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This time, Eagles blow big lead and lose

The Philadelphia Eagles got a taste of their own medicine.

After three weeks of uplifting rallies to victory, the Eagles lost for the first time, blowing a lead in a 26-21 defeat to the 49ers. San Francisco's Frank Gore caught a career-best 55-yard touchdown and ran for 119 yards in his first 100-yard game this year.

Philadelphia led 21-10 in the second quarter, even though it got no points from its high-powered offense. And the 49ers (2-2) delivered a late goal-line stand as they avoided their first three-game losing streak under fourth-year coach Jim Harbaugh, containing the league's top passer in Nick Foles. He threw two incomplete passes from the 1 in the waning moments.

''We had the ball enough,'' running back LeSean McCoy said. ''We didn't do anything with it.''

Darren Sproles had a career-best 82-yard punt return for a touchdown, Malcolm Jenkins ran an interception 53 yards for a score for the Eagles (3-1), and Brad Smith recovered a blocked punt for a TD.

But the Niners shut down Philly's attack, which had scored 34, 30 and 37 points, rallying from at least 10 points down in winning all of those games.

''It is very satisfying,'' said San Francisco cornerback Perrish Cox, who had a late interception. ''We gave up plenty of yards these last two weeks on just penalties. A few third-and-longs, some hands-to-the-face, a couple illegal touchings downfield. Those are tough and tiring at the same time. To go out and hold a great offense like they have, with the tempo they play, to a shutout, it feels good.''

Colin Kaepernick threw the short pass that Gore turned into his long TD and also threw a touchdown pass to Stevie Johnson. Phil Dawson kicked four field goals for San Francisco.

''I'm a football player,'' Gore said. ''I just want to play football. Like I tell my coach, when I'm in the game I'm going to do whatever it takes to help my team get a victory.''

Also Sunday, it was Dallas 38, New Orleans 17; Tampa Bay 27, Pittsburgh 24; Green Bay 38, Chicago 17; Baltimore 38, Carolina 10; San Diego 33, Jacksonville 14; Indianapolis 41, Tennessee 10; Minnesota 41, Atlanta 28; Miami 38, Oakland 14; Detroit 24, the New York Jets 17; and Houston 23, Buffalo 17.

The weekend began with the New York Giants routing Washington 45-14.

Monday night, New England (2-1) is at Kansas City (1-2).

Off this week were Arizona (3-0), Cincinnati (3-0), Denver (2-1), Seattle (2-1), Cleveland (1-2) and St. Louis (1-2).

COWBOYS 38, SAINTS 17

At Arlington, Texas, Tony Romo threw three touchdowns passes, two to Terrance Williams, and DeMarco Murray ran for a pair of scores in another 100-yard game. Murray is the only Cowboys running back aside from Emmitt Smith to rush for 100 yards in each of the first four games of a season.

The Cowboys kept Drew Brees and the Saints scoreless in the first half after giving up an NFL-record 40 first downs in a 49-17 blowout loss in New Orleans last year.

Dallas (3-1) is tied with Philadelphia for the NFC East lead.

The Saints (1-3) and lost to the Cowboys in Texas for the first time since 1991.

BUCCANEERS 27, STEELERS 24

At Pittsburgh, Mike Glennon hit a diving Vincent Jackson for a 5-yard touchdown with 7 seconds remaining. It marked quite a turnaround for the Buccaneers (1-3), who lost to Atlanta by six touchdowns a week ago.

Glennon passed for 302 yards in his first start of the season, including a 41-yard catch-and-run by Louis Murphy that set up Jackson's score.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns, but Pittsburgh (2-2) couldn't protect a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. Antonio Brown caught seven passes for 131 yards and two scores, and Heath Miller added a career-high nine grabs.

The Steelers committed 13 penalties for 125 yards.

PACKERS 38, BEARS 17

At Chicago, the Packers joined the Bears as the only franchises with 700 regular-season victories.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns as the Packers (2-2) scored on their first six possessions. They racked up 358 yards after being held to 223, their lowest total since 2008, a week earlier in a 19-7 loss at Detroit.

They intercepted Jay Cutler twice in the third quarter to pull away from the Bears (2-2). That gave Green Bay five straight wins at Soldier Field.

RAVENS 38, PANTHERS 10

At Baltimore, Steve Smith punished his former team with seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Smith spent 13 seasons with Carolina before he was released in a cost-cutting move during the offseason. The 35-year-old receiver showed the Panthers he can still make the big play, scoring twice in the second quarter to help put Baltimore (3-1) in front 21-7 at halftime.

The first touchdown came when Smith grabbed a pass that deflected off the right hand of teammate Owen Daniels. He caught the ball in stride and took it into the end zone to complete a 61-yard play.

Smith also scored from 21 yards with a diving reception.

Joe Flacco passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns, the other a 24-yarder to Torrey Smith.

Carolina (2-2) has lost two straight, both in lopsided fashion as its previously strong defense struggled.

CHARGERS 33, JAGUARS 14

At San Diego, Philip Rivers threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns, two to Eddie Royal.

Royal had scoring catches of 47 and 43 yards, his second straight two-touchdown game. Royal had five catches for 105 yards, Keenan Allen had 10 for 135, both career highs, and Malcom Floyd had a 24-yard touchdown catch for San Diego (3-1).

Passing because the Chargers' running game is nonexistent due to injuries to Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead, Rivers had his second three-touchdown game of the season.

Rookie Blake Bortles made his first start for the Jaguars (0-4), threw one touchdown pass, was intercepted twice and twice had Jacksonville in the lead in the first half.

COLTS 41, TITANS 17

At Indianapolis, Andrew Luck threw four touchdown passes and Reggie Wayne scored for the first time this season. Indianapolis (2-2) extended its league-leading streak of consecutive wins over division foes to nine.

Luck was 29 of 41 for a season-best 393 yards. Wayne had seven catches for a season-best 119 yards and scored on a spectacular spinning 28-yard catch.

Tennessee (1-3) has lost three straight.

VIKINGS 41, FALCONS 28

At Minneapolis, rookie Teddy Bridgewater passed for 317 yards and a key 2-point conversion before leaving with a left ankle injury. He was 19 for 30 with no turnovers and ran five times for 27 yards and a score in his first career start.

Matt Asiata had three touchdowns on the ground for Minnesota (2-2).

The Falcons (2-2) lost three starting offensive linemen to injuries and wound up sticking tight end Levine Toilolo at right tackle in the fourth quarter.

DOLPHINS 38, RAIDERS 14

At London's Wembley Stadium, Ryan Tannehill threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the latest international game. Tannehill took advantage of a depleted Oakland defense to snap a two-game slide for the Dolphins (2-2).

The Raiders (0-4) scored on their opening drive but struggled after that. And starting quarterback Derek Carr was injured in the third quarter, replaced by third-stringer Matt McGloin.

Tannehill threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace and an 18-yarder to Dion Sims. Lamar Miller rushed for two more TDs, and cornerback Cortland Finnegan ran back a fumble 50 yards for another.

LIONS 24, JETS 17

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Lions overcame Calvin Johnson being limited by an ankle injury.

Jeremy Ross and Eric Ebron caught scoring passes for the Lions (3-1), and Stafford passed for 293 yards. Golden Tate had a big game, catching eight passes for 116 yards.

A struggling Geno Smith had two more turnovers as chants of ''We Want Vick!'' echoed throughout MetLife Stadium at times. The Jets, who made it close on Chris Johnson's 35-yard run with 6:58 left, fell to 1-3 for the first time in Rex Ryan's six seasons as coach.

TEXANS 23, BILLS 17

At Houston, J.J. Watt turned the game with a highlight-reel play. Houston (3-1) was down by three in the third quarter and Ryan Fitzpatrick had just thrown a second interception when the 6-foot-5, 289-pound Watt returned an interception 80 yards to put the Texans up 14-10.

The defensive end caught a touchdown pass in Week 2, giving him more TDs this year than Arian Foster and Andre Johnson combined.

Under heavy pressure all afternoon, EJ Manuel finished with 225 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Bills (2-2). Buffalo was driving late when Darryl Morris picked him off at the Houston 15 to secure the victory.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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