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Colts beat Dolphins despite valiant effort by Marino

Associated Press

Dan Marino proved he isn't washed up, while Peyton Manning proved once again he's the NFL's best young quarterback.

Marino, facing an uncertain future following a neck injury and a horrible game against Dallas on Thanksgiving, threw three touchdown passes and rallied Miami from a 14-point, second-half deficit against Indianapolis on Sunday.

But Manning hit Marvin Harrison with completions of 16 and 18 yards in the final 30 seconds to set up Mike Vanderjagt's 53-yard field goal as time ran out, which gave the Colts a 37-34 victory and the inside track for the AFC East title.

"This was a huge test for us, the biggest test of the season," coach Jim Mora said after Indianapolis' eighth straight win.

Marino rebounded from his five-interception game against the Cowboys with a strong showing at the RCA Dome. He completed 24 of 38 passes for 313 yards in his first game since the Dallas debacle, but became angry in his postgame news conference when asked about watching the winning field goal.

"These questions are ridiculous," he said. "I'll tell you how tough it is. You work your butt off all week and then you lose a game like that by three points. ... That's how tough it is. But you wouldn't know, would you?'"

The Colts (10-2) took control of the AFC East with a two-game lead over Miami and Buffalo. The Dolphins (8-4), who have lost three of their last four, will probably have to scramble for a wild-card berth.

"The way the AFC is, we're fighting just to make the playoffs," coach Jimmy Johnson said.

Manning threw two second-half interceptions, but still finished 23-for-29 for 260 yards and one touchdown. He leaped in the air following Vanderjagt's winning field goal.

Rams win NFC West title

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kurt Warner passed for 351 yards and three TDs as the St. Louis Rams beat Carolina 34-21, winning the NFC West title for the first time since 1985.

The Rams improved to 10-2 for the first time since 1978 and are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 1989. Carolina (5-7) missed a chance to reach the .500 mark for the first time in two years.

Giants win Big Apple battle

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Kerry Collins threw three TD passes to Amani Toomer and ran for another score as the New York Giants scored their most points in four years, beating the Jets 41-28.

Rookie Joe Montgomery rushed for 111 yards in his first start for the Giants (6-6), who gained a season-high 490 yards to break a three-game losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive. The Jets dropped to 4-8.

Agony continues for 'Niners

CINCINATTI - Jeff Blake tied his career high with four TD passes as the Bengals ended a streak of 11 straight home losses and got back-to-back wins for the first time since 1997, beating San Francisco 44-30.

The Bengals (3-10) also snapped a nine-game losing streak to the 49ers (3-8), who lost their eighth in a row and clinched their first losing season since 1982.