Colts’ charge halted as Cowboys claim shock victory

THE Indianapolis Colts, the only team in NFL history to start 9-0 in consecutive seasons, fell to the upstart Dallas Cowboys 21-14 on Sunday.

That sets in play yet another celebration for the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the NFL’s only perfect team for at least one more year.

But there is no joy in Philadelphia, where five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans, ending his season.

LaDainian Tomlinson continued his brilliant season with another four-touchdown performance for the San Diego Chargers while his former teammate Drew Brees threw for 510 yards in a losing cause in Week 11.

Peyton Manning threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted twice in the Colts’ first loss.

The win put the Cowboys (6-4) within one-half game of the first-place New York Giants in the NFC East.

“I told my team that this ought to tell them something about what they are capable of doing,” Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said.

“If we keep playing like this, we have a chance to do something.”

Indianapolis committed four turnovers — the most for the franchise in 79 regular-season games.

“You can’t do the things we did today and win,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “You’re playing with fire and today the fire caught us.”

Manning, the NFL’s top-rated passer, had thrown just three interceptions in Indianapolis’ first nine games.

But he was picked off twice by the Cowboys, one of which was returned 39 yards for a touchdown by linebacker Kevin Burnett in the third quarter, and lost his first fumble of the season.

Brett Favre, who has started an NFL record 251 consecutive games, including play-offs, was not able to finish for the Green Bay Packers in a 35-0 loss to the New England Patriots.

The meeting between premier quarterbacks Favre and Tom Brady was supposed to be a shoot-out.

But Favre, the NFL’s only three-time MVP, left the game with an elbow injury late in the second quarter.

However at the time, the Packers (4-6) were trailing, 21-0, and appeared to be no match for the first-place Patriots (7-3).

Favre was wrapped up low by linebacker Tully Banta-Cain and appeared to be on his way down when linebacker Tedy Bruschi hit him. Favre landed on his right arm and throwing shoulder.

“He (Favre) took a shot on the elbow and was not able to gain strength in his (throwing) hand, as far as holding the football, controlling the football,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Favre was ineffective even before the injury, completing just 5-of-15 passes for 73 yards. Brady, the two-time

Super Bowl MVP, passed for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

Speaking of four touchdowns, that’s been the norm for Tomlinson. He reached that figure for the second straight game in a 35-27 win over the Denver Broncos and now has 19 in his last six games and 22 overall.

Tomlinson became the fastest player in league history to reach 100 career touchdowns, accomplishing the feat in his 89th game, four games quicker than Brown and Emmitt Smith.

Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks set an NFL single-season record with 28 touchdowns in 2005.

Tomlinson rushed for three touchdowns and caught another score as the Chargers (8-2) moved a game ahead of Denver (7-3) in the AFC West.

The Chicago Bears (9-1) completed a “Meadowlands sweep” with a 10-0 victory over the New York Jets (5-5).

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Brian Urlacher recorded 11 tackles and an interception for the Bears, who recorded their second shutout of the season and opened a five-game lead in the NFC North.

New England have signed veteran quarterback Vinny Testaverde as cover for starter Tom Brady. The Patriots have lost two straight games, with Brady struggling with a shoulder injury. Back-up QB Matt Cassel is in only his second season.

Testaverde, 43, came out of retirement last year with the New York Jets but has not played this season.