East Rutherford, N.J. ? Tiki Barber put the finishing touch on the best running day of his career, then made one of the most important runs for the New York Giants.

Barber scored late in the third quarter of the New York Giants’ 36-0 rout of the Washington Redskins on Sunday, ran straight to the Giants sideline and presented the ball to Tim McDonnell, grandson of owner Wellington Mara, who died of cancer Tuesday at 89.

“I told him, ‘This is for you, this is for your grandfather,”‘ Barber said after the game. “It was a big day and a special day for me, especially considering the events of the past week. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Two days after attending an emotional farewell to Mara at a packed funeral at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Giants produced their best defensive effort of the season, forcing four turnovers and sacking Washington quarterbacks Mark Brunell and Patrick Ramsey five times.

The victory was New York’s first shutout in seven years and put the Giants atop the NFC East at 5-2.

Barber ran for 206 yards on 24 carries, and the veteran back’s four-yard touchdown run helped him surpass his previous single-game high of 203 yards set against Philadelphia at the end of the 2002 season.

He broke off a 57-yard run on the game’s first play to set up the first of Jay Feely’s five field goals, and he had a 59-yard run later in the first half that led to a three-yard touchdown by rookie Brandon Jacobs.

Barber, who visited Mara at his home the day before he died, had vowed to McDonnell that he would score a touchdown Sunday. He came close on the 59-yarder, but was hauled down at the one-yard line by safety Ryan Clark.

New York Giants Tiki Barber (21) and tight end Vishanthe Shiancoe celebrate Barber's third-quarter touchdown as Washington linebacker Marcus Washington heads back to the bench. New York rolled past Washington, 36-0, Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Washington (4-3), a 52-17 winner over San Francisco a week earlier, managed just 34 yards in the first half and finished with 125. The Redskins didn’t cross midfield until the last minute of the third quarter.

“I think we all realized what was at stake,” said head coach Joe Gibbs. “We had talked about it all week, the big ballgame for us, and for them there was a lot at stake. There was a lot riding on it, and we didn’t play well. I think we take a long hard look at ourselves, and it certainly starts with me.”

Brunell entered the game with the fourth-highest quarterback rating in the NFL, but finished 11-for-28 for 65 yards and could not solve a secondary that entered the game having given up the second-most yards in the NFL.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin credited his defensive line’s performance. Prior to Sunday, the Giants had managed 11 sacks in six games.

“We had good pressure, and that’s where it started,” he said.

Bears 19, Lions 13 (OT)

Detroit – The Detroit Lions were bailed out after one ill-advised Jeff Garcia play in the fourth quarter, then the Chicago Bears burned them on another in overtime.

Garcia’s across-the-body pass was picked off by Charles Tillman and returned 22 yards for a touchdown with 8:43 left in overtime Sunday, lifting Chicago atop the NFC North with a 19-13 win over Detroit.

The 35-year-old quarterback, making his second start in place of Joey Harrington, rolled right and tried to throw back across the field to Mike Williams. Tillman stepped in front of the throw and raced untouched to the end zone, where he was mobbed by teammates.

It was a big win for Chicago (4-3) not only because the Bears broke a first-place tie with Detroit (3-4), but also because they secured a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions, whom they beat 38-6 in an earlier meeting.

Broncos 49, Eagles 21

Denver – Little-known receiver Todd Devoe caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer, and Tatum Bell ran for 67- and six-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Broncos hold off, then run away from the Eagles.

Plummer, who finished with a season-high 309 yards, threw three of his four touchdown passes over the first 23 minutes to give Denver a 28-0 lead, but the Broncos (6-2) allowed Philly (4-3) within seven points and 24 yards of the tying score early in the fourth period.

Donovan McNabb was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Domonique Foxworth, and the Broncos cruised from there. McNabb was 12-for-34 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Terrell Owens finished with three catches for 154 yards and a 91-yard TD reception, the longest of his career.

Dolphins 21, Saints 6

Baton Rouge, La. – Gus Frerotte had a touchdown pass to Chris Chambers and the Dolphins’ defense recorded a safety, spoiling the Saints’ return to Louisiana.

Miami allowed two field goals and kept Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks off-balance throughout in snapping a three-game losing streak.

Ricky Williams also showed signs of a return to form for the first time in his NFL comeback, battering tacklers as he gained 82 yards on 17 carries. Ronnie Brown rushed for 106 yards for the Dolphins (3-4).

While Paul Tagliabue offered hope to those in Louisiana who’d like to keep the state’s NFL franchise, the Saints (2-6), losers of four straight, did little to leave their fans hopeful about this season. Brooks was intercepted once, sacked six times and fumbled twice without being touched – though he recovered both.

49ers 15, Buccaneers 10

San Francisco – Joe Nedney kicked five field goals, including a 28-yarder with 1:56 to play on the first scoring drive ever led by former fourth-string quarterback Cody Pickett, to help the 49ers snap a five-game slide.

Pickett emerged as an improbable hero for the 49ers (2-5), performing admirably in the final 11 minutes while Ken Dorsey and Alex Smith were out with injuries. After Dorsey sprained his left ankle, Pickett marched the Niners 42 yards in 11 plays to Nedney’s last field goal, and the defense shut down Tampa two more times to clinch it. San Francisco won with just 208 yards of offense.

Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13

Irving, Texas – Rookie Marion Barber ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries in his first start, and new kicker Shaun Suisham made two short field goals.

With the victory, the Cowboys (5-3) stayed on pace in the jammed NFC East. They also had a good performance going into their bye week, which comes before they have to play three games in 11 days.

Arizona (2-5) lost its 14th straight at Texas Stadium since 1989. Josh McCown, still starting for Kurt Warner, completed 16 of 33 passes for 161 yards, with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin.

Raiders 34, Titans 25

Nashville, Tenn. – Kerry Collins threw for three touchdowns, and the Raiders got for their third victory in the last four games.

The Raiders (3-4) came up with six sacks, including 21â2 by Warren Sapp, and two turnovers they converted into 10 points. They also won their first road game this season, and they did it with their first victory in Tennessee against a team that had won the first three in this series.

The Titans (2-6) again blew a game they had a chance to win with the league’s youngest team making repeated mistakes. They had a punt return for a TD wiped out by a roughness penalty, dropped passes, a botched extra point and a rookie who never looked for a ball thrown his way: A wide-open Bo Scaife was too busy running upfield and apparently forgot the ball might be thrown to him.

Rams 24, Jaguars 21

St. Louis – Steven Jackson had 179 yards on 25 carries and scored the winning touchdown, Mike Furrey’s 37-yard interception return led to the go-ahead score and the Rams stuffed the Jaguars’ attack most of the second half.

Fred Taylor, who was questionable with a bruised right ankle, had 165 yards on 23 carries for the Jaguars (4-3). That included a 71-yard scoring run in the first quarter. But the Jaguars were hurt by missed field goals by Josh Scobee from 44 and 48 yards.

The Rams (4-4) have won two of three since losing coach Mike Martz for the season due to a heart illness and with interim coach Joe Vitt in charge. They expect to get back QB Marc Bulger (shoulder) and wide receivers Torry Holt (knee) and Isaac Bruce (turf toe) after their bye week next week.

Bengals 21, Packers 14

Cincinnati – Brett Favre threw five interceptions and came up short on a game-ending drive, preserving the Bengals’ victory.

The Packers (1-6) feel they’re never out of it as long as Favre is throwing. Favre drove them to the 28, where a fan ran out of the stands and plucked the ball from the quarterback’s passing hand after a play.

Guards needed several minutes to run down the fan, giving both teams a much-needed breather. It finally ended with Favre throwing an underhand pass from behind the line of scrimmage, then falling on his back at the 13-yard line in exhaustion. He finished 26-of-39 for 279 yards.

Panthers 38, Vikings 13

Charlotte, N.C. – Stephen Davis ran for two touchdowns and Steve Smith terrorized Minnesota’s defense for a franchise-record 201 yards and a score.

Jake Delhomme was on-target for the Panthers (5-2), passing for 341 yards and three touchdowns while stretching Carolina’s winning streak to four games.

The Vikings (2-5) dropped to 0-4 on the road this season, and had no leadership after Daunte Culpepper left with a sprained right knee on the final play of the first quarter.

Texans 19, Browns 16

Houston – Kris Brown kicked a 40-yard field goal, his fourth of the day, with 2:45 remaining, to give Houston (1-6) the come-from-behind victory. The winning kick was set up by a 63-yard kickoff return by rookie Jerome Mathis.

Houston’s losing streak spanned back to a 22-14 loss to Cleveland in last season’s finale. The loss was the third straight for Cleveland (2-5). Antonio Bryant had four receptions for 98 yards, but he was called out of bounds on a would-be touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

Patriots 21, Bills 16

Foxborough, Mass. – Tedy Bruschi’s return was a successful one for the Patriots and their popular linebacker.

Corey Dillon, who struggled most of the season before missing his previous game with an ankle injury, came on to score on two one-yard runs and New England came back for a win over Buffalo.