Rams improve to 6-0 behind Canidate

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Subtract reigning league MVP Marshall Faulk, insert a player with 17 career carries -- and the St. Louis Rams still dominate.

Trung Canidate, filling in for the injured Faulk, scored twice and accounted for 232 yards in his first start to help the Rams remain the NFL's only unbeaten team with a 34-14 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

"In order to beat them, you have to play a near perfect game," Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde said. "We weren't even close."

St. Louis is only the second NFL team to start three straight seasons 6-0. The 1929-31 Green Bay Packers had the only other such streak.

Faulk bruised his right knee a week ago and was inactive Sunday after saying he might be able to play against the Jets (3-3).

Canidate rushed for 195 yards on 23 carries and added three receptions for 37 yards. It was the most yards rushing for an NFL running back making his first start since Gerald Riggs had 202 for Atlanta in 1984, and Canidate clearly could have had more -- he didn't play the final 14 minutes.

"We felt pretty good about him based on what we see of him in practice, and when he was finally put in a position to contribute, we were elated with how it turned out," Rams coach Mike Martz said.

The Rams ended any hope of a Jets comeback with a dominant third quarter, during which they outgained New York 166-8.

Testaverde was 9-for-13 for 74 yards. He was intercepted for the first time this season before being replaced in the fourth quarter.

Browns 24, Ravens 14

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Tim Couch threw two quick touchdown passes in the third quarter as Cleveland beat Baltimore for the first time since returning to the league.

Cleveland's defense forced three turnovers, had seven sacks and dominated the Super Bowl champion Ravens (3-3).

The Browns (4-2) were 0-4 and outscored 116-26 since '99 against the Ravens and owner Art Modell, who moved his franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore following the 1995 season.

Couch was 11-of-18 for 149 yards, and rookie James Jackson rushed for 77 yards and one TD for the Browns.

Baltimore's Matt Stover set an NFL record by making a field goal for the 32nd straight game.

Bears 24, Bengals 0

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Anthony Thomas ran for a team rookie-record 188 yards and a touchdown as Chicago won its fourth straight game.

The Bears (4-1) have their longest winning streak since 1995, the last time they made the playoffs. They're off to their best start since 1991, when they finished 11-5.

Thomas, a second-round draft pick who had not run for more than 58 yards in a game, darted through big holes on 22 carries and wound up with the eighth-best rushing game in Bears history.

The Bengals (3-3) were shut out at home for the first time in three years. Chicago's defense, the NFL's stingiest, held Corey Dillon to 30 yards on 16 carries.

Steelers 17, Buccaneers 10

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Jerome Bettis threw a 32-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option and ran for 143 yards and a TD as Pittsburgh dominated Tampa Bay for its fourth win in a row.

The Steelers' top-ranked defense sacked Brad Johnson 10 times and intercepted one of his passes in the end zone.

The Steelers (4-1) are off to their best start since 1996, while Tampa fell to 2-3.

Patriots 38, Colts 17

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- New England's David Patten became the first NFL player in exactly 22 years to run, catch and pass for touchdowns in the same game.

He caught four passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, scored on a 29-yard run, and completed a 60-yard TD pass to Troy Brown. Walter Payton was the last player with such a trifecta, doing it against Minnesota on Oct. 21, 1979.

Tom Brady was 16-for-20 for 202 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots (3-3) beat the Colts (2-3) for the second time.

Falcons 20, Saints 13

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Chris Chandler threw touchdown passes of 57 and 39 yards to lead Atlanta (3-3).

The Falcons' Maurice Smith gained 83 yards on 22 carries. Chandler completed 14 of 20 passes for 187 yards.

Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks completed 23 of 39 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown. Ricky Williams gained just 51 yards on 21 carries for the Saints (3-2).

Redskins 17, Panthers 14, OT

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- Brett Conway kicked a 23-yard field goal 1:52 into overtime to give coach Marty Schottenheimer his first victory with Washington.

With Washington (1-5) trailing 14-0 in the fourth quarter, LaVar Arrington had a 67-yard interception return and rookie Rod Gardner caught an 85-yard touchdown pass on Washington's next offensive play to tie it.

The Panthers (1-5) were beaten on the last play of the game for the second consecutive week. Running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka broke his foot after rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown. He is to have surgery Monday and probably is out for the season.

Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke had four interceptions, including two inside the Redskins' 10-yard line.

Tony Banks completed 17 of 30 passes for 346 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Gardner had six catches for 208 yards.

Titans 27, Lions 24

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- Joe Nedney kicked four field goals, including one from 46 yards with five seconds left, for Tennessee (2-3).

Detroit (0-5) is off to its worst start since 1989.

Lions defensive end Tracy Scroggins and defensive tackle Luther Elliss and Titans tackle Brad Hopkins were ejected in the first half.

Chargers 27, Broncos 10

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- San Diego forced two turnovers in Denver territory in the second half, both setting up touchdown passes from Doug Flutie to Jeff Graham.

Chargers linebacker Junior Seau went out with a strained groin in the first half and didn't return.

Flutie completed 21 of 32 passes for 280 yards and two TDs, with one interception. Rookie LaDainian Tomlinson was held to a season-low 58 yards on 25 carries.

San Diego is 4-2, Denver 3-3.

Cardinals 24, Chiefs 16

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona's Corey Chavous intercepted Trent Green's pass in the end zone with one second to play after Kansas City drove 97 yards from its own 1.

Michael Pittman rushed for 95 yards on 26 carries and caught four passes for 42 yards. His 24-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put Arizona up for good.

Thomas Jones ran 13 yards for Arizona's other touchdown as the Cardinals took a 24-9 lead, the first time they had been ahead by as many as 15 points in 42 games.

Green completed 21 of 43 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice.

Arizona improved to 2-3. Kansas City is 1-5, its worst start since opening 1-9 in 1987.