Lions Beat Bears, NFL Roundup

The Detroit Lions were in big trouble before Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson rekindled their connection. It was just like old times.

Stafford threw one of four touchdown passes to Johnson and found the star receiver for a 57-yard play that set up Matt Prater's 27-yard field goal with 2:29 left in overtime, helping the Lions beat the Chicago Bears 37-34 on Sunday for their first win of the season.

The Lions (1-5) leaned on Stafford's arm and Johnson's ability to get their first win since Dec. 21 at Chicago. They were the NFL's only team without a victory this season.

It helped that Stafford bounced back from being benched for the first time in his career.

Johnson took advantage of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who called the game from the coaches' box for the first time this year, opting for more deep passes.

Stafford finished 27 of 42 for a season-high 405 yards and an interception. Johnson had six receptions for 166 yards -- doubling his season high -- and scored for the first time since Week 2. It was his 45th career game with at least 100 yards receiving, breaking a fourth-place tie with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.

The Bears (2-4) had won consecutive games on go-ahead scores in final minute of regulation for first time since 1962, and had chances for another comeback win. They wasted a handful of opportunities inside the Detroit 20, settling for field goals and throwing an interception.

Patriots 34, Colts 27

Tom Brady found a way to stop talking about revenge Sunday night. He let the Colts take the air out of their own building with a bone-headed botched fake punt.

In one of the strangest games of this long, heated rivalry, Brady threw for 312 yards, three touchdowns and led the Patriots to a 34-27 victory Sunday night in the highly anticipated "Deflategate" rematch.

The postgame discussion focused on one central them: What were the Colts thinking?

"We expected this to be a gadget game," coach Bill Belichick said. "Their punter ran a sweep against Tennessee a couple weeks ago, so that's something they've done in the past."

But in a series defined by wild games and crazy plays, Indy's awful fake punt might have been the worst of the worst. With most of Indianapolis' players shifted up near the right sideline, receiver Griff Whalen inexplicably snapped the ball to safety Colt Anderson, who was immediately tackled for a 1-yard loss.

That gave the Patriots the ball at the Colts 35. Six plays later, Brady got free from the pass rush and hooked up with LeGarrette Blount for an 11-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots a 34-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Sunday, October 18 Scoreboard

New York Jets 34, Washington 20

Pittsburgh 25, Arizona 13

Minnesota 16, Kansas City 10

Cincinnati 34, Buffalo 21

Detroit 37, Chicago 34 (OT)

Denver 26, Cleveland 23 (OT)

Houston 31, Jacksonville 20

Miami 38, Tennessee 10

Carolina 27, Seattle 23

Green Bay 27, San Diego 20

San Francisco 25, Baltimore 20

New England 34, Indianapolis 27

Monday, October 19 Schedule (Time Central)

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

Sunday, October 25 (All Times Central)

Buffalo at Jacksonville, 8:30 a.m.

Tampa Bay at Washington, noon

Atlanta at Tennessee, noon

New Orleans at Indianapolis, noon

Minnesota at Detroit, noon

Pittsburgh at Kansas City, noon

Cleveland at St. Louis, noon

Houston at Miami, noon

New York at New England, noon

Oakland at San Diego, 3:05 p.m.

Dallas at New York, 3:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at Carolina, 7:30 p.m.