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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Thoughts on the Jaguars’ 38-14 loss to the Chargers at EverBank Field:

What it means: The changes the Jaguars made in the past week weren’t enough to overcome a passing attack able to take advantage of inexperienced corners forced into action because of injuries. All the complaints about San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers went away for a night as he threw for big yardage and three touchdowns, ending a six-game losing streak for the Chargers. Jacksonville fell to 3-9, losing Mel Tucker’s first game as a head coach in the NFL.

What I didn’t like: Short throw after short throw. I understand the Jaguars aren’t built or equipped to air it out regularly, but how about trying something? Blaine Gabbert’s long pass was a 48-yarder to Maurice Jones-Drew -- and it was actually a very short shovel pass that MJD ran a mile with. And while the rookie quarterback looked good on an early scoring drive, the moments that leave the biggest impression are the ones like where he dropped the ball on a scramble and was penalized for batting it out of bounds.

More injuries: Pass rushing defensive end John Chick left the game with what looked like a serious knee injury and safety Dwight Lowery suffered a shoulder injury that meant rookie Chris Prosinski had to play.

What I’d like to see going forward: There are few spots where the Jaguars can make a change with an eye on the future. But how about right tackle? Bench Guy Whimper and insert Cameron Bradfield, an undrafted rookie out of Grand Valley State the team thinks has great promise.

What’s next: The Jaguars play a third consecutive home game Sunday, this time against Tampa Bay in a battle of underachieving Florida teams.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Cowboys tend to have crazy games here at University of Phoenix Stadium. Crazy. From a blocked punt that cost them a game, a missed point-after attempt and now a missed field goal in regulation after an inexplicable timeout call.

The Cowboys defense failed them in the end Sunday during a 19-13 overtime loss to Arizona. It was the Cowboys' third overtime game of the season and first loss in such games.

What it means? The Cowboys' four-game winning streak came to an end in a place that gives them fits. Arizona has won their last three games against Dallas in overtime and five of six at home. The Cowboys' hold on first place in the NFC East is still in good shape.

Jason Garrett's blunder: Dez Bryant caught a first-down pass with 23 seconds left in regulation. The Cowboys spiked the ball, then called a timeout as Dan Bailey converted on a 49-yard kick. It seemed as if they were freezing their own kicker. Bailey missed on the second try as time ran out, and the Cowboys headed to overtime. Why would Jason Garrett call a timeout after spiking the ball?

Murray's day: DeMarco Murray rushed for 38 yards, the lowest output since he became the starter on Oct. 30 at Philadelphia. Murray had rushed for at least 70 yards the last six games until Sunday.

Dan Bailey's streak ends: Kicker Dan Bailey missed a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter, ending his consecutive made field-goal streak at 26 games. But it was his 49-yard field goal try, wide left at the end of regulation, that sent the game to overtime tied at 13-13. The first miss from Bailey marked the first time that's happened since Week 2 at San Francisco. Bailey made field goals of 50 and 37 yards the rest of the way. His 26 field goals tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history and set an NFL record for a rookie kicker.

Cowboys injuries: Tight end Martellus Bennett injured his ribs in the first half and did not return. Wide receiver Laurent Robinson injured a right shoulder but returned after missing a handful of snaps. DeMarcus Ware left the game for one snap when his left arm was nicked up. Danny McCray and Murray also left with leg issues but returned.

Penalties, penalties, penalties: The Cowboys were penalized seven times for 49 yards, and the flags seemed to come at the worst times in the fourth quarter and overtime. Orlando Scandrick was flagged for a block in the back, negating Bryant's punt return that was returned to the Arizona 25. Terence Newman was called for holding on a second-and-long in overtime.

What's next? The Cowboys head home and take on the New York Giants in a big NFC East game next Sunday at Cowboys Stadium.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A few thoughts on the game of the day in the NFL:

What it means: I'm sure New York Giants fans are disappointed in their team's fourth straight loss, but the fact is that the Giants showed all of the same guts and heart and toughness they showed during their 6-2 start but came up just short against a team that might be one of the best of all time. The Packers' Mason Crosby kicked a 30-yard field goal with time running out to improve to 12-0 and drop the Giants to 6-6 in a 38-25 win. But the Giants have proven again that they can play with anyone in the league when their heart is in it. And since they're only one game out of the division lead with four to play (and two of those against the division-leading Cowboys), that still has a chance to serve them well before it's over.

Giants' lines step up: The Giants needed to get to Aaron Rodgers with their defensive line if they were to have any chance to stop him, and they did. Justin Tuck played his best game in weeks, and Jason Pierre-Paul was the same, speedy, unstoppable monster he's been all season. The Giants delivered hits on Rodgers even when they didn't get there in time to sack him, and the Packers went to the run game an uncharacteristic amount in an effort to run clock and keep the pass rushers off of Rodgers' back. The Giants' offensive line also played a pretty good game, considering it was without its starting left tackle again and center David Baas was a late scratch due to headaches. They weren't great in pass protection, but for some reason the run-blocking was some of the best it's been all season. And with Ahmad Bradshaw back from his foot injury, the run game became a legitimate threat for the Giants again.

Eli Manning doesn't scare: The Giants' quarterback was the main reason behind the team's 6-2 start, and even as things haven't gone as well lately, he's remained undaunted and excellent. After the Packers scored to go ahead by eight with 3:34 left in the game, Manning moved his team right back down the field and scored with a touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks with 58 seconds to go. A D.J. Ware run for a two-point conversion tied the game and put the biggest scare yet into the undefeated Packers.

But turnovers kill: You need to be just about perfect to beat a team like the Packers, and as good as Manning was in matching the great Rodgers, he did turn it over twice. The interception that Clay Matthews returned for a touchdown came on what Manning will surely call a "bad-decision" play -- he shouldn't have thrown the ball once he saw the coverage down the field. And while the fumble just before the end of the first half wasn't really his fault, as Matthews whacked him from behind as he was getting ready to throw the ball, it cost the Giants a chance to add valuable points as the first half was winding down.

Kenny Phillips out?: The Giants made no announcement on the Phillips knee injury after he left the game in the first half. But the star safety never returned to the sideline. If he has to miss games, that's going to negatively affect the Giants in pass defense as well as run defense. They like to play three-safety sets and would have to do so without their best one.

What's next: The Giants travel to Dallas on Sunday to play the Cowboys in a Sunday night game with major NFC East implications. The Cowboys' overtime loss to the Cardinals means the Giants still have an opportunity to take control of the division if they can beat the Cowboys on Sunday and again in the regular-season finale on Jan. 1.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams following the 49ers' 26-0 victory at Candlestick Park in Week 13:

What it means: The 49ers clinched their first NFC West title since the 2002 season, ensuring a return to the postseason. They paid a high price when Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis suffered a hamstring injury that prevented him from continuing. Despite the lopsided final score, the 49ers have been sloppier over their past three games than they had been previously. They spent much of Sunday looking like a team that has plateaued and needs a spark despite a 10-2 record. The Rams' utter ineptitude was the 49ers' greatest ally. St. Louis played without quarterback Sam Bradford, both starting tackles, all their relevant cornerbacks and a long list of others. Their defense showed improvement against the run, but the team went backward overall -- not good for coach Steve Spagnuolo.

What I liked: The 49ers sought to attack down the field in the passing game. They were able to get receivers and tight ends open consistently, including when Alex Smith found Michael Crabtree for a 52-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Receiver Kyle Williams showed good hands catching a high third-down pass. Williams also delivered a violent stiff-arm against Rams safety Quintin Mikell following a 25-yard gain on a running play. Smith completed 17 of 23 passes for 274 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a career-best NFL passer rating of 142.3. For the Rams, Chris Long collected at least one sack for a sixth consecutive game. The Rams' defensive tackles were active against the run, forcing the 49ers away from their running game.

What I didn't like: The 49ers continued to struggle in the red zone. Vernon Davis dropped a pass in the end zone. Davis also fumbled. Mindless penalties hurt the 49ers more than once, none worse than the one Dashon Goldson incurred for excessive celebration following an interception. Penalties for delay of game and false starts stunted drives when the game was still close in the first half. Smith, despite strong overall numbers, missed a wide-open Ted Ginn Jr. open on a deep route up the left sideline. The 49ers were flagged for holding on the play, anyway. Crabtree dropped a third-down pass early in the game. For the Rams, receiver Austin Pettis set an ominous tone by dropping a third-down pass to kill the team's opening drive. Danario Alexander could not hold onto a deep pass near the goal line, squandering a rare scoring opportunity for St. Louis.

Akers gets the record: David Akers set a 49ers franchise record for most made field-goal tries in a season. That was good for Akers, but also a reflection of the 49ers' continuing inefficiency in the red zone.

Gore assumes top spot: Frank Gore needed only 22 yards to pass Joe Perry as the 49ers' career rushing leader, not counting Perry's yardage gained in the All-America Football Conference. Gore assumed the top spot in the first half even though the Rams generally did a good job keeping him under control. He finished with 21 carries for 73 yards.

Streak continues: The 49ers still have not allowed a rushing touchdown this season.

What's next: The Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks for a Monday night game in Week 14. The 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals.

LANDOVER, Md. -- For the second straight week, the New York Jets staged a fourth-quarter comeback, stunning the Washington Redskins, 34-19, on Mark Sanchez’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 4:49 remaining. A week ago, Sanchez-to-Holmes beat the Buffalo Bills in the final minute.

What it means: The Jets (7-5) won their second straight and, coupled with the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, moved into a tie for the second wild-card spot in the AFC.

One-play difference: Sanchez & Co. capped a brutal offensive performance with one shining moment, the 30-yard scoring pass to Holmes. After throwing slants all day, they burned the Redskins with a slant-and-go. Holmes ran a double move on CB Josh Wilson to break into the clear on a corner route. Sanchez made his best throw of the day.

The Jets secured the win an 11-yard TD run by Shonn Greene, erasing what would’ve been an embarrassing offensive day. For 50-plus minutes, they made costly penalties, wasted timeouts and generally made a mess of things. They went 74 yards on their opening possession for a touchdown, then took a three-quarter hiatus.

Mr. Clutch: Sanchez isn’t the prettiest passer, but he gets it done in crunch time. It was the 10th fourth-quarter comeback/overtime win of his career.

Awesome D: After a horrible start, the Jets regained their composure on defense and absolutely stuffed the Redskins. They made Rex Grossman look bad, which isn’t hard to do, and refused to budge in the last three quarters. The Redskins produced 304 total yards. OLB Aaron Maybin recorded another sack, giving him six on the season. The Jets also had two takeaways, one on a strip sack by Maybin.

Butter-finger brigade: It’s a simple concept: See the ball, catch the ball. The Jets’ punt and kickoff returners haven’t mastered that. Rookie Jeremy Kerley committed the sixth special-teams turnover (yes, sixth), muffing a punt late in the second quarter. The Redskins converted the mistake into a gift field goal, taking a 13-10 halftime lead.

That makes four straight games in which the Jets either muffed or fumbled a return. Inexcusable. Not surprisingly, Kerley was replaced by Jim Leonhard, the only guy who can catch a punt.

There were other special-teams blunders: Nick Folk missing from 40 yards and a poor punt by T.J. Conley that set up the Redskins’ go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.

Solid protection: One of the big storylines leading into the game was the Jets’ ability to block outside pass rushers, Brian Orakpo and rookie Ryan Kerrigan. Mark that a win for the Jets’ offensive line, who didn’t allow a sack for the second straight week.

Give credit to OTs D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Wayne Hunter. The Jets also employed a lot of three-step drops, with Sanchez delivering the ball quickly. They moved the pocket on occasion, letting Sanchez roll out and throw on the run, which is one of his strengths.

The challenger: Rex Ryan won two replay challenges, the latter of which resulted in a change of possession. Leonhard recovered a fumble at the Redskins’ 29 -- initially Roy Helu was ruled down by contact -- but they failed to capitalize, naturally. Folk missed from 40 yards.

LT dinged: LaDainian Tomlinson was limited to only a handful of plays after reinjured his left knee on his first “touch,” a screen pass in the first quarter.

What’s ahead: The Jets return home to face the offensively challenged Kansas City Chiefs, who lost QB Kyle Orton on Sunday to a finger injury on his first play as a Chief. It looks like the Jets will see Tyler Palko as the Chiefs' starting QB.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie struggled significantly in his second start as the replacement for Jay Cutler on Sunday in a 10-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hanie completed 11 of 24 for 133 yards, three interceptions and a passer rating of 29.8, while absorbing seven sacks in a performance that could prompt the Chicago Bears front office to finally put in a call to representatives for former Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Compounding matters for the Bears in their attempt to stay alive in the playoff race was a first-quarter knee injury to running Matt Forte. The significance of the injury wasn't immediately disclosed, but the fact the team held Forte out for the remainder of the game is concerning.

Let's look into this a little more.

What it means: Considering the Bears are fighting for their playoff lives right now, the loss could mean trouble. Chicago falls to 7-5, and it's situated within a cluster of teams with similar records. Going into the contest, the Bears held the No. 5 seed with Atlanta sitting at sixth, and Detroit and the New York Giants within striking distance.

By virtue of Atlanta's 17-10 loss at Houston on Sunday, the Bears maintain their lead over the Falcons. The schedule of games could also help the Bears. The Lions face the New Orleans Saints on the road Sunday night and the Giants host the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

Freak play 1: Former Bears quarterback Kyle Orton made his debut for the Chiefs, throwing only one pass on a flea-flicker attempt before leaving with a dislocated index finger on his throwing hand.

The Chiefs claimed the remainder of Orton's nearly $2.6 million salary recently, which means he was making a weekly salary of approximately $433,000. That's quite a bit of coin for only one pass.

Freak play 2: Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko called upon a Hail Mary for his first career touchdown pass just before halftime on a play the Bears could've squashed.

On the last play of the first half, Palko launched a bomb into the end zone and Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher appeared to try to bat it down, only for his teammate -- safety Chris Conte -- to come over his back, and smack the ball right into the hands of running back Dexter McCluster for a touchdown. The score gave Kansas City a 7-3 lead at intermission.

Interestingly, the TD was the Chiefs' first since in 12 quarters, dating back to Nov. 13.

Injuries: Running back Matt Forte left in the first quarter after suffering a right knee injury on a hit from Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. After athletic trainers took a look at Forte, he immediately went into the locker room. Minutes later, the team announced he was out for the game.

The Bears also lost safety Major Wright for the remainder of the game with a shoulder injury.

Although the extent of the injuries weren't immediately disclosed, it's safe to say the team could be reaching deep within the roster to fill a couple of spots. The club was already severely limited because of the thumb injury to starting quarterback Jay Cutler that is expected to keep him out of action for the remainder of the regular season.

What's next: The Bears face the Denver Broncos on the road on Sunday.

MIAMI -- Here are some initial thoughts on the Miami Dolphins' dominant 34-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders:

What it means: Miami won its fourth game in five tries and continues to relish its role of spoiler. The Dolphins improved to 4-8 and will have their third consecutive non-winning season. But they continue to share their misery by beating other teams late in the season. This was Miami's most complete and impressive performance of the year. The Dolphins took advantage of their 10 days of preparation and looked very sharp offensively and defensively. It also came against an Oakland team (7-5) that is leading the AFC West.

Defense continues to dominate: The light has come on for Miami's defense. The group has been one of the league's better units for the past month. The Dolphins baffled and battered Oakland's offense Sunday. Miami held Oakland to just 14 points, which were scored in garbage time, and sacked Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer two times. Miami was the NFL's sixth-rated unit in 2010, but started slow this season during its 0-7 start. The group is finally rounding back to its expected form.

Bush continues to thrive: Dolphins starting running back Reggie Bush continues to have his most successful season running the football. Bush rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries. By the fourth quarter, Dolphins fans were chanting "Reggie! Reggie!"

Seymour Watch: A fine could be forthcoming for Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour. He was ejected in the third quarter after a half-hearted attempt to punch Miami guard Richie Incognito. Seymour has a reputation for questionable play and the refs wasted no time ejecting him. This was the second ejection in as many seasons for the former Pro Bowl player. Seymour also was ejected last season for a shot to the face of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after the whistle.

What's next: The Dolphins will play their second consecutive home game next week when the Philadelphia Eagles (4-8) come to town. Miami is looking to win its fourth consecutive game at home.

HOUSTON -- Thoughts on the Texans’ 17-10 win over the Falcons at Reliant Stadium:

What it means: The 9-3 Texans matched the best win total in franchise history with their sixth consecutive victory. Houston maintained its two-game lead over the Titans in the AFC South and also has a head-to-head win over Tennessee. The Texans’ defense and run game were big, but rookie quarterback T.J. Yates certainly did his part. A 19-play, 85-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown drive featured a risky fourth-down attempt. But the Texans converted and got seven points instead of three, then held twice as Atlanta threatened the end zone to preserve the lead.

What I liked: A confident team didn’t flinch with its third-string quarterback under center. A swarming defense put great pressure on Matt Ryan and wasn’t bothered by Atlanta’s no-huddle offense. Ryan connected on only 20 of 46 pass attempts for 267 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

What they fear: Could Andre Johnson be in line to miss more time? He left the game in the fourth quarter after pulling up lame while chasing a deep ball. It didn’t look good, and a team that survived well without him for a five-game stretch earlier this season could face the challenge again. Punter Brett Hartmann suffered what looked to be a bad leg injury as well.

What I wonder: They made it, so we don’t need to debate much. But what was Gary Kubiak thinking going for it on fourth-and-1 at Atlanta’s 9-yard line when he could have kicked a field goal to take a lead? If Arian Foster failed to convert there and Atlanta took over with the score knotted at 10-10, Kubiak would have had to answer for a lot.

What’s next: A trip to Cincinnati where the Bengals aren’t looking quite as formidable as they did earlier in the season. A victory would mean Houston's first 10-win season.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rapid reaction from the Patriots’ 31-24 win over the Colts at Gillette Stadium:

What it means: The Patriots keep pace for the top seed in the AFC and improve to 9-3. The Colts drop to 0-12. The big swing in the game came at the end of the second quarter when the Patriots led 10-3. The Patriots stopped the Colts, called timeout, then got the ball back at their own 40 with 1:38 left in the half. They then drove for a touchdown, got the ball at the start of the third quarter and scored a touchdown, and that was the knockout punch. For the second week in a row, Tom Brady was taken out of the game in the fourth quarter, as backup Brian Hoyer came on (Brady was back for the final kneeldown). The game wasn't as close as the final score indicated as the Colts scored two touchdowns late.

Gronkowski solidifies standing at top NFL tight end: Second-year Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski caught his 12^th and 13^th touchdown passes of the season, tying the NFL single-season record by a tight end (Antonio Gates in 2004 and Vernon Davis in 2009). It looked like he had his record-breaking 14^th but the play was later ruled a lateral and a rushing touchdown. Gronkowski didn’t do one of his patented “boom!” spikes after the third touchdown, thinking he had set the record. He’s had a remarkable year.

Defense carved up but strong in red zone when it counted: Things weren’t looking good for the Patriots’ defense on the Colts’ second offensive drive. They were losing the battle on third down as four conversions advanced the ball to the 1-yard line and chewed up the final 9:30 of the first quarter. But as has been the case all season, the D seems to be at its best inside the 20. A run was stopped for no gain, and it was followed by an incomplete pass. A false start penalty pushed the Colts back and the Patriots ultimately forced a field goal. That was a win for New England on the Colts’ 19-play drive, and while the defense showed significant vulnerability at other points in the game, it held its ground enough on a day that the offense blitzed the Colts in the second and third quarters.

Vinatieri hears boos from Gillette fans: Kicker Adam Vinatieri played for the Patriots from 1996-2005 and his clutch right foot played a big part in delivering three Super Bowl championships. Yet that didn’t stop the home crowd from booing him when he came on for a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. This was Vinatieri’s third trip back to Gillette as a member of the Colts (2006 and 2010), and he’s been booed each time during the game.

Ochocinco back in the mix as No. 3 receiver: Some might say the Gillette Stadium crowd has a sense of humor after it gave veteran receiver Chad Ochocinco a huge cheer when he made his 12^th reception of the season in the second quarter. Ochocinco hasn’t produced as expected this season. After missing last week’s game in Philadelphia, Ochocinco was part of the No. 3 receiver mix along with Tiquan Underwood and Julian Edelman. He played 10 snaps, all in the first half, and some were in the hurry-up offense which is a good sign for him.

Fourth center of the season & offense doesn't miss beat: An easy-to-overlook storyline is that the Patriots went wire to wire with Nick McDonald at center, as he was promoted from the practice squad on Saturday because of injuries to Dan Koppen (IR, foot), Dan Connolly (groin) and Ryan Wendell (calf). He is the fourth center to start for the Patriots this season and there were no issues with the shotgun snap. The offense didn't break stride.

What’s next: The Patriots travel to Washington to face the Redskins (1 p.m.) on Dec. 11, while the Colts visit the Ravens that day. Also, Patriots followers will be watching Monday to see if the Dec. 18 game at Denver will remain a 4:15 p.m. start or be flexed to prime time.

PITTSBURGH -- Thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers game:

What it means: The Steelers ambushed the Bengals to make this a two-team race for the AFC North title. At the very least, Pittsburgh (9-3) will remain tied with the Ravens atop the division and will take a one-game lead if Baltimore loses at Cleveland on Sunday. The Bengals (7-5) essentially fall three games back of the Steelers because of the season sweep, and would only lose hold of the No. 6 seed if the Broncos win. Cincinnati's previous four losses were by a total of 21 points.

"Special" victory: Pittsburgh rolled out to a 28-7 halftime lead with superior special-teams play. First-round pick Cameron Heyward blocked a Bengals field goal attempt on Cincinnati's opening drive. Stevenson Sylvester forced Brandon Tate to fumble on a kickoff return in the second quarter, which led to a touchdown. And Antonio Brown's 60-yard punt return for a touchdown -- he didn't get touched on the runback -- put the Steelers up by 21 points.

Harrison heating up: Pittsburgh outside linebacker James Harrison recorded three sacks for the second time in four games. The Steelers needed Harrison to step up because LaMarr Woodley left in the first half after re-injuring his hamstring.

Roethlisberger rebounds: Coming off a season-low in passing yards last Sunday, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 15 of 23 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. His passer rating was 117.3, the fourth time it has surpassed 100 this season. The fractured right thumb doesn't seem to be a problem for Roethlisberger, who was allowed to rest for the final 10 minutes of the game because of the rout.

Flag day for Bengals: Cincinnati committed 10 penalties for 109 yards, and some of them were costly. A.J. Green's false start penalty took away a touchdown on the Bengals' opening drive, and a delay of game then negated a successful field goal. This looked like the Bengals from 2010, not 2011.

What's next: The Steelers have a quick turnaround, playing the last-place Browns on Thursday night at Heinz Field. The Bengals return home Sunday to face the Houston Texans, who lost their top two quarterbacks (Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart) to injuries in November.

SEATTLE -- Thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks' 31-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night at CenturyLink Field:

What it means: The Seahawks improved to 5-7 for the season, including 2-2 against teams from the NFC East. They continued to build on recent successes in the ground game, a top priority heading toward next season. Marshawn Lynch strengthened his case for a long-term contract with his fourth 100-yard rushing performance in his past five games. This game was progress for Seattle.

What I liked: Seattle established its ground game -- again. The team fed off Lynch's power running. Pass protection was generally good enough, breaking down mostly when Tarvaris Jackson held onto the ball. Jackson had third-down completions for 21, 26 and 25 yards in the first half. Two of those plays sustained separate touchdown drives. Kam Chancellor picked off Vince Young to end the Eagles' opening possession, the first of four interceptions by the Seattle defense. Brandon Browner, plagued by penalties in coverage this season, broke up a deep pass at the last moment after initially getting beat. Browner also picked off two passes, giving him three intercerceptions over the past two games. Second-year receiver Golden Tate caught a touchdown pass for the second week in a row. The athleticism that appealed to Seattle when Tate was at Notre Dame showed up on two plays, including his leaping TD grab in the back of the end zone.

What I didn't like: The Seahawks allowed a rushing touchdown for the second week in a row after allowing none previously since Week 4. They failed to get pressure quickly enough, enabling a 47-yard completion to set up LeSean McCoy's scoring run. Seattle's defense had trouble getting off the field during a 17-play, 80-yard Eagles drive spanning more that 10 minutes of the second half. Penalties, a big problem for Seattle this season, dogged the team early in the game. The Seahawks committed their first less than 10 seconds into the game. They improved in that area as the game progressed, however.

Lynch's big night: Lynch carried 22 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns. This was his most rushing yardage in a game since Seattle acquired him. Lynch previously ran for 135 yards against Dallas earlier this season. He set his career high (153 yards) while with Buffalo in 2007.

Hawthorne active, and then some: The Seahawks weren't sure whether David Hawthorne's knee would let the middle linebacker play against the Eagles. Hawthorne, listed as questionable on the injury report, sealed the outcome for Seattle with a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown. Having the weekend off should help Hawthorne get ready for Week 14.

Miller OK: Tight end Zach Miller was slow to get up after absorbing a blindside hit while trying to get open for a scrambling Jackson in the third quarter. Miller walked off the field. The big hits he takes are of added concern after Miller suffered a concussion on a brutal hit from the New York Giants. But Miller returned and caught a pass late in the game.

Okung leaves game late: Left tackle Russell Okung came out of the game late after suffering what appeared to be an injury to his right arm or shoulder.

Timing off early: The Seahawks' pregame flag-raising ceremony has become a tradition at home games. Fans' excitement grows as a celebrity with local ties -- former SuperSonics coach Bill Russell was the choice Thursday night -- raises the "12th Man" flag right before kickoff. The timing was fouled up this time. The game began before stadium video operators could cue their Russell tribute. Cameras showed a confused look on coach Pete Carroll's face as the game kicked off while the ceremony was only beginning. Awkward.

What's next: The Seahawks are home for a Monday night game against the St. Louis Rams in Week 14.