The Rams were responsible for re-starting the Patriots winning streak as New England crushed the Rams 40-22 at the dome. Kicker Adam Vinatieri kept the Patriots afloat in the first half with four field goals and their only touchdown came after a muffed punt by Shaun McDonald in the first quarter. St. Louis got a defensive touchdown when Damione Lewis hit New England quarterback Tom Brady at the goal-line and forced a fumble. Leonard Little pounced on the ball for the score. In the third quarter the Rams field goal blocking unit was fooled when Vinatieri faked a field goal and passed to Troy Brown to give the Patriots a 26-14 lead in the third quarter. They added another score in the third to make it 33-14. The offensive line had problems all game long despite the Patriots rushing three and four-man fronts. Marc Bulger was sacked five times on Sunday. The Rams are now 4-4 after losing two straight games.

Buccaneers’ running back Michael Pittman had a career day, but will there be an asterisk next to his accomplishment? His 128 yards and three touchdowns came against the Chiefs, who have made lots of running backs look like All-Pro’s. Kansas City fell to Tampa Bay 34-31 and gave the Bucs their best offensive day of the season. Tampa Bay, which averaged 291 yards per game coming into the contest, racked up 426 yards of total offense. Brian Griese was 23-34 for 296 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Trent Green threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns, but was picked off twice on Sunday. Kansas City’s offense scored on four of their first five possessions to take a 24-21 lead, but they dried up in the second half, with just one trip to the end zone. Priest Holmes missed most of the second half after leaving the game with a knee contusion. No word on his availability for Sunday’s game at New Orleans.

The Southwest Missouri State Lady Bears hit more three-pointers than they ever had in a single game, but since its an exhibition game, the mark will never be written down in the record books. Despite that, head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson had to feel pretty good about the 16 three-pointers they nailed in a 98-69 win over the Oklahoma Flyers at the Hammons Student Center. Senior. Cowgill and Nicole Lehman led the way for SMS with 16 points apiece—Jenni Lingor added 15. SMS plays its final exhibition game on Friday night against Athletes in Action and open the regular season on November 20 at Richmond.

NASCAR’s best were at the Phoenix International Speedway on Sunday and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the checkered flag. Kurt Busch was able to hold on to his points lead by finishing 10th—he leads Jeff Gordon by 41 and Earnhardt by 49. St. Louis native Rusty Wallace was seventh, Fenton native Ken Schrader was 20th, Joplin’s Jamie McMurray was 24th, St. Louis native Mike Wallace was 29th and Carl Edwards of Columbia was 37th.