The Steelers handed the Vikings their first loss of the season on Sunday, but the Saints remained unbeaten with a tough win over the Dolphins to highlight Week 7?s NFL action. We will calculate each team?s Trench Counter*. New England 35, Tampa Bay 7 Team Trench Counter: Patriots +15.4, Buccaneers -15.4 The New England Patriots (5-2) remained red hot with an emphatic win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7) at Wembley Stadium in London. Tom Brady threw for 308 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions during the league?s annual game overseas. Laurence Maroney rushed for 43 yards and added a touchdown in the victory. Wes Welker led the Patriots in receiving with ten receptions for 107 yards and a score. Safety Brandon Meriweather added to the tally, returning an interception 39 yards in the first quarter. The Buccaneers continued to struggle offensively. Josh Johnson had just 156 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris inserted rookie Josh Freeman in at quarterback late in the loss. Antonio Bryant was the only member of the team to find the end zone. He caught a 33-yard pass from Johnson in the third quarter. Indianapolis 42, St. Louis 6 Team Trench Counter: Colts +18.6, Rams -18.6 The Indianapolis Colts (6-0) and St. Louis Rams (0-7) faced off on Sunday in a game featuring teams on opposite ends of the spectrum. Peyton Manning went 23-for-34 with 235 yards and three touchdowns, while Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown controlled the game on the ground. Addai had 64 yards and one touchdown and Brown added 58 yards on just two carries at Edward Jones Stadium. Reggie Wayne (83 yards), Dallas Clark (44 yards) and Austin Collie (36 yards) were on the receiving end of Manning?s touchdown passes. Marc Bulger struggled against the improving defense of the Colts. He posted just 140 yards and tossed two interceptions in the defeat. Steven Jackson was the lone offensive star for St. Louis, rushing for 134 yards on 23 carries. Josh Brown was responsible for all of the team?s scoring; he connected on both field goals he attempted. Pittsburgh 27, Minnesota 17 Team Trench Counter: Steelers +8.3, Vikings -8.3 The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) handed the Minnesota Vikings (6-1) their first loss of the season at Heinz Field on Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger had 175 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers relied on both their defense and running game. Rashard Mendenhall carried the ball ten times for 69 yards as the club rushed for more than 100 yards overall. Mike Wallace led the defending-champions in receiving with three catches for 72 yards and a score. Brett Favre looked mortal for the first time in purple, throwing for 334 yards and an interception. Adrian Peterson wasn?t his usual explosive self against the Steelers? tough defense. He had 69 yards and a score, but didn?t break a run longer than 19 yards on the road. Sidney Rice had good chemistry with Favre, catching 11 passes for 136 yards, but Minnesota scored just one offensive touchdown. In the fourth quarter, rookie receiver Percy Harvin returned a kick 88 yards for a score that momentarily brought the Vikings to within three points of the Steelers San Diego 37, Kansas City 7 Team Trench Counter: Chargers +20.4, Chiefs -20.4 Philip Rivers excelled through the air early and often, tossing three touchdowns on 18-for-30 passing for 268 yards. The San Diego Chargers (3-3) led 20-0 at halftime and the Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) never threatened. LaDainian Tomlinson couldn?t find the end zone, but did rush for 71 yards on 23 carries. Darren Sproles was far more efficient, tallying 41 yards on five carries. Vincent Jackson exploded in the win, grabbing five catches for 142 yards and a score. Matt Cassel was pestered by San Diego?s defense all afternoon. He was sacked four times, threw three interceptions and managed just 97 yards and a touchdown. Larry Johnson was ineffective as well, contributing 49 yards at Arrowhead Stadium. Bobby Wade was Kansas City?s leading receiver; he caught four passes from Cassel for 66 yards in the loss. Houston 24, San Francisco 21 Team Trench Counter: Texans +4.2, 49ers -4.2 After making a change at quarterback, the San Francisco 49ers (3-3) nearly completed a huge comeback against the Houston Texans (4-3). After Shaun Hill struggled to move the ball in the first half, coach Mike Singletary put former first overall pick Alex Smith in to begin the third quarter. Smith finished the game with 206 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in just one half of work. Tight end Vernon Davis caught all three of Smith?s touchdown strikes, while Frank Gore managed 32 yards on 13 carries in the loss. Matt Schaub had 264 yards and two touchdowns, but the Texans lost receiver Andre Johnson to a chest injury in the fourth quarter. Steve Slaton and Owen Daniels were Houston?s offensive stars. Slaton rushed for 67 yards and a score, while also catching four passes for 22 yards and another touchdown. Daniels, who is emerging as one of the NFL?s best pass-catching tight ends, had seven receptions for 123 yards and a second-quarter touchdown. Green Bay 31, Cleveland 3 Team Trench Counter: Packers +30.5, Browns -30.5 After the flu ravaged the Cleveland Browns (1-6) during the week, the Green Bay Packers (4-2) stomped all over them in Ohio. Aaron Rodgers sliced Cleveland?s secondary, going 15-for-20 with 246 yards and three touchdowns. Ryan Grant, whose name was mentioned in trade rumors last week, broke out as well. He rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, separating himself from the rest of Green Bay?s running rotation. Derek Anderson looked pretty bad once again. He went 12-for-29 with 99 yards and an interception against the Packers. Cleveland managed just 139 total yards, as Jamal Lewis led the club in rushing with 47 yards on 15 attempts. The Browns held a 3-0 lead at the 14:58 mark of the second quarter, but the Packers went on to score 31 straight points. N.Y. Jets 31, Oakland 0 Team Trench Counter: Jets +25.1, Raiders -25.1 The New York Jets (4-3) shut out the Oakland Raiders (2-5) as coach Tom Cable finally pulled the plug on JaMarcus Russell in the second quarter. After a five-interception affair last week, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was steady for the Jets. He went 9-for-15 with 143 yards and a touchdown, while Shone Greene and Thomas Jones absolutely dominated Oakland on the ground. Greene, New York?s rookie running back, tallied 144 yards and two scores and Jones added 121 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. The Raiders went to Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback in the second quarter after Russell tossed two early interceptions. Oakland still failed to score after the change, but Gradkowski did take better care of the football (both Russell and Gradkowski lost one fumble). Justin Fargas and Michael Bush each carried the ball eight times, with Fargas (67 yards) outproducing Bush (25 yards). Buffalo 20, Carolina 9 Team Trench Counter: Bills -0.2, Panthers +0.2 Ryan Fitzpatrick said prior to the game that he felt as though he could be a starting quarterback in the NFL and he backed up that claim on Sunday. The Buffalo Bulls (3-4) outlasted the Carolina Panthers (2-4) in a game that featured 20 points in the final quarter. Fitzpatrick had 123 yards and a touchdown on 11-for-22 passing, while Marshawn Lynch (40 yards and a touchdown) helped Buffalo control a game that was dominated by defense for more than 45 minutes. Jake Delhomme struggled once again, going 27-for-44 with 325 yards and three interceptions. DeAngelo Williams, who had 89 yards on 16 carries, scored Carolina?s only touchdown on a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Panthers? first two points came on a safety in the second quarter. Delhomme, who has never thrown more than 16 interceptions in a season, is on pace to throw more than 30 in 2009. New Orleans 46, Miami 34 Team Trench Counter: Saints +8, Dolphins -8 The New Orleans Saints (6-0) remained perfect with a very close win over the Miami Dolphins (2-4) on Sunday afternoon. The Saints outscored the Dolphins 22-0 in the fourth quarter, making them the third team to remain undefeated through the season?s first seven weeks. Drew Brees struggled, going 22-for-38 with 298 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Mike Bell (80 yards on 12 carries), Pierre Thomas (30 yards on 8 touches) and Reggie Bush (10 yards and a touchdown) led New Orleans on the ground. Jeremy Shockey continued his strong season, catching four passes for 105 yards in the win. Miami jumped out to an early lead thanks to a career day from Ricky Williams. He rushed nine times for 80 yards and three touchdowns at Land Shark Stadium, while Ronnie Brown added 48 yards and a score in the loss. If Chad Henne had played better, he went 18-for-36 with 211 yards and two interceptions, the Dolphins might have had a chance to hold off the Saints in the final 15 minutes. Dallas 37, Atlanta 21 Team Trench Counter: Cowboys +10.7, Falcons -10.7 The Dallas Cowboys (4-2) inserted Miles Austin into the starting lineup and proceeded to easily handle the Atlanta Falcons (4-2). Tony Romo went 21-for-29 with 311 yards and three touchdowns, with Austin posting six catches for 171 yards and two scores. As great as their aerial attack was, the Cowboys got good production from Marion Barber (47 yards), Felix Jones (37 yards) and Romo (31 yards) on the ground. The Dallas defense came to play as well. They sacked Matt Ryan four times, forced four fumbles and grabbed a pair of interceptions. Ryan struggled, throwing for 198 yards and two touchdowns to go along with the aforementioned miscues. Michael Turner was slowed once again, tallying 50 yards and a score on 18 attempts. Jason Snelling led Atlanta in rushing with seven runs for 68 yards at Cowboys Stadium. Roddy White, who had 210 yards and two touchdowns last week against San Francisco, continued his hot streak with six catches for 50 yards and a score. Cincinnati 45, Chicago 10 Team Trench Counter: Bengals +30.5, Bears -30.5 The Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) are imploring people to take them seriously after a drubbing of the Chicago Bears (3-3) at Paul Brown Stadium. Carson Palmer lit up the scoreboard with 233 yards and five touchdowns on 20-for-24 passing, while former Bears running back Cedric Benson gained 189 yards and a score on the ground in the victory. Chad Ochocinco (118 yards), Laveranues Coles (37 yards), Chris Henry (26 yards) and J.P. Foschi (3 yards) were all on the receiving end of Palmer?s scoring strikes. Jay Cutler struggled against Cincinnati?s swarming defense, going 26-for-37 with 251 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His only touchdown came on a connection with receiver Devin Hester in the fourth quarter when the game had long been decided. The Bengals limited Matt Forte as well, holding him to 24 yards on six carries. Chicago was forced to throw the ball often as Cincinnati jumped out to an early lead. *Explaining The Trench Counter

The Saints thumped the Giants in Week 6's marquee showdown, while the Chiefs earned their first win and the Patriots embarrassed the Titans. We will calculate each team's Trench Counter*. Kansas City 14, Washington 6 Team Trench Counter: Chiefs +7.2, Redskins -7.2 The Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) notched their first win of the season against the Washington Redskins (2-4) at FedEx Field. Matt Cassel went 17-for-32 with 186 yards and Larry Johnson had 83 rushing yards on 23 attempts, but all the Chiefs needed were four field goals and a safety to win. Dwayne Bowe had six receptions for 109 yards in the win, rookie coach Todd Haley's first in the NFL. The Redskins pulled Jason Campbell at halftime, replacing him with veteran Todd Collins. Campbell was 9-for-16 with 89 yards and an interception in the game. Collins helped Washington move the ball better, but the team's offense managed just two field goals in their sixth straight game against a previously winless franchise. Carolina 28, Tampa Bay 21 Team Trench Counter: Buccaneers +3.1, Panthers -3.1 DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart paced the Carolina Panthers (2-3) on the ground as they kept the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6) winless through the season's first six weeks. Williams had 30 carries for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Stewart notched 110 yards and a score on 17 rushing attempts. Jake Delhomme, who has struggled for a majority of the season, finished the afternoon with 65 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Only one of Tampa Bay's three touchdowns came on offense, with Cadillac Williams rushing for a 20-yard score in the first quarter. Sammie Stroughter returned a kickoff 97 yards in the third, while Tanard Jackson scored on a 26-yard interception return in the fourth. Quarterback Josh Johnson fumbled five times, losing one, as he tallied 147 yards and an interception in the loss. Pittsburgh 27, Cleveland 14 Team Trench Counter: Steelers +24.1, Browns -24.1 The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) defeated the Cleveland Browns (1-5) for the twelfth straight time on Sunday afternoon. Ben Roethlisberger went 23-for-35 with 417 yards, two touchdowns and an interception at Heinz Field. Rashard Mendenhall ran for 62 yards and a score in the win, while Hines Ward (159 yards and a touchdown) and Santonio Holmes (five catches for 104 yards) led the team in receiving. Derek Anderson went 9-for-22 with 122 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the loss. Josh Cribbs, who is still looking for either a trade or a new contract, threw two incomplete passes while rushing six times for 45 yards. Anderson lost a pair of fumbles in the loss, while Jamal Lewis and James Harrison combined for just 47 yards on 16 carries. New Orleans 48, N.Y. Giants 27 Team Trench Counter: Saints +24.6, Giants -24.6 Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints (5-0) past the New York Giants (5-1) at the Louisiana Superdome in a battle of the NFC?s unbeatens. Brees went 23-for-30 with 369 yards and four touchdowns against what was the NFL?s leading defense. Pierre Thomas (72 yards), Mike Bell (34 yards and a touchdown) and Reggie Bush (six carries for 17 yards and a score) paced New Orleans on the ground. Eli Manning struggled in his return home to Louisiana, going 14-for-31 with 178 yards, one touchdown and an interception. David Carr, who came on his relief late in the blowout, had 72 yards and a score on 4-for-5 passing. Ahmad Bradshaw led New York in rushing with 48 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. In addition to Manning?s interception, he lost a fumble against the Saints improving defense. Minnesota 33, Baltimore 31 Team Trench Counter: Vikings +8, Ravens -8 Ryan Longwell hit a 31-yard field goal with less than two minutes left in regulation to give the Minnesota Vikings (6-0) a dramatic win over the Baltimore Ravens (3-3). Brett Favre had 278 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, while Adrian Peterson rushed for 143 yards on 22 carries. Sidney Rice led Minnesota in receiving with six receptions for 176 yards, including a 63-yard connection with Favre. Joe Flacco played very well, but his defense didn?t hold up their end of the bargain. He went 28-for-43 with 385 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Ray Rice nearly kept pace with Peterson, tallying 77 yards and two scores on just ten carries. Rice added 117 receiving yards on ten receptions, while Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton were on the receiving end of Flacco?s touchdown strikes. Jacksonville 23, St. Louis 20 (OT) Team Trench Counter: Jaguars +14.3, Rams -14.3 The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) used a strong rally to keep the St. Louis Rams (0-6) from the win column on Sunday. David Garrard went 30-for-43 with 335 yards and two interceptions, but Maurice Jones-Drew saved the day. He rushed for 133 yards and three scores on 33 carries, including a pair of fourth quarter scores. Mike Sims-Walker led the team in receiving with nine catches for 120 yards. Marc Bulger had 213 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the loss. Steven Jackson had just 50 yards on 16 carries, while defensive end Leonard Little added to the offense with a 36-yard touchdown return in the fourth period. The 20 points is the most the Rams have scored all season. Green Bay 26, Detroit 0 Team Trench Counter: Packers +10.8, Lions -10.8 The Green Bay Packers (3-2) scored early and never looked back against the Detroit Lions (1-5) at Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers went 29-for-37 with 358 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the victory. Donald Driver, who is now Green Bay?s all-time leading receiver, had seven catches for 107 yards. Ryan Grant, with the game in hand early on, had 90 yards on 24 rushing attempts. Daunte Culpepper had 48 yards and an interception before leaving with a hamstring injury, leaving the Lions with Drew Stanton at quarterback. Stanton finished with 57 yards and two interceptions, with the injured Matt Stafford looking on. Kevin Smith managed 61 rushing yards, while Dennis Northcutt led Detroit in receiving with five catches for 40 yards. Houston 28, Cincinnati 17 Team Trench Counter: Texans +12.2, Bengals -12.2 The Houston Texans (3-3) cooled off the hot Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) with an impressive win at Paul Brown Stadium. Matt Schaub had 392 yards, four touchdowns and an interception, while Steve Slaton had 145 total yards and a score. Andre Johnson led Houston in receiving with eight catches for 135 yards, while tight end Owen Daniels starred with seven receptions for 78 yards and two trips to the end zone. Carson Palmer looked averaged against the Texans, tallying 259 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Cedric Benson had 44 yards and a score, but the Bengals were held scoreless in the second half. Chad Ochocinco had five catches for 103 yards, while Laveranues Coles had his first touchdown in Cincinnati. Arizona 27, Seattle 3 Team Trench Counter: Cardinals +12.8, Seahawks -12.8 The Arizona Cardinals (3-2) moved into a tie with the 49ers for first place in the NFC West with an impressive win over the Seattle Seahawks (2-4). Kurt Warner had 276 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, connecting with Larry Fitzgerald 13 times for 100 yards and a score. After taking an early lead, Arizona ran the ball 26 times for 62 yards and a touchdown. Matt Hasselbeck struggled, going 10-for-29 while throwing for 129 yards and an interception. Seattle had just 14 yards on 11 attempts during an abysmal offensive afternoon. Arizona sacked Hasselbeck five times and held Seattle?s offense to a mere 128 total yards at Qwest Field. Oakland 13, Philadelphia 9 Team Trench Counter: Raiders +1.1, Eagles -1.1 In the surprise of the week, the Oakland Raiders (2-4) toppled the heavily-favored Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) in Oakland. JaMarcus Russell went 17-for-28 with 224 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Russell hooked up with tight end Zach Miller for an 86-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Oakland never trailed. Justin Fargas led the Raiders with 87 rushing yards, while Miller finished the game with six catches for 139 yards. Donovan McNabb and the Eagles took care of the ball, but he finished with 269 yards on just 22-for-46 passing as the team failed to reach the end zone. Brian Westbrook had 50 yards on just six carries, while also catching nine passes for 91 yards in the loss. David Akers, who accounted for all of Philadelphia?s points, missed a pair of field goals in the first half. Buffalo 16, N.Y. Jets 13 (OT) Team Trench Counter: Bills +10.3, Jets -10.3 The Buffalo Bills (2-4) defeated the New York Jets (3-3) on a Rian Lindell field goal with 2:44 left in overtime. Ryan Fitzpatrick had 116 yards, one touchdown and an interception after replacing Trent Edwards, who left with an injury in the first half. Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson combined for 113 yards on 34 carries in the victory, while Lee Evans had four catches for 68 yards and a score. Terrell Owens had three catches for just 13 yards. Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez had the worst game of his young career on Sunday, going 10-for-29 with 119 yards and five interceptions. Thomas Jones was easily the offensive star of the game, running the ball 22 times for 210 yards and a touchdown. In addition, Leon Washington tallied 99 yards on 15 carries. On 4th-and-13 from Buffalo?s 32-yard line, Sanchez threw an interception, one of two he tossed in overtime. New England 59, Tennessee 0 Team Trench Counter: Patriots +47.5, Titans -47.5 The Tennessee Titans (0-6) continued their steep decline with an absolute beat down at the hands of the New England Patriots (4-2). Tom Brady tossed an NFL record five touchdowns in the second quarter, finishing with 380 yards and six scores in the blowout. Rookie quarterback Brad Hoyer came on in the second half, going 9-for-11 with 52 yards. Lawrence Maroney had 123 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while BenJarvis Green-Ellis added 67 yards on seven carries. Wes Welker (ten catches for 150 yards and two scores) and Randy Moss (eight catches for 129 yards and three scores) had their best games of the young season. Kerry Collins went 2-for-12 with a total of -7 yards passing and an interception, while Vince Young threw an interception on two passing attempts. Chris Johnson was the only offensive star for Tennessee as he ran for 128 yards on 17 rushing attempts. Through the first six weeks of the season, the Titans have already doubled their loss total from 2008. *Explaining The Trench Counter

The Vikings, Giants, Broncos and Colts remained perfect on Sunday, while the Rams, Buccaneers, Chiefs and Titans remained winless in Week 5. We will calculate each team?s Trench Counter*. Minnesota 38, St. Louis 10 Team Trench Counter: Vikings +14.3, Rams -14.3 The Minnesota Vikings (5-0) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back against the St. Louis Rams (0-5) on Sunday afternoon at Edward Jones Stadium. Brett Favre, who turned 40 this week, threw for 232 yards, one touchdown and an interception as the Vikings won their 400th NFL game. Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor combined for 89 rushing yards and three scores. Favre connected with seven different receivers and rookie Percy Harvin led the lot with four receptions for 66 yards. Kyle Boller started the game at quarterback, going 20-for-31 with 209 yards and an interception, but Marc Bulger finished it with 88 yards and a score on 7-for-7 passing. Steven Jackson ran well, gaining 84 yards on 21 carries, but lost one of the team?s three fumbles in defeat. Donne Avery led St. Louis in receiving with five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Philadelphia 33, Tampa Bay 14 Team Trench Counter: Eagles +7.8, Buccaneers -7.8 Donovan McNabb didn?t miss a beat in his first action since Week 1 as the Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) thumped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5). McNabb connected with rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin on a 51-yard score on the team?s second offensive play and the home team never trailed. McNabb finished with 264 yards and three touchdowns on 16-for-21 passing. The Eagles didn?t have much of a ground game, with McNabb, Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy combining for 62 yards on fourteen carries, but the defense held the Buccaneers in check. Josh Johnson threw the ball 50 times as Tampa Bay looked to battle back from an early deficit. He went 26-for-50 with 240 yards, two touchdowns and three costly interceptions. Kellen Winslow was his favorite target, grabbing nine passes for 102 yards and both of the team?s touchdowns. Philadelphia held Cadillac Williams to just eight yards on 10 carries, while Derrick Ward rushed six times for 37 yards in the loss. The Eagles put the nail in the coffin with less than a minute left in the game as Darren Howard tackled Williams in the end zone for a safety. N.Y. Giants 44, Oakland 7 Team Trench Counter: Giants +36.2, Raiders -36.2 The New York Giants (5-0) kept rolling and the Oakland Raiders (1-4) continued to struggle at Giants Stadium in New Jersey in Week 5. Eli Manning, making his 83rd consecutive start despite an injured heel, had 173 yards and two touchdowns in less than a half of work as backup David Carr took over at quarterback in the second quarter. Ahmad Bradshaw (110 yards and two touchdowns) and Brandon Jacobs (67 yards on 21 carries) helped New York control the game and the clock even without Manning on the field. JaMarcus Russell went 8-for-13 on the afternoon, totaling just 100 passing yards. Four of Russell?s completions went to tight end Zach Miller, who led the team in receiving with 69 yards. While Russell didn?t throw an interception, he certainly didn?t help his cause by losing three fumbles to the ball-hawking defense of the Giants. Michael Bush, starting in place of the injured Darren McFadden, rushed 12 times for 37 yards and a touchdown. Dallas 26, Kansas City 20 (OT) Team Trench Counter: Cowboys +6.6, Chiefs -6.6 The Dallas Cowboys (3-2) narrowly escaped Kansas City (0-5) with a win thanks to some heroics from receiver Miles Austin. Tony Romo went 20-for-34 with 351 yards and two scores, both of which went to Austin, who exploded with 250 yards on 10 receptions. Tashard Choice (8) got fewer carries than Marion Barber (15), but was more productive with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown. Midway through the overtime period, Romo hooked up with Austin on a 60-yard touchdown to avoid an embarrassing defeat. The Chiefs forced overtime after an impressive drive that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass by Matt Cassel to Dwyane Bowe with less than a minute remaining. However, Kansas City?s defense wasn?t able to stop Romo from connecting with Austin for a majority of the game. Their running game was almost transparent, as Larry Johnson tallied 37 yards on 21 carries in the loss. Pittsburgh 28, Detroit 20 Team Trench Counter: Steelers +3.4, Lions -3.4 The Detroit Lions (1-4) played respectably, but the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) still came away with a much-needed victory at Ford Field. Ben Roethlisberger went 23-for-30 with 277 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while Rashard Mendenhall ran well with 77 yards and a score on 15 carries. Roethlisberger connected with three different receivers for touchdowns -- Hines Ward (seven catches for 85 yards), Heath Miller (five receptions for 54 yards) and Mike Wallace (two catches for 52 yards). Daunte Culpepper got the Lions to within eight points midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn?t orchestrate a dramatic finish. He went 23-for-37 with 282 yards, one touchdown and an interception as he filled in for injured rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. Kevin Smith struggled to gain ground, rushing 20 times for 53 yards in the loss. With Calvin Johnson nursing an injury, Dennis Northcutt led Detroit in receiving with five catches for 70 yards and a score. Carolina 20, Washington 17 Team Trench Counter: Panthers -1.3, Redskins +1.3 The Carolina Panthers (1-3) got their first win of the season against the Washington Redskins (2-3) thanks to a strong fourth quarter. The Redskins led 17-2 in the third, but the Panthers went on to score 18 unanswered points. Jake Delhomme had 181 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while both DeAngelo Williams (18 carries for 40 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (10 rushes for 39 yards and a touchdown) were limited. Jason Campbell was steady for the Redskins, going 17-for-23 with 145 yards and a touchdown, but Washington?s defense collapsed in the second half. Clinton Portis rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while also grabbed two passes for 17 yards and another score. Cleveland 6, Buffalo 3 Team Trench Counter: Browns +1.2, Bills -1.2 Terrell Owens felt as though the Buffalo Bills (1-4) had a shot to win, but instead the Cleveland Browns (1-4) notched their first victory of the season in an extremely low-scoring game. Derek Anderson went 2-for-17 with 23 yards and an interception, while Jamal Lewis led the Cleveland offense with 117 yards on 31 carries. The Bills had better offensive numbers, but simply didn?t make timely plays. Trent Edwards went 16-for-31 with 152 yards and an interception, while Marshawn Lynch (69 yards on 17 carries), Edwards (40 yards on four carries) and Fred Jackson (30 yards on 13 rushes) gained yards on the ground. Buffalo?s offense was stopped cold often, including two fumbles by kick returner Roscoe Parrish. Cincinnati 17, Baltimore 14 Team Trench Counter: Bengals +13.5, Ravens -13.5 The Cincinnati Bengals (4-1) cemented their status as a legitimate contender in the AFC North with a dramatic win over the Baltimore Ravens (3-2). Carson Palmer hooked up with Andre Caldwell on a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 22 seconds left to give the Bengals yet another last-second win. Palmer finished the game with 271 yards, one touchdown and an interception on 18-for-31 passing. Chad Ochocinco led the team in receiving with 94 yards, while Cedric Benson starred on the ground with 120 yards and a score on 27 carries. Joe Flacco went 22-for-31 with 186 yards, one touchdown and two picks in the loss. Ray Rice was respectable on the ground, gaining 69 yards on 14 carries, while also grabbing seven passes for 74 yards and a score at M&T Bank Stadium. Ed Reed returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, but Baltimore?s defense wasn?t able to keep Palmer from leading Cincinnati down the field with the game on the line. Atlanta 45, San Francisco 10 Team Trench Counter: Falcons +17, 49ers -17 The Atlanta Falcons (3-1) exploded after their bye-week, putting 35 points on the board against the San Francisco (3-2) in the first half alone. Matt Ryan went 22-for-32 with 329 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as Roddy White reaped most of the benefits. After a slow start to the season, White grabbed eight passes for 210 yards and two scores in the win. Michael Turner excelled as well, tallying 97 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. Ryan also used his legs effectively, rushing for a 1-yard score in the fourth quarter. Shaun Hill struggled against Atlanta?s defense, throwing for just 198 yards to go along with an interception. He added 53 yards on four scrambles, while rookie Glen Coffee carried the ball 12 times for 45 yards and a touchdown at Candlestick Park. The 49ers head into their bye-week after the demoralizing defeat. Seattle 41, Jacksonville 0 Team Trench Counter: Seahawks +26.3, Jaguars -26.3 With Matt Hasselbeck back at quarterback, the Seattle Seahawks (2-3) absolutely pasted the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) at Qwest Field. Hasselbeck went 18-for-30 with 241 yards and four touchdown tosses, while Seattle?s stable of running backs enjoyed a nice afternoon as well. The three-headed monster of Edgerrin James, Justin Forsett and Julius Jones combined to rush for 123 yards in the victory. David Garrard went 18-for-31 with 188 yards in the loss, as the Seattle defense kept Jacksonville off the board. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed 12 times for 34 yards, while Torry Holt led the team in receiving with seven catches for 95 yards. Garrard stalled the Jaguars? offense twice with fumbles. Denver 20, New England 17 (OT) Team Trench Counter: Broncos +6.4, Patriots -6.4 Matt Prater?s 41-yard kick in overtime kept the Denver Broncos (5-0) perfect on the season as Josh McDaniels defeated his former employer, the New England Patriots (3-2) at Invesco Field. Kyle Orton had yet another great game, going 35-for-48 with 330 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, filling in for the injured Correll Buckhalter, gained 88 yards on 21 carries in the victory. Brandon Marshall was on the receiving end of both of Orton?s scoring passes, while Eddie Royal led Denver in receiving with 10 catches for 90 yards. Tom Brady had 215 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, while losing a fumble that stalled a New England drive. Sammy Morris was the team?s leading rusher. He carried the ball 17 times for 68 yards, while also hauling in two passes for 39 yards. Wes Welker starred with eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Randy Moss had as many receptions (one for 36 yards) as interceptions (he was in as a defensive back on the final play of the first play). Arizona 28, Houston 21 Team Trench Counter: Cardinals +1.5, Texans -1.5 The Houston Texans (2-3) scored three consecutive touchdowns over the third and fourth quarters, but a miscue allowed the Arizona Cardinals (2-2) to escape with a win. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returned an interception 49 yards for the game-winning touchdown with less than three minutes remaining. Kurt Warner had 302 yards and two touchdowns on the afternoon, while Beanie Wells (24 yards on seven carries) and Tim Hightower (17 yards and a score on six touches) weren?t very efficient on the ground. Anquan Boldin (seven receptions for 81 yards) and Larry Fitzgerald (five catches for 79 yards and two scores) led Arizona in receiving. Matt Schaub played well, going 35-for-50 with 371 yards and two touchdowns, but his interception came at the worst possible time. Steve Slaton rushed just 13 times for 39 yards as Houston aired it out hoping for a comeback. Andre Johnson led Houston in receiving, grabbing eight passes for 101 yards and two scores. Indianapolis 31, Tennessee 9 Team Trench Counter: Colts +11.2, Titans -11.2 The Indianapolis Colts (5-0) held the Tennessee Titans (0-5) to just three field goals at home as they cruised to their fifth straight win to open the season. Peyton Manning had 309 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, with rookie Austin Collie grabbing eight passes for 97 yards and two scores. Joseph Addai led the Colts in rushing, tallying just 27 yards and a score on 14 carries. Addai also caught 10 passes for 53 yards in the win. Kerry Collins continued to struggle, going 19-for-32 with 164 yards and an interception. LenDale White (10 rushes for 51 yards) and Chris Johnson (9 rushes for 34 yards) had decent nights on the ground, but the Indianapolis defense stalled numerous Tennessee drives. The Titans, who went 13-3 last season, rank in the bottom third of the league in both passing (offense and defense) and rushing (offense). *Explaining The Trench Counter

Brett Favre?s first game against his former team was all fun for the Vikings and all frustration for the Packers, as the graying quarterback kept his cool and connected for three touchdown passes and 271 yards in a 30-23 victory on Monday night, as reported by the Associated Press.

For the first time since the 1960s, Michigan State has beaten Michigan twice in a row. Larry Caper ran for a 23-yard touchdown in overtime to give Michigan State a 26-20 win over Michigan on Saturday, according to an Associated Press report.