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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 6, 2008

Colts rally for victory

Photo gallery: NFL Football

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Houston Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels flies over Indianapolis Colts' Dwight Freeney, after being hit by Raheem Brock, right, in the fourth quarter. Rosenfels fumbled the ball and the Colts returned it for a TD.

DAVE EINSEL | Associated Press

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HOUSTON — Peyton Manning turned a colossal collapse by the Houston Texans into a stunning victory for the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts scored 21 points in a late span of 2:10 — two touchdowns thanks to fumbles by Sage Rosenfels — then intercepted Rosenfels' last-ditch comeback attempt for a 31-27 win yesterday.

"I thought we had that passion at the end," said Colts coach Tony Dungy.

Manning threw two touchdown passes, connecting with Reggie Wayne on a 5-yarder with 1:54 remaining for the decisive points. Linebacker Gary Brackett returned a fumble by quarterback Rosenfels 68 yards for a score in between Manning's TD throws.

Rookie Tom Santi caught the other late score, a 7-yarder to bring the Colts (2-2) within 27-17 with 4:04 to go. It was his first NFL touchdown.

Backup Rosenfels, playing for an ill Matt Schaub, had the winless Texans (0-4) ahead by 17 points before losing two fumbles and throwing an interception.

"All of our team played great football today, played winning football and I made those mistakes that cost football games," Rosenfels said.

After Manning found Santi for his touchdown, Indianapolis attempted an onside kick, but Houston recovered. On the next drive, Rosenfels ran right at defensive back Marlin Jackson, who upended him and knocked the ball loose. Brackett ran it in to make it 27-24.

On the ensuing drive, Robert Mathis sacked Rosenfels and stripped the ball at the Houston 19. Manning hit a leaping Wayne in the corner of the end zone.

STEELERS 26, JAGUARS 21

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ben Roethlisberger threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, helping Pittsburgh (4-1) snap a four-game losing streak against Jacksonville (2-3). Roethlisberger's perfect 8-yard fade pass to Hines Ward in the corner of the end zone put the Steelers ahead 26-21 with 1:53 remaining. Roethlisberger misfired on the 2-point conversion, but Pittsburgh's defense sealed the win by sacking David Garrard and then forcing two incomplete passes.

CARDINALS 41, BILLS 17

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Buffalo second-year quarterback Trent Edwards went down with a concussion on a fierce hit from safety Adrian Wilson on the third play of the game, and the Bills' defense collapsed after that. Rookie Tim Hightower had a pair of touchdown runs and Kurt Warner threw to Larry Fitzgerald twice for scores for Arizona (3-2), which amassed 373 yards against Buffalo (4-1).

BRONCOS 16, BUCCANEERS 13

DENVER — Brandon Stokley hauled in Jay Cutler's pass in the right flat and followed Brandon Marshall's big block for a 10-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Matt Prater kicked three field goals as Denver (4-1) beat Tampa Bay (3-2) to spoil former Broncos QB Brian Griese's return to Invesco Field.

COWBOYS 31, BENGALS 22

IRVING, Texas — Tony Romo was 14-of-23 for a season-low 176 yards, but threw three touchdown passes — two in the fourth quarter, including a 57-yarder to Terrell Owens — as Dallas (4-1) beat Cincinnati (0-5). Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer returned after missing a game with a sore elbow and was 23-of-39 for 217 yards with two touchdown passes to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

PATRIOTS 30, 49ERS 21

SAN FRANCISCO — Randy Moss caught a 66-yard touchdown pass, Kevin Faulk rushed for two scores and Matt Cassel had 259 yards passing as New England (3-1) won in San Francisco (2-3) for the first time in franchise history. Moss had five catches for 111 yards. San Francisco has won four of the five meetings at home against New England.

DOLPHINS 17, CHARGERS 10

MIAMI — Ronnie Brown scored the decisive 5-yard touchdown from the single-wing formation in the second quarter, and the Miami (2-2) defense stopped LaDainian Tomlinson for no gain on fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the first minute of the final period to preserve a seven-point lead against San Diego (2-3).

TITANS 13, RAVENS 10

BALTIMORE — Kerry Collins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:56 left to rally Tennessee (5-0) over Baltimore (2-2). The 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive was aided by a penalty against Baltimore's Terrell Suggs, who was flagged for a blow to Collins' helmet — although the hit appeared to be little more than incidental contact.

FALCONS 27, PACKERS 24

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as Atlanta (3-2) earned its first road win of the season by beating Green Bay (2-3). Despite a sprained shoulder that kept him out of practice for most of the week, Aaron Rodgers started for the Packers and was 25-for-37 for 313 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

REDSKINS 23, EAGLES 17

PHILADELPHIA — Clinton Portis ran for 145 yards and one touchdown and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a TD pass to lift Washington (4-1) over Philadelphia (2-3). Shaun Suisham kicked three field goals beyond 40 yards, helping the Redskins overcome a 14-0 deficit. Jason Campbell threw for 176 yards for Washington.

PANTHERS 34, CHIEFS 0

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — DeAngelo Williams had 123 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns and Carolina (4-1) handed Kansas City (1-4) its first shutout in nearly six years. Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez caught a 6-yard pass from Damon Huard late in the first quarter to move past Shannon Sharpe for the NFL's career leader for yards receiving for a tight end.

BEARS 34, LIONS 7

DETROIT — Kyle Orton set career highs in yards passing, completions and quarterback rating while throwing two touchdowns for Chicago (3-2). He was 24-of-34 for 334 yards and had a 121.4 rating against Detroit (0-4).