EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Bruce Smith gave a little meaning to a meaningless game between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins on Sunday by setting the NFL record for career sacks.

Smith set the career mark when he trapped Jesse Palmer, while Tim Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes as the Redskins beat the Giants 20-7 in a game that ended with only a couple of thousand people and few snowmen in the stands.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Redskins (5-8) and handed the Giants (4-9) their fifth straight loss and their sixth in seven home games. It also eliminated New York from the playoff picture.

Packers 34, Bears 21

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Mike McKenzie more than made up for his first-half mistake Sunday.

Burned early for a 61-yard score, McKenzie returned his second interception of the day 90 yards for a touchdown in Green Bay’s 34-21 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The Packers (7-6) were clinging to a 19-14 lead when McKenzie stepped in front of receiver Dez White and picked off Kordell Stewart’s pass at his 10-yard line and ran it all the way back with 9:16 left.

Buccaneers 14, Saints 7

NEW ORLEANS – For less than two minutes, with Warren Sapp leading the way, it looked like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of old.

It was enough to beat New Orleans.

The Bucs (6-7) scored two touchdowns in the final 1:25 of the first half, including one by Sapp, to defeat the Saints 14-7 on Sunday. Losers of four of their last five, the defending Super Bowl champions need to win all their games to just finish above .500. They were determined to start a run by beating the Saints (6-7), who had beaten them in their last three meetings.

49ers 50, Cardinals 14

SAN FRANCISCO – Happy birthday, T.O. Love, the Arizona Cardinals.

Terrell Owens caught seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns on his 30th birthday, and Jeff Garcia threw four TD passes and ran for two more scores in the San Francisco 49ers’ 50-14 victory over the lifeless Cardinals on Sunday.

Kevan Barlow rushed for a career-best 154 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers (6-7) nursed their faint playoff hopes with their sixth win in seven games at Candlestick Park. This one was almost embarrassingly easy, with Owens and Garcia leading the Niners to their highest-scoring performance since 1994.

Eagles 36, Cowboys 10

PHILADELPHIA – Donovan McNabb said all along the Philadelphia Eagles were the team to beat in the NFC East. Maybe they’re the team to beat in the whole conference.

McNabb threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Eagles clinch a playoff spot with their eighth straight victory, 36-10 over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The Eagles (10-3), who have the best record in the NFC, can clinch their third straight division title with two more victories or one win and another loss by the Cowboys. Philadelphia hasn’t lost since a 23-21 defeat in Dallas on Oct. 12.

Vikings 34, Seahawks 7

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings put their playoff hopes in better shape by going back to their best combination – Daunte Culpepper deep to Randy Moss.

Culpepper and Moss connected on a pair of long touchdown passes for Minnesota, and a suddenly stingy defense shut down the powerful Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in a 34-7 victory.

Falcons 20, Panthers 14

ATLANTA – Michael Vick handled things in regulation. Kevin Mathis took care of overtime. Vick rushed for 145 yards – the third-highest total by a quarterback in NFL history – before Mathis scored on a 32-year interception return in overtime to lead the Atlanta Falcons past the Carolina Panthers 20-14 Sunday night.

After Deon Grant picked off Vick’s pass at the Carolina 2 to deny the Falcons (3-10) a chance to win in regulation, the Panthers (8-5) got the ball first in overtime.

On third down, Jake Delhomme attempted a pass over the middle. Mathis stepped in front of the intended receiver, picked off the ball and headed the other way.

Delhomme attempted to knock Mathis out of bounds at the 1, but Mathis dived for the pylon. After calling off the Falcons’ celebration to review the play, referee Bill Carollo ruled Mathis had scored.

The Falcons – and Vick – got to celebrate again, having won their first home game of the season and denying Carolina a chance to clinch the NFC South championship.

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AP-ES-12-08-03 0020EST