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Patriots top Skins in easy tuneup

Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more scores on Sunday as the New England Patriots crushed the Washington Redskins 52-7 in an easy tuneup for its battle of unbeatens at Indianapolis.

Linebacker Mike Vrabel was a force on both sides of the ball in the biggest rout in a season filled with them.

He caught a touchdown pass and forced three fumbles by quarterback Jason Campbell that led to 17 points.

The first half of the season is over. Bring on the Super Bowl champs.

The Patriots (8-0) and the Colts (7-0) both have perfect records going into next Sunday's game.

That's where New England lost last, more than nine months ago in the AFC championship game.

Washington (4-3) avoided a shutout on Campbell's 15-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley with three minutes left.

Colts 31, Panthers 7

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Peyton Manning threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns to break Johnny Unitas' team record for career scoring passes as the Colts dominated the second half against the Panthers (4-3).

Joseph Addai rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns and caught a TD pass from Manning, who was outplayed early by 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde. But when Testaverde was lost at halftime with an ankle injury, the defense shut down David Carr the rest of the way as the Colts became the first team since the 1929-1931 Green Bay Packers to win their first seven games in three straight seasons.

Chargers 35, Texans 10

At San Diego, Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger flipped the coin, thanked the firefighters and yelled, ``Go, Chargers, go!'' Did they ever, helping bring a sense of normalcy to a region that's been ravaged by deadly wildfires.

Two days after the last evacuees left Qualcomm Stadium, the tailgaters and the NFL were back. The Chargers routed the Texans 35-10 behind Philip Rivers' three touchdown passes -- two went to All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates -- and a monster game by cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

In other games it was:

* Steelers 24, Bengals 13

* Lions 16, Bears 7

* Titans 13, Raiders 9

* Browns 27, Rams 20

* Eagles 23, Vikings 16

* Bills 13, Jets 3

* Jaguars 24, Bucs 23

* Saints 31, 49ers 10
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