While the Patriots improved their record to 9-0 and snapped the Colts' 12-game winning streak going back to last season, Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson smashed a record on his own, rushing for an NFL single-game mark of 296 yards against San Diego.

In Sunday's late game, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo threw three touchdowns, including one to Terrell Owens, to lead the Cowboys (7-1) to a 38-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the marquee match-up, New England's Brady tossed touchdown passes to Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Kevin Faulk as the Patriots overcame a 20-10 Colts' (7-1) lead in the final nine minutes.

"This is the first time we were really in a (close) ball game late," Brady, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 255 yards, told reporters.

"I was real proud of the way the guys responded down the stretch. There was never any loss of confidence."

The win, the 14th in their last 15 road games, kept the Patriots on course to become the first NFL team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to record a perfect season.

Indianapolis led 13-7 at half-time after two Adam Vinatieri field goals and a 73-yard pass from Peyton Manning to Joseph Addai. Brady connected with Moss for a four-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

New England's Stephen Gostkowski made it 13-10 with a 34-yard, third-quarter field goal before Manning, who was 16 of 27 passing for 225 yards, gave the Colts a 20-10 fourth-quarter lead on a one-yard touchdown run.

Brady found Welker for a touchdown with 7:59 remaining to trim the Super Bowl champions' lead to 20-17, then connected with Faulk with 3:15 remaining to seal the win.

RUSHING RECORD

*Minnesota rookie Peterson rushed for an NFL single-game record 296 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries as the Vikings (3-5) battered the San Diego Chargers 35-17. Antonio Cromartie of San Diego (4-4) set a record for the longest play in NFL history when he returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown.

*Terrell Owens caught 10 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys (7-1) crushed Owens's former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-17. Tony Romo threw for three touchdowns against the Eagles (3-5).

*Brett Favre became the third NFL quarterback to defeat all 31 league opponents as he passed for two touchdowns and 360 yards in the Green Bay Packers' 33-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Brady and Manning are the others.

*The Detroit Lions crushed the Denver Broncos 44-7 for their fourth successive home win. Jon Kitna passed for two touchdowns and the defense added two more for the Lions (6-2). Denver (3-5) was held to a fourth-quarter touchdown.

*Drew Brees passed for three touchdowns and a season-high 445 yards as the New Orleans Saints (4-4) completed a 41-24 home victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) for their fourth successive win.

*Shaun Suisham kicked a 46-yard field goal in overtime to lead the Washington Redskins (5-3) to a 23-20 road victory over the New York Jets (1-8). Mike Nugent's 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining for the Jets had forced the extra time.

*Phil Dawson's 25-yard field goal, also in overtime, gave the Cleveland Browns (5-3) a 33-30 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks (4-4). Josh Brown's 22-yard field goal as time expired had sent the game into overtime. Jamal Lewis had four touchdowns for the Browns.

*Vince Young and LenDale White ran for short touchdowns in the Tennessee Titans 20-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers. The win was the third successive victory for the Titans (6-2), who sacked Panthers quarterback David Carr seven times and limited Carolina (4-4) to a fourth-quarter score.

*Rookie Marshawn Lynch passed for one touchdown and ran for another and a total of 153 rushing yards as the Buffalo Bills (4-4) won their third straight game, a 33-21 home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals (2-6).

*Ovie Mughelli's one-yard, second-quarter touchdown put the Atlanta Falcons ahead to stay in a 20-16 home victory over the San Francisco 49ers, who lost their sixth straight game. Both teams are 2-6.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina)