The Indianapolis Colts are making perfection look easier every week.
Now they'll have a chance to keep their historic quest going in the playoffs, too.
With the Triplets in sync and the defense producing another physically dominant performance Sunday, Tennessee never had a chance as the Colts rolled to a 35-3 victory to clinch a playoff spot and remain the NFL's only unbeaten team.
PHOTO: AFP
"Anything that comes along with winning, you accept it," two-time MVP Peyton Manning said.
Indianapolis has won seven of its last nine by at least 17 points, averaging more than 35 points. The Colts even routed Tennessee on a day Manning threw only 17 passes, the second-fewest of his NFL career. He threw two passes in last year's season finale at Denver.
But the latest victory epitomized how Indy continues to win -- by overcoming anything opponents try.
On Sunday, the Titans (3-9) wanted to play keep-away. It didn't work.
Manning completed 13 of 17 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a near-perfect passer-rating of 151.2 and extending his NFL record to eight straight seasons with at least 25 TD passes.
Edgerrin James carried 28 times for 107 yards, becoming the third-fastest player in league history to top 9,000 yards. In 93 games, James has rushed for 9,067 yards. Eric Dickerson did it in 82 games; Jim Brown did it in 88.
Marvin Harrison caught four passes for 61 yards and his first reception, a 36-yarder on the Colts' opening drive, made Harrison the 12th player in league history to top 12,000 yards receiving. His 10-yard TD catch on the Colts' opening possession was the 92nd between Manning and Harrison, also extending that duo's NFL record.
If anyone thought Indy would have a letdown after an emotional victory Monday night against Pittsburgh, the Colts' answer was resounding: Not a chance.
They limited the Titans to 40 yards rushing, sacked Steve McNair twice and Billy Volek twice and even knocked McNair out for four plays in the third quarter with a bruised right shin.
"I'm very proud of this team, coming back after Monday night and playing like that, a complete game," coach Tony Dungy said. "We had that focus, we wanted to get in the playoffs."
Now the focus turns to other things such as what the Colts hope will be a run toward history. No team has gone undefeated since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
And each week, it seems, the Colts are converting skeptics into believers.
"If they continue to stay healthy, with what they do on offense and with the speed they have on defense, they're going to have a chance," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said after losing his sixth straight against the Colts.
The young Titans did little right.
A botched trick play to Adam "Pacman" Jones knocked the Titans out of field goal range and set up the Colts second score. Fisher gambled by going on fourth down routinely, failing four of five times, and in the waning moments when the Titans were trying to salvage a score, the Colts stopped them at the goal line.
It was that kind of day.
McNair was 22-of-33 for 220 yards, and fumbled when Dwight Freeney sacked him in the fourth quarter. Larry Tripplett grabbed the ball out of the air and went 60 yards for a touchdown.
"If we had played the perfect game, we could have won," said McNair, the NFL's former co-MVP.
But the Colts wouldn't allow it.
Manning connected with Harrison on the Colts' first series for a 7-0 lead, then took advantage of good field position after Rob Bironas pushed a 51-yard field goal wide right. Eventually, Manning hooked up with Bryan Fletcher on a 13-yard TD pass to make it 14-0.
Tennessee's only score came on Bironas' 24-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the half.
Manning opened the third quarter with a 27-yard TD pass to Reggie Wayne, and James' 2-yard TD run with 1:28 left in the third assured the Colts of one more week of perfection.
"I know how hard it is to win nine games, 10 games, 11 games," Manning said. "To win 12 games is extremely hard, but to win 12 in a row ... You don't have time to pat yourself on the back as a team."
Bengals 38, Steelers 31
In Pittsburgh, Carson Palmer threw three touchdown passes and Cincinnati's defense forced four turnovers to all but secure its first division championship in 15 years.
Rudi Johnson ran for Cincinnati's final two scores as the Bengals (9-3) seized a two-game lead in the AFC North Division. Ben Roethlisberger completed 29-of-41 pass attempts for 386 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions despite a right thumb injury, but the Steelers (7-5) dropped their third in a row.
Giants 17, Cowboys 10
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, New York's defense had four sacks, forced two fumbles -- including one returned for a touchdown by linebacker Antonio Pierce -- and intercepted Drew Bledsoe twice to beat the Cowboys and take sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
The second interception, by Brent Alexander, came with 1:47 left in the game. Dallas (7-5) got the ball back one more time at its 4-yard line, but lost the ball on downs.
Dolphins 24, Bills 23
In Miami, Chris Chambers outjumped cornerback Jabari Greer for his 15th reception of the game, a 4-yard score on fourth down with 6 seconds left to help the Dolphins rally for the victory.
Lee Evans caught three touchdown passes to put the Bills ahead 21-0 less than 13 minutes into the game, and they led 23-3 with 12 minutes left. Struggling Miami quarterback Gus Frerotte was forced to the bench with a concussion in the third quarter, and replacement Sage Rosenfels directed fourth-quarter touchdown drives of 70, 49 and 73 yards.
Panthers 24, Falcons 6
In Charlotte, North Carolina, DeShaun Foster scored two touchdowns and became the first Carolina back to go over 100 yards this season while helping the Panthers (9-3) snap a three-game losing streak against Atlanta (7-5).
It also gave Carolina a two-game NFC South lead over the Falcons, and a one-game advantage over Tampa Bay -- setting up another huge division showdown next week against the Bucs.
Bears 19, Packers 7
In Chicago, Charles Tillman returned one interception of Brett Favre 95 yards to set up a field goal, and Nathan Vasher carried a fourth-quarter pick 45 yards for a clinching touchdown as the Bears ended Green Bay's domination at Soldier Field.
The Bears (9-3) got their first home victory against the Packers since 1993 and extended their winning streak to eight -- their longest since the 1985 Super Bowl team started 12-0.
Jaguars 20, Browns 14
In Cleveland, David Garrard threw two touchdown passes in the second half and made a crucial scramble for a first down in the final minutes as the Jaguars rallied for their fifth straight win.
Replacing the injured Byron Leftwich, Garrard tossed two TDs as Jacksonville overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit. He finished 11-of-20 for 116 yards and one interception.
Vikings 21, Lions 16
In Detroit, Brad Johnson threw two touchdown passes, Michael Bennett scored twice and the Vikings (7-5) won their fifth straight.
Detroit (4-8) has lost five of six and didn't seem to be sparked by Dick Jauron in his debut as interim coach.
Buccaneers 10, Saints 3
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ronde Barber intercepted Aaron Brooks three times and Chris Simms hit Joey Galloway for the only touchdown Tampa Bay (8-4) needed. On New Orleans' final drive, Brooks threw for the end zone on what could have been a tying score when Barber picked off the pass.
Ravens 16, Texans 15
In Baltimore, Matt Stover kicked a 38-yard field goal with 6 seconds left to lift the Ravens. Kris Brown's fifth field goal with 1:08 to go to put Houston in position for its second win of the season. But for the second straight week, the Texans (1-11) let a seemingly certain victory get away.
Chiefs 31, Broncos 27
In Kansas City, Missouri, the Chiefs received a favorable replay ruling when they challenged the placement of the ball after a run that appeared to give Denver a first down near midfield on fourth-and-1 with 2:01 left. Then the Chiefs (8-4) ran the clock down to 3 seconds and moved within one game of the Broncos (9-3), who had won four in a row.
Redskins 24, Rams 9
In St. Louis, Clinton Portis ran for 136 yards on 27 carries with a pair of touchdowns and the Redskins snapped a three-game losing streak. Portis ran in untouched from 47 yards for the game's first score and Santana Moss' 30-yard catch from Mark Brunell set up Portis' second touchdown on a 1-yarder. Seattle clinched the NFC West thanks to the Rams' loss.
Patriots 16, Jets 3
In Foxborough, Massachusetts, Corey Dillon scored on a 1-yard run and Kevin Faulk made three third-down catches, keeping the Patriots' AFC East lead at two games. Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals of 21, 34 and 22 yards to set a club record for points. He has 1,134 points, four more than Gino Cappelletti.
Cardinals 17, 49ers 10
In San Francisco, Kurt Warner completed 29-of-45 pass attempts for 354 yards, and Anquan Boldin turned one of his 11 catches for 156 yards into the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Boldin turned a short catch on third-and-20 into a 54-yard, broken-field TD rumble, avoiding five tackles and eventually diving into the end zone.
Chargers 34, Raiders 10
In San Diego, Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes for the Chargers (8-4), who won their fifth straight game to pull within one victory of the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos.
The Broncos lost 31-27 at Kansas City, which is tied for second place -- as well as the last wild-card spot -- with the Chargers. The defending division champion Chargers beat the Chiefs 28-20 on Oct. 30, and the teams will play again in Kansas City on Dec. 24. The Chargers will host Denver in the season finale on Dec. 31.
Of course, San Diego must still play at undefeated Indianapolis, on Dec. 18.
The Raiders (4-8) lost their fifth straight to the Chargers.
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