Ravens’ Lewis runs wild

Baltimore back bolts for NFL-record 295 yards

? The Baltimore Ravens gave Jamal Lewis the football, as promised, and he delivered on a pledge in setting a single-game NFL record with 295 yards rushing.

Lewis’ incredible performance, which included two touchdowns, led Baltimore past the Cleveland Browns, 33-13, Sunday.

He would have had a third score and surpassed 300 yards if not for a holding penalty on Marcus Robinson during a 60-yard run in the first half.

“On a day like today, I can’t regret anything,” said Lewis, who averaged a whopping 9.8 yards on his 30 carries. “It was beautiful.”

Lewis ran for an 82-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, added a 63-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and broke the record with a three-yard run with 6:55 left.

He shattered the single-game mark held by Corey Dillon of Cincinnati, who ran for 278 yards Oct. 22, 2000, against Denver.

During a phone call with Cleveland linebacker Andra Davis earlier in the week, Lewis said he would break the record if given 30 carries — twice as many as one week earlier in a 34-15 loss to Pittsburgh.

“Andra told me he wanted me to get the ball 30 times. I told him if I get the ball 30 times, it’s going to be a career day,” Lewis said. “I’m not going to say I predicted it. It was lucky.”

Lewis, who missed the entire 2001 season with a torn knee ligament, had 100 yards by his second carry Sunday and was at 180 yards by halftime.

“I was going in at halftime when (Ravens tackle) Jonathan Ogden said, ‘Let’s go get it. We can get 300 yards,”‘ Lewis said.

Said Ogden: “I figured if he broke the record, we’d get the win.”

The Ravens (1-1) spoke all week about the importance of using Lewis more, especially since the tailback shredded Cleveland for 187 yards in a game last October.

The Browns knew he was coming, but were powerless against him.

“This is the most disgusting feeling I ever had in my life. … He said what he said, and then he did it. It’s in the history books,” Browns safety Earl Little said.

After the Browns (0-2) cut a 13-point deficit to 16-13, Lewis’ 63-yard TD run gave Baltimore a 10-point cushion with 14:49 remaining.

“They didn’t get quiet until the end of the fourth quarter,” Lewis said of the Browns. “Andra told me, ‘I can’t say anything else.’ He was congratulating me as we were playing. He showed me much respect.”

Lewis also helped the Ravens overcome another poor showing by rookie quarterback Kyle Boller, who hurt his knee and was replaced by Chris Redman in the third quarter. Boller went 7-for-17 for 78 yards and an interception.

Rams 27, 49ers 24, OT

St. Louis — Marc Bulger shook off two first-half turnovers, throwing for two touchdowns and keeping his cool on the final drive. Jeff Wilkins kicked a 28-yard field goal in overtime. The Rams (1-1) have won eight of the last nine over the 49ers (1-1), who didn’t go quietly, forcing the extra period on Terrell Owens’ 13-yard touchdown catch from Jeff Garcia with 19 seconds to go.

Panthers 12,

Buccaneers 9, OT

Tampa, Fla. — John Kasay’s fourth field goal, a 47-yarder with 3:28 remaining in overtime, capped a wild final few minutes. The Buccaneers (1-1) tied the game with no time left in regulation on Keenan McCardell’s six-yard reception. But Kris Jenkins got a hand on what would have been a game-winning extra point by Martin Gramatica. Steve Smith’s 52-yard punt return to the Tampa Bay 40 set up Kasay’s game-winner.

Raiders 23,

Bengals 20

Oakland, Calif. — Sebastian Janikowski’s third field, a 39-yarder with left seconds left, won it. The Raiders (1-1) got a break on their final drive when Jeff Burris was flagged for pass interference against Jerry Rice, giving Oakland the ball on the Cincinnati 22 with 23 seconds left.

Redskins 33, Falcons 31

Atlanta — After being sacked five times and fumbling twice in the first half, Patrick Ramsey threw for a career-high 356 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins rallied from a 17-point deficit.

Patriots 31, Eagles 10

Philadelphia — Tom Brady passed for 255 yards and three touchdowns for the Patriots (1-1), keeping the Eagles winless at the new Lincoln Financial Field. In his worst game since his rookie season, Donovan McNabb completed just 18 of 46 passes for 186 yards, threw two interceptions — one returned for a TD — lost two fumbles and was sacked seven times.

Seahawks 38,

Cardinals 0

Tempe, Ariz. — The bumbling Cardinals (0-2) turned the ball over on their first four possessions, and Matt Hasselbeck threw touchdown passes of 55 and 66 yards to Darrell Jackson. It was the Cards’ most one-sided home loss since a 52-10 beating by Philadelphia Nov. 8, 1981.

Broncos 37, Chargers 13

San Diego — Jake Plummer was hurt diving for a first down, but stayed in for two more plays, long enough to throw his third touchdown in less than two quarters. The Broncos (2-0) dominated the Chargers (0-2) despite losing Plummer (shoulder), who was replaced by Steve Beuerlein, and running back Clinton Portis, who suffered a chest bruise.

Packers 31, Lions 6

Green Bay, Wis. — Ahman Green rushed 23 times for 160 yards, including a 65-yarder for a score on his first carry. The Packers (1-1) picked off three of Joey Harrington’s passes in the second half and sent the Lions (1-1) to their 17th straight road loss.

Dolphins 21, Jets 10

East Rutherford, N.J. — Ricky Williams ran for 125 yards on 34 carries, and the Dolphins rebounded from an embarrassing loss to Houston. Miami won at the Meadowlands for the first time since 1997 and avoided its first 0-2 start in 15 years. Vinny Testaverde became the ninth quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 40,000 yards in his career.

Colts 33, Titans 7

Indianapolis — Edgerrin James rushed for 120 yards and scored one touchdown, while a stifling defense limited Tennessee (1-1) to 236 yards. The Colts snapped a three-game losing streak against the defending AFC South champs.

Bills 38, Jaguars 17

Jacksonville, Fla. — Travis Henry ran for three scores, and Drew Bledsoe threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns in the most lopsided home loss for the Jaguars (0-2) in their nine-year history. Eric Moulds and Bobby Shaw caught touchdown passes, and the Bills (2-0) looked like one of the NFL’s top teams for the second straight week

Saints 31, Texans 10

New Orleans — Aaron Brooks threw for two touchdowns as the New Orleans offense finally showed signs of life. The Saints (1-1) led the NFC in scoring last season with 432 points and 49 touchdowns. But in the final two games of last season and the first one this year, New Orleans scored only 29 points.

Vikings 24, Bears 13

Minneapolis — Kordell Stewart and Chicago showed some spunk, but Minnesota was just better. The Bears might have to get used to that this year. Moe Williams rushed 21 times for 108 yards and a touchdown, and Daunte Culpepper threw two TD passes to tight end Jim Kleinsasser to lead the Vikings.