GLENDALE, Ariz. — Matt Leinart got the hype and the Heisman. Jay Cutler might get his NFL team into the playoffs.

The two rookie quarterbacks with big expectations matched up for the first time yesterday, and this one went to Cutler and the Denver Broncos.

He threw two touchdown passes in his first NFL victory, and the Broncos beat Leinart and the Arizona Cardinals, 37-20, to snap a four-game losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Cutler threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Javon Walker on the Broncos' third play from scrimmage, then added a 10-yard scoring pass to Rod Smith in the second half.

"You saw what he could do today," said Denver coach Mike Shanahan, whose team improved to 8-6. "It doesn't take a genius out there to figure out this guy is very composed, can make all the throws, and plays with a lot of confidence."

In his third start, Cutler completed 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards and was intercepted once.

"Those first two games were kind of rough," Cutler said. "I wasn't seeing the field as well as I knew I could. Today I felt comfortable and was seeing the field well."

Leinart was 20 of 35 for 214 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, both by Champ Bailey, for the Cardinals (4-10).

STEELERS 37, PANTHERS 3

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Willie Parker rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown and Ben Roethlisberger threw for a score and ran for another as the Steelers (7-7) routed the Panthers (6-8).

Parker's 41-yard TD run in the third quarter all but sealed it for Pittsburgh, which also blocked a punt and returned another for a TD to keep alive its faint playoff hopes.

Chris Weinke, starting for the second straight week in place of the injured Jake Delhomme, threw for 170 yards and an interception and was sacked five times as Carolina lost its fourth straight and was all but eliminated from the playoff race.

JETS 26, VIKINGS 13

MINNEAPOLIS — Chad Pennington bounced back from a bad game with 339 yards passing and one touchdown in leading the Jets (8-6) past the Vikings (6-8).

Laveranues Coles had 12 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown for New York before leaving with an apparent back injury late in the fourth quarter, and Mike Nugent kicked four field goals.

Minnesota quarterback Brad Johnson was benched for the third time this season, but a late touchdown drive conducted by rookie Tarvaris Jackson was too late for the Vikings, who have lost six of eight.

RAMS 20, RAIDERS 0

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Rams (6-8) took advantage of five turnovers by the Raiders (2-12), including two that set up touchdown runs by Steven Jackson.

Jackson finished with 127 yards on 31 carries, scoring on runs of 4 yards after Chris Carr fumbled a punt and 19 yards after Andrew Walter threw the first of two interceptions.

In a season full of historic lows, the Raiders reached another in losing their seventh straight game. They also equaled their most losses in a season since Al Davis joined the franchise in 1963.