A look back at NFL Week 12

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady, playing on the 14th anniversary of his first NFL snap, handled the top-ranked defense in the NFL and led the New England Patriots to their seventh straight win, a 34-9 rout of the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Brady, who relieved quarterback Drew Bledsoe at the end of the Detroit rout on Thanksgiving Day almost a decade-and-a-half ago, threw for 349 yards and two first-half touchdowns to tight end Tim Wright. It was the 63rd 300-yard game of Brady’s career, tying him with Dan Marino for third place on the NFL’s all-time list.

Running back LeGarrette Blount, re-signed by the Patriots on Tuesday after his release by the Pittsburgh Steelers, also scored two touchdowns, both on short runs and the first on his first carry. He added a 23-yard run in the third quarter and a 33-yarder in the fourth and finished with 78 yards on 12 carries.

The win was the Patriots’ 15th straight at home, six of the wins this season, and was also New England’s 14th straight over the AFC North, the longest current streak by any team against any division. It also ensured the Patriots (9-2) of their 14th consecutive winning season, third-most ever by an NFL team.

The Lions, who came in No. 1 in the league in scoring and rush defense, failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week and fell to 7-4 with their second straight loss.

Brady, who finished 38 of 53, was picked off at the Detroit goal line by safety James Ihedigbo in the third quarter — only the third red-zone interception of Brady’s career to go with 140 red-zone touchdown passes. He has 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions during the winning streak — and Sunday became the sixth quarterback in NFL history with 7,000 pass attempts.

“Everyone is linked together,” Brady said, “so we all feed off each other — offense, defense, special teams.”

Broncos 39, Dolphins 36

DENVER — Peyton Manning threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns, C.J. Anderson had 27 carries for 167 yards and a score as Denver rallied to beat Miami.

Manning extended his streak for games with at least one touchdown pass to 50, the longest active streak in the NFL. He hit Demaryius Thomas with scores of 5, 14 and 5 yards, and another to Wes Welker from 2 yards out to help the Broncos erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Thomas had 10 catches for 87 yards.

Anderson’s 10-yard run with 5:01 left gave the Broncos (8-3) their first lead of the game at 32-28. Denver safety T.J. Ward’s 37-yard interception return of Ryan Tannehill’s pass set up Welker’s insurance TD catch.

Tannehill was 26-for-36 for 228 yards and three touchdowns for the Dolphins (6-5). He also ran for another score.

Packers 24, Vikings 21

MINNEAPOLIS — Eddie Lacy rushed for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Green Bay over Minnesota.

After starting the season 1-2, Green Bay won its third consecutve game and for the seventh time in their last eight games. Combined with Detroit’s loss in New England, the Packers (8-3) claimed sole possession of first place in the NFC North.

Lacy scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and a 15-yard shovel pass from Aaron Rodgers midway through the fourth quarter, giving Green Bay an 11-point lead with 8:29 to play.

On the following drive, the Vikings (4-7) drove 79 yards in 14 plays, capped by a 5-yard scoring pass from Teddy Bridgewater to receiver Greg Jennings. Bridgewater connected with receiver Charles Johnson for the two-point conversion to trim Minnesota’s deficit to a field goal.

Rodgers was 19 of 29 passing for 209 yards and two scores, connecting on a 1-yard pass to tight end Richard Rodgers in the second quarter.

Seahawks 19, Cardinals 3

SEATTLE — Seattle overcame seven sacks and a quiet day from running back Marshawn Lynch to beat Arizona while keeping the NFC West race alive.

Seattle (7-4) moved to within two games of the division-leading Cardinals, who had a six-game winning streak snapped. Arizona (9-2) had just 204 total yards in the loss.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson completed 17 of 22 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown, while kicker Steven Hauschka made good on 4 of 5 field-goal attempts. Wilson added a team-high 73 rushing yards but was also sacked a season-high seven times.

Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell had three sacks, all of which came before halftime.

Lynch was held to just 39 rushing yards on 15 carries, missing action with a sore back. It marked his lowest total since San Diego held Lynch to 36 rushing yards in a Week 2 win over the Seahawks.

Browns 26, Falcons 24

ATLANTA — A remarkable five-minute stretch saw Cleveland quarterback Brian Hoyer go from the biggest of goats to hero in a thrilling win over Atlanta.

Hoyer threw two ugly interceptions in the final five minutes to give up the lead, but shook it off and led a last-minute drive to set up Billy Cundiff’s game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.

The Falcons took advantage of the last of Hoyer’s picks and drove for Matt Bryant’s 53-yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining to seize the lead.

Starting at the Browns’ 20-yard line, Hoyer completed 4 of 5 passes and marched the Browns (7-4) to the Falcons 19-yard line to put Cundiff in position to win the game.

The Falcons (4-7) had their two-game winning streak stopped.

Bengals 22, Texans 13

HOUSTON — Buoyed by a second consecutive strong defensive effort on the road, Cincinnati churned out a victory over Houston,

One week after limiting the Saints to one touchdown in New Orleans, the Bengals (7-3-1) kept the Texans’ offense out of the end zone.

Cincinnati’s defensive might, particularly in the fourth quarter while clinging to a one-possession lead, served as a perfect complement to the two-headed ground attack fashioned by running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, plus a career day from fourth-year receiver A.J. Green.

Green finished with 12 receptions for 121 yards while serving as the primary threat for quarterback Andy Dalton (24-for-35, 233 yards, one touchdown, one interception). Bernard and Hill combined for 35 carries, 132 yards and a touchdown.

The Texans (5-6) amassed just 248 total yards and only 64 on the ground.

Colts 23, Jaguars 3

INDIANAPOLIS — The first half left lots to be desired, but Indianapolis used a dominating third quarter to defeat Jacksonville.

Trent Richardson’s 1-yard touchdown run with 8:31 remaining in the third quarter, and Andrew Luck’s 73-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton at the 6:08 mark extended a 6-3 halftime lead to 20-3 against the offensively challenged Jaguars (1-10).

Indianapolis (7-4) began another third-quarter drive that culminated with Adam Vinatieri’s 32-yard field goal on the fourth quarter’s first play for a 23-3 advantage.

Luck finished 21 of 32 for 253 yards and the third-quarter TD to Hilton.

Eagles 43, Titans 24

PHILADELPHIA — Rookie Josh Huff returned the opening kickoff a team record 107 yards for a touchdown to springboard Philadelphia over Tennessee.

The victory sets up a showdown for first place in NFC East when the Eagles (8-3) travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. The Titans (2-9) have lost nine of 10 games after upsetting Kansas City in the season opener.

Fans who were late getting to their seats missed the most explosive play of the game. Huff took the opening kickoff, broke through a seam on the right side and found running room down the sideline. Two Titans had a chance to tackle him, but Huff stiff-armed kicker Ryan Succop and then Brandon McGhee before finishing off the scoring play, the longest kickoff return in Eagles history.