Bills Humble the Jets

Negating the effects of 25-plus mph winds blowing off Lake Erie, Willis McGahee led Buffalo’s ball-control offense with a career-high 132 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Bills’ 22-17 win over the New York Jets on Sunday at Orchard Park, N.Y.

“He can run,” left tackle Jonas Jennings said. “He’s got vision. Our job is to get him past the first level. And he and the receivers do the rest.”

McGahee continued to downplay his string of strong performances, the starter in all three victories for Buffalo (3-5), in which he has had 100 or more yards each time.

“We’re all getting comfortable right now,” said McGahee, who supplanted Travis Henry as the starter two weeks ago. “We know what it takes to win. And we know what we have to do.”

The Jets (6-2) were coming off a 41-14 win over Miami and were attempting to match their best start in franchise history.

The Jets’ problems might be worse than the game’s outcome. Quarterback Chad Pennington bruised his right shoulder and did not return after he was sacked for a 13-yard loss midway through the fourth quarter.

Pennington said he was initially hurt in the first quarter, when he scrambled up the middle for a 12-yard gain before he fumbled. He finished seven for 15 for 141 yards, including a six-yard touchdown to Justin McCareins.

Denver 31, Houston 13 -- Rod Smith became Denver’s career leader in receptions and touchdowns receiving and Jake Plummer threw for four touchdowns with no interceptions at Denver to help the Broncos end a two-game losing streak.

In the first quarter, Smith caught his 676th pass to surpass Shannon Sharpe on the team’s receptions list. Later, Smith caught a 13-yard touchdown for his 56th score receiving, also passing Sharpe.

Smith finished with three catches for 29 yards.

David Carr (245 yards passing) led the Texans on a 61-yard drive to open the game, but Kris Brown missed a 37-yard field goal, and from there, things went downhill.

Baltimore 27, Cleveland 13 -- Jamal Lewis scored the decisive touchdown with 7:03 left after a seven-yard punt, and Ed Reed sealed the victory in the waning seconds with an NFL-record 106-yard interception return for a touchdown at Baltimore.

Back from a two-game suspension for violating the NFL substance abuse policy, Lewis ran for 81 yards in 22 carries, and his two-yard burst into the end zone and ensuing two-point conversion gave the Ravens a 20-13 lead. Quarterback Jeff Garcia brought the Browns to the Ravens’ five-yard line before Reed picked off a pass that deflected off Aaron Shea into his arms.

Reed then took off down the right sideline and reached the end zone with 26 seconds left.