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The Carolina Panthers have placed right guard Keydrick Vincent on injured reserve, ending the starter’s season because of a groin injury from a week ago.

The Panthers filled the roster spot Saturday by promoting defensive tackle Nick Hayden from the practice squad. Hayden will provide insurance because tackle Maake Kemoeatu has a sprained right ankle and is questionable for Sunday’s game at the New York Giants.

Vincent had been the only Panthers’ offensive linemen to start all 14 games. He left last Sunday’s win over Denver in the second half and had not practiced since. The Panthers believe the injury won’t allow him to return for several weeks.

Jeremy Bridges is expected to start at right guard Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks have lost their fifth starter on the offensive line by placing tackle Sean Locklear on injured reserve.

The team announced on Saturday that Locklear’s season was over because of the toe he dislocated last weekend at St. Louis.

Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace will start behind a line of all fill-ins on Sunday against the New York Jets.

Seattle lost Pro Bowl tackle Walter Jones to IR last week. Seattle has 14 players on the list. Eight of those were starters in Week 1.

Also, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is expected to miss his eighth game on Sunday with a bulging disk in his back.

The Seahawks signed safety Jamar Adams from the practice squad to take Locklear’s place on the active roster.

Derrick Mason pushed through the pain to catch a 13-yard touchdown and Matt Stover kicked three field goals to give the Ravens a 16-7 lead over the Dallas Cowboys after three quarters in the final regular-season game at Texas Stadium.

Amid the pomp and circumstance of the finale at the landmark stadium Saturday night, the game itself had plenty of importance for a pair of 9-5 teams trying to improve their precarious playoff positions.

Mason, who had already come out of the game several times because of a sore left shoulder, caught the scoring pass from Joe Flacco with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. That was two plays after punter/kick holder Sam Koch ran 9 yards to convert a fake field goal on fourth-and-6.

Stover, who grew up in the Dallas area and sold programs as a kid at Texas Stadium, kicked three field goals in the first half to put Baltimore up 9-7. The third being a 37-yarder on the last play before halftime.

Stover’s go-ahead kick was set up by Ed Reed’s second interception of the game and seventh of the season to match the NFL lead. Reed intercepted a deep ball intended for Terrell Owens. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu also has seven interceptions.

Flacco was 15-of-22 for 139 yards after three quarters. Romo was 11-of-22 for 72 yards and two interceptions.

DeMarcus Ware’s NFL-leading 20th sack and forced fumble set up Dallas for an early short touchdown. Ware sacked and stripped the ball from Flacco on Baltimore’s second play, and Greg Ellis recovered at the 4.

That was the first of five sacks the Cowboys had in the first half, a week after having eight in a victory over the New York Giants. Dallas failed to add to that total in the third quarter.

The first sack set up a 2-yard TD run by Tashard Choice, only the fourth rushing touchdown allowed by the Ravens this season. Choice started again in place of Marion Barber, who was active but still limited by a broken pinkie toe.

Baltimore, bolstered by 41 penalty yards against the Cowboys, responded on its next drive with a 26-yard field goal by Stover that gave him his 12th consecutive 100-point season.

Stover, playing in his 109th consecutive game, added a 29-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Flashbulbs were a constant during the game, and lit up the stands during pregame introductions when the Cowboys came out of the tunnel on the field. Dallas players wore commemorative patches on their jerseys, and Emmitt Smith Tony Dorsett and Randy White were among many former Cowboys greats in attendance - and scheduled to take part in a planned hour-long postgame ceremony.

Dallas got the ball to start the game, but when Romo tried to go deep to Roy Williams, the badly thrown pass was intercepted by Reed. The Ravens then had the ball only two plays before Ware’s big hit, getting him within three sacks of Michael Strahan’s single-season NFL record.

While the Ravens can’t clinch a wild-card berth this weekend, the Cowboys can if they win and any of a number of other scenarios play out involving Philadelphia, Chicago, Tampa Bay and Atlanta.

Ravens leading receiver Derrick Mason and right tackle Willie Anderson left in the first half of Saturday night’s finale at Texas Stadium with injuries, but both were back in the game after halftime.

Mason, who has been bothered by a shoulder problem but has still started every game, went to the locker room with an apparent shoulder injury about 4 minutes before halftime against the Cowboys.

Mason came off the field for a couple of plays in the first quarter after making a catch. He returned to the game, but came off again in obvious pain after being tackled at the end of a 19-yard catch that converted a third-and-6 with about 6 minutes left in the half.

Anderson injured his left ankle late in the first quarter. He was able to walk off the field, but once he got to the bench and was examined further by team doctors, a motorized cart was brought out to take him to the locker room for X-rays, which were negative.

The 13th-year pro missed a game Nov. 16 because of an ankle injury.

Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards went down with a concussion on the third play. Of the game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and the Bills’ unbeaten record went with him.

Safety Adrian Wilson blitzed untouched and leveled the second-year quarterback, slamming him hard to the ground.

Edwards, who had directed Buffalo to a 4-0 start, lay there for several minutes before being helped to the sideline. He was carted off the field, and the Bills reported a short time later that he had a concussion.

Edwards completed a 13-yard pass to James Hardy just before he was hit by Wilson, who was a game-time decision because of a hamstring injury. Wilson called for help from the Buffalo sideline right after the play.

“I looked to see if the ball was completed, then he didn’t get up,” Wilson said. “I know the situation that happened with Anquan (Boldin) last week, so it was just a scary situation whenever you see a guy just laying there and not moving.”

Former starter J.P. Losman took over, but the Bills’ offense never got on track in a 41-17 loss to the Cardinals. Edwards’ neck was being iced and would continue to be iced on the airplane ride home, coach Dick Jauron said.

“Trent was responding, but he was still a little groggy,” Jauron said. “Hopefully, he’ll be fine as time goes by here. It’s a good time to have a bye.”

Buffalo has next weekend off, then is home against San Diego on Oct. 19.

Wilson, rushing from the left side of the Arizona defense, hit Edwards hard just below the face mask, but Jauron said he hasn’t seen enough replays to judge whether it was a fair shot.

“I don’t think it was helmet-to-helmet but I’ve only seen one replay on the big board,” Jauron said. “There are other things involved in any hit on a quarterback, so we’ll see where that one goes.”

In his return to Denver, Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese was knocked out of the game with a swollen right elbow and Denver rookie Eddie Royal sprained his ankle on separate plays in the third quarter.

Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud sprained his right knee in the fourth quarter.

Griese was just getting ready to throw the ball when Champ Bailey hit him on a blitz with 8 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Griese was replaced by Jeff Garcia, whom he had supplanted as starter after the opener.

“It’s going to be all right,” said Griese, who couldn’t grip the ball without pain after taking a direct helmet hit on his elbow. “The doctor doesn’t seem to think that there’s anything wrong structurally, so that’s a good thing.”

Griese was 13-of-19 for 88 yards before the injury, and the Broncos went on to win 16-13.

In Houston, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub did not start against the Indianapolis Colts after spending a night in the hospital with a virus that required intravenous fluids.

Sage Rosenfels started even though Schaub was out of the hospital and active for the game. Rosenfels committed three fourth-quarter turnovers that helped the Colts score 21 points in a span of 2:10, and Indianapolis won 31-27.

In his return to the Bay Area, Patriots running back LaMont Jordan was sidelined with a left leg injury in the second quarter of New England’s 30-21 win over San Francisco.

Jordan, who had five carries for 16 yards, was injured on a tackle by Aubrayo Franklin. Jordan hobbled to the sideline, returning for the second half in street clothes.

The former Raiders starter has been just one part of New England’s multiplayer running game this season. Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and Laurence Maroney all ran the ball at least four times in the first half against the 49ers.

The Packers played short-handed on defense, and it showed in a 27-24 loss to Atlanta.

Lineman Cullen Jenkins is out for the season and cornerback Al Harris is out indefinitely with a spleen injury. Safety Atari Bigby was inactive because of a hamstring injury, and cornerback Charles Woodson continues to play with a broken toe. Also, left tackle Chad Clifton left the game in the third quarter with his own hamstring injury.

Wide receiver Chris Chambers left the Chargers’ 17-10 loss at Miami after hurting his lower left leg on a reception on the final play of the third quarter. X-rays were planned, but after the game coach Norv Turner said he had no update, and Chambers wasn’t in the locker room.

Niners retire Young jersey.
As Steve Young listened to the Candlestick Park crowd roar at his jersey retirement ceremony, he looked at Jerry Rice and wished he was in his old No. 8 uniform instead of a suit.

“Honestly I feel like I want to play,” Young said after the ceremony. “My life is sublime now and great and wonderful in many ways but you can’t replace it.”

Young was honored at halftime of the San Francisco 49ers game on Sunday against the New England Patriots. He was introduced to the adoring crowd by his close friend and former teammate Brent Jones, who called Young a “brilliant field general” who “could destroy you with his left arm and then could turn around and destroy you as well with his legs.”

Several members of the 49ers glory teams from the late 1980s and ’90s were on stage with Young for the ceremony, including Rice, Jones, Harris Barton and Jesse Sapolu.

Young thanked the fans and recalled some of his greatest moments, including his memorable stumbling run to beat Minnesota, the game-ending touchdown pass to Terrell Owens to win a playoff game against Green Bay and his NFC championship triumph over Dallas in 1995.

“There were a lot of emotions about a lot of years of great times, hard times, significant times for me personally, kind of growing up,” Young said. “I just feel grateful that the honor came.”

Young thanked Bill Walsh, who brought him from Tampa Bay to San Francisco in 1987, and wished his former coach were still alive to be at this event.

“Bill Walsh told me many times that anyone who came to this place was very lucky because they now had a platform to see how good they could be,” Young said. “I really appreciated that.”

Young is a two-time league MVP who led San Francisco to its fifth NFL title in the 1995 Super Bowl, winning the game’s MVP award with a record six touchdown passes. He spent parts of 13 seasons with the 49ers, finishing his NFL career with 33,124 yards passing and 232 TD passes.

After claiming the 49ers’ starting job from Joe Montana in 1991, Young was selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls while compiling a 96.8 career passer rating, the highest in NFL history. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Young said it’s a little strange watching the current 49ers offense, which no longer runs the West Coast system that Walsh developed and made so successful during his years in San Francisco.

“Whatever the West Coast is, you can say that maybe it was conceived in other places, but it was born here,” Young said. “To not see someone run a slant pattern for a few weeks is hard.”

Young was the 11th player to have his number retired by the 49ers, joining fellow quarterbacks Montana and John Brodie. Safety Ronnie Lott was the most recent player added to the list in 2003. Walsh also was honored with a “BW” next to the retired numbers list in Candlestick Park after his death last year.

Rice, Young’s favorite target and the most prolific receiver in NFL history, is likely to have the next jersey retirement ceremony in San Francisco shortly after he’s added to the Hall of Fame.

Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, York’s deposed brother-in-law and the driving force behind San Francisco’s five title teams, was invited but did not attend because of medical reasons, Young said.

Young is an analyst on ESPN, a partner in a private equity firm and a busy father with three kids and a fourth on the way. He said he’d like to someday be part of a group that bought an NFL team but acknowledged that it is nearly impossible to break into that exclusive club.

Hixon, McKenzie, Branch, Jennings hurt in game.
New York wide receiver Domenik Hixon and offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie were forced to leave the Giants’ game against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half with concussions.

Seattle wide receiver Deion Branch, who was playing for the first time this season, had to leave the game with a foot injury. Cornerback Kelly Jennings left with a first-half concussion.

Hixon, who was starting for the suspended Plaxico Burress, was hurt late in the second quarter after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from cornerback Josh Wilson after falling to catch a 16-yard pass. Wilson had replaced Jennings.

Hixon had four receptions for 102 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown catch for the Giants’ first score.

McKenzie was replaced by Kevin Boothe at the start of the series on which Hixon was hurt.

Jennings left after the Seahawks’ second series on defense.

The injury to Branch, who underwent major knee surgery after last season, was announced at the start of the second half. He had three catches for 31 yards.

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Henry makes for 08 Bengals debut.

Receiver Chris Henry was in uniform for Cincinnati’s game Sunday at Dallas after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s conduct policy.

Henry was released by the Bengals following his fifth arrest in the offseason, but was brought back to the team by owner Mike Brown over the objections of coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals released backup running back Kenny Watson on Saturday to make room on their 53-man roster.

Also playing Sunday for the Bengals was running back Cedric Benson, signed to a one-year deal earlier this week. Benson was released by Chicago following two offseason arrests in Texas involving alcohol, but the cases were dropped when grand juries chose not to indict last week.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who missed last week with a sore passing elbow, was active.

Dallas cornerback Terence Newman was inactive after re-aggravating a groin injury that forced him to miss the entire preseason and the season opener. Patrick Watkins also was out because of lingering neck problems.

Sunday NFL Capsules.
NY GIANTS 44, SEATTLE 6

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey Eli Manning and the New York Giants turned in another dominant performance - even without Plaxico Burress.

Manning threw two touchdown passes and Brandon Jacobs scored on a pair of short runs Sunday as the Giants came off their bye week with a thorough 44-6 thrashing of the Seattle Seahawks.

The defending Super Bowl champs improved to 4-0 despite not having Burress, New Yorks top wide receiver and Mannings favorite target for the past three-plus seasons.

The Giants are off to their best start since the 1990 season, when they won their first nine games en route to a 13-3 record and the franchises second Super Bowl championship.

Burress was serving a one-game suspension for skipping a practice last week and not informing the team.

But the absence of Burress was not a problem for Manning, who completed 19-of-25 attempts for 267 yards and hooked up with eight different receivers. In particular, Manning seemed to have a rhythm with Domenik Hixon, Burress replacement in the starting lineup.

New York took the lead for good on its fourth play from scrimmage when Manning found Hixon for a 32-yard scoring strike to open the scoring 3 1/2 minutes into the game.

Hixon, used primarily as a kick returner last year before earning a roster spot as a receiver in training camp, suffered a mild concussion near the end of the first half and did not play after the break.

But Hixon certainly made an impact, finishing with four catches for 102 yards. Each of his four receptions resulted in a first down for the Giants, who accumulated 523 yards of total offense. It was their highest single-game total since a 524-yard outing against Green Bay in 2002.

Manning also benefited from New Yorks devastating running game which racked up 254 yards on the ground.

Jacobs ran for a season-high 136 yards on just 15 carries and gave the Giants a comfortable 24-3 lead midway through the second quarter with his second TD of the game, a 1-yard score.

Even underachieving receiver Sinorice Moss got into the act, catching a pair of touchdown passes in the second half. They were the first two career TDs for Moss, a 2006 second-round draft pick who has struggled throughout his pro career.

While the Giants offense was in high gear, their defense completely bottled up the Seahawks (1-3), who also were coming off a bye week.

Seattle finished with 187 yards of total offense, managed just 13 first downs and converted only 1-of-11 third downs.

Matt Hasselbeck completed 11-of-21 passes for 105 yards and was intercepted once.

WASHINGTON 23, PHILADELPHIA 17

PHILADELPHIA Clinton Portis rushed for 145 yards on 29 carries and scored a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, leading the Washington Redskins to a 23-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Portis plowed his way into the end zone from 4 yards out to give the Redskins a 23-14 lead with 14:57 left in the game. That score proved to be the difference, as the Eagles got a 23-yard field goal from David Akers with 7:21 left to pull within six points.

Philadelphia jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 6-yard rushing touchdown by Brian Westbrook and a 68-yard punt return by rookie DeSean Jackson.

Sean Suisham kicked three field goals to pull the Redskins within 14-9, then Chris Cooley caught an 18-yard TD pass from wide receiver Antwaan Randle El midway through the third quarter to give Washington its first lead.

MIAMI 17, SAN DIEGO 10

MIAMI Ronnie Brown had his second straight 100-yard game, leading the Miami Dolphins to their second consecutive stunning upset with a 17-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Brown rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown as Miami followed up its shocking win over New England two weeks ago by upending the Chargers. The Dolphins had a bye last week.

The Dolphins (2-2) have already doubled their win total of last season with back-to-back victories over the teams that appeared in last seasons AFC championship game.

Miamis defense also came up big, holding Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson to 35 yards on 12 carries, including a huge goal-line stop on fourth down at the 1-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter.

INDIANAPOLIS 31, HOUSTON 27

HOUSTON Peyton Mannings 5-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 1:54 remaining capped a stunning turnaround as the Indianapolis Colts rallied from a 17-point deficit in the final five minutes to stun the Houston Texans, 31-27.

After trailing, 10-0, after the first period, Houston (0-4) scored 27 straight points and seemed to be in control with a 27-10 lead. But the Texans unraveled as quarterback Sage Rosenfels, starting in place of an under-the-weather Matt Schaub, fumbled on consecutive possessions.

After Manning threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tom Santi with just over four minutes left, Rosenfels ill-advisedly tried to dive for a first down. He lost the ball as he was jarred in mid-air and linebacker Gary Brackett returned the fumble 68 yards for a touchdown.

On Houstons next possession, defensive end Robert Mathis stripped Rosenfels and the Colts (2-2) recovered at the Texans 20, setting up Mannings go-ahead score.

TENNESSEE 13, BALTIMORE 10

BALTIMORE Kerry Collins tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:56 remaining as the Tennessee Titans rallied for a 13-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens to remain unbeaten.

Through 3 1/2 quarters, Tennessee (5-0) was held to a pair of field goals by Rob Bironas, but Collins overcame two early interceptions to drive the Titans 80 yards in 11 plays for the winning score.

After the teams traded field goals in a sluggish first half that ended 3-3, the Ravens (2-2) grabbed a 10-3 lead on LeRon McClains 1-yard touchdown run with 9:27 left in the third quarter.

Baltimore has dropped two straight after winning its first two games under rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.

CAROLINA 34, KANSAS CITY 0

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina DeAngelo Williams rushed for a career-high 123 yards and scored three touchdowns, leading the Carolina Panthers to a 34-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Williams scored all of his touchdowns in the first half, including a 25-yard TD reception, as Carolina bolted to a 21-0 lead. It was his fourth career 100-yard rushing game.

Jake Delhomme finished 14-of-22 for 236 yards and two touchdown passes and Steve Smith had six receptions for 96 yards for the Panthers (3-1), who limited the Chiefs (1-4) to one first down in the first half.

Larry Johnson, who rushed for 198 yards in Kansas Citys 33-19 victory over Denver last week, was held to seven yards on two carries as the Chiefs were shut out for the first time since a 24-0 loss to Oakland on December 28, 2002.

ATLANTA 27, GREEN BAY 24

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin The Atlanta Falcons used a late interception in the fourth quarter to pull off an upset of the Green Bay Packers, 27-24 .

With the Packers (2-3) down by a field goal with just under five minutes remaining, Aaron Rodgers escaped a heavy rush, rolled out and launched a misguided pass off his back foot and right into the arms of linebacker Michael Boley. Michael Turner did the rest, taking three straight carries and punching it in from 2 yards out to make it a 27-17 game.

Turner had his third 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 23 carries for 110 yards. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan finally did on the road what hes been able to do at home, completing 16-of-26 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns. In his first two road games - both losses - he was a combined 34-for-74 with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Rodgers, who was a game-time decision with a sprained right shoulder, tried to bring the Packers from behind for the second time this year, connecting with Donald Lee for a 4-yard score to cut the deficit to three with just under two minutes left. But the ensuing onside kick attempt wasnt close as the Falcons (3-2) escaped with their first road victory.

CHICAGO 34, DETROIT 7

DETROIT Kyle Orton threw for 334 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the Chicago Bears used another dominant defensive performance to rout the Detroit Lions, 34-7.

The Bears (3-2) held the winless Lions (0-4) to 223 yards of total offense and forced a pair of turnovers, including a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by Charles Tillman en route to a 31-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

Orton completed 24-of-34 passes and totaled over 300 yards for the first time in his career. He connected on scoring throws to Devin Hester and Matt Forte.

Kevin Smith scored on a 12-yard touchdown run, but combined with Rudi Johnson for just 54 yards on 13 carries. John Kitna completed 8-of-16 for 74 yards before being replaced in the third quarter by Dan Orlovsky, who connected on 13-of-23 throws for 97 yards and an interception.

NEW ENGLAND 30, SAN FRANCISCO 21

SAN FRANCISCO A pair of gambles by coach Bill Belichick led to two short touchdown runs by Kevin Faulk, lifting the New England Patriots to a 30-21 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Matt Cassel threw for 259 yards, including a 66-yard scoring pass to Randy Moss, as New England (3-1) won at San Francisco for the first time in franchise history.

Faulk scored on a 2-yard run with six seconds to play in the first half when Belichick bypassed a sure field goal. He added a 2-yard scoring run on fourth down in the third quarter to make it 24-14.

Stephen Gostkowski kicked three field goals, including a 49-yard boot that gave the Patriots a 30-21 lead with 4:42 to play.

J.T. OSullivan threw three touchdown passes - two to Isaac Bruce - and three interceptions for the 49ers (2-3).

DALLAS 31, CINCINNATI 22

IRVING, Texas Terrell Owens caught a 57-yard touchdown pass and helped the Dallas Cowboys survive a late surge by the Cincinnati Bengals in a 31-22 victory.

Tony Romo threw the scoring strike with 11:56 remaining in the game to give the Cowboys a 24-16 advantage. With the catch, Owens tied Marshall Faulk for fourth on the all-time list for total touchdowns with 134.

Bengals running back Chris Perry fumbled at the Cowboys 40-yard line and Anthony Spencer recovered the ball with 12:36 left to set up Owens score.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh recorded seven catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns - including a 10-yarder with 7:45 left to cut Cincinnatis deficit to 24-22.

ARIZONA 41, BUFFALO 17

GLENDALE, Arizona Kurt Warner threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Arizona Cardinals to a 41-17 triumph over the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills.

Warner completed 33-of-42 passes and connected with Larry Fitzgerald on a pair of 2-yard scores. Fitzgerald caught five balls for 52 yards and Steve Breaston added seven catches for 77 yards in place of Anquan Boldin, who missed the game after undergoing surgery on his fractured sinus Thursday.

Rookie Tim Hightower had two rushing touchdowns and Edgerrin James carried 21 times for 57 yards and a touchdown for Arizona (3-2).

Buffalo (4-1) suffered its first loss of the season in addition to losing its starting quarterback, Trent Edwards. He left the game early in the first quarter with a concussion after a hit by Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson. Edwards was replaced by J.P. Losman, who completed 15-of-21 for 220 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

DENVER 16, TAMPA BAY 13

DENVER Jay Cutler tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley and Matt Prater kicked three goals, lifting the Denver Broncos to a 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Broncos (4-1) finally got a strong performance from their beleaguered defense, holding the Buccaneers to a pair of field goals by Matt Bryant until Jeff Garcia threw a 7-yard TD pass to Ike Hilliard with 2:02 remaining . Denver came into the game ranked 29th in scoring, allowing 29.3 points per game, and 31st in passing.

Denver snapped a 6-6 tie on Cutlers scoring pass to Stokley with 5:51 remaining in the third quarter. It was Stokleys first touchdown of the season.

Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese suffered a shoulder injury and was knocked out of the game with 8:39 remaining in the third period when he was hit by cornerback Champ Bailey on a blitz. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Buccaneers (3-2).

PITTSBURGH 26, JACKSONVILLE 21

JACKSONVILLE, Florida Ben Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward for a go-ahead touchdown with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter to help the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 26-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Roethlisberger completed 26-of-41 passes for 309 yards with three touchdowns, helping the Steelers (4-1) snap a four-game losing streak to their former AFC Central Division rival.

Heath Miller and Nate Washington hauled in TD passes for Pittsburgh, which outgained Jacksonville, 415-213, but found itself trailing in the fourth quarter.

Rashean Mathis returned an interception 72 yards for a score, and Maurice Jones-Drew had a TD run for Jaguars (2-3), who took a 21-20 lead with 14:11 remaining in the fourth.

However, Roethlisberger converted a huge 3rd-and-8 with tacklers draped around him by hitting Ward for 18 yards to the Jacksonville 31. Roethlisberger aggravated his shoulder injury on the play but managed to stay in the game. Three plays later he hit Ward on a perfectly thrown fade for a 8-yard TD.

The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, but it did not matter because Jacksonville could not answer.

Tony Gonzalez got his record, but not much else.
The Kansas City star broke the NFL’s career mark for yards receiving by a tight end Sunday, but finished with just three catches for 17 yards in a 34-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

“This is a game that a lot of us probably (would) just as soon forget,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez entered the game 3 yards shy of Shannon Sharpe’s 5-year-old record of 10,060 yards. He surpassed the mark on Kansas City’s second offensive series by catching a 6-yard pass from Damon Huard late in the first quarter.

The 12th-year pro and nine-time Pro Bowler has at least one reception in 120 straight games.

But neither Gonzalez nor the Chiefs could get much else going offensively against the Panthers’ physical defense.

“It’s bittersweet - I’m happy for it, don’t get me wrong,” Gonzalez said. .”It took a long time to get (the record), and I’ve been very fortunate to be around some good offensive coordinators … great quarterbacks. It’s just been a long time, and I’m very fortunate to be able to last that long. So I’m going to take it, take it in stride - I’m happy for it. But I wish, obviously, if it could have come in a different circumstance, it probably would have been a lot better.”

He had just one other catch during a rough first half, a 3-yard dumpoff from Huard midway through the second quarter. He was thrown to just two other times during the half, and Kansas City trailed 21-0 at the break with 28 net yards and one first down.

“We get behind like we did, we’re at our best when we’re able to be balanced - running, throwing the football,” Huard said. “When you get behind early, you become one-dimensional, and we just couldn’t overcome being down 21-0.”

Gonzalez wound up with his fewest yards receiving since he also had 17 yards on three catches on Dec. 16, 2007, in a 26-17 loss to Tennessee, yet bumped up his career total to 10,074 yards.

The record was greeted by polite applause from the crowd in Charlotte - a far different scene than Gonzalez originally expected.

“It takes a little bit off the record because of the way we got it,” Gonzalez said. “Maybe tomorrow, the next day, I’ll feel a little better about it.”

He wanted to set the mark last week in front of the home fans against Denver, a dozen family members were at Arrowhead Stadium hoping to see history and venue officials had planned to stop the game to honor Gonzalez. The tight end even lobbied his coaches to ask for the ball upon learning he was 3 yards from Sharpe’s mark.

But the Chiefs kept the ball on the ground in the final minutes of that 33-19 victory, leading a disappointed Gonzalez to discuss the issue with coach Herm Edwards, who said he didn’t want to risk a throw that late in the game.

Texans Ike campaign raises $2,45 million.
A charitable campaign set up by the Houston Texans to benefit victims of Hurricane Ike has raised $2.45 million.

The campaign was announced prior to the Texans’ Sept. 21 game against Tennessee. Texans owner Bob McNair donated $500,000 and the NFL and its players’ association matched McNair’s contribution with a $500,000 donation to the league’s disaster relief fund. Chevron Corp. added a $250,000 donation.

PricewaterhouseCooper donated $150,000 and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay donated $50,000. The Texans were playing the Colts on Sunday in the first game at Reliant Stadium since Ike made landfall along the Texas coast on Sept. 13.

“We appreciate very much the tremendous support we’ve had from the community,” McNair said. “The Texans are pleased to give back to a community that’s given so much to us.”

McNair’s son, Cal, also donated $50,000.

The money raised will be divided into two relief funds: the Houston Ike Relief Fund, established by Mayor Bill White for short-term relief for food, water and medicine; and the United Way fund for longer-term goals.

“We all know the tragedy that took place here and the great effort that’s taken place to help rebuild and support this community in a difficult period of time,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “We at the NFL are glad to be here and I am personally glad to be here to represent our support for this community.”

Goodell also announced that public-service announcements featuring former presidents Bush and Clinton will be played during the televised broadcasts of each of Sunday’s early games. The elder Bush and Clinton announced a fundraising drive on Sept. 24 to help the hardest-hit cities and towns along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast to finance infrastructure projects.