Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis missed the second half of the team's game against the Cowboys on Sunday with swelling in his left leg. Ellis had swelling in both his left knee and lower leg. Oakland's medical staff tried to drain the knee at halftime. "If the swelling was just in my knee, I probably would have been able to go out there," said Ellis. "But it went down my shin and calf, and you can't drain that."

Shane Lechler was called out by Wade Phillips ahead of Thursday's game in Dallas, claiming the Raiders' punter won't hit the hanging video board above the field. "Oh, I don't think he's gonna hit it if he kicks it," Phillips said in a teleconference. "I mean, nobody's even come close except that guy that kicked it straight up in preseason to try to hit it." "Yeah, I could hit it," Lechler said. "If that guy in Tennessee can hit it, I can hit it. I talked to Andy, and he said it wasn't that big of a deal." "I don't think you can even worry about it," Raiders coach Tom Cable said. "You've just got to let it rip. How do you kick around something that big?"

The Saints, Colts and Vikings remained the cream of the crop in the NFL with wins of varying degrees in Week 11. We will calculate each team's Trench Counter*. Miami 24, Carolina 17 Team Trench Counter: Dolphins +0.3, Panthers -0.3 Ricky Williams led the Miami Dolphins (5-5) past the Carolina Panthers (4-6) on Thursday night. Williams rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns and added two receptions for 19 yards and another score. Chad Henne went 17-for-29 with 179 yards and a touchdown, while Williams handled most of the rushing duties with Ronnie Brown out. Davone Bess led Miami in receiving with six catches for 63 yards. The Dolphins held Carolina to three points through the game?s first 45 minutes. Jake Delhomme was steady, but the Panthers were manhandled early on. Delhomme went 19-for-42 with 227 yards, one touchdown and an interception. DeAngelo Williams had 122 yards on just 13 carries and Steve Smith, who was involved in a minor car accident prior to the game, caught seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. New Orleans 38, Tampa Bay 7 Team Trench Counter: Saints +16.4, Buccaneers -16.4 The New Orleans Saints (10-0) separated themselves from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-9) in the second quarter to extend their perfect run. Drew Brees finished with just 187 yards, but tossed three touchdowns. Pierre Thomas (92 yards) and Mike Bell (75 yards and two scores) helped New Orleans control both the clock and the ground game. Robert Meachem had just two catches for 10 yards in the win, but both resulted in trips to the end zone. Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman struggled, going 17-for-33 with 126 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Tampa Bay rushed for 119 yards in the loss, while Antonio Bryant led the team in receiving with just three catches for 40 yards. The Buccaneers? defense wasn?t able to slow down Brees and the Saints; they failed to record a sack against the quarterback. N.Y. Giants 34, Atlanta 31 (OT) Team Trench Counter: Giants +2.9, Falcons -2.9 The New York Giants (6-4) won for the first time in five games after dispatching of the Atlanta Falcons (5-5) on Sunday afternoon. Eli Manning tossed for 384 yards, three touchdowns and an interception at home. The Giants were limited on the ground, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined to run for just 73 yards and a score, but Manning?s aerial attack was just enough. Mario Manningham led New York in receiving with six catches for 126 yards. Matt Ryan played well, going 26-for-46 with 268 yards and two scores, but Atlanta?s defense couldn?t stop Manning from posting his first-ever 300-yard effort at Giants Stadium. Jason Snelling, filling in for the injured Michael Turner, totaled 76 yards and two touchdowns, and Tony Gonzalez recorded eight catches for 82 yards and a score. The Giants won the toss and the game on a 36-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes. Minnesota 35, Seattle 9 Team Trench Counter: Vikings +27.3, Seahawks -27.3 Brett Favre was nearly perfect as the Minnesota Vikings (9-1) dominated the Seattle Seahawks (3-7) at the Metrodome. Favre went 22-for-25 with 213 yards and four touchdowns. With the game in hand, Tarvaris Jackson threw for 77 yards and a score. Adrian Peterson didn?t find the end zone, but rushed for 82 yards on 24 carries. Sidney Rice, who has emerged as Favre?s top target, had six catches for 89 yards and two scores. Matt Hasselbeck went 19-for-26 with 231 yards and an interception, while Justin Forsett led Seattle in rushing with just nine yards and a score. The Vikings limited the Seahawks to 212 total yards, including just four net rushing yards in the game. Kansas City 27, Pittsburgh (OT) Team Trench Counter: Chiefs -0.9, Steelers +0.9 The Kansas City Chiefs (3-7) stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) in overtime on a 22-yard field goal by Ryan Succop. Matt Cassel went 15-for-30 with 248 yards and two scores and Jamaal Charles led the Chiefs in rushing with 58 yards on 17 attempts. Chris Chambers led in receiving with four catches for 119 yards, including a 61-yard burst that set up Succop?s game-winning field goal. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 398 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, but left the game in overtime after suffering a possible concussion. Rashard Mendenhall rushed the ball 21 times for 80 yards and Willie Parker tallied just 24 yards on six touches. The defending Super Bowl champs have lost two straight heading into a game against the rival Ravens. Jacksonville 18, Buffalo 15 Team Trench Counter: Jaguars -0.3, Bills +0.3 David Garrard connected with Mike Sims-Walker on a three-yard pass with less than a minute remaining to give the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) a comeback win over the Buffalo Bills (3-7). Garrard finished with 215 yards, the score and an interception. Maurice Jones-Drew had 66 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Terrell Owens had his best day as a member of the Bills, catching nine passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 98-yard connection with Ryan Fitzpatrick in the third quarter. Fitzpatrick had 297 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. A majority of the news surrounding the Bills over the last week has pertained to possible coaching candidates. Green Bay 30, San Francisco 24 Team Trench Counter: Packers +4, 49ers -4 The San Francisco 49ers (4-6) made things interesting, but couldn?t complete a comeback against the Green Bay Packers (6-4) at Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers had 344 yards and two touchdowns and Ryan Grant tallied 129 yards and a score in the important victory. Greg Jennings was Green Bay?s third offensive star, grabbing five balls for 129 yards and a score. The 49ers scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to make things close, but the early shortcomings of their defense ultimately doomed them. Alex Smith finished with 227 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while Frank Gore ran the ball just seven times for 59 yards. San Francisco was forced to throw the ball early after falling behind 23-6 in the first half. Detroit 38, Cleveland 37 Team Trench Counter: Lions +1.2, Browns -1.2 Matthew Stafford found rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew in the end zone with no time left on the clock to push the Detroit Lions (2-8) past the Cleveland Browns (1-9) at Ford Field. Stafford finished with 422 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions and appeared to hurt his shoulder on play prior to the game-winning strike. Kevin Smith had 149 total yards and a score, while Calvin Johnson led Detroit in receiving with seven catches for 161 yards and a score. Brady Quinn had his best afternoon in the NFL, going 21-for-33 with 304 yards and four touchdowns, but Cleveland?s defense couldn?t back up the young quarterback. Jamal Lewis ran for 75 yards, while Mohamed Massaquoi led the Browns in receiving with five catches for 115 yards and a score. A defensive pass interference call helped Detroit steal the victory. Dallas 7, Washington 6 Team Trench Counter: Cowboys -2.4, Redskins +2.4 Held scoreless for nearly the whole game, the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) defeated the Washington Redskins (3-7) on a late touchdown. Tony Romo found Patrick Crayton in the end zone for a 10-yard score with just 2:41 remaining in regulation. Marion Barber had 99 yards and Felix Jones added 49 yards in the victory. Miles Austin led Dallas in receiving with four catches for 47 yards as the Cowboys? offense struggled for the second straight week. Jason Campbell went 24-for-37 with 256 yards and an interception. Rock Cartwright, who got a bulk of the carries with Clinton Portis out (concussion) and Ladell Betts suffering an injury in the game, ran 13 times for 67 yards. He also led the team in receiving, grabbing seven passes for 73 yards at Cowboys Stadium. Indianapolis 17, Baltimore 15 Team Trench Counter: Colts -0.3, Ravens +0.3 Peyton Manning struggled, but the Indianapolis Colts (10-0) remained perfect with a dramatic win over the Baltimore Ravens (5-5) at M&T Bank Stadium. Manning went 22-for-31 with 299 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Joseph Addai had a strong game, rushing for 74 yards and a score on 19 attempts. Pierre Garcon led the Colts in receiving with six catches for 108 yards, while Dallas Clark?s one-handed, three-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter made highlight shows around the country. The Ravens had a chance to hand the Colts their first loss of the season, but Joe Flacco was intercepted by linebacker Gary Brackett on what could have been Baltimore?s game-winning drive. Flacco had 256 yards and an interception and the Ravens? offense stalled often. They settled for five field goals, despite forcing three Indianapolis turnovers. Derrick Mason had nine catches for 142 yards in the loss. Arizona 21, St. Louis 13 Team Trench Counter: Cardinals +10.9, Rams -10.9 Kurt Warner left in the second quarter with an apparent head injury, but the Arizona Cardinals (7-3) had enough to get past the St. Louis Rams (1-9). Warner had 203 yards and two touchdowns before leaving. Matt Leinart went 10-for-14 with 74 yards in relief. Tim Hightower (110 yards on 14 carries) and Beanie Wells (74 yards and a score on 14 touches) helped Arizona dominate on the ground. As usual, Larry Fitzgerald (87 yards and a touchdown) and Anquan Boldin (103 yards and a score) led in receiving. Marc Bulger went 19-for-37 with 215 yards and an interception. Steven Jackson was the lone offensive star for the Rams, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. St. Louis held Arizona scoreless in the second half to pull within one possession midway through the fourth quarter. Oakland 20, Cincinnati 17 Team Trench Counter: Raiders -1.8, Bengals +1.8 The Oakland Raiders (3-7) shocked the Cincinnati Bengals (7-3) on a late field goal in regulation. After Bruce Gradkowski connected with Louis Murphy on a 29-yard pass that tied the game, the Raiders recovered a fumble on the kickoff and Sebastian Janikowski drilled a 33-yard field goal to win the game. Gradkowski, starting in place of JaMarcus Russell, went 17-for-34 with 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Carson Palmer had 207 yards and an interception, but rushed four times for seven yards and two touchdowns. Bernard Scott, starting in place of the injured Cedric Benson, ran 21 times for 119 yards. Larry Johnson made his Cincinnati debut, tallying just five yards on two attempts. Chad Ochocinco led the Bengals in receiving with four catches for 67 yards at the Oakland Coliseum. New England 31, N.Y. Jets 14 Team Trench Counter: Patriots +16.6, Jets -16.6 In the wake of their controversial loss to the Colts last week, the New England Patriots (7-3) thumped the New York Jets (4-6) at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady had 310 yards and a touchdown, while New England?s defense atoned for the miscues last Sunday night. Laurence Maroney rushed for 77 yards and two scores on 22 touches in the win. Wes Welker had a career-day, catching 15 passes for 192 yards. Leigh Bodden had three picks, including one for a touchdown in the game. Mark Sanchez continues to look like a rookie. He went 8-for-21 with 136 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Thomas Jones rushed for 103 yards, but was New York?s only real offensive stud. Jerricho Cotchery connected with Sanchez three times for 84 yards and a touchdown. The Jets? other score come on a four-yard blocked punt return by Brad Smith. San Diego 32, Denver 3 Team Trench Counter: Chargers +15.6, Broncos -15.6 The San Diego Chargers (7-3) dominated the Denver Broncos (6-4) to gain control in the AFC West. Philip Rivers went 17-for-22 with 145 yards and a touchdown in the win as San Diego featured their ground attack in a game that they had won in the first half. LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown and Mike Tolbert added 58 yards and another score on just seven carries. San Diego?s defense had three sacks. Chris Simms started the game, but was replaced by the hobbled Kyle Orton after going 2-for-4 with 10 yards and a fumble in very limited duty. Orton finished with 171 yards and an interception. Knowshon Moreno (80 yards) and Correll Buckhalter (35 yards) played well, but a fumble by Moreno ended what looked like a sure touchdown drive by Denver. After starting 6-0, the Broncos have lost four straight games. Philadelphia 24, Chicago 20 Team Trench Counter: Eagles +2.6, Bears -2.6 The Philadelphia Eagles (6-4) got all the key plays they needed in the fourth quarter as they beat the reeling Chicago Bears (4-6) on Sunday night. Donovan McNabb went 23-for-32 with 244 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while rookie LeSean McCoy rushed 20 times for 99 yards and a score. DeSean Jackson led Philadelphia in receiving with eight catches for 107 yards and a score. Both Jackson and McCoy lost fumbles, but the Eagles' defense helped limit Chicago to one touchdown. Jay Cutler looked tentative all night, going 24-for-43 with 171 yards, one touchdown and an interception, which came on the Bears' final drive of the game. Kahlil Bell had 81 yards on just four carries and Matt Forte rushed 14 times for 34 yards in the loss. The Bears settled for field goals five times, while the Eagles blocked one in the fourth quarter. *Explaining The Trench Counter

Bengals running back Cedric Benson is unlikely to play against the Raiders on Sunday. Benson did not practice for the second straight day on Thursday with a hip flexor. Larry Johnson, who was signed earlier this week, will be asked to handle some of the rushing load. "It's a new offense and they have to get comfortable with trusting me to step in there," said Johnson. "The plays are the same handing off and right now the exchange has been pretty good between Carson (Palmer) and myself."

According to the Raiders Twitter feed, Tom Cable has named Bruce Gradkowski the starting quarterback for Sunday?s game against Cincinnati. Gradowski went 5-for-9 with two interceptions in last Sunday's loss to Kansas City.

Raiders coach Tom Cable hasn't decided who will start at quarterback in Sunday's game against the Bengals. "It will be focused on winning, period, what gives us the best chance to win," Cable said. "I'm just waiting to put all my facts together here and make a good decision for this team." For the second time this season, Cable pulled JaMarcus Russell in favor of Bruce Gradkowski this past Sunday.

The NFL is not expected to punish Raiders coach Tom Cable for assault allegations, according to a league source. However, the league is putting Cable into an evaluation process that will determine whether or not he needs anger management or substance abuse counseling.

For the second time this season, the Raiders have pulled quarterback JaMarcus Russell in the middle of a game. Oakland replaced Russell with Bruce Gradkowski in the third quarter of Sunday's game against Kansas City. Russell was 8-for-24 with 64 passing yards at the time of his benching.

For the second consecutive day, the Raiders brought in a left-footed punter for a workout to simulate the Chiefs' Dustin Colquitt. Glenn Pakulak was flown in to kick to punt returner Johnnie Lee Higgins. Ricky Schmitt was flown in Tuesday. Both have spent time in Raiders' training camp.

Javon Walker has asked for his release from the Oakland Raiders. The veteran wideout is looking for a chance to resurrect his NFL career with a team interested in a former Pro Bowl player who believes he is in his prime. "That would be nice," Walker said earlier this week, "because, the thing about it is, it's not that I can't play. I can play. From everyone who sees me at practice, I still got it going on."