BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens have a new formula for success: Keep the game close enough for Steve McNair to win it at the end.

McNair rallied the unbeaten Ravens (4-0) for a second straight week yesterday, throwing a 10-yard pass to Todd Heap with 34 seconds left to defeat the San Diego Chargers 16-13.

In years past, the Ravens depended on their defense to squash the opposition, leaving the offense to do little else but avoid giving the ball away. Now that McNair is at quarterback, late-game heroics are becoming the standard.

One week earlier, McNair struggled before engineering a late drive that produced a field goal and a 15-14 win over Cleveland. He did very little against the Chargers (2-1), either, until it mattered most.

"There was no doubt in my mind we would win this game when No. 9 went out there," said Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle, who played with McNair in Tennessee. "He's been through everything you can be through as a quarterback. He's been MVP. He's been in the Super Bowl. He's just got it."

Showing precisely why they obtained him in an offseason trade with the Titans, McNair went 4 for 5 for 43 yards and ran once for 12 yards during the final drive, which began after San Diego intentionally took a safety with 3:12 to go.

"The defense gave us the opportunity by keeping it within six points," McNair said. "We knew if they gave us the opportunity, we have the confidence in ourselves to get the job done."

McNair finished 17 for 30 for 158 yards and two interceptions. He also threw two touchdown passes.

COLTS 31, JETS 28

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Justin Miller's 103-yard kickoff return was the quick score the Jets needed. Only problem: It left Peyton Manning with one last chance and plenty of time. After Miller's dash gave New York (2-2) the lead with 2:20 left, Manning led Indianapolis (4-0) on the winning drive, capping it with a 1-yard run that gave the Colts a wild victory. Manning was 6 of 8 for 60 yards on the drive.

With 8 seconds left, the Jets got off one last, desperate circus play, a never-ending lateral-fest that almost worked. But after several laterals, two passes and two fumbles, center Nick Mangold finally lost the ball at the Colts 35 and Jason Davis recovered for Indianapolis to end the game.

PATRIOTS 38, BENGALS 13

CINCINNATI — Rookie running back Laurence Maroney ran for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns. New England (3-1) savored the big day by its offense. Maroney stiff-armed his way through the Bengals (3-1) on touchdown runs of 11 and 25 yards that set the tone. Quarterback Tom Brady was 15 of 26 for 188 yards and a pair of TDs.

TEXANS 17, DOLPHINS 15

HOUSTON — Mario Williams finally got a sack and Houston picked up its first win. David Carr scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run and the Texans (1-3) survived a late rally by Miami for the win. The Dolphins (1-3) trailed 17-9 when Daunte Culpepper found Chris Chambers for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:39 to go. Miami went for the 2-point conversion, but the pass by running back Ronnie Brown was tipped by Williams and sailed over Chambers' head.

BROWNS 24, RAIDERS 21

OAKLAND, Calif. — Charlie Frye threw three TD passes and Cleveland (1-3) used three long returns to rally from an early 18-point deficit. Frye threw TD passes to Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius in the third quarter for Cleveland. Poor play on special teams and a mediocre performance by quarterback Andrew Walter in his first career start helped doom the Raiders (0-3).