Cassel sharp as Chiefs rip Titans, stay atop division
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Matt Cassel threw three touchdown passes, and Eric Berry returned an interception 54 yards for another score as the Chiefs romped past the Tennessee Titans 34-14 Sunday.
Cassel connected on 12 of his first 13 passes for the fast-starting Chiefs (10-5), including touchdown tosses to Jamaal Charles on their first two possessions.
The Titans (6-9) spent much of the game dropping passes, missing arm tackles and piling up penalties while losing for the seventh time in the last eight games.
The Chiefs' 10 wins matched their combined total of the previous three seasons. Their six-game improvement from a 4-12 record in 2009 is a team record.
Dwayne Bowe had six catches for 153 yards, including a career-best 75-yard touchdown as the Chiefs remained unbeaten in seven home games. If they win at home next week against the Oakland Raiders, the Chiefs will clinch their first AFC West title since 2003.
Rams beat 49ers, take step toward NFC West title
ST. LOUIS -- Sam Bradford set an NFL record for completions in a rookie season, and his first touchdown pass in four games gave the Rams breathing room in a 25-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
St. Louis (7-8) needs to win at Seattle next week to clinch its first playoff berth since 2004.
Quarterback Troy Smith was benched during the fourth quarter of a loss that eliminated the 49ers (5-10) from playoff consideration in the weak NFC West. Smith passed for 356 yards in the 49ers' overtime victory over the Rams last month, but he didn't play in the last two games.
Ted Ginn Jr. scored on a 78-yard punt return for San Francisco, his fourth career touchdown return.
James Hall had 1.5 sacks for a St. Louis defense that sacked Troy Smith three times and backup quarterback Alex Smith once, plus got a safety when Troy Smith fumbled a poor shotgun snap in the end zone.
Bears outslug Jets, move toward first-round bye
CHICAGO -- Jay Cutler threw three touchdown passes, Matt Forte ran for 113 yards and the Chicago Bears closed in on a first-round bye by beating the playoff-bound New York Jets 38-34 on Sunday.
The Jets (10-5) lost for the third time in their last four games, but they clinched their second consecutive postseason trip under coach Rex Ryan when the Jacksonville Jaguars lost 20-17 in overtime to the Washington Redskins.
The win was the seventh in the last eight games for the Bears (11-4), who blew an early 10-point lead but regrouped in the second half after being picked apart by Mark Sanchez. Now, they're in good position to lock up that playoff bye, a scenario that seemed unlikely at best when they stumbled into their bye-week break.
Cutler completed 13 of 25 passes for 215 yards, with Johnny Knox catching four for 92 with two touchdowns.
Sanchez's pass was intercepted by Chris Harris with about a minute left, ending the Jets' comeback bid.
Home woes continue for 'Fins in collapse vs. Lions
MIAMI -- The Detroit Lions took advantage of two interceptions to score 17 points in the final 4:37 Sunday and rally past the reeling Miami Dolphins 34-27.
With the comeback, Detroit (5-10) has won three consecutive games for the first time since 2007. Miami (7-8), eliminated from the playoff race last week, finished 1-7 at home to match a franchise low.
Trailing 24-14 with five minutes to go, the Lions forced a punt, and on the first play, Jahvid Best turned a short pass from Shaun Hill into a 53-yard touchdown.
Nathan Vasher's interception set up a 47-yard field goal by Dave Rayner to tie the score with 2:44 remaining. Then came an interception by DeAndre Levy, who zigzagged 30 yards to the end zone for Detroit's third score in less than 2½ minutes.
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