Bears Drop Loss To Cardinals, Rams Fall Against Redskins

As long as Carson Palmer is in the lineup, the Arizona Cardinals believe they can beat anybody. And they will be tough to knock off if he keeps playing like this.

Palmer threw for four touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to a 48-23 victory over the Chicago Bears, who lost Jay Cutler to a pulled hamstring Sunday.

Palmer connected with Larry Fitzgerald for three of his TDs, giving the quarterback seven in two games after returning last week against New Orleans from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that cut short his season after just six games a year ago.

"I've never been around this deep of a team," Fitzgerald said. "I was around Hall of Famers in Anquan (Boldin) and Edgerrin James and Kurt Warner, but besides that, on the offensive side of the ball I've got some guys that really can play over there."

Palmer was 17 of 24 with 185 yards to improve to 15-2 in his last 17 starts. Fitzgerald had 112 yards, and with those three TDs, he matched a career high he set against Philadelphia in the conference final seven years ago.

David Johnson returned the opening kickoff a club-record 108 yards and added a rushing TD, becoming the first player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and kickoff-return touchdown in his first two games to begin a career.

Redskins 24, Rams 10

Forget everything you thought you knew about the importance of the passing game in today's NFL. Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden and new general manager Scot McCloughan want to win by moving the football on the ground.

And thanks to rookie running back Matt Jones and an offensive line led by left tackle Trent Williams, the Redskins did just that Sunday.

Jones ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns, an efficient Kirk Cousins avoided turnovers, and the Redskins dominated for a half, then held on to beat the St. Louis Rams 24-10.

"I can't say enough good things about the way our offensive line has played," said Cousins, 23 for 27 for 203 yards and a 4-yard TD pass to Pierre Garcon. "I feel like I could give you five reasons for us playing so well, and it'd be those five guys."

Cousins did not throw an interception -- his pair of picks a week ago gave him 21 in 15 career games -- and was sacked only twice. Jones and Alfred Morris had plenty of room to rumble: Washington outrushed St. Louis 182-67.

Sunday, September 20 Scoreboard

Carolina 24, Houston 17

Pittsburgh 43, San Francisco 18

Tampa Bay 26, New Orleans 19

Minnesota 26, Detroit 16

Arizona 48, Chicago 23

New England 40, Buffalo 2

Cincinnati 24, San Diego 19

Cleveland 28, Tennessee 14

Atlanta 24, New York Giants 20

Jacksonville 23, Miami 20

Oakland 37, Baltimore 33

Dallas 20, Philadelphia 10

Green Bay 27, Seattle 17

Monday, September 21 Schedule (Time Central)

New York at Indianapolis, 7:30 p.m.