Everything was in position for a record-setting day on the ground.
Warrick Dunn against Dallas' last-place rushing defense that had already allowed two 200-yard rushers this season? He was good for 210 in Tampa Bay's 27-7 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday.
Corey Dillon, who set the single-game rushing record earlier this year, against Arizona's 28th-ranked rush defenders? That's worth another 216 in Cincinnati's 24-13 win over the Cardinals.
Curtis Martin, coming off a bad game, against an Indianapolis run defense ranked 23rd? That's a career and team high of 203 in the New York Jets' 27-17 victory in their showdown with the Colts.
Those three alone were a good bet to give the NFL three 200-yard runners on the same day for the first time, and they came through big time.
Denver rookie Mike Anderson was another matter. He was facing a New Orleans defense ranked No. 3 in the league and with plenty of incentive to win.
But Anderson was the best of the best on this day, rushing for a rookie-record 251 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-23 victory over the Saints and giving the NFL an amazing four 200-yard rushers.
"We ran two base plays all day," Anderson said. "Hand off left, hand off right."
Kansas City is at New England on Monday night, and Baltimore had its bye week.
Anderson broke the rookie mark of 246 yards on 39 attempts set by Dillon on Dec. 4, 1997.
New Orleans (8-5) got another big game from Aaron Brooks, who completed 30 of 48 passes for 441 yards and two touchdowns, breaking Archie Manning's single-game team record of 377 yards set in 1980.
BUCS 27, COWBOYS 7: Dunn scored two touchdowns and went over 100 yards for the second straight week for the host Buccaneers (8-5). He scored on a 70-yard run on his first carry and put the game out of reach with a 4-yard run.
BENGALS 24, CARDINALS 13: Dillon's performance was his third-best career game as Cincinnati beat Arizona before the smallest crowd at Paul Brown Stadium. Dillon had a 1-yard touchdown run as part of the biggest game ever against the Cardinals (3-10).
Dillon's 18th 100-yard game set a club record and pushed his season total to 1,278 yards, breaking JamesBrooks' team mark of 1,239 in 1989.
JAGUARS 48, BROWNS 0: Fred Taylor wasn't far behind the four 200-yard rushers as he ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns and broke Jacksonville's career rushing record in the most lopsided victory in Jaguars history.
Taylor surpassed 100 yards for the seventh straight game, tying him for the fourth-longest string in NFL history.
PANTHERS 16, RAMS 3: Kurt Warner, out five weeks with a broken finger on his throwing hand, returned with four interceptions — one was brought back 88 yards by Jimmy Hitchcock for the game's only touchdown — in a road loss to Carolina (6-7).
Warner, whose previous high for interceptions in a single game was two, finished 18-for-36 for 189 yards.
GIANTS 9, REDSKINS 7: New York shut down Washington until JeffGeorge led a short-lived rally as the Giants won their second straight since coach JimFassel promised the team would make the playoffs.
TITANS 15, EAGLES 13: Tennessee stayed in first place in the AFC Central despite failing to score a touchdown.
AlDelGreco, who missed two field goals and an extra point to cost the Titans two games, kicked five field goals, including a 50-yarder as time expired.
STEELERS 21, RAIDERS 20: Kordell Stewart returned from a knee injury in the second half to lead Pittsburgh's home upset. Stewart threw for two touchdowns and ran 17 yards for the decisive score early in the fourth quarter after Oakland led 17-7.
JeromeBettis ran for 128 yards for the Steelers (7-6), who have won two in a row to surpass their six-win total of last season.
DOLPHINS 33, BILLS 6: Jay Fiedler threw three touchdowns passes, all in the first half, as AFC East-leading Miami routed Buffalo (7-6).
LamarSmith, back after missing last week with a strained right hamstring, ran for 100 yards on 28 carries and also caught a pass for a touchdown.
SEAHAWKS 30, FALCONS 10:JonKitna threw for 252 yards and GeorgeKoonce returned an interception 27 yards for his second career touchdown as Seattle (5-8) won at Atlanta.
49ERS 45, CHARGERS 17:JeffGarcia threw two touchdown passes to JerryRice and passed for 323 yards, going over the 300 plateau for the fourth time this season as the 49ers (5-8) won their third straight game.
PACKERS 28, BEARS 6: Brett Favre passed for 225 yards and reached 3,000 yards passing for a ninth straight season, tying Dan Marino's NFL mark set from 1984-92.
Green Bay (6-7) kept its slim playoff hopes alive by winning its seventh straight at Soldier Field.