LANDOVER, Md. — The St. Louis Rams seemed almost determined to sink to 0-5.

They fumbled at their own 4-yard line on their second play from scrimmage. They blew a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter. They set themselves up for a gimme field goal to win the game, then committed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

But this is the start of the Jim Haslett era, so maybe the ball is finally going to bounce the Rams' way. The defense forced the Washington Redskins offense into its first three turnovers of the season, and Josh Brown kicked a 49-yard field goal on the last play yesterday to give the two-touchdown underdogs a 19-17 victory.

"I'm kind of, like, blank. I don't know if I want to cry or laugh," said Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, a University of Hawai'i alum. "A lot of emotions hit me at once. It's different, but a good different."

The Rams halted an eight-game losing streak over two seasons and helped put Scott Linehan, fired two weeks ago before the bye, firmly in the rearview mirror.

The Redskins (4-2) appeared set to win their fifth straight game when Clinton Portis' 2-yard run with 3:47 left gave Washington a 17-16 lead. St. Louis, however, had enough time to mount a comeback. Reinstalled starter Marc Bulger hit Donnie Avery down the right sideline for a 43-yard gain on third-and-13 to move into field-goal territory.

But the Rams (1-4), being the Rams, nearly botched it from there. With his team trying to kill the clock to set up for the easy kick, lineman Richie Incognito said something to an official that prompted a yellow flag. Brown, who was already 3 for 3 in the game, no longer had a chip shot to win it.

CHARGERS 30, PATRIOTS 10

SAN DIEGO — Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes and San Diego (3-3) got revenge against New England (3-2).

It was a measure of payback against a team that had beaten the Chargers three straight times, including in the playoffs the last two seasons.

Rivers threw touchdown passes of 49 yards to Malcom Floyd, 4 yards to Vincent Jackson and 1 yard to Antonio Gates.

EAGLES 40, 49ERS 26

SAN FRANCISCO — Donovan McNabb passed for 280 yards and two touchdowns without his top two receivers and his best running back, and Philadelphia (3-3) beat San Francisco (2-4).

The Eagles' aggressive defenders forced three turnovers during a 23-point fourth quarter.

Correll Buckhalter rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown while filling in for injured All-Pro Brian Westbrook. The Eagles also played without receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown.

PACKERS 27, SEAHAWKS 17

SEATTLE — Aaron Rodgers ran for a touchdown early, then threw two scoring passes in the second half for Green Bay (3-3).

Seattle (1-4) paid for having to start No. 3 quarterback Charlie Frye, who completed 12 of 23 passes for 83 yards with two interceptions

Rodgers, again starting despite a sprained throwing shoulder, was 21 for 30 for 208 yards.

JAGUARS 24, BRONCOS 17

DENVER — David Garrard completed 25 of 34 passes for 276 yards, one TD and no interceptions, and Maurice Jones-Drew rumbled for 125 yards and two TDs on 22 carries as Jacksonville (3-3) beat Denver (4-2).

The Jaguars took the second-half kickoff and covered 80 yards in just three plays and 73 seconds with Jones-Drew bolting up the middle untouched for a 46-yard touchdown that put Denver in a 17-7 hole.

Jacksonville scored again on Marcedes Lewis' 30-yard TD catch that made it 24-10 with 3:48 left in the third.

TEXANS 29, DOLPHINS 28

HOUSTON — Matt Schaub threw interceptions on Houston's first two possessions, but ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 3 seconds left.

Miami (2-3) had knocked down consecutive passes in the end zone before Schaub ran for the score. The 2-point conversion failed, but Houston (1-4) had enough points.

That drive was kept alive when Andre Johnson caught a 23-yard pass on fourth-and-10.

VIKINGS 12, LIONS 10

MINNEAPOLIS — A questionable pass interference penalty on Leigh Bodden put Minnesota's woeful offense in position for a 26-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell with 9 seconds to go.

Detroit (0-5) outplayed the Vikings for the entire game, but Minnesota (3-3) got a boost from a call by field judge Mike Weir. Trailing 10-9 in the final 3 minutes, Gus Frerotte threw deep down the sideline for Aundrae Allison, and the ball fell incomplete. But Weir whistled cornerback Bodden for pass interference despite what appeared to be minimal contact.

The 42-yard penalty gave the Vikings the ball at the Detroit 26. Longwell converted five plays later.

JETS 26, BENGALS 14

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Thomas Jones ran for two touchdowns, including a 1-yarder late in the game, and caught a pass from Brett Favre for a score as New York (3-2) beat Cincinnati (0-6).

Holding a 20-14 lead late in the game, the Jets used a 10-play, 41-yard drive by Favre that ate up the clock and sealed the victory.

Facing third-and-4 from the Bengals 7, Favre hit Chris Baker for 6 yards. Jones followed with a 1-yard rumble into the end zone with 2:22 left.

SAINTS 34, RAIDERS 3

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees put on a clinic JaMarcus Russell would be wise to study as New Orleans (3-3) beat Oakland (1-4). Connecting on 87 percent of his throws, Brees passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns.

Oakland's Tom Cable spent his NFL head coaching debut watching in frustration as Russell completed only 13 of 35 passes for 159 yards, while throwing an interception and fumbling.

BUCCANEERS 27, PANTHERS 3

TAMPA, Fla. — Jeff Garcia, starting for the first time since the season opener because Brian Griese is injured, threw for 173 yards and a touchdown as Tampa Bay (4-2) beat Carolina (4-2).

Warrick Dunn had his most productive day running the ball since rejoining the Bucs with 115 yards on 22 carries.

The victory gave the Bucs a share of first place in the NFC South with Carolina.

COLTS 31, RAVENS 3

INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison, a third to Reggie Wayne, and Indianapolis (3-2) beat Baltimore (2-3).

Harrison caught two TD passes in a game for the first time since Dec. 24, 2006.

Manning finished 19 for 27 for 271 yards.