Falcons still perfect…Steelers end Giants’ 4-game winning streak…Record game for Bucs rookie
UNDATED __There’s still one undefeated team in the NFL — the Atlanta Falcons at 8-0. The Falcons started slowly but rallied past Dallas 19-13 as Michael Turner scored the go-ahead TD on a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Matt Ryan completed 23 of 34 for 342 yards. Roddy White became the Falcons’ all-time leading receiver with 577 career receptions. He caught seven passes for 118 yards. Matt Bryant kicked four field goals to drop Dallas to 3-5.
In the rest of the Week 9:
— The Pittsburgh Steelers overcame some uncharacteristic early sloppiness and escaped Superstorm Sandy-ravaged New Jersey with a 24-20 win that ended the New York Giants’ four-game winning streak. Isaac Redman ran for 147 yards and scored the go-ahead TD with 4:02 left. This was Mike Tomlin’s 60th win as Steelers coach.
—The Chicago Bears have won 7 of their first 8 games. The most recent win came at the expense of Tennessee as Jay Cutler passed for three scores and linebacker Brian Urlacher intercepted a pass for a score in their 51-20 win. It was a strong defensive showing for the Bears as cornerback Charles Tillman forced four fumbles and Chicago created five turnovers while winning its sixth in a row.
— The Houston Texans have also won 7 of their first 8 games. The Texans entertained Buffalo and walked off the field with a 21-9 win. Quarterback Matt Schaub threw two touchdown passes and Arian Foster ran for 111 yards.
— Peyton Manning overcame a pair of interceptions by throwing three touchdown passes in Denver’s 31-23 victory over the Bengals. Trindon Holliday also returned a kickoff a Broncos-record 105 yards for a score. In his career, Manning is now 8-0 against the Bengals, who have lost four straight.
— Manning’s replacement with the Colts, top-draft pick Andrew Luck, broke the NFL’s single-game rookie record by throwing for 433 yards in leading Indianapolis past Miami 23-20. The former Stanford star was 30 of 48 with two TDs and broke Cam Newton’s previous mark of 422 yards set last season. The game also marked the return of Colts coach Chuck Pagano (puh-GAH’-noh) to Lucas Oil Stadium since being diagnosed with leukemia.
__ Tampa Bay rookie Doug Martin is the Buccaneers’ new single-game rushing leader. The rookie out of Boise State ran for a Bucs-record 251 yards and four TDs in their 42-32 win over Oakland. Martin ran for TDs of 1, 45, 67 and 70 yards in the second half as the Bucs evened their record at 4-4.
— Marshawn Lynch ran for 124 yards and a touchdown, rookie QB Russell Wilson threw three first-half touchdowns, and the Seattle Seahawks overcame 182 yards rushing by Adrian Peterson in a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson had his best rushing game since 2008 in his personal matchup against Lynch in the matchup between the two top rushers in the NFL.
— Joe Flacco threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith with 4:26 left as the Ravens came back to beat the Browns in Cleveland, 25-15. The victory was Baltimore’s 11th straight against AFC North teams. The Ravens, who are now 6-2, have beaten the Browns 10 straight games.
— Mikel Leshoure ran for three touchdowns as the Lions beat Jacksonville 31-14. Leshoure, who finished with 70 yards rushing and touchdown runs of 7, 1 and 8 yards, become the first player in franchise history to run for three touchdowns in the first half of a game.
— Cam Newton got the better of Robert Griffin III as Carolina beat the Redskins, 21-13. Newton completed 13 of 23 passes for 201 yards with a touchdown. He also ran eight times for 37 yards and a score as the Panthers snapped a five-game losing streak. Griffin, who was 23 for 39 for 215 yards, ran 11 times for 53 yards.
— The Green Bay Packers enter their bye week with a four-game winning streak. The Pack handed Arizona its fifth straight loss, a 31-17 decision. Green Bay, which is 6-3, finished with a season-high 176 yards rushing on 39 carries.
Open mic catches ref swearing
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An NFL referee lost his temper and used an obscenity during the Dolphins-Colts game, and it was obvious to everyone inside Lucas Oil Stadium. It occurred when a member of 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 the obscenity.
That part was heard by the crowd of 66,479, but did not make it on the air.
Alabama remains No. 1
UNDATED (AP) — Alabama remained unbeaten Saturday night with a thrilling win over LSU, 21-17. The new AP poll has the Tide remaining No. 1, unanimously. In fact the top four picks remained the same as last week with Oregon No. 2, Kansas State No. 3 and Notre Dame No. 4.
The fifth spot in the poll is shared by Georgia and Ohio State. They replace LSU.
Rounding out the top-10 this week are Florida, Florida State, LSU and Clemson.
Lakers finally break through…Hawks use fourth-quarter surge to win at OKC
UNDATED (AP) –The new-look Los Angeles Lakers won their first game of the new NBA season in a big way, trouncing Detroit 108-79. New Lakers center Dwight Howard led the way with 28 points. Kobe Bryant added 15 points and eight assists.
Metta World Peace scored 18 points. Pau Gasol added 14 for the Lakers, who went 0-8 in the preseason and started the regular season 0-3 for just the fourth time in franchise history despite adding Howard and Steve Nash over the summer.
In other NBA action:
— Al Horford had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Lou Williams added 10 of his 19 points during Atlanta’s decisive fourth-quarter surge and the Hawks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-95.
— Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan each scored 22 points, Alan Anderson had 18 and the Toronto Raptors earned their first victory of the season by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-86.
— J.J. Redick scored 24 points, Arron Afflalo and Glen Davis each had 22 points, and Nikola Vucevic added 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Orlando Magic rallied to beat the Phoenix Suns 115-94.
__ Carmelo Anthony had 27 points, JR Smith had 20 and the New York Knicks beat the 76ers, 100-84. Jason Kidd added 12 points and six assists. Raymond Felton added 11 points for the Knicks, who’ve won their first two games. Jrue Holiday had 27 points and seven assists for the 76ers, who dropped to 1-1.