NFL roundup: Lions lose one because of the gipper
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| Houston running back Justin Forsett is hit by Detroit Lions free safety Louis Delmas (26) during the third quarter Thursday at Ford Field in Detroit. Forsett scored an 81-yard touchdown run on the play and the Texans went on to win 34-31 in overtime. (AP) |
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The Houston Texans took advantage of a big mistake by Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz.
Shayne Graham’s 32-yard field goal with 2:21 left overtime lifted Houston to a 34-31 win over Detroit on Thursday at Ford Field after Schwartz broke an NFL rule on a scoring play.
Detroit (4-7) kicker Jason Hanson had a chance to get Schwartz off the hook, but his 47-yard field goal attempt on the fifth possession of the extra period hit the right upright.
Schwartz threw a challenge flag when Houston’s Justin Forsett scored on an 81-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Replays showed Forsett was down near midfield, but Schwartz negated the automatic review by challenging the play and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The touchdown pulled Houston within three points. The Texans (10-1) took their first lead when Graham made up for missing a field goal earlier in a turnover-filled OT. The Texans have won five straight – two in a row in OT – and if a handful of teams lose they might be in the playoffs by the time they get back on the practice field after a long weekend.
Redskins 38, Cowboys 31: Robert Griffin III threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns, and the Redskins held off the Cowboys late in an NFC East showdown.
Griffin got some help from his receivers, including a leaping grab and long run from Pierre Garcon and some nifty footwork in the end zone by Santana Moss.
Tony Romo lost for the first time in six starts on Thanksgiving, despite a career-high 441 yards and three second-half touchdowns, including the longest of his career – an 85-yarder to Dez Bryant. Romo ran in a 2-point conversion after a TD throw to Felix Jones and threw another scoring pass to Bryant to help Dallas close to 35-28 with 8:24 remaining.
But Griffin answered. After Romo’s long touchdown to Bryant, Griffin threw his fourth scoring pass, a 29-yarder to Niles Paul.
After the Cowboys (5-6) pulled within a touchdown, Griffin drove them into scoring position again, calmly completing three passes for first downs and running 5½ minutes off the clock before Kai Forbath made it 38-28 on a 48-yard field goal.
Patriots 49, Jets 19: Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score as the New England Patriots embarrassed the New York Jets with a 35-point second quarter.
After a scoreless opening quarter, the Patriots (8-3) went on a touchdown spree while taking advantage of several mistakes by the hapless Jets (4-7). New England scored four touchdowns in just over 6 minutes – including three in a 52-second span.
Julian Edelman returned a fumble for a touchdown and caught a 56-yard pass for a score before leaving with a head injury.
Shane Vereen caught an 83-yard scoring pass, Steve Gregory had a 32-yard fumble return for a TD, Stevan Ridley had a 9-yard run and Wes Welker had a 3-yard scoring grab that helped make Bill Belichick the eighth NFL coach with 200 career victories, including the playoffs.
