Newton breaks Manning's rookie mark

Panthers QB Cam Newton blew away any doubts Saturday about being named rookie of the year with a record-setting performance against the Buccaneers.

The former Heisman Trophy winner broke Peyton Manning's single-season rookie record for most yards passing in a season.

Newton came in needing just 18 yards to break the record (3,379 yards) and he passed that mark early on the way to a pretty good day: He threw for 171 yards and three TDs, scored on a stunning 49-yard run up the middle, and set a club record with a 91-yard TD toss to Brandon LaFell.

The Vikings' Adrian Peterson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Washington Redskins. The injury was confirmed after the team returned to Minnesota following their win against the Redskins.

Peterson went down with the injury during the opening minutes of the third quarter when he was hit in the left leg by Redskins safety DeJon Gomes as he burst through a hole, his left knee bending inward.

Peterson said he knew "it was something bad" the moment he was tackled.

"I'm trying to stay as positive as I can," Peterson said as he stood on crutches in the locker room.

The serious injury would likely sideline Peterson, who before the season began signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension, for about nine months.

Wide receiver Jerome Simpson, a hardly known four-year veteran from Coastal Carolina, leaped into immortality in the Bengals' win over the Cardinals.

With 2:46 to go in the first half and the ball on the 19-yard line, Simpson ran a crossing route, caught a sideline pass from Andy Dalton, and then - from the 3 - somersaulted over linebacker Daryl Washington, who was bearing down on him at high speed.

Incredibly, Simpson landed on his feet. If artistry were part of the scoring, this touchdown would have been a 10.

After more than five years in the league, Reggie Bush has gone over 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in a season. Bush, in his first season with the Dolphins after being the Saints' boutique back for five years, reached that milestone with an 8-yard burst in the first quarter against the Patriots.

This is his first season as a full-time running back. And we mean full-time: He finished the day with 22 carries for 113 yards. His previous season high was 581 yards in 2007.

Former Eagles kicker David Akers continues to make a case that Andy Reid and Co. made a mistake when they got rid of him.

Akers had four field goals for the 49ers in their win over the Seahawks to end the game with 42 for the season - a record.

He missed a 52-yarder in the first quarter, his seventh of the year, but then nailed kicks of 53, 29, 44, and 39 yards.

Neil Rackers held the previous record with 40 field goals in the 2005 season while playing for Arizona.

The Eagles did not re-sign free agent kicker David Akers in the offseason and drafted Alex Henery as his replacement. On Saturday, Akers, now with San Francisco, set an NFL record for field goals in a season. Here is how his and Henery's seasons compare.

OVERALL   40-49 YDS   50+ YDS

FG   FGA   FG   FGA   FG   FGA

Akers   42   49   5   9   7   9

Henery   22   25   4   4   1   2

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