During the early parts of the season, rookie D Victor Hedman needed the reigns pulled back on him when it came to jumping up the ice to join the rush. ...more

December 14, 2009

Joey Johnston reveals his picks for this year's Heisman Trophy - and none of them are quarterbacks. ...more

December 7, 2009

BEARS ...17 RAMS ...9 The way Jay Cutler started, Chicago looked as though it was headed to a lopsided win. Instead, the Bears had to hang on to get by lowly St. Louis. Cutler faded after a strong start, throwing for 143 yards and a touchdown without an interception, but Chicago will take the win after dropping four straight and six of seven. Cutler was 4-for-7 for 131 yards in the first quarter as the Bears built a 10-0 lead. After that? Chicago went to the run, St. Louis rallied and Bears receiver Devin Hester left the game with a calf injury. Chicago gave up 112 yards rushing to Steven Jackson but kept the Rams out of the end zone for the fourth time this season even though Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs missed the game with a sprained left knee. Chicago's defense did just enough after allowing 537 yards the previous week, with a late interception by Hunter Hillenmeyer helping preserve the win. ...more

December 7, 2009

COLTS ...27 TITANS ...17 Indianapolis tied the NFL record for longest winning streak, beating Tennessee for its 21st consecutive regular-season victory. The only other team to win that many in a row: New England from 2006-08. The Colts can break the record next week at home against Denver. The victory also extended the Colts' league mark for most consecutive 12-win seasons to seven and ended the Titans' five-game winning streak. Peyton Manning threw one TD pass, Joseph Addai ran for two scores and the Colts spent the second half protecting the lead. It was the first time in six games Indy didn't need a fourth-quarter comeback to win. Tennessee's Chris Johnson ran 27 times for 113 yards, his seventh straight 100-yard game, but failed to become the first player in league history to top 125 yards rushing in seven straight. ...more

December 7, 2009

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

GIANTS ...31 COWBOYS ...24 Brandon Jacobs had the Giants' longest play of the season for just a few minutes, then Domenik Hixon topped it, lifting New York past Dallas. The Giants tightened the NFC East with their win, dropping Dallas into a tie with Philadelphia for the lead. New York has swept Dallas this season and plays Philadelphia at home Sunday night. Jacobs covered 74 yards after taking a short pass from Eli Manning, his touchdown putting the Giants ahead 21-17 in the third quarter. Not to be outdone, Hixon went 79 yards with a punt return for a 31-17 lead in the final period. New York won despite career-best stats for Dallas tight end Jason Witten and quarterback Tony Romo, who is 5-9 in December games. Witten included his 500th career catch among a career-best 14 receptions for 156 yards. ...more

December 7, 2009

Thirty rushing touchdowns! Countryside High School senior Alton Taylor has developed an intimate relationship with the end zone. Thirty rushing touchdowns? It's real. ...more

December 4, 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

TITANS ...41 BILLS ...17 Chris Johnson ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught nine passes for 100 more. The Titans have won three straight games since opening the season 0-6, and they can thank Johnson, the NFL's leading rusher and the league's first back to top 1,000 yards this season. Young also threw for a touchdown and finished with 210 yards passing in winning his seventh straight start. Buffalo got Trent Edwards back and rookie Jairus Byrd picked off a pass in a fifth straight game, but the Bills lost their second straight. ...more

November 16, 2009

VIKINGS ...27 LIONS ...10 Brett Favre passed for a season-high 344 yards, 201 to Sidney Rice, and Detroit lost for the 31st time in 33 games. The Lions joined the Houston Oilers, from Nov. 21, 1982, through Nov. 4, 1984, as the only NFL teams to lose 31 games in a 33-game stretch, according to STATS. They've played tough this season several times, as the Vikings can attest, but after a slew of injuries in this game and more poor pass coverage they dropped their 12th straight at the Metrodome. Adrian Peterson lost a fumble but turned 18 carries into 133 yards and two TDs for Minnesota. The Vikings overcame a season-most 13 penalties. ...more

November 16, 2009