NFL TODAY
By The Associated Press
STARS
QuarterbacksDonovan McNabb, Eagles, threw four of his five touchdown passes in the first 19 minutes of a 42-3 victory over the 49ers. McNabb finished 23-of-29 for 342 yards and tied his career best for TD passes.Carson Palmer, Bengals, completed his first nine passes and went 27-of-40 for 337 yards with three touchdowns as Cincinnati beat Minnesota 37-8.Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers, followed last week's perfect QB rating of 153.8 with a 139.8 as he went 14-of-21 for 254 yards and two TDs in a 27-7 victory at Houston.Trent Dilfer, Browns, completed 21 of 32 passes for 336 yards - the second-highest total of his career - and three touchdowns in a 26-24 win at Green Bay. The only time he threw for more yards was on Sept. 15, 2002, when he threw for 352 against Arizona.Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks, threw for 281 yards and two TDs in Seattle's 21-18 victory over Atlanta.Kurt Warner, Cardinals, went 29-for-42 for 327 yards in his first game against the St. Louis franchise he directed to two Super Bowls and one NFL crown, but Arizona lost 17-12.
ReceiversTerrell Owens, Eagles, had five catches for 143 yards, all in the opening 19 minutes, and had two TDs in a 42-3 win against San Francisco. Tight end L.J. Smith caught a career-best nine passes for 119 yards and one TD.Hines Ward, Steelers, had touchdown catches of 16 and 14 yards and wound up with six catches for 84 yards in a 27-7 win at Houston.Chad Johnson, Bengals, had seven catches for 139 yards, including a 70-yard TD on the game's second play as Cincinnati routed Minnesota 37-8.Anquan Boldin, Cardinals, caught eight passes for 119 yards in a 17-12 defeat to the Rams.
Running BacksWillie Parker, Steelers, shined again in the absence of Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis, gaining 111 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown in a 27-7 victory over Houston.Stephen Davis, Panthers, scored three 1-yard touchdowns and ran for 77 yards in his second game back from microfracture surgery on his right knee. In Carolina's 27-17 victory, Davis became the first running back to score three TDs against the Patriots since Curtis Martin in 2000.Shaun Alexander, Seahawks, ran for 144 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's 21-18 win over Atlanta.Edgerrin James, Colts, ran for 128 yards in a 10-3 victory against the Jaguars.Thomas Jones, Bears, had 139 yards on the ground and two touchdowns on 20 carries in a 38-6 rout of Detroit.Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, Buccaneers, topped 100 yards rushing for the second straight week, returning from a foot sprain to finish a 128-yard performance in a 19-3 win over Buffalo. Williams carried 24 times and had one touchdown. He followed a 148-yard, 27-carry debut.
Special TeamsJeff Reed, Steelers, made field goals of 35 and 37 yards against Houston, giving him a team-record 21 straight.Bobby Wade, Bears, inactive last week, returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.Neil Rackers kicked field goals of 29, 26, 48 and 35 yards for the Cardinals in a 17-12 loss to St. Louis.Darrent Williams, Broncos, burst through untouched on a punt return for what looked like a touchdown. But a number of Denver players began running off the sideline to celebrate, and the rookie's touchdown was called back for too many men on the field.
DefenseThe Steelers had eight sacks, three by Troy Polamalu, in overwhelming the Texans 27-7.Deltha O'Neal, Bengals, picked off three of Daunte Culpepper's interceptions in the Bengals' 37-8 romp over Minnesota.DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, Titans, had three of six sacks by Tennessee in a 25-10 win against Baltimore. Vanden Bosch came into the game with only five sacks in his first four seasons with Arizona.Nate Vasher, Bears, had two INTs and Mike Brown returned one pickoff 41 yards for a touchdown in a 38-6 victory over Detroit.
