Brooks and Buccaneers Stop Vick in His Tracks

Derrick Brooks made the challenge of stopping Michael Vick personal.

Tampa Bay’s seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker was at his best Sunday, using his speed to chase Vick all over the field and help the Buccaneers make one of the NFL’s most exciting players look ordinary for much of the Buccaneers’ 27-0 rout of the Atlanta Falcons at Tampa, Fla.

“I wanted my presence to be felt,” Brooks said. “At any moment he’s carrying the ball, he can either make you look bad or you can put some punishment on him.”

Vick was sacked five times, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, and the Buccaneers (5-7) scored after each of the turnovers to delay the Falcons (9-3) from clinching the NFC South title.

“We knew they could clinch with a win, and we didn’t want that,” Brooks said. “At the same time, we just wanted to go out and play good football, put a complete game together. For the most part, we did.”

Simeon Rice became the 22nd player to reach 100 sacks, getting Vick on the ground twice and forcing a fumble to set up a touchdown. Rice boosted his career total to 101 in nine seasons, second on the active list behind Michael Strahan’s 118.

Detroit 26, Arizona 12 -- Kevin Jones played like the running back the Lions have been searching for since Barry Sanders abruptly retired five years ago, rushing for 196 yards and a touchdown at Detroit.

The Lions ended their five-game losing streak and kept their playoff hopes alive in the muddled and mediocre NFC.

Jason Hanson made all four of his field-goal attempts, and Dre’ Bly had two interceptions for the Lions (5-7).

Arizona (4-8) lost its third in a row with its third quarterback in four weeks. Rookie John Navarre threw four interceptions and was 18 of 39 for 168 yards.

St. Louis 16, San Francisco 6 -- Steven Jackson ran for 119 yards in 26 carries, his first career 100-yard game, to help the Rams compensate for Marc Bulger’s shoulder injury at St. Louis.

Bulger had taken every snap this season before leaving because of a sprained right shoulder after a sack by Bryant Young late in the first quarter. His replacement, 38-year-old Chris Chandler, threw his first touchdown pass in more than a year.

The Rams (6-6) got three field goals from Jeff Wilkins, two from 52 yards. The St. Louis defense secured the victory against one of the worst teams in the NFL by holding the 49ers (1-11) to 63 yards rushing in 27 carries.

Washington 31, New York Giants 7 -- The Redskins (4-8) ended a three-game losing streak and overcame the 20-point barrier for the first time since Joe Gibbs returned as coach at Landover, Md.

Clinton Portis ran for 148 yards and scored twice. Portis has 1,093 yards on the season, giving him 1,000-plus in each of his first three years. The Redskins are 4-0 when Portis runs for 100 yards and 0-8 when he doesn’t.

Carolina 32, New Orleans 21 -- John Kasay kept the Panthers’ late run for a playoff berth on track with a team-record six field goals at New Orleans.

It was the Panthers’ fourth victory in a row and, in the weak NFC, their 5-7 record has them in the middle of the wild-card race.