Rob Bironas was lining up a 41-yard field-goal attempt in overtime, aiming to keep the Tennessee Titans unbeaten and offer a dramatic payoff for viewers who had invested three-plus hours in the game against the Green Bay Packers.

Then, poof, Bironas was gone, replaced in some markets by 3minutes, 50seconds of a Fox promo, commercials and pregame chatter before Sunday's Cowboys-Giants game.

It was the latest in a years-long series of frustrations for fans as networks work within the NFL's quirky TV rules.

Fox was required to leave Tennessee game in time to get to Dallas-New York Giants game for the home markets of the teams involved, and in fact pushed things a bit farther than it was supposed to.

Rather than leave the early game at 4:10p.m., it waited until 4:12:08. Why, then, did it take until 4:14:30 to actually get to Giants Stadium?

Because the network needs time to switch to the satellite that transmits late-afternoon games from the one used for early games.

What about that seemingly unnecessary 90 seconds of Troy Aikman, Joe Buck and Pam Oliver talking before the actual kickoff at 4:16:01? Fox must be live at the stadium by the official 4:15 kickoff time.

Early in the Giants game, Fox went to the studio for a video update. Bironas' kick was good.

The Injury Front

Oakland running back Darren McFadden, the fourth pick in the draft, was inactive against Atlanta, missing his second straight game with a left turf toe injury. He had been bothered for much of the season with a right turf toe injury, but hurt the left two weeks ago against the Jets.

Despite missing practice all week with a broken rib, Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten was active for Dallas' game. He did not have a catch for the first time this season. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo missed his third straight game with a broken right pinkie, and again was replaced by Brad Johnson.

Browns offensive guard Eric Steinbach left with a rib injury during the third quarter and did not return.

Bills right guard Jason Whittle, filling in for injured starter Brad Butler, was hurt and did not return during the fourth quarter. Coach Dick Jauron declined to discuss the nature of the injury.

On The Move

Daunte Culpepper and the Detroit Lions (0-8) have agreed on a contract, although the length and financial terms of the deal were not clear.

Coach Rod Marinelli, who made the announcement after the 27-23 loss at Chicago, would not answer questions but did say the deal hinges on the results of a pending non-orthopedic physical.

How much help Culpepper, 31, can provide remains to be seen. He planned to retire in December because he was frustrated over not finding work after a knee injury limited him with the Miami Dolphins in 2006 and Oakland Raiders in 2007.

Dan Orlovsky started the past four games, with Jon Kitna out for the rest of the season with a back injury. ASSOCIATED PRESS

A plane pulling a banner saying “McCain is a Raiders Fan” flew over Denver's Invesco Field as fans gathered for the game against Miami.

The liberal group ProgressNow hired the plane to link the Republican presidential candidate to Denver's archrival after hearing about the plans of John McCain supporters to hold a “hibachi tailgate” party in one of the stadium's parking lots.

Invesco Field also is where Democratic nominee Barack Obama gave his speech accepting the party's nomination during the national convention in August. AP

By The Numbers

The Seahawks punted 10 consecutive times – seven after three-and-outs – following a team-record 90-yard touchdown pass on their first play from backup Seneca Wallace to Koren Robinson,.

Oakland finished with 77 yards against Atlanta for its worst total since getting 58 in 1961 against San Diego, when Raiders owner Al Davis was an assistant with the Chargers. It's the NFL's lowest total since Cleveland gained 26 on Dec.12, 2004, against Buffalo. Oakland's three first downs tied for the third fewest since the merger in 1970, with Cleveland being held to two in 1999 and 2000.

Baltimore's Matt Stover played in his 279th game, tying Bruce Smith for 12th all-time, and he passed Jim Bakken for 13th place with 536 extra points.

Browns tight end Kellen Winslow had five catches one week after sitting out following a team-imposed, one-game suspension that was later dropped.

Brett Favre earned his first win at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium after going 0-3 in his previous three visits with Green Bay. That leaves 10 places Favre has yet to win, including Texas Stadium, where he's 0-6.

During the past five games, the Broncos have allowed 60 points off turnovers while not scoring a single point off takeaways themselves.

Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski remained stuck on 859 points, four shy of tying George Blanda's franchise scoring record.

Odds and Ends

Tyler Thigpen, making his third start as Kansas City's quarterback, was 14-for-25 for 164 yards and a touchdown and also caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from receiver Mark Bradley. Thigpen is the fifth Chiefs player to throw a touchdown pass as well as run and catch for scores. He's the first player to throw for a touchdown and catch a touchdown pass in a game since Drew Brees did it for San Diego on Sept. 28, 2003

The Ravens won despite missing three starters in their secondary as Chris McAllister, Samari Rolle and Dawan Landry sat out with injuries.

The Texans shuffled their secondary again. Backup cornerback Eugene Wilson started at free safety for Nick Ferguson, and Ferguson replaced Brandon Harrison as the strong safety. OBSERVER NEWS SERVICES