Weird kick works
Sometimes in the NFL, fans get what they expect: another Patriots win, another Dolphins loss.
And sometimes they get the really strange.
One of the weirdest plays in NFL history played a huge role in Cleveland's 33-30 overtime victory at Baltimore on Sunday.
Phil Dawson's tying 51-yard field goal at the end of regulation hit an upright, then tapped the center support behind the crossbar before bouncing back onto the field. Initially called no good, officials held a long discussion, then ruled the kick went through the uprights and called the teams back onto the field.
The Browns took the kickoff in overtime and drove 43 yards in nine plays before Dawson kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Browns (6-4) a wild win.
"I couldn't tell for sure. I could tell by the way it glanced off the upright, it looked like it went forward," Dawson said of the tying. "But we had people down near the goal post who were screaming at the top of their lungs that it had hit whatever that bar you call it."
With touchdowns on their first seven offensive possessions and the eighth on a turnover, the Patriots once more looked unbeatable.Tom Brady was 31-of-39 for 373 yards with five TD passes, four to Randy Moss, as New England became the 10th team since 1970 to start a season 10-0. Barring injury, the Patriots are an excellent bet to become the NFL's first perfect team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.Brady, who has yet to throw fewer than three touchdown passes in a game, increased his TD passes to 38, just 11 short of Peyton Manning's single-season record, set in 2004.
At Philadelphia, the Eagles (5-5) improved to .500 for the first time this season by winning consecutive games for the first time. Backup quarterback A.J. Feeley led two second-half scoring drives in place of injured Donovan McNabb (sprained ankle). Brian Westbrook had a career-best 148 yards rushing, dropping the Dolphins to 0-10.
Terrell Owens caught touchdown passes of 4, 31, 46 and 52 yards for the first four-TD game of his career to get the Cowboys to 9-1 for the first time since 1983. They've won four straight.
At Green Bay, Brett Favre threw three touchdowns in the duel with fellow passing patriarch Vinny Testaverde. It was Favre's 62nd career game with at least three touchdown passes, tying yet another of Dan Marino's records.The 44-year-old Testaverde and 38-year-old Favre formed the oldest starting quarterbacks duo in NFL history. Favre completed 22 of 30 passes for 218 yards. Testaverde was out of the league a little more than a month ago, and played Sunday's game without injured receiver Steve Smith. He threw two second-half touchdowns, but was intercepted twice.
At Indianapolis, Adam Vinatieri made a 24-yard field goal with 4 seconds left. The win ended Indy's two-game losing streak and kept the Colts (8-2) atop the AFC South.Vinatieri was booed when he missed a 49-yard field goal, and the boobirds were even louder after Vinatieri pulled a 38-yarder wide left.
At Jacksonville, David Garrard threw two touchdown passes in his first game in nearly a month. Jacksonville (7-3) scored on its first three possessions and the Chargers (5-5) self-destructed on nearly every drive.
At Detroit, Michael Strahan had a season-high three sacks, while James Butler and Sam Madison both made victory-sealing interceptions.New York (7-3) broke a third-place tie with Detroit (6-4) in the conference and improved its chances of making the playoffs.
At Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck passed for 337 yards and two touchdowns, and the Seahawks took advantage of Rex Grossman's late fumble.Grossman, reinstated as the starting quarterback after six games behind Brian Griese, was 24-for-37 for 266 yards for the Bears (6-4). But Grossman made a key mistake with 5:43 left with his fumble.
At Atlanta, Jeff Garcia threw for two touchdowns, Ronde Barber returned a fumble for another score and the Buccaneers' defense stifled the Falcons.
Antrel Rolle returned interceptions 55 and 54 yards for touchdowns. Rolle finished off his big day at Cincinnati (3-7) with a third interception in the closing minutes. He ran Carson Palmer's career-high fourth interception back 71 yards, but the apparent touchdown was nullified by a blocking penalty on the return.
At Houston, Andre Johnson had 120 yards receiving and a touchdown in his first game in eight weeks. Mario Williams sacked Drew Brees, had a forced fumble, several hurries and finished with six tackles.
At Minneapolis, Chester Taylor had 202 total yards and three touchdowns in place of injured rookie star Adrian Peterson. Peterson was out with a knee injury, so Taylor rushed 22 times for 164 yards, and Minnesota (4-6) pressured Daunte Culpepper into a costly turnover and four sacks.
At San Francisco, Marc Bulger shook off another beating to pass for 155 yards and an early touchdown to Torry Holt. Bulger was sacked six times.
