NFL: Week 15 12/19/05

Bengals 41, Lions 17

The Cincinnati Bengals clinched their first division title since 1990, as Carson Palmer threw three touchdown passes.

Cincinnati (11-3) won its fourth straight game, adding to a sensational season after 14 straight years without a winning record. They have a chance for their best record ever, having gone 12-4 in 1981 and 1988. They made the Super Bowl both years.

Palmer was 28-of-39 for 274 yards with three touchdowns, matching a season high, and two interceptions. He has thrown 30 TD passes this season, breaking Ken Anderson's team record of 29 set in 1981. The reeling Lions (4-10) lost their fifth in a row. Before the game, hundreds of fans marched to protest Lions president Matt Millen, who has led the franchise to an NFL-worst 20-58 record the past five seasons.

Bears 16, Falcons 3

Quarterback Rex Grossman energized the crowd and added a different dimension after relieving the struggling Kyle Orton in the third quarter, and the Bears (10-4) rolled to victory over Atlanta at frigid Soldier Field.

The projected starter before breaking his left ankle in a preseason game at St. Louis, Grossman completed 9 of 16 passes for 93 yards with an interception.

The NFL's No. 1 defense limited the Falcons to 231 yards. The Bears increased their lead in the NFC North to two games over Minnesota. The Falcons fell to 8-6.

Steelers 18, Vikings 3

Ben Roethlisberger ran for a touchdown, and Pittsburgh forced three turnovers and a safety to snap Minnesota's six-game winning streak.

Willie Parker rushed 14 times for 81 yards for the Steelers (9-5), who won their second consecutive game and put themselves in prime position for an AFC wild card. The Vikings (8-6) sealed their demise at the end of an embarrassing week. Four players, including the injured Daunte Culpepper, were charged Thursday with three misdemeanors apiece for their lewd behavior in the infamous bye-week boat party.

Brad Johnson, whose takeover at quarterback coincided with the streak, threw two costly red-zone interceptions. Johnson went 16-for-30 for 143 yards, including a woeful 2-for-9, 9-yard output after halftime. Roethlisberger completed 10 of 15 passes for 149 yards and no turnovers.

Seahawks 28, Titans 24

Matt Hasselbeck threw three touchdown passes, including a 2-yarder to Darrell Jackson in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks rallied to clinch a first-round bye.

Seattle (12-2) won its 10th straight for the first time in team history and also matched the 1984 squad for most victories in a season. Hasselbeck finished with 285 yards as the Seahawks beat the Titans (4-10) for the fifth straight time in their first meeting since 1998.

Shaun Alexander also ran for a touchdown and became the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 1,600 yards in consecutive seasons. He finished with 26 carries for 172 yards.

Jaguars 10, 49ers 9

David Garrard ran for a touchdown, Josh Scobee kicked the winning field goal and the Jaguars moved closer to a playoff berth.

Jacksonville (10-4) won for the sixth time in seven games -- all of the victories coming against teams with losing records -- and now can return to the postseason for the first time since 1999 with a victory against Houston or Tennessee to end the season.

San Francisco (4-12), which has lost 12 of 13 since beating St. Louis in the season opener, led 9-7 after Joe Nedney's 33-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter. But a 32-yard field goal by Scobee with 9:45 to play proved to be the winner.

Dolphins 24, Jets 20

Replacing an injured Gus Frerotte to start the second half, Sage Rosenfels threw a 50-yard completion for the go-ahead touchdown, and the Dolphins earned their fourth win in a row.

Despite the victory, Miami (7-7) was eliminated from the AFC playoff race when Pittsburgh and San Diego won. The Jets (3-11) finished 0-8 on the road for the first time. .

Panthers 27, Saints 10

Jake Delhomme led Carolina back into first place in the NFC South, throwing for a touchdown and running for another.

Delhomme's fourth victory against his former team came in the same week the Saints (3-11) benched quarterback Aaron Brooks after 82 straight starts. His replacement, seldom-used Todd Bouman, struggled, finishing with four interceptions and a lost fumble.

The Panthers (10-4) never trailed, as Delhomme relied on a solid running game to control the clock.

Texans 30, Cardinals 19

The Texans finally figured out how to hold a lead, breaking a six-game losing streak.

But the Texans may have jeopardized their chances of landing Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush in the draft if he leaves Southern California. Houston (2-12) is now tied with San Francisco for the worst record in the NFL after the 49ers lost to Jacksonville 10-9 on Sunday. The Texans face San Francisco in the season finale on New Year's Day.

The Cardinals (4-10) played with third-string quarterback John Navarre for the entire second half after Kurt Warner injured his knee in the second quarter. Warner will likely miss the final two games of the season.

Redskins 35, Cowboys 7

The Redskins kept their playoff hopes firmly intact and severely dented the cause of their despised foes, winning their third straight and sweeping the Cowboys for the first time in 10 years.

Phillip Daniels had four sacks and a fumble recovery, Marcus Washington had two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble, Chris Cooley caught three of Mark Brunell's four touchdown passes, and Clinton Portis ran for 112 yards.

The game left the Redskins (8-6) and Cowboys (8-6) two games behind the New York Giants in the NFC East.

Browns 9, Raiders 7

Phil Dawson kicked a 37-yard field goal two plays after Reuben Droughns' apparent fumble was overturned by replay, giving rookie QB Charlie Frye his first NFL win. Frye calmly engineered the last-minute drive that helped Cleveland (5-9) snap a three-game skid. The Raiders fell to 4-10.

-- From wire reports