Smith breaks record in loss

IRVING, Texas -- Emmitt Smith broke Walter Payton's career rushing record with an 11-yard fourth-quarter run Sunday, accomplishing a goal the Dallas Cowboys running back set for himself when he was a rookie in 1990.

Smith finished with 109 yards on 24 carries -- both season highs -- but he could only stand grim-faced on the sideline as Seattle's Rian Lindell kicked a 20-yard field goal with 25 seconds left to give the Seahawks a 17-14 victory.

The defeat couldn't diminish what the 33-year-old Smith accomplished over his prolific career, which included three Super Bowl championships and four rushing titles.

Midway through his 13th season, Smith has 16,743 career yards. Payton finished his 13-year career in 1987 with 16,726. Smith had a TD to extend his NFL record for rushing touchdowns to 150.

Payton, who played his entire career for the Chicago Bears and earned the nickname "Sweetness" for his beautiful playing style, died in November 1999 from cancer. He was 45.

On his record-breaking run, Smith cut left, saw a hole and plunged ahead. When an arm smacked his legs and sent him stumbling, Smith put down his right hand to keep his balance and finished off the 11-yard gain.

"Today is a special day for me, my family and the Payton family," the 33-year-old Smith said during a postgame ceremony on the field. "Because without Payton doing what he did in the National Football League and representing all the represented, he wouldn't have given a young man like myself a dream, something to shoot after and a person to look up to and try to emulate in every way possible."

Payton's mother and brother watched Sunday from a box at Texas Stadium. Smith had about 30 relatives on the sideline and he sought out his mother and wife for hugs and kisses during a five-minute stoppage following the record run.

Payton once said he wanted "to set the record so high that the next person who tries for it, it's going to bust their heart." Smith has displayed so much heart that Payton's widow, Connie, said he would've been happy to see No. 22 take the title.

"I am so proud of you, Emmitt," Connie Payton said in a videotaped message. "Your hard work and determination, your being true to the game, are a part of your success. I feel we're truly blessed having you as a friend and part of our life."

Smith's 1-yard TD run with 5:35 left and tied the game at 14, but Seattle had plenty of time to get in position for Lindell's winning kick.

The Seahawks (2-5) won on the road for the first time this season despite losing quarterback Trent Dilfer to a season-ending Achilles injury in the second quarter. Matt Hasselbeck relieved Dilfer and went 12-of-19 for 131 yards with an interception.

Dallas (3-5) lost its second straight in the debut of rookie quarterback Chad Hutchinson, who was 12-of-24 for 145 yards.

Chiefs 20, Raiders 10

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Priest Holmes totaled 184 yards running and receiving, and the NFL's lowest-rated defense held the league's highest-rated offense to one touchdown as the Chiefs beat Oakland.

Kansas City (4-4) had lost five straight to the Raiders (4-3), who have lost three in a row overall.

Mike Maslowski forced Jerry Rice to fumble and recovered the ball on the Oakland 22 with 4:39 left, setting up Trent Green's 4-yard touchdown pass to Tony Richardson with 1:55 to go.

Oakland's Rich Gannon was 35-of-55 for 334 yards and joined Steve Young and Kurt Warner as the only players in NFL history to pass for over 300 yards in six straight games.

Falcons 37, Saints 35

NEW ORLEANS -- Jay Feely kicked a 47-yard field goal as time expired, giving Atlanta (4-3) the victory in a game either team could have won.

The Saints (6-2) kicked a field goal with 3:33 remaining to cut Atlanta's lead to 34-28. On the Falcons' next drive, Warrick Dunn fumbled for the second time in the game, and New Orleans took possession at the Atlanta 28. Deuce McAllister ran 16 yards for a score to put the Saints up 35-34 with 2:20 left.

That was enough time for Michael Vick, who drove Atlanta into Feely's range.

Vick completed 16 of 24 passes for 195 yards. He rushed for 91 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Steelers 31, Ravens 18

BALTIMORE -- Tommy Maddox completed his first 11 passes, and the Steelers (4-3) scored touchdowns on their first four possessions to beat the Ravens (3-4).

Maddox left with a sprained left ankle midway through the third quarter but returned with 11 minutes remaining and finished 18-for-24 for 172 yards and two TDs. He's 3-1 as the starter since replacing Kordell Stewart.

Amos Zereoue, filling in for the injured Jerome Bettis, ran for two scores for the Steelers , who have won four of five after an 0-2 start.

Jeff Blake started for the Ravens in place of the injured Chris Redman and went 29-of-50 for 298 yards. He passed and ran for a TD but threw three interceptions.

Broncos 24, Patriots 16

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Clinton Portis, the NFL's top rookie rusher, ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos (6-2) handed the Patriots (3-4) their fourth straight loss.

Shannon Sharpe caught an 8-yard scoring pass from Brian Griese as Denver moved a half-game behind idle San Diego in the AFC West.

Griese threw a touchdown pass for the 23rd consecutive game, the longest current streak in the NFL.

49ers 38, Cardinals 28

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jeff Garcia passed for 252 yards and threw two of his four touchdown passes to Terrell Owens as the 49ers (5-2) jumped to a big early lead and held off the Cardinals (4-3).

Owens had eight catches for 132 yards, and his TDs covered 21 and 61 yards.

The Cardinals rallied in the second half, but Ronnie Heard's third interception of the day -- he had none before Sunday -- with 5:26 left cut short the comeback.

Buccaneers 12, Panthers 9

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Martin Gramatica kicked three of his four field goals in the fourth quarter -- including a 47-yarder with 5 seconds to play -- helping Tampa Bay (6-2) beat Carolina (3-5).

Gramatica also made field goals of 52 and 53 yards in the fourth quarter, the second one with 1:55 to play to tie the game at 9.

Bills 24, Lions 17

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Bills (5-3) allowed the Lions (2-5) to drive to their 20 before linebacker London Fletcher tackled James Stewart behind the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-inches with 1:52 left.

Drew Bledsoe then completed a first-down pass to Eric Moulds, allowing the Bills to run out the clock.

Bledsoe finished 21-of-36 for 302 yards and a touchdown

Browns 24, Jets 21

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Four days after the death of team owner Al Lerner, the Browns (4-4) rallied from an 18-point deficit to stun the Jets (2-5). Phil Dawson completed the comeback by kicking a 35-yard field goal with 3:30 left.

The score capped another long second-half drive directed by Tim Couch, who finished 33-for-49 for 307 yards.

The game turned in the third quarter, when the Browns scored 15 points to pull into a 21-21 tie. Couch threw two short TD passes, then somehow completed a 2-point conversion to Dennis Northcutt.

Vikings 25, Bears 7

MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing patient offense and surprisingly tough defense, the Vikings (2-5) handed the Bears (2-5) their fifth straight loss.

Daunte Culpepper was 22-of-29 for 216 yards passing, a touchdown and no interceptions. His fumble was the Vikings' only turnover, and the Minnesota defense had a fumble recovery and two interceptions to go with six sacks.

Randy Moss had nine receptions for 119 yards and Michael Bennett ran 29 times for 106 yards to lead the Vikings.

Titans 30, Bengals 24

CINCINNATI -- Corey Dillon tripped over his blocker and was tackled inches from the goal line with 1:08 to play, allowing the Titans (3-4) to hold off the Bengals (0-7).

Steve McNair threw three second-half touchdown passes, and the Titans needed one last Bengal blunder to hold on against the NFL's only winless team.

After getting to the 1, Cincinnati decided to run to the right with Dillon, who took the handoff and tripped over pulling guard Matt O'Dwyer. Three Titans dove on Dillon as he lunged for the goal line.

Texans 21, Jaguars 19

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Kris Brown's field goal with 2:11 left lifted the expansion Texans (2-5) past the Jaguars (3-4), who have lost three in a row.

It was Houston's first road victory.

Redskins 26, Colts 21

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Redskins (3-4) dominated the Indianapolis defense with a patient offense that moved the sticks and controlled the clock as they broke a two-game losing streak. The Colts (4-3) have lost two straight.

Shane Matthews completed 17-for-35 for 210 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and was sacked just once.

--From wire reports