FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Peyton Manning got help from an unlikely source — his defense — and the Colts remained the NFL's only unbeaten team.

The Patriots (6-2) also were victimized for the first time by Adam Vinatieri as Indianapolis won 27-20 last night. With his once adoring fans booing, he kicked two field goals in his first game against New England since leaving as a free agent.

But he also missed twice in the second half.

With the loss by Chicago and coach Lovie Smith to Miami earlier yesterday, the Colts (8-0) are the league's only team with a perfect record.

"Lovie let me down," Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy said. "I was hoping they'd win so they would get all the focus."

A steady Manning threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns, while the Colts intercepted Tom Brady four times and allowed no touchdown passes, only two scoring runs by Corey Dillon and two field goals by rookie Stephen Gostkowski.

DOLPHINS 31, BEARS 13

CHICAGO — Ronnie Brown rushed for a career-high 157 yards and Jason Taylor forced a fumble and returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown, helping Miami (2-6) upset previously undefeated Chicago (7-1).

"A lot of (media) in this locker room and a lot of people in this country didn't give us a chance," Taylor said. "It's good sometimes to say, 'How do you like me now?' "

Miami's win removes another potential challenger to the 1972 Dolphins, the only team with a perfect record in NFL history.

The Bears lost wide receiver Bernard Berrian to a rib injury. Chicago committed four fumbles and lost three to go with Rex Grossman's three interceptions.

49ERS 9, VIKINGS 3

SAN FRANCISCO — Joe Nedney kicked his third field goal with 7:15 to play after convincing the officials to give him another chance, and San Francisco's defense shut out the Vikings (4-4) in the final three quarters.

Nedney hit field goals from 25 and 30 yards before nailing a 51-yarder — but only after he wheedled another try for the 49ers (3-5).

Flags flew as he missed his first attempt, and referee Ed Hochuli called a delay-of-game penalty that would have taken the 49ers out of field-goal range. But Hochuli picked up his flag after Nedney explained that the clock had been reset erroneously.

"I was told that there's an NFL guy up there that runs the clock, but it feels like home cooking to me," Minnesota coach Brad Childress said.

BRONCOS 31, STEELERS 20

PITTSBURGH — Javon Walker scored three touchdowns on two receptions and a 72-yard run on a wide receiver reverse as the Broncos (6-2) defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers.

The Steelers' sixth loss in seven games left them with a 2-6 record, matching their worst in coach Bill Cowher's 15 seasons and by any returning NFL champion in the past 20 seasons.

"I would have bet my house before the season started we wouldn't be 2-6," Pittsburgh defensive lineman Casey Hampton said. "I'd be homeless right now."

The Broncos led 14-0 less than four minutes in on Jake Plummer's 16-yard touchdown throw to Rod Smith following Walker's 38-yard reception, Santonio Holmes' fumbled kickoff and Walker's 10-yard TD catch.

RAVENS 26, BENGALS 20

BALTIMORE — The Ravens scored two quick touchdowns off turnovers and never trailed, their second straight win since coach Brian Billick took control of the offense.

"Huge win for us in the division," Billick said. "It puts us in a position to go forward and do some good things."

After trailing 17-0, Cincinnati twice got within six points in the fourth quarter.

Steve McNair passed for 245 yards, Jamal Lewis scored a touchdown and Matt Stover kicked four field goals for the Ravens (6-2), who took a two-game lead over Cincinnati (4-4) in the AFC North.

REDSKINS 22, COWBOYS 19

LANDOVER, Md. — Washington kicker Nick Novak hit a 47-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to lead the Redskins (3-5) over the Cowboys (4-4).

With 6 seconds left, Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt's chip shot was blocked by Troy Vincent. Sean Taylor picked up the bouncing ball and returned it into Dallas territory as time expired. Dallas was flagged for a facemask penalty on the return, tacking on another 15 yards — and meaning the game would continue for one more play with Novak's game-winner.

"It's a short walk from the outhouse to the penthouse," Novak said. "This is what a kicker dreams about. There are ups and downs, and this was the up."

CHIEFS 31, RAMS 17

ST. LOUIS — Kansas City (5-3) forced three early turnovers to build a 17-point cushion against St. Louis (4-4).

Jared Allen stripped Marc Bulger on a sack and recovered Steven Jackson's fumble for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs' Damon Huard passed for 148 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Tony Gonzalez. Jackson rushed for 219 yards with a touchdown. The Chiefs' Larry Johnson had 172 rushing yards and one score.

"The way we were going out there and just pushing them backward and shakings things up, we should have done even more," Johnson said.

GIANTS 14, TEXANS 10

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tiki Barber scored a touchdown and accounted for nearly half the yards in a go-ahead 67-yard fourth-quarter drive that Jeremy Shockey capped with a short touchdown catch as New York won its fifth straight.

"Let's face it, we didn't play well today, but we didn't fall down, we didn't give ourselves up," said Barber who rushed for 115 yards, and got his first touchdown of the season on a 16-yard run.

The defense, which was playing without three starters and then lost Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan in the second quarter with a foot injury, sealed the win when rookie linebacker Gerris Wilkinson forced fullback Jameel Cook to fumble at the Giants 35 after a short catch.

Cornerback Corey Webster recovered with 5:11 to play, and the Giants (6-2) ran out the clock, dropping Houston to 2-6.

JAGUARS 37, TITANS 7

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — David Garrard, making his second straight start in place of Byron Leftwich, threw three touchdown passes in the rain.

"I'm glad I'm not the coach," Jacksonville's safety Deon Grant said. "It would be real hard to sit David down right now and real hard not to put Byron back in there."

Meanwhile, Titans quarterback Vince Young threw three interceptions, and was sacked once as the Jaguars (5-3) improved to 4-0 at home.

The Titans (2-6) avoided a shutout when Young completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Drew Bennett with 2:40 to play.

SAINTS 31, BUCCANEERS 14

TAMPA, Fla. — Marques Colston caught 11 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, and Drew Brees threw for 314 yards and three TDs.

Despite playing without receiver Joe Horn, and with Reggie Bush at less than full strength because of a sore ankle, the Saints (6-2) still beat NFC South rival Tampa Bay (2-6).

"The most important thing is we're 6-2," Colston said. "That's No. 1 in my mind."

Colston had a leaping 15-yard TD grab that gave the Saints an early lead. Deuce McAllister's 3-yard TD run in the third quarter gave the Saints a 24-14 lead, then Brees threw his second scoring pass to Devery Henderson.

BILLS 24, PACKERS 10

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Linebacker London Fletcher scored on a 17-yard interception return of Brett Favre's pass, keying a four-takeaway performance for Buffalo (3-5).

"We put an emphasis on not worrying about what happens on the other side of the ball," said Fletcher, who finished with a team-high 14 tackles and broke up five pass attempts. "We knew if we didn't allow them to score, our offense would be able to do something."

Rookie safety Ko Simpson sealed the win when he intercepted a Favre pass on first down from the 1 with the Packers (3-5) down 17-10. Simpson returned it 76 yards to set up Anthony Thomas' 14-yard touchdown run.

LIONS 30, FALCONS 14

DETROIT — Detroit turned Michael Vick's two first-half turnovers into touchdown runs by Kevin Jones, and Roy Williams had a 60-yard TD early in the fourth quarter.

Vick passed for 163 yards with a TD and two interceptions, and he ran for 80 yards.

"I guess we had a little kryptonite for him," Detroit cornerback Fernando Bryant said. "The whole key is to stay disciplined, keeping lanes and contain, and that's what we did with him."

Detroit (2-6) had a balanced attack, led by 2004 first-round picks Williams and Jones. Its defense did not allow Atlanta (5-3) to score after Warrick Dunn pulled the Falcons within three late in the first half.

CHARGERS 32, BROWNS 25

SAN DIEGO — LaDainian Tomlinson scored three touchdowns late in the second half and finished with 172 yards on 18 carries as the Chargers (6-2) beat the Browns (2-6).

"Give me a little hole I can squeeze through into the secondary," said Tomlinson, who scored on runs of 41, 7 and 8 yards. "Once I get into the secondary, things could get very interesting."

With Cleveland's offense sputtering, Phil Dawson kicked a club-record six field goals — from 37, 20, 42, 30, 36 and 35 yards.