SLOPPY BENGALS WIN UGLY BY BEATING BUCS

tampa, fla. Andy Dalton and the sloppy Bengals somehow found a way to extend their slender lead in the AFC North.

Dalton ran for one touchdown and threw to A.J. Green for another Sunday, helping the Bengals overcome numerous mistakes to beat the Buccaneers 14-13.

Dalton shrugged off three first-half interceptions, and the Bengals weathered 10 penalties and an ill-advised onside kick that cost them momentum after taking the lead in the second half to win on the road for the third consecutive week.

That’s a franchise first that seemed improbable following a lopsided home loss to Cleveland a month ago. Josh Scobee kicked a 43-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining, and the Jaguars rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat the Giants 25-24. The Jaguars ended a four-game losing streak and dealt the Giants a seventh consecutive loss that could raise more questions about coach Tom Coughlin’s future. The Giants dominated the first half, scoring 21 points in the second quarter and looking like they would notch their first victory since early October. But Jacksonville played like a different team after the break, especially on defense. Geno Hayes forced Eli Manning to fumble early in the third quarter, and teammate J.T. Thomas recovered it in the end zone. Rookie Aaron Colvin returned a fumble 41 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the first time in franchise history that Jacksonville scored two defensive touchdowns in the same game. … Tre Mason scored two long touchdowns and Shaun Hill accounted for three TDs in the

52-0 rout of the St. Louis had an out-of-nowhere 38-point first half that tied for second-biggest in franchise history. Mason had 113 yards rushing on six carries in the half, including an 89yard score, plus a 35-yard jaunt on a screen pass that opened the scoring. Hill was 12-of-15 for 178 yards and two TDs and ran for a 2-yard score. The Rams scored touchdowns on their first five possessions, and got a field goal on the sixth midway through the second quarter to top their previous best scoring total for any game this season. The 38-point halftime lead was the largest in franchise history. … Andrew Luck threw a careerhigh five touchdown passes and topped the 300-yard mark for a franchise-record 10th time this season, lifting the Colts over the Redskins 49-27. Indianapolis won for the eighth time in 10 games since starting 0-2. Luck was 19-of-27 for 370 yards and had TD passes of 30, 3, 48, 73 and 79 yards. He broke PeytonManning’s record for most 300-yard games in one season and joined Manning and DanMarino as the only NFL quarterbacks to top 4,000 yards in two of their first three seasons. … Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for a franchise-record six touchdowns and DeAndre Hopkins had a career-best 238 yards receiving and two scores as the Texans rolled to a 45-21 win over the Titans. Fitzpatrick returned to the lineup after being benched for two games for Ryan Mallett, who suffered a season-ending chest injury last week. J.J. Watt also helped out in the win. He had his third touchdown reception, two sacks, and forced and recovered a fumble for Houston. … Adam Thielen and Everson Griffen returned blocked punts by Minnesota for touchdowns, the fifth time in league history one team had two in the same game, and the Vikings beat the Panthers 31-13 on to hand Carolina its sixth straight loss. Teddy Bridgewater threw for two scores without a turnover, and Griffen had two of the four sacks by the Vikings against Cam Newton. Despite entering the week just a half game out of first place in the struggling NFC South, the Panthers again stumbled out of their bye.

Rams show support for protesters.

Before trotting on the field for their pregame introductions, five Rams players stood with their hands raised in a show of compassion and solidarity for Ferguson, Mo., protesters. “I just think there has to be a change,” tight end Jared Cook said. “There has to be a change that starts with the people that are most influential around the world.” The Associated Press