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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, November 17, 2008

Bengals play to 13-13 tie with Eagles

Associated Press

CINCINNATI — Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb expected to keep playing until someone scored, no matter how long it took. Mercifully, the NFL's rules set a time limit on terrible play.

Eagles 13, Bengals 13. It couldn't have ended any other way.

McNabb fumbled and threw three interceptions in regulation yesterday, and the Bengals botched the only scoring chance in overtime, leaving the equally inept teams with the NFL's first tied game in six years.

Cincinnati's Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal with 7 seconds left in overtime, falling to the ground as the ball sailed a few inches wide to the right. It was a fitting finish to a game played like the very definition of a tie.

"Terrible," Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said.

No one was more surprised than McNabb that it ended so soon — 3 hours, 46 minutes after the opening kickoff. The 10th-year pro thought it would keep going until someone scored, just like a playoff game.

"I didn't know that," said McNabb, who played a leading role in keeping it tied. "I've never been part of a tie. I never even knew it was in the rule book. I was looking forward to getting the opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game. But unfortunately with the rules, we settled with a tie."

It was the first tied game in the NFL since Nov. 10, 2002, when the Falcons and Steelers finished 34-34.

The Eagles (5-4-1) are 0-4 with a tie in games decided by less than a touchdown.

McNabb nearly had another pass picked off in overtime, but Johnathan Joseph dropped a potential interception near midfield. Each team had three chances in the extra 15-minute quarter, but only the Bengals (1-8-1) got close enough to try a field goal.

GIANTS 30, RAVENS 10

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Not even Ray Lewis and the Ravens' league-best rushing defense could avoid becoming the Giants' latest victims.

Bruising Brandon Jacobs pounded his way into the end zone on a pair of 1-yard runs and the Giants' league-leading running attack ran for 207 yards.

Aaron Ross iced the game by returning one of his two interceptions 50 yards for a third-quarter touchdown as the Giants (9-1) won their fifth straight game overall.

The Ravens (6-4) came in allowing an average of 65.4 yards and had won four straight.

BRONCOS 24, FALCONS 20

ATLANTA — Jay Cutler threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Graham with 5 1/2 minutes remaining, handing the Falcons (6-4) their first loss of the season at home.

Michael Turner scored on a 28-yard run to put Atlanta ahead 20-17 with just under 11 minutes left, but the Broncos (6-4) pulled out their second straight road victory.

Denver's Spencer Larsen started at both middle linebacker and fullback, the first player in team history to pull off that double.

SAINTS 30, CHIEFS 20

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Drew Brees, directing the NFL's top-ranked offense, threw for 266 yards and one touchdown against the league's worst defense.

It was the first victory in five road games for the Saints (5-5).

Tyler Thigpen's second touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe brought the Chiefs (1-9) within seven points with 13:54 left. But Brees led the Saints on a time-consuming, 12-play drive capped by Garrett Hartley's third field goal, a 35-yarder, to make it a 10-point game.