Packers blow big lead, Colts rally for win

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — All Chuck Pagano asked the Indianapolis Colts to do was focus on football.

Andrew Luck and Reggie Wayne did that — and more to honor their ailing coach.

The rookie quarterback and veteran receiver connected at the most critical moments Sunday, including a 4-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds left to complete the Colts’ second-half rally and stun Green Bay 30-27 on perhaps the most emotional day in Lucas Oil Stadium history.

“I’m sure we were all lying to everybody the whole week, trying to downplay it,” Luck said after throwing for a career-high 362 yards. “I think we all went out there wanting to do it for Chuck more than anything else. To see all the emotions on Mr. Irsay’s face, BA’s, everyone in there, I think it’s one of the greatest athletic moments I’ve ever been a part of.”

It’s a day nobody in Indy or around the league will soon forget.

Interim coach Bruce Arians, nicknamed BA, acknowledged he was fighting back tears when he spoke to reporters.

Green Bay (2-3) had a chance to force overtime with a 51-yard field goal. But Mason Crosby’s attempt went left with 3 seconds to go, setting off an emotional celebration on the Colts sideline.

“I thought they (Colts) played well,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Obviously, a tough week for them. I thought they played with a lot of emotion, a lot of energy. Frankly, I’m more focused on my football team and my football team is not playing the way we are capable of playing.”

Patriots 31, Broncos 21

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The familiar showdown had a new twist — Peyton Manning in a Denver Broncos uniform. It ended as it usually does with Tom Brady winning the matchup of marquee quarterbacks.

But not before Manning nearly pulled off another fourth-quarter comeback in a career filled with them.

In their 13th meeting, and first since Manning left the Indianapolis Colts, Brady directed four scoring marches of at least 80 yards and the Patriots won 31-21 on Sunday. He’s 9-4 in his career against Manning.

“Nobody I’d rather have than Tom Brady,” New England coach Bill Belichick said, “but Manning’s a great player.”

Brady downplayed his meeting with Manning.

“It’s Patriots-Broncos,” he said. “It was a great team win. We got some turnovers from our defense and I thought offensively capitalized at times. There were a few lulls in there, which I wish we had executed a little bit better, but for the most part it’s a good day.”

Falcons 24, Redskins 17

LANDOVER, Md. — Michael Turner ran 13 yards for the go-ahead score with 2:46 to play, and Atlanta knocked Robert Griffin III out of the game.

The Falcons are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history.

Steelers 16, Eagles 14

PITTSBURGH — Shaun Suisham hit a 34-yard field goal as time expired.

The Eagles (3-2) took the lead on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Brent Celek with 6:33 remaining, but the Steelers responded by driving 64 yards, including a pair of key third-down conversions by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, to set up the winning kick.

Dolphins 17, Bengals 13

CINCINNATI — Reshad Jones intercepted Andy Dalton’s overthrown pass at midfield with 1:22 left, preserving a win that ended two weeks of miserable, last-minute finishes for Miami.

Miami (2-3) had dropped its past two games in overtime. The Dolphins held on against the Bengals (3-2), who never got anything going consistently on offense and wasted a chance for a tighter finish.

Giants 41, Browns 27

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw set career bests in leading New York Giants over winless Cleveland.

Cruz caught three touchdown passes from Eli Manning covering 3, 7 and 28 yards, while Bradshaw surpassed his yardage on the ground for the season with a career-high 200. He had 132 entering the game.

49ers 45, Bills 3

SAN FRANCISCO — Alex Smith threw for a season-high 303 yards and three touchdowns, Frank Gore ran for 106 yards and a score, and San Francisco amassed a franchise-record 621 yards.

Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis each eclipsed 100 yards receiving to back Smith, who threw TD passes of 43, 28 and 10 yards and surpassed 300 yards passing for only the third time in his career.

Bears 41, Jaguars 3

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs returned interceptions for touchdowns — their second in six days — and Chicago used stifling defense to overwhelm Jacksonville.

The Bears (4-1) scored 38 unanswered points, including 35 in the second half, to win their third consecutive game. The streak has everything to do with defense.

Ravens 9, Chiefs 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ray Rice ran for 101 yards and Justin Tucker made all three of his field goal attempts.

Joe Flacco threw for 187 yards and was picked off once, but the Ravens (4-1) were still able to come up with enough points to beat the Chiefs (1-4), who turned it over four times.

Seahawks 16, Panthers 12

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks defense were too much for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers to overcome.

Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate with 35 seconds left in the third quarter to help the Seahawks beat the Panthers 16-12 on Sunday.

Wilson shook off two third quarter interceptions — including one that was returned for a touchdown.

n — and outperformed Newton on a struggle-filled day for the Carolina offense, which finished with only 190 yards.

Wilson threw for 221 yards, while Marshawn Lynch ran for 85 yards for the Seahawks (3-2).

Newton threw for 141 yards on 12-for-29 passing and he was sacked four times. The Panthers’ only touchdown came on Captain Munnerlyn’s 33-yard interception return early in the third quarter.

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