CINCINNATI – Jerome Bettis lowered his battering-ram shoulders and plowed into the end zone as thousands of Terrible Towels snapped in the stands.

Different setting, very familiar scene.

The Steelers got back to their black-and-gold basics Sunday, running the ball when they wanted and turning loose linebacker Joey Porter for a 17-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.)

During their first two games, the Steelers became dependent on Tommy Maddox’s passing and had trouble stopping the run – two extremely disturbing trends for jut-jawed coach Bill Cower.

Bettis, relegated to a backup role in preseason, showed that The Bus still has a few miles left. With the ground game stalled again, Bettis entered late in the third quarter and led the Steelers to the decisive score with brute force.

Colts 23, Jaguars 13

INDIANAPOLIS – Reggie Wayne responded to the calls Sunday.

Wayne emerged with the best game of his three-year career amid chants of “Reg-gie! Reg-gie!” – catching a career-high 10 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns as the Indianapolis Colts pulled away for a 23-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Wayne, the former first-round draft pick, had been clamoring for more balls this season. And he may get them after his brilliant second half against Jacksonville.

Chiefs 42, Texans 14

HOUSTON – Priest Holmes and Dante Hall made the most of their return to Texas.

Holmes had 156 total yards and two touchdowns, and Hall had a backbreaking 73-yard punt return for a score Sunday to lead Kansas City to a 42-14 victory over Houston, giving the Chiefs their first 3-0 start in seven years.

The Texans (1-2) trailed 14-7 late in the third quarter when Houston rookie Tony Hollings, getting his first playing time at running back this season, fumbled after a jarring hit by safety Jerome Woods. The Chiefs’ Dexter McCleon recovered at the Houston 32.

Moments later, Trent Green hit a wide-open Eddie Kennison for a 15-yard score.

Ravens 24, Chargers 10

SAN DIEGO – Jamal Lewis talked the most smack about his matchup with LaDainian Tomlinson, and he also gained the most yards.

A week after setting the NFL single-game record with 295 yards on 30 carries, Lewis ran for 132 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries as the Baltimore Ravens beat the punchless San Diego Chargers 24-10 on Sunday.

Lewis also fumbled at midfield late in the first quarter, but the ball bounced a few yards ahead and fullback Alan Ricard picked it up and ran 50 yards for a touchdown.

Dolphins 17, Bills 7

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins stymied Eric Moulds, harried Drew Bledsoe and sidelined Travis Henry. They also gave the ball to Ricky Williams over and over.

With a workhorse running back and dominating defense, Miami beat the Buffalo Bills 17-7 on Sunday night to forge a tie atop the AFC East.

Williams carried a franchise-record 42 times for 153 yards and one score. The Dolphins made interceptions to end two early scoring threats by the Bills, whose only points came on Nate Clements’ 54-yards interception return.

Bledsoe completed 10 of 25 passes for 98 yards with two interceptions and four sacks. The Dolphins held halfback Henry to 7 yards rushing and intercepted his first NFL pass,

to stymie one scoring threat before he left in the second quarter with a rib injury.

The Dolphins could also claim a victory in their feud with Moulds, who had just two receptions for 30 yards. He angered the Dolphins last season by spitting in cornerback Patrick Surtain’s face – unintentionally, Moulds said – and traded barbs with them last week.

Williams fumbled for the third consecutive game but more than compensated to help the Dolphins dominate time of possession. He broke the team record of 40 carries set by Lamar Smith in a playoff victory over Indianapolis three years ago.

His jersey soaked with sweat and caked with dirt, Williams clinched the victory on a 1-yard touchdown dive with 1:52 left. The officials originally spotted the ball at the 18-inch line but awarded Miami the score after reviewing a replay.

Surtain, Brock Marion and Sammy Knight made interceptions for the Dolphins. Adewale Ogunleye had two sacks, and Junior Seau and Tim Bowens added one apiece.

The Bills’ first four possessions produced two turnovers and no first downs, and they wasted two scoring chances inside the Miami 20 in the second quarter.

One threat ended when a trick play backfired, with Henry’s underthrown pass being intercepted by Surtain at the 1. Buffalo quickly forced a punt and drove to the 8, but Marion intercepted Bledsoe in the end zone.

The showing by the Dolphins’ pass defense was impressive and surprising. Miami was riddled for 639 yards passing in the first two games, and the Bills scored 69 points in their first two games.

The Bills led 14-0 after two possessions in each of those victories, but this time it took them 171/2 minutes to make a first down.

Miami committed two turnovers and missed a field goal before mounting the best drive of the opening half for the game’s first score. Helped by two Buffalo penalties, Miami moved 76 yards in eight plays, and Jay Fiedler hit Chris Chambers on a 12-yard scoring pass with 25 seconds left in the half.

Fiedler moved the Dolphins 85 yards in 14 plays the next time they got the ball, and Olindo Mare kicked a 26-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

Miami’s offense then gave a score back early in the fourth quarter. Fiedler threw toward the sideline while under pressure, and Clements stepped in front of receiver James McKnight for the interception, then dashed to the end zone untouched.

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