SAN FRANCISCO — If last season's offensively inept 49ers had somehow managed to get to the Detroit 1, they would have kicked an easy field goal on fourth down without hesitation.

Mike Martz's 49ers coolly called a timeout, then scored the decisive touchdown with a beautiful end-around run by kick returner Allen Rossum, of all people.

The Detroit Lions thought Martz was part of their problem last year. So far in San Francisco, coach Mike Nolan's offensive mastermind has been the solution for the Niners' years of awfulness.

Frank Gore rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown, and Martz's new offense methodically chewed up his former team's defense in the 49ers' 31-13 victory over Detroit yesterday.

Isaac Bruce and Delanie Walker caught TD passes from J.T. O'Sullivan, who went 16 for 23 for 189 yards as the 49ers improved to 2-1 for the second straight season — but with more reason to think its tiny winning record might mean something.

"We've got so much stuff in our offense now," Gore said. "It felt so great to move the ball like that."

Martz joined San Francisco a few days after Detroit (0-3) fired him as the scapegoat for the Lions' second-half collapse in 2007. He has brought immediate respectability to the 49ers, who had the NFL's worst offense in two of the past three seasons.

The 49ers put it away with a 12-play, 77-yard drive stretching into the fourth quarter. Nolan sent out his field goal unit on fourth down, but called a timeout and decided to let Martz go for it.

Rossum took a handoff and outran Detroit's defense to the corner to make it 28-6 with 9:31 left.

BUCCANEERS 27, BEARS 24

CHICAGO — Brian Griese set up Matt Bryant's winning 21-yard field goal in overtime with a 38-yard pass to Antonio Bryant in a win over Chicago (1-2).

After Tampa Bay (2-1) punted in overtime, Chicago's Rashied Davis dropped a third-down pass at the Buccaneers 35. Tampa Bay then took over at its 7 and had third-and-9 at the 8 when Griese hit Stevens with a 2-yard pass.

There was a pileup and Charles Tillman jumped in late, leading to an unnecessary roughness penalty that gave the Buccaneers a first down at the 24.

Tampa Bay was at the Chicago 44 when Bryant beat Nathan Vasher for a 38-yard pass that set up the winning field goal.

SEAHAWKS 37, RAMS 13

SEATTLE — Julius Jones ran for 140 yards on 22 carries and T.J. Duckett had his first two-touchdown rushing day in four years as Seattle (1-2) sidestepped six injuries at wide receiver and rolled over the Rams.

Seattle headed into its off week with the promise of a return to health while just one game out of the NFC West lead. The Seahawks have won the last four division titles.

The Rams (0-3) lost for the 16th time in 19 games, and for the seventh consecutive time to Seattle. They have been outscored 116-29 this season.

VIKINGS 20, PANTHERS 10

MINNEAPOLIS — Antoine Winfield's sack of Jake Delhomme and subsequent 19-yard fumble return for a touchdown right before halftime spurred the Vikings, handing the Panthers their first defeat.

Gus Frerotte might have helped save the season for Minnesota (1-2) by completing 16 of 28 passes for 204 yards.

The Minnesota defense held Carolina (2-1) to 49 yards rushing, and the Panthers were flagged 12 times for 67 yards.

REDSKINS 24, CARDINALS 17

LANDOVER, Md. — Carlos Rogers returned a tipped interception to Arizona's 15-yard line. Two plays later, Santana Moss took a receiver screen for a 17-yard touchdown that gave Washington (2-1) victory.

Jason Campbell completed 23 of 31 passes for 193 yards with two touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception this season, and the Redskins' no-turnover day kept Kurt Warner and Arizona (2-1) in poor field position throughout the game.

Clinton Portis ran 21 times for 68 yards and a touchdown for the Redskins.