and a chance to keep pressure on Arizona in the NFC West. Olindo Mare kicked a 30-yard field goal as time expired to send Seattle to a victory over inopportune and angry San Francisco. After the 49ers called timeout to try to ice the veteran on a cold day, Mare made his second field goal of the final quarter and extended his team record of 18 consecutive makes for the Seahawks. They also kept alive hopes for a winning season, if not a playoff berth. The Seahawks also severely damaged the postseason hopes of San Francisco. Smith, who had never had a 300-yard passing day in his first 38 NFL games, threw for a career-high 310 yards in the 49ers' new spread offense. Smith completed 27 of 45 throws and had two TD passes. ...more

December 7, 2009

The end was emotional for Tim Tebow. The Florida standout quarterback was overwhelmed by the moment, appearing to wipe away tears as he stood helplessly watching the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate as the final seconds counted down in the Crimson Tide's 32-13 victory. ...more

December 6, 2009

PACKERS ...34 LIONS ...12 Aaron Rodgers matched a career high with three touchdown passes as Green Bay won its third straight to improve its playoff prospects. Detroit lost its sixth straight game on Thanksgiving, setting a franchise record, and had an emotional setback after its biggest comeback win since 1957. Matthew Stafford, playing with a sore non-throwing shoulder, threw one touchdown pass and four interceptions in a rookie-like performance, after passing for five scores in Sunday's win against Cleveland. Detroit trailed the Browns by 21 before coming all the way back. The Lions (2-9) looked like they were building off that momentum by recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff and with Stafford's TD pass to Calvin Johnson. But the Packers (7-4) scored 27 consecutive points in the second and third quarters to turn the game into a familiar rout. Detroit lost its previous five games on Thanksgiving by an average of 23.4 points, and eight of nine in the showcase game. The Packers have won nine in a row against them overall. ...more

November 27, 2009

Top-ranked Florida likely will be without starting linebacker A.J. Jones against rival Florida State next week. ...more

November 21, 2009

CARDINALS ...31 SEAHAWKS ...20 The Arizona fans finally saw a semblance of the team they saw win the NFC championship last season. Rookie Beanie Wells had second-half touchdown runs of 10 and 13 yards and the Cardinals rallied from an early two-touchdown deficit to beat the Seahawks, just Arizona's second home win in five tries. Kurt Warner completed 29 of 38 for 340 yards and two TD passes for the Cardinals, who stayed two games up on San Francisco in the NFC West. In the process, Warner became the 29th player in NFL history to throw 200 touchdown passes. He had his 51st 300-yard passing game, tying Dan Fouts for fourth on the NFL career list. ...more

November 16, 2009

PACKERS ...17 COWBOYS ...7 Charles Woodson helped Green Bay's defense finally play up to its potential against a big-time opponent, forcing two fumbles and picking off a pass by Tony Romo on the goal line in a victory against Dallas. It wasn't a pretty win for the Packers, but it might have saved their season after back-to-back demoralizing losses. The Packers sacked Romo five times and held him to 251 yards passing in a momentum-killer for the Cowboys, who had won four straight. Dallas also lost starting right tackle Marc Colombo to a broken left leg. Aaron Rodgers scored on a quarterback sneak and threw a touchdown pass to tight end Spencer Havner. Rodgers endured another rough day at the office, taking four sacks and spending much of the day under pressure. ...more

November 16, 2009

COWBOYS ...38 SEAHAWKS ...17 Miles Austin caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game and Patrick Crayton returned a punt for a score for the second consecutive week, sending Dallas into a share of first place in the NFC East. Since a herky-jerky first month, the Cowboys have found quite a groove, winning three straight. Tony Romo threw for 256 yards, with touchdowns to Austin, Sam Hurd and Roy Williams. ...more

November 2, 2009

For the first time since opening day against Charleston Southern, Florida came away with a touchdown on its opening drive. ...more

November 1, 2009

PACKERS ...31 BROWNS ...3 Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, Ryan Grant rushed for 148 yards and Green Bay warmed up for Brett Favre's first visit back to Lambeau Field next week with a laugher against the Cleveland, which got over the flu but can't shake other problems. It would have been understandable if the Packers had overlooked an inferior opponent with their eyes on Favre's hyped return to Wisconsin with the Minnesota Vikings. But Rodgers and his teammates took care of business against the Browns, who have scored only four offensive touchdowns and 72 points all season. ...more

October 26, 2009

If you watched the Florida Gators defeat Oklahoma 24-14 in Thursday night's BCS Championship Game, it was difficult not to notice a former Tampa Bay area prep star filling an important role. ...more

January 11, 2009