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Hasselbeck is injured as Seahawks lose, 31-13

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From the Associated Press

Chester Taylor rushed for a career-high 169 yards in 26 carries -- including a pivotal, 95-yard scoring play, the longest run in Minnesota history -- as the Vikings stunned the battered Seattle Seahawks, 31-13, Sunday to end their team-record 12-game home winning streak.

Already without league most valuable player Shaun Alexander, Seattle lost Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a right knee strain early in the second half.

The Vikings (4-2) won for the second consecutive time thanks to a 15-yard halfback option pass from Mewelde Moore to tight end Jermaine Wiggins that broke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter. That was followed by Taylor’s record romp.

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Seattle (4-2) lost at home for the first time since Dec. 6, 2004, against Dallas.

A tie score -- and the Seahawks’ immediate future -- changed on the third play of the second half. E.J. Henderson got past a block from fullback Mack Strong and then swung the left side of his torso into Hasselbeck’s lower right leg, which was planted after he had thrown an incomplete pass. Hasselbeck crumpled to the ground.

“I think they were a little shocked, a little rattled without their leader out there,” Henderson said after the knockout play, which did not appear to be intentional.

New England 28, Buffalo 6 -- Corey Dillon’s two touchdowns rushing in the first half gave the Patriots an early lead at Orchard Park, N.Y.

It didn’t matter that Dillon, who enjoyed the 17th multiple touchdown game of his career, finished with only 47 yards rushing and the Patriots generated a mere 265 yards of offense.

Besides improving to 5-1, marking their second-best start since 1997, the three-time defending division champions beat AFC East rival Buffalo for the seventh consecutive time and for the 12th time in the teams’ last 13 meetings. The Bills (2-5) continue to sputter, having lost three consecutive games heading into their bye week.

Houston 27, Jacksonville 7 -- Wali Lundy, who hadn’t played in the last three games, had 93 yards rushing and a touchdown early in the fourth quarter for the host Texans.

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No Houston running back had gained 60 yards rushing before Sunday.

Houston’s defense, which began the day giving up a league-worst 418 yards a game, forced two turnovers -- both of which led to touchdowns -- and limited the Jaguars (3-3) to only 220 yards.

The Texans (2-4) put up their biggest point total of the season, and they did it against the NFL’s only defense with two shutouts.

Green Bay 34, Miami 24 -- Ranked last in the NFL in pass defense, the Packers intercepted passes by Joey Harrington three times at Miami.

The Packers (2-4) beat the Dolphins in Miami for the first time in seven tries. The last time Green Bay won in South Florida was in Vince Lombardi’s final game as Packers coach in the 1968 Super Bowl against Oakland.

The Dolphins (1-6) lost for the fourth game in a row.

New York Jets 31, Detroit 24 -- Leon Washington rushed for 129 yards in 20 carries and scored the first two touchdowns of his career as the Jets won at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Lions (1-6) put a scare into the Jets by getting within a touchdown with 2:22 left when an outstretched Mike Furrey caught the ball in the back right-corner of the end zone.

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New York (4-3) got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff and ran out the clock to escape with a victory.

Denver 17, Cleveland 7 -- The NFL’s stingiest defense held its opponent to single digits for the fifth consecutive game and Jake Plummer did enough to keep the Broncos’ offense moving at Cleveland.

The Broncos (5-1) were less than 12 minutes away from their first road shutout in 14 years when an interception led to a short Cleveland touchdown pass in the fourth quarter -- only the second touchdown given up by Denver this season. The Browns (1-5) never posed much of a threat despite having two weeks to plan for the game.

Indianapolis 36, Washington 22 -- After being bent over awkwardly twice in the first half and once appearing hurt, Peyton Manning threw three third-quarter touchdown passes to lead the Colts at Indianapolis.

Manning, who finished with a passer rating of 140.4, had four scoring passes in the game.

The Colts remained the AFC’s only unbeaten team and became the ninth in league history to start 6-0 in consecutive seasons. Washington (2-5) lost for the third consecutive time.

Colts defensive tackle Montae Reagor was involved in an automobile accident en route to the game, leaving him hospitalized with a head wound.

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