Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson rushes for extra yardage in the first quarter on his way to an NFL record 296 yards on 30 carriers as the Vikings beat the San Diego Chargers, 35-17, Sunday in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis ? Adrian Peterson raced to the NFL’s single-game rushing record with 296 yards Sunday in a 35-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

After giving up the longest play in league history on a missed field goal right before halftime, Minnesota (3-5) pressured Philip Rivers into one of the worst games of his career and made sure LaDainian Tomlinson didn’t come close to matching Peterson’s performance.

San Diego (4-4) lost a November game for the first time since 2003 and reverted to the shaky play on both sides of the ball that led to a 1-3 start. But the Chargers got a 109-yard runback with a missed 57-yard field goal by Antonio Cromartie just before halftime, breaking the NFL mark by one yard.

But Peterson:

¢ topped 200 yards rushing for the second time in one season, a feat no other rookie has accomplished.

¢ scored two of his three touchdowns and gained 253 yards in the second half, helping the Vikings rally from a 14-7 deficit.

¢ reached 1,036 yards rushing for the season, putting him on pace to smash Eric Dickerson’s rookie record of 1,808 set in 1983. Dickerson’s all-time record of 2,105 yards in 1984 could be in reach, too.

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson got hurt again, and backup Brooks Bollinger was much better in the second half that included a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Rice.

Saints 41, Jaguars 24

New Orleans – Drew Brees threw for 445 yards and three touchdowns, and Mike McKenzie returned an interception 75 yards for a score as New Orleans won its fourth straight.

Now all the preseason hype seems a little more justified as the Saints (4-4) have become legitimate contenders in the NFC South again, only a half-game behind division-leading Tampa Bay (5-4). This latest victory over Jacksonville (5-3) was the Saints’ most impressive, and the Saints also proved they can indeed play with the AFC, against which they were 0-5 since beating Cleveland on opening day of 2006.

Brees’ 35 completions on 49 attempts without an interception were impressive enough. Reggie Bush wasn’t bad, either, scoring touchdowns on a short run and a short reception.

Lions 44, Broncos 7

Detroit – Jon Kitna threw two touchdown passes, and the Lions scored twice on defense.

The Lions (6-2) have established themselves as a legitimate contender in the NFC and perhaps the surprise team in the league at the midway point of their season. They already have twice as many victories as last year and have matched the most victories in any season under team president Matt Millen.

Detroit has won three straight.

Denver (3-5) has its worst record since its last losing season in 1999, and the banged-up team took more hits when quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Travis Henry were sidelined due to injuries.

Cutler left the game with a lower-leg injury in the second quarter and was replaced by Patrick Ramsey. Henry appeared to hurt his left leg in the fourth period, and Selvin Young finished the game in the backfield.

Detroit is the only team in the NFC undefeated at home, starting 4-0 for the first time since moving back downtown in 2002.

Titans 20, Panthers 7

Nashville, Tenn. – Vince Young and LenDale White each ran for a touchdown, and Albert Haynesworth had three of the Titans’ season-high seven sacks as Tennessee got its third straight victory.

The Titans (6-2) finished their trip through the NFC South at 3-1 and ruined the Panthers’ first game at Tennessee. White finished with 100 yards, his third straight game with 100 or more.

It was the Titans’ defense that thrived in a sloppy game that featured 10 penalties each.

Tennessee held an opponent to 14 or fewer points for the sixth time this season. The Titans held Carolina (4-4) to a season-low 191 yards total offense and shut out the Panthers until the fourth quarter despite four Titans turnovers.

Buccaneers 17, Cardinals 10

Tampa, Fla. – Stingy defense was the Buccaneers’ hallmark for most of the past decade, and it was the key as they surpassed their win total for last season.

In addition to Tanard Jackson’s second-quarter interception, which set up a field goal, the Bucs limited the Cardinals to one first down and 78 yards total offense in the opening half. Arizona (3-5), averaging 337.3 yards per game, finished with a season-low 195.

Jeff Garcia threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway, while Earnest Graham scored on a two-yard run and had his first 100-yard rushing performance as a pro (124) for the Bucs (5-4), whose 4-12 record a year ago was the franchise’s worst since 1991.

Redskins 23, Jets 20, OT

East Rutherford, N.J. – Shaun Suisham tied a franchise record with his fifth field goal, a 46-yarder with 7:43 left in overtime.

Clinton Portis rushed for 196 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries as Washington (5-3) beat New York for the eighth time in nine meetings. The Redskins, who won their second overtime game of the season after beating Miami in the season opener, had to erase a 14-point deficit in this one.

The Jets (1-8) tied it at 20 with 10 seconds left in regulation on Mike Nugent’s 30-yard field goal, but New York couldn’t do much after getting a 39-yard reception by Jerricho Cotchery to open the extra period.

Portis gained 37 yards on the drive to get the Redskins into field-goal position. Suisham, who also had kicks of 46, 40, 22 and 40 yards, nailed the winning kick.

The loss, the Jets’ sixth straight, spoiled a valiant effort by new starting quarterback Kellen Clemens. The second-year player was 23-for-42 for 226 yards and a touchdown. He also gained 48 yards on seven carries.

Bills 33, Bengals 21

Orchard Park, N.Y. – Rookie running back Marshawn Lynch threw for a touchdown and scored another rushing against the defensively porous and fully demoralized Bengals.

It was a breakout performance for Lynch, who had a career-best 153 yards rushing, including a 56-yard TD run that put the game away with 2:22 remaining. He also had an eight-yard touchdown pass to Robert Royal that put the Bills ahead for good.

The Bills (4-4) won their third straight, their best stretch since winning six straight in 2004, and produced 479 yards of total offense. The 33 points were also the most Buffalo has scored since a 37-27 victory at Cincinnati on Dec. 24, 2005.

The Bengals (2-6) not only lost for the sixth time in seven games, they also might have lost receiver Chad Johnson, who was carted off the field with two minutes left.

Johnson was sandwiched by defenders Donte Whitner and Coy Wire while attempting to make a diving catch over the middle with 1:53 remaining. The Bengals announced Johnson, who had his neck immobilized, had movement in all extremities.

Falcons 20, 49ers 16

Atlanta – Warrick Dunn became the first Atlanta back to run for 100 yards this season, Ovie Mughelli had the first rushing TD of his career, and the Falcons (2-6) won a matchup between two of the league’s worst teams. The game was blacked out locally, the first time that’s happened in Atlanta since 2001. The Georgia Dome was far from packed after 56 consecutive sellouts, the city clearly losing interest in a losing squad that no longer has Michael Vick to liven things up.

Dunn rushed for 100 yards on 27 carries, including a nine-yard touchdown.

San Francisco (2-6) lost its sixth in a row with another dismal offensive performance.

Cowboys 38, Eagles 17

Philadelphia – Terrell Owens stuck it to Philadelphia again.

Nearly two years to the day Owens was banished from the Eagles, the star receiver caught 10 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown to help Dallas dismantle Philadelphia.

Tony Romo threw three TD passes, Marion Barber had 106 total yards and one score, and the NFC East-leading Cowboys improved to 7-1 for the first time since 1995.

Desperately needing a victory to have any hope of defending their division championship, the last-place Eagles (3-5) were dominated on both sides.

It’s the worst start for Philadelphia since Andy Reid became coach in 1999. Reid had a tumultuous week, missing practice Thursday to be in court with his two oldest sons. A judge sentenced Garrett and Britt Reid to prison and likened Reid’s home to a “drug emporium.”