EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, 30 November 2004 — The Philadelphia Eagles clinched their fourth straight division title on Sunday, and with plenty of time to spare in the National Football League season. Brian Westbrook accounted for 127 total yards and two touchdowns in Philadelphia’s 27-6 victory over the New York Giants that insured the Eagles the NFC East crown.
The win made the 10-1 Eagles just the third team since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to clinch a division title after 11 games, joining the 1985 Chicago Bears and 1997 San Francisco 49ers. Westbrook carried 18 times for 74 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that opened a 20-6 lead. He added five catches for 53 yards, including a 34-yard TD on a screen pass in the fourth quarter as he continued his dominant form against the Giants.
In a season-opening victory over the Giants, Westbrook rushed for 119 yards and added 42 yards receiving. He also had five touchdowns in two games against the Giants last season.
McNabb completed 18-of-27 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. He also scored on a four-yard run in the second quarter.
The Patriots, led by linebacker Tedy Bruschi, held Baltimore to 29 total yards and three first downs in the second half and even scored a touchdown in a 24-3 victory. The win, again a Ravens team that entered the game with the NFL’s stingiest defense, was New England’s 17th in a row at home, including playoffs. The Steelers’ Jerome Bettis rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown to lead Pittsburgh to their ninth straight win, a 16-7 victory over Washington in an interconference game that matched the NFL’s top-ranked defenses.
In Kansas City, Drew Brees had another huge game and Donnie Edwards’ interception set up rookie Nate Kaeding’s 43-yard field goal with 2:24 remaining as San Diego Chargers extended their winning streak to five games with a 34-31 victory over AFC West rivals Kansas City.
LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 46 yards and two touchdowns and and had 10 catches for 57 yards for the Chargers, who moved one game ahead of Denver at the top of the division.
The Broncos were stunned 25-24 by Oakland in a game played in driving snow.
Langston Walker blocked Jason Elam’s 43-yard field goal in the final seconds to secure the victory after the Raiders rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Atlanta edged slumping NFC South rivals New Orleans 24-21, a win that gives the Falcons a chance at clinching the division next week against Tampa Bay, who fell 21-14 to Carolina in another division matchup.
AFC West rivals Cincinnati and Cleveland combined for the second-highest scoring game in NFL history as the Bengals outlasted the Browns 58-48.
In Houston, the Texans staged an historic comeback with a little help from the Tennessee Titans. Taking advantage of three late turnovers by Steve McNair, David Carr and Texans rallied from an 18-point deficit, the largest in club history, to win 31-21. Minneapolis saw the return from injury of Jacksonville’s Byron Leftwich and the Vikings’ Randy Moss. Leftwich couldn’t work his late game magic for the Jaguars, but Moss again did the trick for Minnesota.
In other games, Buffalo routed Seattle 38-9, Miami edged San Francisco 24-17 and the New York Jets downed Arizona 13-3.
