Cheering Section: Topps Salutes the Troops With Trading Cards. Among the 440 cards that make up this year’s Topps N.F.L. card set are 11 Armed Forces Fans of the Game nominated by their home teams.

Sports of The Times: Giants Have Learned to Win Without a Star. We have come to anticipate the worst whenever Plaxico Burress’s name appears in a news headline, and his latest stint was no different.

Sports Of the Times: For Giants, Burress Is Now Just a Safety Hazard. Plaxico Burress was always a loose cannon. Now he is a loose pistol. The pity would be if the Giants continued to depend on him.

Sports Of the Times: Other Area News Relegates Loss to Secondary Status. The Plaxico Burress fiasco, Stephon Marbury’s tension with the Knicks and the possibility of a Yankees free-agent signing have all overshadowed the Jets’ dreary defeat.

Vikings 34, Bears 14. With a gutty goal-line stand and one big heave by Gus Frerotte, the Minnesota Vikings grabbed control of the NFC North and sent Kyle Orton and the Chicago Bears home with a humbling defeat.

Chiefs 20, Raiders 13. Tyler Thigpen put together one effective drive for Kansas City to beat the Oakland Raiders in a matchup between two of the NFL's worst teams.

Steelers 33, Patriots 10. Pittsburgh's top-ranked defense got rolling in the second half, leading the Steelers to a 33-10 win on a cold and rainy Sunday, only their second victory in eight games against New England.

Ravens 34, Bengals 3. CINCINNATI (AP) -- On a cold, wet afternoon that turned fingertips numb, receiver Mark Clayton had the touch.

Falcons 22, Chargers 16. It's all but over for the star-studded San Diego Chargers, who were done in Sunday by a rookie quarterback, a rookie head coach and a former teammate.

49ers 10, Bills 3. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- If misery loves company, the Buffalo Bills can now appreciate what San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis has felt like for much of the past month, sitting on the outside of the playoff hunt looking in.

Dolphins 16, Rams 12. ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Miami Dolphins kept the St. Louis Rams out of the end zone, even with Steven Jackson back in the lineup.

Buccaneers 23, Saints 20. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Relentless all day long, Tampa Bay's defense finally shut down Drew Brees when it mattered most.

Panthers 35, Packers 31. GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers should have been trudging into a snowy Green Bay night wondering for the second week in a row if they're really as good as their record would indicate.

Colts 10, Browns 6. CLEVELAND (AP) -- Peyton Manning stepped up to the podium for a postgame interview like he has done so many times following an Indianapolis win. But this time there were no touchdown passes to review, no career milestones to celebrate, no last-minute scoring drive for him to detail.

Mangini Analyzes Himself After Loss. Coach Eric Mangini agreed with the public opinion that he deserved his share of criticism for the Jets’ first loss since mid-October.

Burress’s Troubles Could Help Toomer. Plaxico Burress’s self-inflicted gunshot wound has put receiver Amani Toomer, already a valuable player for the Giants, in position to benefit.

N.F.L. Roundup: Young Stars Help the Texans Cruise Past the Jaguars. Mario Williams had a season-high three sacks and forced a fumble to lead the host Houston Texans to a 30-17 victory against the slumping Jacksonville Jaguars.

N.F.L. Fast Forward: Amid Chaos, the Steelers Prove Steady. The Steelers might have bulldozed their way toward being the A.F.C.’s best team by manhandling the Patriots, but they’ll have to earn the title by going through a brutal December schedule.

TV Sports: For Burress’s Agent, Concern Is Limited to His Interests. Plaxico Burress’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was in self-absorbed-agent mode during halftime of “Monday Night Football,” caring only about himself and his client.

Criticism and Confusion in Aftermath of Burress Incident. The mayor and police criticize the Giants receiver, who could face 3 ½ years in prison for possession of a handgun, the team, the N.F.L. and the hospital that treated Burress.

Hospital Did Not Report Burress’s Wound. Police said a hospital failed to notify them when Plaxico Burress arrived with a gunshot wound, despite state law.