time with 12,145 yards.

His two touchdowns gave him 146 and moved him past Marcus Allen and into third place on the all-time list. "It's kind of surreal," Tomlinson said of his latest accomplishment, noting he has a ball autographed by Harris in his trophy case. "I grew up watching all those guys. It's mind-boggling that I am third all-time." Associated Press SAN DIEGO Motivation came in different forms for the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, from Denver's loss to the little surprise LaDainian Tomlinson's wife left in his locker. Tomlinson's career certainly isn't finished, and neither is the AFC West race.

Tomlinson ran for a season-high 96 yards and two touchdowns to continue his climb up the career rushing and scoring lists, and the Chargers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 31-23 to tie the slumping Broncos atop the AFC West. Asked if something had motivated him, L.T. got a little emotional. "I don't know if I want to talk about it," he said. "My wife is pregnant.

I found out before the game. She left me a gift in The Chargers (6-3) won their fourth in a row to set up next Sunday's first-place showdown in Denver. "We didn't know it would happen this fast," San Diego's Philip Rivers said after throwing for two touchdowns. "We believed we could get ourselves back in it." Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb threw for 450 yards, second-best in franchise history, and two late touchdowns. He was intercepted in the end zone by Antonio Cromartie on the final play.

The Eagles (5-4) drove inside the Chargers' 10-yard line three times, only to settle for field goals by David Akers. 'When you have those opportunities to score, we have to pound it in there," said McNabb, who tied his team record for completions, 35, in 55 attempts. Philadelphia 0 6 3 14-23 San Diego 7 7 14 3-31 First quarter SD-Tolbert 20 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick), 7:52. Second quarter SD-Tomlinson 3 run (Kaeding kick), 11:01. Phi-FG Akers 18, 6:38.

Phi-FG Akers 25, :08. Third quarter SD-Tomlinson 20 run (Kaeding kick), 8:01. Phi-FG Akers 25, 5:51. SD-Naanee 20 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick), 1:13. Fourth quarter Phi-Maclin 5 pass from McNabb (Akers kick), 14:12.

Phi-Celek 6 pass from McNabb (Akers kick), 7:12. SD-FG Kaeding 29, :30. Phi SD First downs 26 22 Total Net Yards 462 331 Rushes-yards 13-29 28-119 Passing 433 212 Punt Returns 3-13 3-13 Kickoff Returns 6-129 6-147 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-0 Comp-Att-Int 35-56-1 20-25-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-17 2-19 Punts Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 9-70 3-31 Time of Possession 29:37 30:23 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing-Philadelphia, Westbrook 6-28, McCoy 3-5, Weaver 2-2, Buckley 1-0, Maclin l-(mi-nus 6). San Diego, Tomlinson 24-96, Sproles 2- 14, Naanee 1-10, Rivers 1 -(minus 1).

Passing-Philadelphia, McNabb 35-55-1-450, Vick 0-1-0-0. San Diego, Rivers 20-25-0-231. Receiving-Philadelphia, Avant 8-156, DJackson 8-91, Maclin 6-76, Celek 6-47, McCoy 3- 18, R.Brown 2-36, Westbrook 2-26. San Diego, Gates 7-78, Sproles 4-31, Floyd 3-45, Naanee 3-42, Tolbert 2-25, Jackson 1-10. Missed field goals-None.

COLTS 35, PATRIOTS 34 PACKERS 17, COWBOYS 7 Green Bay's 6D' steps up, stops Dallas PACKERS SACK ROMO FIVE TIMES AND FORCE THREE TURNOVERS, AND RODGERS LEADS BIG DRIVE Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. Charles Woodson wouldn't let the Green Bay Packers' season slip away. The veteran cornerback forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass on the goal line as Green Bay's defense finally played up to its potential against a big-time opponent, beating the Dallas Cowboys 17-7 on Sunday. It wasn't a pretty win for the Packers (5-4), but it might have saved their season following back-to-back demoralizing losses. "It seemed like guys had a lot of passion out there," Woodson said.

"Where it PACKERS 17, COWBOYS 7 0 0 0 7-7 0 3 0 14-17 Dallas Green Bay AJ MAST Associated Press Reggie Wayne catches the tying touchdown pass from Peyton Manning with 13 seconds left. The extra-point kick gave the Colts a 35-34 victory. Belichick gambles and loses Second quarter GB-FG Crosby 48, :00. Fourth quarter GB-Rodgers 1 run (Crosby kick), 13:14. GB-Havner 2 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick), 10:49.

Dal-R. Williams 9 pass from Romo (Folk kick), :38. COLTS 35, PATRIOTS 34 Dal 17 278 14-61 217 5-41 3-60 0-0 24-39-1 5-34 3-2 10-67 24:02 GB 20 283 28-105 178 2-25 1-24 1- 3 25-36-0 4-11 2- 0 12-100 35:58 First downs Total Net Yards Rushes-yards Passing Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Interceptions Ret. Comp-Att-Int Sacked-Yards Lost Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession came from, I don't know, but we were happy to have it and got a big win for this team. We've got to have that passion every week, and it's got to show up on the field." The Packers sacked Tony Romo five times and allowed the Cowboys to convert only 3 of 12 third-down chances.

It was a momentum killer for the Cowboys (6-3), who had won four in a row. "Their defense is good. They've got a good scheme," Romo said. "I don't know how they are normally, but (Sunday) they definitely got good pressure on the quarterback, slowed our running game, and they played good behind it." The defense's dominant performance bailed out an offense that looked lost in the first half. Aaron Rodgers rallied New England 7 17 0 10-34 Indianapolis 7 7 0 21-35 First quarter Ind-Addai 15 pass from Manning (Stover kick), 8:19.

NE-Maroney 1 run (Gostkowski kick), 4:47. Second quarter NE-FG Gostkowski 31, 13:15. NE-Moss 63 pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick), 11:18. NE-Edelman 9 pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick), 7:19. Ind-Wayne 20 pass from Manning (Stover kick), 4:17.

Fourth quarter NE-Moss 5 pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick), 14:18. Ind-Garcon 29 pass from Manning (Stover kick), 12:14. NE-FG Gostkowski 36, 4:12. Ind-Addai 4 run (Stover kick), 2:23. Ind-Wayne 1 pass from Manning (Stover kick), :13.

NE Ind First downs 24 25 Total Net Yards 477 407 Rushes-yards 28-113 18-91 Passing 364 316 Punt Returns 5-117 0-0 Kickoff Returns 3-82 4-90 Interceptions Ret. 2-17 1-19 Comp-Att-Int 29-42-1 28-44-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-11 1-11 Punts Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 4-72 3-20 Time of Possession 35:02 24:58 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing-New England, Faulk 12-79, Maroney 13-31, Brady 3-3. Indianapolis, Addai 10-41, Simpson 4-36, Brown 4-14. Passing-New England, Brady 29-42-1-375. Indianapolis, Manning 28-44-2-327.

Receiving-New England, Moss 9-179, Welker 9-94, Stanback 2-17, Maroney 2-15, Edelman 2-14, Baker 2-13, Faulk 2-7, Watson 1-36. Indianapolis, Wayne 10-126, Collie 6-45, Clark 4-65, Garcon 3-50, Addai 2-27, Robinson 2-6, Brown 1-8. Missed field goals-None. INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing-Dallas, Barber 5-26, Romo 3-16, Choice 3-13, Jones 3-6. Green Bay, Grant 19-79, Rodgers 5-15, Green 3-9, Jackson 1-2.

Passing-Dallas, Romo 24-39-1-251. Green Bay, Rodgers 25-36-0-189. Receiving-Dallas, R. Williams 5-105, Witten 5-47, Crayton 4-52, Austin 4-20, Barber 3-11, Choice 1-9, Bennett 1-6, Ogletree 1-1. Green Bay, Driver 4-50, Jennings 4-45, Nelson 4-32, J.

Jones 3-17, Jackson 3-15, D. Lee 2-21, Grant 2-8, Kuhn 1-3, Havner 1-2, Green Hminus 4). Missed field goals-Dallas, Folk 38 (WL). Green Bay, Crosby 52 (WL). Patriots when leading by at least 13 in the fourth quarter.

Belichick had a dazed look as he ran across the field for a quick postgame handshake with Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell. The Colts trailed 34-21 with four minutes left and seemed all but written off just as they have in several other prime-time games this decade. Manning threw four touchdown passes and Brady three in the matchup of AFC division leaders and longtime rivals for the conference title. While it was another magical comeback for Manning, this one was set up by Belichick's play-calling. Belichick called two timeouts on that key series, the second to set up the fourth-down play.

Faulk came up about a half-yard short of the first-down marker, giving Manning the ball at the New England 29 with 1:57 left and all three timeouts an eternity for the three-time MVP. New England (6-3) has now lost five of six in this series. FOURTH-DOWN FAILURE SETS UP INDYS WINNING TD Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS A stunning gamble by Bill Belichick set up a stunning win for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. After the New England Patriots were stopped on fourth down deep in their territory, Manning took advantage by throwing a one-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left that rallied the unbeaten Colts to a 35-34 win Sunday night. Manning's toss to Reggie Wayne completed the Colts' comeback from a 17-point deficit.

A decision by the Patriots' coach put the Colts in position for their 18th consecutive regular-season win. Belichick decided to go for it on fourth and two from the New England 28 with 2:08 to go. Tom Brady threw to Kevin career victory list with No. 126. "It was a great play by the defense, shortened our field." It was the most improbable victory for the Colts (9-0) during their winning streak, tied for the second-longest in NFL history with New England.

It was the first loss for Belichick's Faulk, who made a juggling catch but was pushed backward and came up short. Manning needed four plays before hooking up with Wayne for the winning score. "We were preparing to go 60, 70 yards," said Manning, who passed Fran Tarkenton on the the Packers after halftime, scoring on a sneak and throwing a touchdown pass to Spencer Havner, formerly of Nevada Union High School. Rodgers was 25 for 36 for 189 yards and a touchdown in another rough game. He was sacked four times and spent much of the game under pressure.

But Rodgers took matters into his hands and led the Packers on a 15-play, 80-yard drive capped by a one-yard sneak for a 10-0 lead early in the fourth quarter. "I'm proud of the fact that when we needed a big drive in the third quarter, we came up with it," Rodgers said. Rodgers converted two third-and-long situations against a thin secondary on the drive, as Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Dallas lost cornerback Mike Jenkins to a left arm contusion, safety Ken Hamlin to an ankle injury and cornerback Alan Ball to a leg injury. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick committed two penalties on the drive. With the Cowboys pinned deep in their territory on their next possession, Woodson burst through unblocked to sack Romo and strip the ball.

Rookie outside linebacker Clay Matthews III recovered the ball at the 3. Green Bay scored three plays later to take a 17-0 lead. Phillips tried to challenge the play, saying Dallas' Felix Jones recovered the fumble, but officials ruled the play wasn't reviewable. Phillips later said officials told him they made an error, but referee Jeff Triplette told a pool reporter the recovery of a loose ball in the field of play isn't reviewable by rule. BENGALS 18, STEELERS 12 BENGALS 18, STEELERS 12 Cincinnati makes statement 6 0 6 6-18 3 6 0 3-12 Cincinnati Pittsburgh (pass First quarter Pit-FG Reed 28, 4:43.

Cin-Scott 96 kickoff return failed), 4:26. Second quarter Pit-FG Reed 33, 4:13. Pit-FG Reed 35, :12. Third quarter Cin-FG Graham 23, 11:19. Cin-FG Graham 32, 6:41.

Fourth quarter Pit-FG Reed 34, 11:20. Cin-FG Graham 32, 7:29. Cin-FG Graham 43, 1:56. TONIGHT'S GAME Cin 14 218 29-61 157 3-20 5-206 1- 26 18-30-0 2- 21 0-0 7-87 29:08 Pit 16 226 18-80 146 2-30 6-138 0- 0 20-40-1 4- 28 1- 0 5- 50 30:52 First downs Total Net Yards Rushes-yards Passing Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Interceptions Ret. Comp-Att-Int Sacked-Yards Lost Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession The Bengals (7-2) pulled it off by beating the Steelers (6-3) at their own game in their own stadium, where Pittsburgh had won its previous 10.

They smothered Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh's running game, yielded only four field goals by Jeff Reed and converted a tight-as-it-gets game's only big play, Bernard Scott's 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. "That's probably the most grinding football game I ever experienced," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. By sweeping the season series for the first time since 1998, the Bengals effectively lead Pittsburgh by two games because they own the tiebreaker and, for the first time, a 5-0 division record. Usually by now they're playing for next year, only to discover it may have arrived. "This is a breath of fresh air to be at this point of the season and to be playing for a reason," Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said.

"It feels really good." Especially when the Bengals almost appeared to be waiting for something bad to happen, settling for four field goals by Shayne Graham after deep drive after deep drive didn't produce a touchdown. But the Bengals, who were 4-11-1 last season, prevailed in a city where they had won only 13 times in 40 years, with many of those wins during the 1980s. "It's hard to really describe the feeling, when you've been through so many times when you're leaving this stadium and you're holding your head low from losing the game," Graham said. The Steelers had won five in a row, scoring at least 27 points in each. Now they might be playing for a wild card unless the Bengals collapse.

"There was just something missing all day," Roethlisberger said. "I don't know what it was." BENGALS SWEEP STEELERS FOR AFC NORTH CONTROL Associated Press PITTSBURGH Maybe it wasn't a concession speech, even if it sounded like one. The Cincinnati Bengals spent most of the last 20 seasons chasing Pittsburgh, and now that it's the other way around, the Steelers realize it's a decidedly uphill climb. "They're clearly the best team in the division," safety Ryan Clark said after the Bengals beat the Steelers 18-12 Sunday to take control of the AFC North. "I'd give my left arm to play them again." Who could have envisioned the Super Bowl champions saying that about a rival they've largely dominated and, at times, intimidated since the 1980s, especially with seven games left? The Ravens: They are coming off a 17-7 loss to Cincinnati in which the Bengals held the ball for 40 minutes.

The Browns: Reinstated as Cleveland's No. 1 quarterback, Brady Quinn will return against Baltimore, the team he faced Sept. 27 when Browns coach Eric Mangini benched him just 10 quarters into his first season as a starter. -Associated Press Time: 5:30 p.m. TV: ESPN.

The line: Ravens by 11. The skinny: Both teams are having midseason crises. During Cleveland's bye week, general manager George Kokinis was fired, and disgruntled Browns fans announced a "walk-in" protest for tonight's game they plan to stay out of their seats for the opening kickoff. Baltimore has lost four of five games since a 3-0 start. INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing-Cincinnati, Scott 13-33, Benson 7-22, Leonard 4-8, C.Palmer 5-(minus 2).

Pittsburgh, Mendenhall 13-36, Moore 2-21, Roethlisberger 2-16, Parker 1-7. Passing-Cincinnati, C.Palmer 18-30-0-178. Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger 20-40-1-174. Receiving-Cincinnati, Coles 5-67, Caldwell 4-23, Leonard 3-24, Foschi 3-14, Ochocinco 2-29, Scott 1-21. Pittsburgh, Holmes 7-88, Miller 4-26, Ward 4-24, Moore 2-14, Wallace 1-16, Mendenhall 1-5, Spaeth 1-1.

Missed field goals-Cincinnati, Graham 51 (WR). OUTPUT: 111509 22:40 USER: JCARASKA BEEBROAD MASTER 02-21-08.