INDIANAPOLIS – Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts played a near-perfect game Sunday. The Houston Texans and David Carr looked like, well, their old selves.

Manning threw three touchdown passes, broke one of John Unitas’ franchise records, and the Colts scored on six of their first seven possessions to dominate Houston 43-24.

For Indy (2-0) – 9-0 all-time against the Texans – it was another milestone day.

Manning broke Unitas’ franchise record for completions, Marvin Harrison moved into fifth place on the NFL’s receptions list and Tony Dungy earned his 50th regular-season win as Colts coach.

Manning’s second TD pass, a 21-yarder to rookie Joseph Addai, gave him 2,797 completions – one more than Unitas had in his Colts career. Manning finished 26-of-38 for 400 yards, and had a 129.3 rating despite having one TD pass called back because of a holding penalty on Tarik Glenn.

Harrison finished with seven receptions for 127 yards, and passed Art Monk for fifth on the career receptions list. He now has 943 catches, two more than Monk’s career total.

Chargers 40, Titans 7

SAN DIEGO – LaDainian Tomlinson ran for two first-half touchdowns and Shawne Merriman led a defense that’s starting to take this “Lights Out” thing seriously.

Six days after blanking the Raiders, the Chargers came within 3:09 of consecutive shutouts for the first time in club history. Titans’ No. 1 draft pick Vince Young threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Drew Bennett to end the bid.

Merriman, nicknamed “Lights Out” for his hard hits, was at it again against Tennessee (0-2). The linebacker intercepted a pass, batted away two others and San Diego (2-0) held the Titans to 218 total yards and 14 first downs, many of them late in the game.

In last week’s 27-0 win over the Raiders, Merriman had three of San Diego’s nine sacks.

Seahawks 21, Cardinals 10

SEATTLE – Seattle started with touchdowns by Shaun Alexander and Darrell Jackson on its first two drives before a strong pass rush and repeatedly blown opportunities by the bumbling Cardinals.

Defending conference champion Seattle is 2-0 for the third time in four seasons despite Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck throwing two interceptions and going just 12-for-27 for 221 yards – his first game under 50 percent passing in two seasons. Alexander, last year’s league MVP, ran for 89 yards on 26 carries, most of them late.

The Seahawks also endured a blocked field goal, a 14-yard punt, and Arizona driving into their territory seven times.

The Cardinals (1-1) still haven’t been 2-0 since 1991.

Bears 34, Lions 7

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CHICAGO – Rex Grossman had his best game as a pro, and the Bears’ defense silenced Detroit’s Roy Williams and the Lions.

Grossman set career highs with 289 yards and four touchdown passes to lead Chicago (2-0). The quarterback completed 20 of 27 passes with no interceptions and set a career-high in yards for the second straight week after throwing for 262 in a season-opening win at Green Bay.

A defense that handed the Packers’ Brett Favre the first shutout of his career held the Lions to 245 yards and recovered three fumbles. Detroit (0-2) committed 14 penalties for 104 yards, seven for 58 yards in the first quarter alone.

Williams caught six passes for 71 yards after guaranteeing a win over the Bears. He was booed loudly after catching his first pass.

Vikings 16, Panthers 13, OT

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota wanted a seasoned, reliable kicker when they signed Ryan Longwell away from rival Green Bay this spring. Who knew he could play quarterback, too?

Longwell’s 16-yard TD pass to Richard Owens on a fake kick tied the game in the fourth quarter, and his third field goal – from 19 yards with 7:25 left in overtime – lifted the Vikings (2-0).

Brad Johnson threw a falling-down, 30-yard pass to Troy Williamson, who caught it one-handed, and Chester Taylor ripped off a 33-yard run on the final drive.

Taylor carried 24 times for 113 yards, and Williamson had six catches for 102 yards, all after halftime.

Carolina (0-2) had been a popular Super Bowl pick, but the Panthers are struggling in several areas, including staying healthy. All-Pro Steve Smith – who totaled 201 yards receiving against the Vikings last season – sat out again because of a strained hamstring.

Falcons 14, Buccaneers 3

ATLANTA – Led by Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn, Atlanta took its running game to a whole new level. And the defense fared just fine without John Abraham.

Dunn ran for 134 yards against his former team, Vick added to one of his own NFL records with 127 yards rushing and the Falcons set a franchise record with 306 yards on the ground.

Atlanta (2-0) has yet to allow a touchdown this season, keeping its streak alive when Jason Webster and DeAngelo Hall picked off passes in or near the end zone.

Chris Simms had another miserable day for the Buccaneers (0-2), who have yet to score a touchdown in 2006. He was picked off three times by the Falcons, matching what he did in a 27-0 loss to Baltimore in the season opener.

Bengals 34, Browns 17

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CINCINNATI – Chad Johnson made a toe-tapping catch in the corner of the end zone, popped up and flapped his elbows in a “Chicken Dance” celebration. Then, he shuffled to the bench in pain.

It was that kind of a day for Cincinnati, which won despite losing three starters to injury – a troubling turn for the defending AFC North champs.

Even with their patchwork lineup, the Bengals (2-0) had their way against the Browns (0-2), who again struggled mightily to move the ball.

Operating behind a makeshift line, Carson Palmer threw for 352 yards and his first two touchdowns of the season. Chris Henry, who pleaded guilty to a gun charge five days earlier, led the way with five catches for 113 yards. And Rudi Johnson ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and left tackle Levi Jones were inactive with lingering injuries. During the first half, the Bengals lost center Rich Braham to a knee injury, safety Dexter Jackson to an ankle injury, and linebacker David Pollack, who was taken to a hospital for evaluation of a neck injury. Pollack had full movement in his arms and legs.

Saints 34, Packers 27

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Drew Brees overcame three early turnovers by throwing for 353 yards, and New Orleans (2-0) is heading home unbeaten.

They will play their first game in New Orleans since 2004 next Monday night against Atlanta. The Saints, of course, spent last season without a home after Hurricane Katrina ravaged their city and the Louisiana Superdome.

With the game tied at 20, Brees threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston for a 27-20 edge with 8:20 remaining.

Brees completed 26 of 41 passes, throwing for two TDs and an interception for the Saints. The Packers (0-2) contained rookie running back Reggie Bush, but Deuce McAllister scored twice.

Brett Favre’s 6-yard pass to running back Noah Herron cut the Saints’ lead to 34-27 with 4:18 remaining. Favre, who completed 31 of 55 passes for 340 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, had thrown only one TD pass in the Packers’ previous six games.

Ravens 28, Raiders 6

BALTIMORE – No shutout this time, yet there was little else Baltimore’s defense didn’t accomplish against inept Oakland. The Ravens forced six turnovers, got a safety from Adalius Thomas and kept the Raiders out of the end zone.

Matt Stover kicked four field goals for the Ravens (2-0), who were coming off a 27-0 rout of Tampa Bay. The only other time they opened with two victories was in 2000, the season they won their lone Super Bowl.

Oakland fell to 0-2 under Art Shell, whose quest to restore an air of respectability to the franchise is off to a dubious start. The Raiders have now been outscored 55-6.

Quarterback Aaron Brooks was pulled with an injured right shoulder in the first quarter after twice fumbling snaps from center, turnovers that led to a pair of Stover field goals. He was replaced by Andrew Walter, who lost one of three fumbles and threw three interceptions.

Bills 16, Dolphins 6

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MIAMI – Even with an injury-depleted defense, Buffalo ruined Daunte Culpepper’s first home game before his new fans.

The Bills sacked Miami’s quarterback seven times – five in the first 15 snaps – plus blocked a punt and survived a woeful passing effort in beating the Dolphins, 0-2 for only the second time in the last 37 seasons.

Rian Lindell had three field goals and Josh Reed caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from J.P. Losman, who was 11-of-18 for 83 yards. Willis McGahee had 91 yards on 25 carries for Buffalo (1-1).

Culpepper completed 23 of 32 passes for 250 yards.

Broncos 9, Chiefs 6, OT

DENVER – Jason Elam’s 39-yard field goal 5:10 into overtime won it. Denver’s defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the first two weeks, but the Broncos (1-1) once again struggled on offense until overtime, when Jake Plummer hit Javon Walker for 24 yards to set up Elam’s third field goal.

Kansas City (0-2) lost despite an impeccable game plan. Damon Huard, starting for the injured Trent Green, completed 17 of 23 passes for 133 yards in his first start in nearly six seasons, and Larry Johnson gained 126 yards rushing and 41 receiving.

The Broncos won the OT coin toss and recovered the ball at their 16 after Cedric Cobbs coughed up the kickoff. Plummer hit David Kircus for 14 yards and Tatum Bell burst through for a 20-yard run before Walker raced down the right sideline, slyly shoved cornerback Ty Law and hauled in Plummer’s pass.

49ers 20, Rams 13

SAN FRANCISCO – Antonio Bryant caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith, and San Francisco’s defense stood strong in the final minutes of its second straight home-opening win over its oldest rivals.

Smith passed for 233 yards and Frank Gore rushed for 127, including a 32-yard score, as the 49ers (1-1) followed a narrow loss at Arizona last week with a cohesive victory over the Rams, who lost at Candlestick Park last September, as well.

San Francisco’s defense forced Marc Bulger’s fourth-quarter fumble and made another big stop in the closing minutes.


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