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More people watched the New England Patriots squeeze past the Baltimore Ravens on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" than viewed any other program in the history of cable TV. Game drew a total aud of 17.5 million viewers, besting the previous record of 17.2 million set in August by Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2." The Patriots are undefeated and could end up as the second NFL team ever to go through an entire season without a loss (the Miami Dolphins did it in 1972). ESPN's Monday cablecast of the Patriots-Ravens bout finished first for the night among programs on all...

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Picked on for years, the Cleveland Browns finally gave a black eye to one of the NFL's biggest bullies. Derek Anderson threw two touchdown passes, Jamal Lewis ran for one against his former team and the Browns, considered the 98-pound weaklings of the rugged AFC North, surprised the Baltimore Ravens 27-13 Sunday. With their second win over a division opponent this month, the Browns (2-2) looked nothing like the inept team that was embarrassed 34-7 in their home opener three weeks ago by Pittsburgh. Instead, Anderson, who has had a tendency to make poor decisions, made mostly...

In light of Foleygate and NK nuke(?) testing, it seems we have lost sight of what is truly important... MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!!!! The Baltimore Ravens visit Denver in what is sure to be a good game! May the best team win!

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Sudden turmoil and rumors twisting around the Cleveland Browns led to something factual: their first division win. Dennis Northcutt's 62-yard punt return for a touchdown helped the Browns close a tumultuous final weekend Sunday with a 20-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens, who finished 0-8 on the road. Earlier this season, Northcutt twice brought back punts for TDs only to have them nullified by penalties. But after his third-quarter jaunt, when he reversed field and picked up some blocks, Northcutt checked to be certain there were no penalty flags and waved his arms like an official....

National Football League News Wire The following stories are the most recent transmissions from ESPN.com wire sources Sunday, August 14, 2005Ex-NFL player Robbins arrested on marijuana charge - AP (1:47 PM ET)Panthers, at almost 100 percent, are excited after preseason win - AP (1:25 PM ET) Raiders assistant taken to hospital after fainting on sideline - AP (2:08 AM ET)UNDATED: yards receiving. - AP (1:39 AM ET) Saturday, August 13, 2005NFL Preseason Capsules - AP (11:38 PM ET) Schottenheimer sticking with errant kicker Kaeding - AP (10:15 PM ET)Panthers retire Mills' jersey at halftime - AP (9:50 PM ET)Without Owens,...

Speculation is Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis may want a new contract and that he could be looking for a $50 million dollar signing bonus. Look, Lewis is a great player, a great leader, a great personality and I like that pre-game dance as much as anybody, but $50 million to sign? Is Ray Lewis a Middle Linebacker or did he find a cure for cancer? If they were to ever give Ray Ray $50 mill up front, what sort of effect would that have on the cap? Will Kyle Boller and Jamal Lewis play for free? I want to...

Ladies and Gentlemen we have 64 days remaining until the kickoff of the NFL season with the American Bowl game in Japan. The pre season starts five days later, and the regular season is only 97 days away! Here are some of the top stories from this week in the NFL:Chiefs part ways with receiver MortonNFL applauds 49ers' response to media training filmSeahawks cut twoEagles RB Westbrook ends holdout, signs tenderRavens RB Lewis released from prison, hopes to attend minicampUnrestricted & Restricted NFL Free Agent Signings Statement from NFL Spokesman re: 49ers' Media Training VideoStingy is good: Jets hand Henderson...

Ben Roethlisberger can take it full circle today against the Ravens. Back on Sept. 19 in Baltimore, the rookie quarterback was flung into the NFL's high seas, sink or swim. Today, he can skipper the Steelers to the AFC's treasure island, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. "That first game, he got his feet wet,'' receiver Hines Ward said. "He's in the water now." Roethlisberger went from "some little young kid who's just out of college" -- Alan Faneca's infamous description -- to royalty in Pittsburgh in the past three months. He's 12-0, a Pro Bowl alternate, Dapper Dan...

Mixed in with all the beatdowns and battles that dominated sports this past week was this little action by the NFL - Indianapolis Colts tight ends Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark were each fined $5,000 for the "jump-and-bump" routine the two had taken to performing after scoring a touchdown.

*** USELESS VANITY THREAD *** And thus begins the official end to the season of 20 NFL teams as the 12 survivors jockey for their post-season slots this weekend. AFC East Team W L T Miami 9 6 0 N.Y. Jets 8 7 0 New England 8 7 0 Buffalo 7 8 0 AFC North Team W L T y-Pittsburgh 9 5 1 Cleveland 8 7 0 Baltimore 7 8 0 Cincinnati 2 13 0 AFC South Team W L T y-Tennessee 10 5 0 Indianapolis 9 6 0 Jacksonville 6 9 0 Houston 4 11 0 AFC West Team...

[sigh] Well, it is now obvious why I don't win office pools. Of course, it would have been easier had I known that Denver was only going to play the last two quarters.