NFL roundup: Giant win nearly locks up division

Published: Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 12:08 a.m. MST
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With the Chiefs locked in a 10-10 tie and backed up to their 9 following a punt, Thigpen got the offense moving to earn his first win in seven career NFL starts.

Tony Gonzalez added eight catches for 110 yards and Johnson ran for 92 yards on 24 carries.

After allowing a franchise-worst 54 points in a loss to Buffalo last week, the Chiefs managed to shut down a Raiders team that scored 31 to beat Denver a week ago. Oakland's only touchdown came on a 1-yard drive following Chris Johnson's 44-yard interception return.

COLTS 10, BROWNS 6: At Cleveland, defensive end Robert Mathis scooped up Derek Anderson's fumble and rumbled 39 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Colts stayed in the thick of the AFC playoff chase by winning their fifth straight.

Mathis' big play helped bail out Peyton Manning and Indy's high-octane offense, which never got humming with its usual efficiency.

Still, the Colts (8-4) got a 30-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri and improved to 5-0 in November, a monthlong run that has allowed them to recover from a 3-4 start.

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The Browns (4-8) lost their fourth straight at home and may have lost quarterback Derek Anderson and tight end Kellen Winslow for an extended period.

Anderson, starting in place of the injured Brady Quinn, hurt his left leg in the final two minutes. He was dropping back to pass when offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer fell on him while being knocked backward by a charging Mathis. Anderson tried to get up, but couldn't and had to be helped to the sideline.

Winslow went out on the first play of the third quarter with an ankle injury and didn't return.

BUCCANEERS 23, SAINTS 20: At Tampa, Fla., Jermaine Phillips and Phillip Buchanon intercepted Drew Brees, the NFL's leading passer, in the closing minutes and Matt Bryant kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining.

Brees, on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season yardage record, threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns on a rainy day, but also was picked off three times — once in the end zone — and bothered by the Bucs' pass rush all afternoon.

The victory was the fourth straight for Tampa Bay (9-3). The Bucs are 6-1 since Jeff Garcia regained the starting quarterback job, which he lost after a poor performance in a season-opening loss against the Saints (6-6).

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Nick Wass, Associated Press

New York running back Brandon Jacobs (27) tries to leap over the pile and into the end zone for a touchdown in the Giants' 23-7 win.

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