Cardinals Beat Rams, Bears Drop OT Contest

Two running backs down, the Arizona Cardinals kept the production sky high. Rookie David Johnson ran for 99 yards and scored a touchdown in his first career start, helping pave the way for a decisive 27-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Coach Bruce Arians said the third-round pick from Northern Iowa reminded him of a young Edgerrin James.

Johnson caught one of Carson Palmer's two TD passes as Arizona (10-2) rolled up 524 yards in its sixth straight win. Fellow fill-in Kerwynn Williams scored his first career TD on a 35-yard run, and the Cardinals had 175 yards rushing. They remain three games ahead of the Seahawks in the NFC West.

Johnson stepped up after injuries to Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington. He admitted to being nervous -- but just the first series.

The Cardinals might need Johnson again on short notice, with the next game on Thursday at home against the Vikings. Johnson entered with just 139 yards rushing on the year.

Palmer was 26 of 40 for 356 yards with no interceptions and -- unlike the previous three games in the streak -- he did not need to lead a late scoring drive to win. Arizona led 10-0 at the half and never let the Rams into the game.

Larry Fitzgerald made his 1,000th reception and topped 1,000 yards receiving for the seventh time. The Cardinals (10-2) have won seven of eight since losing 24-22 at home to St. Louis in Week 4.

At 32 years, 97 days, Fitzgerald is the youngest player to reach 1,000 catches and is tied for 10th on the career list with Hines Ward. He caught eight passes for 55 yards.

The Rams (4-8) have lost five in a row and have been outscored 58-10 the last two. The team announced 51,115 tickets distributed, a season low and about 15,000 shy of a sellout, and the dome looked half empty.

San Francisco Beats Chicago In OT

The Chicago Bears had just taken a late lead when San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Tomsula delivered the message to Blaine Gabbert. He told his quarterback to enjoy the moment. Gabbert owned it, instead.

Gabbert threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith in overtime after running for the tying TD late in regulation, lifting the struggling 49ers to a 26-20 victory over the Bears on Sunday.

Tomsula's pep talk came right after Chicago's Ka'Deem Carey ran for a touchdown in the closing minutes of regulation.

Gabbert answered with a big TD run and then won it with that long pass in OT after the Bears' Robbie Gould missed a field goal at the end of regulation.

The Bears (5-7) had just gone three-and-out after forcing a punt by San Francisco to start the extra period.

On the first play of the 49ers' second possession, Gabbert found a wide-open Smith along the left sideline, giving San Francisco (4-8) a surprising win over a team that had jumped into playoff contention.

All that happened after a wild finish in regulation. The Bears took a 20-13 lead on Carey's 4-yard run with 3:32 left, only to let it disappear and then blow a chance to win the game as time expired.

Gabbert scrambled 44 yards untouched through the middle for his first career touchdown run with 1:42 left, after some encouragement from Tomsula.

If that wasn't bad enough for Chicago, the Bears wasted a huge opportunity after Deonte Thompson returned the kickoff 74 yards to the 28. The Bears had the ball at the 17 when they called on the usually reliable Gould, and at that point, linebacker NaVorro Bowman could sense the dread on the sideline.

Sunday, December 6 Scoreboard

New York Jets 23, New York Giants 20 (OT)

Arizona 27, St. Louis 3
    
Tampa Bay 23, Atlanta 19

Seattle 38, Minnesota 7
    
Buffalo 30, Houston 21
    
Miami 15, Baltimore 13

Cincinnati 37, Cleveland 3

Tennessee 42, Jacksonville 39

San Francisco 26, Chicago 20 (OT)

Denver 17, San Diego 3

Kansas City 34, Oakland 20

Carolina 41, New Orleans 38

Philadelphia 35, New England 28
    
Pittsburgh 45, Indianapolis 10

Monday, December 7 Schedule (Time Central)

Dallas at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 10 Schedule (Time Central)

Minnesota at Arizona, 7:25 p.m.

Sunday, December 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

Buffalo at Philadelphia, noon

San Francisco at Cleveland, noon

Detroit at St. Louis, noon

New Orleans at Tampa Bay, noon

Tennessee at New York, noon

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, noon

Indianapolis at Jacksonville, noon

San Diego at Kansas City, noon

Washington at Chicago, noon

Atlanta at Carolina, noon

Seattle at Baltimore, noon

Oakland at Denver, 3:05 p.m.

Dallas at Green Bay, 3:25 p.m.

New England at Houston, 7:30 p.m.