INDIANAPOLIS — Apparently, winning is still too complex for the Detroit Lions.

Two turnovers, short fields and playing against a worn down, short-handed Colts defense wasn't the answer, either.

Peyton Manning led the Colts on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, delivering another blow to Detroit's psyche with a 31-21 victory yesterday and keeping the Lions on track for a winless season.

"No one wants to be part of that. No one wants to have their name involved with that," quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. "It's tough to swallow, everybody says we stink. We don't have much debate with that."

Detroit (0-14) has lost 15 straight and 21 of 22. The Lions are two defeats away from becoming the first NFL team to finish 0-16.

Manning was 28 of 37 for 318 yards and one touchdown, and although the Lions did a respectable job defending receivers, they allowed tight end Dallas Clark to roam free.

Clark finished with 12 receptions, a single-game franchise record for tight ends, 142 yards and one acrobatic touchdown catch. He broke his single-season record for receptions by a tight end and set a career high with 684 yards.

The Colts (10-4) fumbled four times, saw a potential scoring drive derailed by a holding penalty and the defense struggled to get off the field in the second half.

Indy has won seven straight, earned double-digit victories for a seventh straight season, and can clinch a seventh straight playoff spot with a win Thursday at Jacksonville.

"We weren't as sharp as we'd like to be. We couldn't make the plays we needed to put the game away, but it's something we expected," coach Tony Dungy said. "You obviously can't mishandle two punts and give them short fields. Those are situations that usually get you beat."

The Lions settled for field goals after twice starting drives inside the Colts 40.

Against a defense missing three starters — safety Bob Sanders, middle linebacker Gary Brackett and defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson — Orlovsky hooked up with Calvin Johnson nine times for 110 yards and one score.

With the score tied 21-21, Manning methodically marched the Colts 88 yards, finally giving to Dominic Rhodes for a 1-yard TD run, and he closed it out by grinding out nearly all of the final 5 minutes before Adam Vinatieri's 30-yard kick sealed it with 39 seconds left.

PANTHERS 30, BRONCOS 10

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In front of their ailing owner, the Panthers (11-3) finished off a perfect regular season at home with a dominating performance against the Broncos (8-6).

Four days after it was announced Jerry Richardson needs a heart transplant, he checked out of the hospital and was in his familiar spot in his end zone suite, watching Steve Smith (nine receptions for 165 yards) and DeAngelo Williams (56-yard touchdown run) power the Panthers.

In clinching at least a tie for the NFC South title and moving closer to their first playoff berth in three years, the Panthers improved to 8-0 at home and prevented the Broncos from clinching the AFC West.

DOLPHINS 14, 49ERS 9

MIAMI — Miami had possession for less than 22 minutes, but held the opposition without a touchdown for the third game in a row and helped its playoff chances.

The 49ers (5-9) ran 79 plays to 42 for the Dolphins (9-5), but Miami tight ends scored the only touchdowns on first-half passes from Chad Pennington. He threw a 61-yarder to David Martin and a 19-yarder to rookie Joey Haynos, making the first reception of his career.

San Francisco reached the Miami 21 before its final threat ended when Shaun Hill was sacked on fourth-and-10 by Joey Porter with 1:02 left.

JAGUARS 20, PACKERS 16

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Green Bay's slim playoff chances ended in fitting fashion — with another fourth-quarter collapse.

David Garrard threw two touchdowns passes, Maurice Jones-Drew scored twice and the Jaguars (5-9) snapped a four-game losing streak.

The Packers (5-9) lost on a late drive for the third consecutive week.

The Packers entered the fourth quarter with a 13-7 lead, but Garrard directed two scoring drives that gave Jacksonville its second win in eight games.

BENGALS 20, REDSKINS 13

CINCINNATI — The Redskins (7-7) lost for the fifth time in six games as Ryan Fitzpatrick ran for a touchdown and threw for another.

Fitzpatrick revived a Cincinnati offense that hadn't reached the end zone in 12 quarters. His 79-yard screen pass to Cedric Benson gave the Bengals (2-11-1) their longest play of the season and set up one of the scores.

A Washington offensive line missing both tackles with injuries couldn't open holes for Clinton Portis, who finished with 77 yards.