Ravens beat 49ers 16-6 in duel of Harbaughs

BALTIMORE (AP) ― The Baltimore Ravens sacked Alex Smith nine times in a 16-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, giving John Harbaugh an emotional charge in the first NFL game featuring brothers as opposing head coaches.

The Ravens (8-3) chased, hindered and battered Smith for much of the night despite playing without middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the team’s leading tackler and spiritual leader. Lewis was inactive for a second straight game because of a foot injury. The nine sacks tied a franchise record, accomplished twice previously.

San Francisco (9-2) had its eight-game winning streak broken under rookie coach Jim Harbaugh.

John, 49, and Jim, 47, grew up dueling each other in all sorts of games. Competing this time on a national stage, John got the best of his little brother.

Baltimore broke a 6-6 tie with a 76-yard, 16-play drive that last more than 7 minutes and ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to tight end Dennis Pitta with 14:56 left. Flacco went 4 for 4 on third- down plays during the drive.

Packers 27, Lions 15

At Detroit, Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes as Green Bay built a big lead in the third quarter, taking advantage of Ndamukong Suh’s ejection in a win over Detroit.

The defending champion Packers (11-0) have won 17 straight, including the playoffs. They passed what was expected to be one of their toughest tests toward joining the 2007 New England Patriots as the NFL’s only teams to have 16-0 regular seasons.

Detroit (7-4) has lost a franchise-record eight straight on Thanksgiving and added to its misery in ugly fashion. Suh was tossed for stepping on Evan Dietrich-Smith’s arm, and Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions. The Packers turned Stafford’s interceptions into two TDs and a field goal.

Cowboys 20, Dolphins 19

At Arlington, Texas, Tony Romo threw two touchdown passes to Laurent Robinson, and Dan Bailey made a 28-yard field goal as time expired to lift Dallas past Miami.

Dallas (7-4) won its fourth straight and grabbed sole possession of first place in the NFC East, a half-game ahead of the New York Giants.

Miami (3-8) had won three straight. The Dolphins hadn’t allowed a touchdown for 13 quarters before Robinson’s first TD with 55 seconds left in the first half.