Dolphins make waves with stunning victory over Bears

THE Miami Dolphins stunned the Chicago Bears on Sunday, leaving the Indianapolis Colts to emerge from the day’s action as the lone unbeaten team in the NFL.

The Dolphins, who had won just one of their first seven games, took advantage of six turnovers and the ineffective play of Rex Grossman to pull off the biggest surprise of the NFL season, a 31-13 triumph over the previously undefeated Bears.

Meanwhile Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning outshone his New England counterpart Tom Brady as the Colts beat the Patriots 27-20 to improve to 8-0.

Indianapolis completed a perfect first half of the season, something the team did last year before eventually losing to San Diego in its 14th game.

Manning completed 20-of-36 passes for 326 yards in improving to 4-10 all-time against New England.

Brady, the two-time Super Bowl MVP, was uncharacteristically sloppy, matching a career high for interceptions with four. Turnovers were key in Miami’s defeat of Chicago, the Dolphins turning the six Bears turnovers into 28 points.

It was a wild finish in Washington, where the Redskins held off NFC East division rivals Dallas 22-19.

Washington’s Troy Vincent blocked an attempted field goal by Mike Vanderjagt before Nick Novak drilled a 47-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give the Redskins the win.

The Cowboys appeared poised for victory when Vanderjagt lined up for a 35-yard field goal attempt with six seconds left.

But Vincent, who was signed by the Redskins on October 16 after being released by Buffalo, blocked the kick and Sean Taylor recovered the ball and returned it to the Dallas 45 yard line.

Time should have elapsed at that point, which would have sent the game into overtime. But Kyle Kosier was called for a 15-yard facemask penalty and the Redskins were awarded with an untimed down that set up the field goal attempt for Novak.

The NFC East-leading New York Giants survived a scare but emerged with a 14-10 victory over Houston.

The Saints’ Drew Brees enjoyed his fourth 300-yard passing game of the year as New Orleans beat Tampa Bay 31-14 in another NFC South duel.

In an AFC South clash, Tennessee’s Vince Young threw three intereceptions in the worst performance of his rookie season as the Titans endured a 37-7 loss to Jacksonville.