Monday, October 11, 2004

No 5-0 start for Vick, Falcons


Lions win second straight on road; Buccaneers, 49ers get 1st victories

The Associated Press

ATLANTA - The Detroit Lions have learned to win on the road.

Michael Vick is still trying to get a handle on the West Coast offense.

After going three years without a road victory, the Lions made it two in a row Sunday with a 17-10 victory over Vick and the previously unbeaten Atlanta Falcons.

Detroit (3-1) harassed Vick into three turnovers, including a fumble in the final minute that sealed the victory.

Joey Harrington threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Az-Zahir Hakim on fourth-and-5, and Artose Pinner scored on a 1-yard dive with 1:57 left in the first half, the Lions' first rushing TD of the season.

Detroit set an NFL record by losing 24 straight road games over the previous three years, but opened the season with a 20-17 victory in Chicago.

Now, it's getting to be a habit.

"I love the resiliency of this team," coach Steve Mariucci said.

The Falcons (4-1) were denied the first 5-0 start in franchise history, along with Jim Mora taking the first loss of his head coaching career. The only other time Atlanta began 4-0 was 1986.

"We'll handle this like we handled the wins," Mora said. "You're going to have some adversity in the NFL."

Buccaneers 20, Saints 17

NEW ORLEANS - The Buccaneers hoped the son of a former Super Bowl quarterback would help them get their first victory. They got their wish.

But it was not Chris Simms, son of 1987 Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms, who led the Bucs (1-4) to their first victory of the season. Simms, making his first NFL start, hurt his throwing shoulder in the first quarter and was replaced by Brian Griese, son of Bob Griese, who played in three Super Bowls.

Griese went 16-of-19 for 194 yards and threw the decisive touchdown.

Rams 33, Seahawks 27, OT

SEATTLE - Never count out Marc Bulger and the quick-strike St. Louis Rams.

Bulger threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Shaun McDonald less than 3 minutes into overtime for the thrilling win.

The Rams (3-2) ended Seattle's 10-game home winning streak, with Bulger leading a 17-point rally by throwing two TD passes in the final 5:34 of regulation. Jeff Wilkins kicked a 36-yard field goal with 8 seconds left, forcing overtime.

Bulger completed 24 of 42 passes for 325 yards with three TDs and three interceptions.

Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck was 20-of-35 for 216 yards and two scoring passes. The Seahawks wasted a 150-yard rushing effort by Shaun Alexander.

49ers 31, Cardinals 28, OT

SAN FRANCISCO - Tim Rattay might be a worthy successor to the 49ers' great quarterbacks after all. He just needed the proper motivation - and the right opponent.

Rattay threw two touchdown passes and got two 2-point conversions in the final 4:35, and Todd Peterson kicked a 32-yard field goal with 11:37 left in overtime of the 49ers' first victory of the season. Rattay finished 38-of-57 for 417 yards - 169 after the third quarter.



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