Raiders Win for Davis, Saints and Patriots Prevail

The Oakland Raiders earned an emotional victory that would have delighted late owner Al Davis as they beat the Houston Texans 25-20 on Sunday while the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots also enjoyed wins on the fifth week of the National Football League season.

The outspoken Davis died at age 82 on Saturday but the Raiders, wearing AL stickers on their helmets, carried out his motto Just win baby as Michael Huff grabbed an interception off Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the end zone on the final play.

Raiders coach Hue Jackson buried his face in his hands on the sideline while players embraced each other as the game ended.

Davis, who had almost 50 years with the Raiders franchise in various roles, was remembered with silence at stadiums across the country.

I know that he would be getting after me right now about the way we played, but he would be happy because we won the game, Jackson told reporters.

I know without a shadow of doubt that coach (Davis) is up there somewhere rejoicing because his football team did what he always said to do -- commitment to excellence, pride and poise and just win. This is his football team.

Once again Sebastian Janikowski was the spine of the win for the Raiders (3-2), kicking four field goals, three of them from 50 yards or more.

In an AFC East divisional clash, the New England Patriots, with BenJarvus Green-Ellis running for a career high 136 yards and two touchdowns, beat the New York Jets 30-21.

The victory was the 30th consecutive regular home win for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, an NFL record.

The Carolina Panthers, with rookie quarterback Cam Newton scoring three touchdowns (one rushing) and passing for 224 yards, pushed the Saints all the way before losing 30-27.

A Greg Olsen touchdown on a five-yard Newton pass put Carolina up 27-23 in the fourth but New Orleans came back with Drew Brees finding Pierre Thomas open on the right for the winning touchdown with 50 seconds to play

Despite another encouraging display, the Panthers, who won just twice last year, fall to 1-4.

EAGLES STUMBLE

The Buffalo Bills' impressive start continued as they took advantage of four interceptions by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in a 31-24 win.

Fred Jackson rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown for the Bills and also had 85 yards receiving against an Eagles team (1-4) that, after being considered Super Bowl contenders in the pre-season, has now suffered four consecutive defeats.

The San Francisco 49ers are also 4-1 after crushing Tampa Bay 48-3. Vernon Davis scored two touchdowns and Frank Gore rushed for 125 yards.

In one of Sunday's surprise results, the Seattle Seahawks enjoyed a 36-25 win at the New York Giants.

Backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst put Seattle ahead with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin before Brandon Browner grabbed an interception on a pass tip and ran 94 yards for a score that put the game beyond the Giants.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 420 yards and three touchdowns but also had three interceptions.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow may have finally earned a starting spot with the Denver Broncos after the second-year quarterback replaced Kyle Orton against San Diego.

Tebow entered in the third quarter with the Broncos trailing 23-10 and led a strong fightback in the fourth.

He ran into the end zone himself from 12 yards and then found Knowshon Moreno on a 28-yard touchdown pass as Denver pulled within 26-24.

The Minnesota Vikings got their first win of the season, in some style, with running back Adrian Peterson rushing for three touchdowns in the first quarter against Arizona in a 34-10 victory.

There is still no victory for the Indianapolis Colts who have been without quarterback Peyton Manning all season and were beaten 28-24 by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Matt Cassel threw for four touchdowns and 257 yards as the Chiefs scored 21 points unanswered to wipe out a good first half from the Colts and their stand-in quarterback Curtis Painter.