Aaron Rodgers edges Tom Brady in Green Bay, Atlanta Falcons down Arizona Cardinals

National Football Conference (NFC) North division leaders the Packers improved to a 9-3 record with a 26-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Green Bay.

Aaron Rodgers took the honours in his first meeting as a starter against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, the former throwing two touchdown passes and gaining 368 yards from 24 completed plays.

Brady, though, also threw two TD passes, but only mustered 245 yards from 22 completions.

The Patriots remain well in control of the American Football Conference's (AFC) East division, with a 9-3 record - still two wins ahead of the Buffalo Bills, who were 26-10 winners over the Cleveland Browns.

The Falcons scored two first-quarter touchdowns, and it would be enough to see them hold off the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals 29-18.

Atlanta, leading the NFC South with a 5-7 record, rode two Matt Ryan touchdown passes - one to each of Levine Toilolo and Julio Jones - to victory.

Matt Bryant did not miss from five field goal attempts, including slotting a 45-yard effort to hand the Falcons an important victory.

They have a level record with divisional rivals the New Orleans Saints, who had quarterback Drew Brees throw five TD passes in a thrilling 35-32 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ben Roethlisberger gained 435 yards for the losing Steelers, and also threw two TDs, but the Saints were able to win to keep the pressure on Atlanta in the fight for the division title.

The San Diego Chargers dealt the Baltimore Ravens a bitter blow, coming from behind late to win 34-33. The Ravens, in the super-competitive AFC North division with all sides carrying positive records, fell further behind the pace-setting Cincinnati Bengals after throwing away a victory.

Baltimore led 30-20 with just over six minutes to play, but Chargers playmaker Philip Rivers produced two TD passes in the dying stages.

San Diego's win saw them stay on the heels of the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos, who downed the Kansas City Chiefs 29-16.

The Bengals opened up a gap atop the AFC North standings, their third straight win coming in the form of a 14-13 result against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The St Louis Rams obliterated the Oakland Raiders 52-0, the Minnesota Vikings were too good for the Carolina Panthers 31-13, the Jacksonville Jaguars edged the New York Giants 25-24 and the Indianapolis Colts trumped the Washington Redskins 49-27.