Punt returner Devin Hester (L) of the Chicago Bears stiff arms punter Andy Lee of the San Francisco 49ers
© AFP/Getty Images Jonathan DanielLOS ANGELES (AFP) - "It was a heck of a day for football," said Colts quarterback Peyton Manning who connected for three second-half touchdowns and a two-point conversion with receiver Reggie Wayne.
"We played better in the second half. We threw the ball well in the first half but they had more plays in the red zone. The second half was the other way around."
The Colts (7-0) became just the second team in NFL history to start a season with seven wins in consecutive years. They were 13-0 last season before losing to San Diego.
The Green Bay Packers were at least 7-0 three years in a row from 1929-31.
In other key matchups Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted four times as the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh lost to Oakland 20-13 and Chicago took advantage of turnovers and rolled to a 41-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers to remain undefeated.
Denver (5-2) had won five in a row since a season-opening loss at St. Louis. The Broncos are now tied with San Diego for first place in the AFC West.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan did not have to get past the Colts en route to the AFC championship game last season. He may not be as lucky this time around.
The previous two years, the Colts eliminated the Broncos from the playoffs with victories of 41-10 and 49-24 at the RCA Dome.
Maurice Jones-Drew (C) of the Jacksonville Jaguars breaks the tackle of Matt McCoy (2nd L) of the Philadelphia Eagles
© AFP/Getty Images Chris McGrathShanahan wanted his defence to prove that it could contain the Colts this time around. Denver has allowed a league-low 44 points and just two touchdowns this season.
Indianapolis scored more points Sunday than Denver had surrendered in its previous five games.
But the Broncos couldn't stop Manning, who completed 32-of-39 passes for 345 yards.
"This was not unusual for him," Colts coach Tony Dungy said of Manning. "You cannot overemphasize how good he is. People try to do different things against him and he just follows his reads."
Denver had Champ Bailey, a Pro Bowl cornerback to blanket Colts star receiver Marvin Harrison. But second-year cornerback Darrent Williams could not handle Wayne, who had 10 receptions for 138 yards.
Rookie Mike Bell broke off a 47-yard run to set up a game-tying 41-yard field goal by Jason Elam with 1:49 left, tying the game at 31-31.
But that was more than enough time for Manning to set up Vinatieri for the winning kick.
"You just have to go out there, focus and put them through," Vinatieri said.
In Oakland, Roethlisberger, who was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion a week ago, may have a bigger headache after his latest struggle.
Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers calls signals at the line of scrimmage
© AFP/Getty Images Stephen DunnRoethlisberger was intercepted four times, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
The Steelers (2-5) lost for the fifth time in six games, and fell to 0-4 on the road.
Meanwhile, Oakland (2-5) won for the second straight week after opening the season with five consecutive losses during which it was outscored, 126-50.
The third-year quarterback Roethlisberger certainly looked shaky, getting picked off twice in the first quarter, including Nnamdi Asomugha's 24-yard touchdown return for a 7-0 lead with 6:12 left.
Oakland won despite quarterback Andrew Walter completing just five-of-14 passes for 51 yards and an interception.
The Chicago Bears extended their start to an impressive 7-0.
Rex Grossman threw for three touchdowns as the Bears took advantage of a handful of early turnovers and rolled over the 49ers.
Starting the season with seven straight wins for the first time since 1985, when the franchise last won the Super Bowl, Chicago improved upon an impressive home scoring margin where it has roughed up opponents, 152-30.
"(The start) is amazing," Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said.
"A good thing about it is we have a chance to be 8-0 and so on and so forth. We've just got to keep playing like this."
Micheal Vick passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 55 yards to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 29-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in an interconference contest.
In other games it was: Packers 31 Cardinals 14; Ravens 35 Saints 22; Titans 28 Texans 22; Jaguars 13 Eagles 6; Chiefs 35 Seahawks 28; Giants 17 Buccaneers 3; Chargers 38 Rams 24; Browns 20 Jets 13; Cowboys 35 Panthers 14.
©AFP