Colts again perfect after nine games

The Buffalo Bills slowed down Indianapolis’ fast-track offense Sunday. It wasn’t quite enough to stop the NFL’s last unbeaten team from making NFL history.

A restrained Peyton Manning repeatedly threw the ball underneath, used his ground game effectively and delivered a time-consuming final drive, all the Colts needed to get past Buffalo 17-16, becoming the first team ever with back-to-back 9-0 starts.

Manning rarely had the chance to go deep as the Bills dropped extra defenders into deep coverage, and chewed up the clock by running the ball frequently.

It almost worked.

While J.P. Losman completed only 9 of 13 passes for 83 yards, Anthony Thomas carried 28 times for 109 yards. Terrence McGee scored on a 68-yard fumble return and set up a field goal with a long kickoff return.

The Bills even appeared to be in position to defeat an unbeaten team on the road for the first time since 1980 after Nate Clements recovered a fumble at the Indy 41 with 8:58 to go. But three-time Pro Bowler Dwight Freeney sacked Losman on third-and-5 at the Colts 24, and Ryan Lindell pushed the potential go-ahead 41-yard field goal wide right.

Manning responded by running out the clock.

He finished 27 of 39 for 236 yards with one touchdown.

Texans 13, Jaguars 10: At Jacksonville, Fla., David Carr threw for 167 yards and ran for 48 more before leaving the game with a shoulder injury, and Houston defeated Jacksonville and snapped a 12-game road losing streak.

David Garrard, starting his third consecutive game in place of Byron Leftwich, threw four interceptions.

Eagles 27, Redskins 3: At Philadelphia, Donavan McNabb threw an 84-yard touchdown pass to Donte’ Stallworth, Sheldon Brown returned an interception 70 yards for a score and Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Washington.

McNabb completed 12 of 26 passes for 222 yards.

Dolphins 13, Chiefs 10: At Miami, Kansas City was denied a first down until almost halftime, and a trick play set up the Dolphins’ lone touchdown to help them beat the Chiefs.

Damon Huard went 15 for 38 for 201 yards with three sacks, and four times was hit as he threw.

49ers 19, Lions 13: At Detroit, Frank Gore set a franchise record with 148 yards rushing in the first half and scored on a 61-yard run before leaving the game with a concussion, and Joe Nedney made all four of his field-goal attempts to give San Francisco a win over Detroit.

San Francisco’s Alex Smith was 14 of 20 for 136 yards with a fumble.

Packers 23, Vikings 17: At Eden Prarie, Minn., Brett Favre threw two touchdown passes without a turnover and Donald Driver had 191 yards receiving, leading Green Bay past Minnesota.

Brad Johnson went 18 for 30 for 257 yards, one touchdown and two turnovers for Minnesota.

Browns 17, Falcons 13: At Atlanta, Michael Vick threw two interceptions and carelessly fumbled the ball away with 2:18 remaining, allowing Cleveland to escape victorious over a banged-up Atlanta team.

Vick completed only 16 of 40 passes for 197 yards.

Ravens 27, Titans 26: At Nashville, Tenn., Steve McNair threw his third touchdown with 3:35 left, and Baltimore rallied from a 26-7 deficit to beat Tennessee.

McNair finished 29 of 47 for 373 yards passing.

Jets 17, Patriots 14: At Foxborough, Mass., Relying on short gains and long drives on a rainy day, New York beat New England, repelling a late comeback and ending the Patriots’ streak of 57 games without consecutive losses.

Chad Pennington was 22 for 33 for 168, an average of 7.6 yards per completion.

Steelers 38, Saints 31: At Pittsburgh, Willie Parker broke free on runs of 72 and 76 yards to set up his own two short scoring runs in the second half, Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes and Pittsburgh rallied after giving away a big lead to beat New Orleans.

Broncos 17, Raiders 13: At Oakland, Calif., Jake Plummer threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Johnson early in the fourth giving Denver a victory over Oakland.

Andrew Walter was 18 for 33 for 214 yards for the Raiders.

Cowboys 27, Cardinals 10: At Glendale, Ariz., Tony Romo threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns and Dallas beat Arizona.

Romo completed 20 of 29 passes with no interceptions.