Sports: Around the AFC

Around the AFC

By Compiled from Times wires

BENGALS: They have lost five straight to the Ravens. ... They have yielded 16 sacks in three games.

BILLS: Bobby Collins is expected to start in place of injured tight end Jay Riemersma when Buffalo resumes play Sunday. A fourth-round pick in 1999, Collins played in 14 games last season, including four starts. He had three catches for 33 yards Sept. 17 after replacing Riemersma, out another three weeks with a sprained left knee.

BRONCOS: Receiver Rod Smith had eight receptions for 134 yards, passing Mark Jackson for seventh place on the team's career reception list with 282 and Al Denson for ninth place on the receiving yards list with 4,213.

BROWNS: Quarterback Tim Couch said the environment at the Oakland Coliseum was a factor in his first subpar outing this season. "This was not only a very physical game," Couch said, "it was an intimidating place to play. This is a very tough place to play. The fans were on us even before the game." Couch, who had five touchdowns and one interception going in, had a touchdown and two interceptions against the Raiders.

CHARGERS: They have scored seven points or fewer in 35 of their past 52 games. ... Tight end Freddie Jones caught a career-high eight passes for 82 yards.

CHIEFS: They have won three in a row over the Broncos for the second time during coach Mike Shanahan's tenure in Denver. No other team has done it once. ... Tight end Tony Gonzalez had the first 100-yard receiving game of his career. His highs were nine catches and 93 yards in separate games last season. ... They stopped Denver on all seven of its goal-to-go plays.

COLTS: They had produced one turnover and recorded one sack in their two games before Monday night, a source of concern for coach Jim Mora. "We're nothing special on defense," Mora said. "We're an average defensive football team."

DOLPHINS: Running back Thurman Thomas had 37 rushing yards, giving him 12,009 and making him the ninth player to surpass the 12,000-yard mark. ... Cornerback Patrick Surtain was asked if he remembered anyone on the Killer B's, the dominating Miami defense of the early '80s. "Only the Blackwood brothers," Surtain, 24, said. "I was only 6 years old." Reminded that Miami has allowed one touchdown this season, Surtain was asked if his defensive teammates have discussed a nickname. "No," he said, smiling. "We're going to leave that up to you reporters."

JAGUARS: Though they have moved the ball well, scoring from inside their opponents' 20 has been another story. Entering Monday night's game, they had scored three touchdowns in 12 trips to the red zone. "We have to get touchdowns when we get down there," wide receiver Keenan McCardell said. "If you don't, you make games closer than they should be. That's how you get beat."

JETS: Their eight-game regular-season winning streak is the second-longest in team history. They won nine straight in 1986.

PATRIOTS: For the fourth time this season, they had a chance to win or tie late in the fourth quarter. On fourth and 2 from the Dolphins 5 with one minute left, Drew Bledsoe overthrew his receiver at the back of the end zone.

RAIDERS: Coach Jay Gruden gave linebacker William Thomas the game ball. Thomas intercepted Browns quarterback Couch twice. ... Rookie kicker Sebastian Janikowski leads the AFC with six touchbacks.

RAVENS: Tight end Shannon Sharpe caught his 46th career touchdown. ... They converted 12 of 17 third-down plays against the Bengals.

SEAHAWKS: Running back Ricky Watters rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries and had one reception for 14 yards against the Chargers. ... They were held to 63 yards total offense in the second half and finished with 269.

STEELERS: Running back Jerome Bettis gained 77 yards to pass Hall of Famer Jim Taylor into 15th place on the career rushing list.

TITANS: They improved to 17-2 vs. the AFC Central since 1998. ... Defensive end Jevon Kearse's record of getting at least one-half sack ended at 13 games. ... Wide receiver Carl Pickens had his first 100-yard receiving game with Tennessee and the 20th of his career.