KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs gained a much-needed victory — and greater respect for the courage of officials viewing instant replay.

Reversing a crucial call on the field, referee Bill Leavy took a first down away from Denver near midfield with 2:01 to play. The Chiefs, relieved of the danger of facing a final threat from the Broncos' offense, ran the clock down to 3 seconds and danced away with a 31-27 victory.

"Sometimes it's just a lot easier for them to go with the flow of the game and not make the big reversal," said Chiefs guard Brian Waters. "I think that was a gutsy call."

The win brought the Chiefs (8-4) within one game in the AFC West of the Broncos (9-3), who had won four in a row.

"This is a big win for us," said Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil. "A big, significant win."

The Broncos' Mike Anderson, on fourth-and-1 from the Denver 47, plunged into the right side of the line.

Officials on the field gave him a first down and Chiefs players went into a frenzy of protest over the spot, particularly cornerback Patrick Surtain.

A few minutes later, the call was reversed.

"I didn't see what happened. I thought we had a first down," said Denver coach Mike Shanahan.

COLTS 35, TITANS 3

INDIANAPOLIS — It was another perfect day for Indianapolis, which became the first NFL team to clinch a playoff spot.

Indianapolis is now the fifth team in league history to start 12-0.

"Anything that comes along with winning, you accept it," two-time MVP Peyton Manning said.

Tennessee (3-9) has lost six straight to Indianapolis.

Manning completed 13 of 17 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns.

BENGALS 38, STEELERS 31

PITTSBURGH — Cincinnati stood up to the team it rarely beats and all but secured its first division title in 15 years, riding Carson Palmer's three touchdown passes and a defense that forced four turnovers.

Rudi Johnson ran for the Bengals' final two scores as Cincinnati (9-3) seized a two-game lead in the AFC North. Pittsburgh (7-5) dropped its third in a row.

"It's a game we had to win to control the division," Palmer said. "You can say all you want about how we had to beat Pittsburgh, we just needed to win this game."

DOLPHINS 24, BILLS 23

MIAMI — Chris Chambers outjumped cornerback Jabari Greer for his 15th reception of the game, a 4-yard score on fourth down with 6 seconds left to help Miami (5-7) rally for victory.

"It was a jump-ball situation," Chambers said. "You have to go up and get it."

Lee Evans caught three touchdown passes to put Buffalo (4-8) ahead 21-0 less than 13 minutes into the game, and it led 23-3 with 12 minutes left.

JAGUARS 20, BROWNS 14

CLEVELAND — David Garrard threw two touchdown passes in the second half as Jacksonville (9-3) rallied for its fifth straight win.

Garrard came through in the clutch against Cleveland (4-8), tossing two TDs as Jacksonville overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit.

"All wins are satisfying," coach Del Rio said. "But now we can finally look ahead to the Colts (next week)."

RAVENS 16, TEXANS 15

BALTIMORE — Matt Stover kicked the go-ahead 38-yard field goal with 6 seconds left for Baltimore (4-8) against Houston (1-11).

"It excites me as a veteran here to see that we didn't give up and we did enough to win the game," Stover said.

Starting at his 13 with a minute left, Baltimore quarterback Kyle Boller completed a 24-yard pass to Todd Heap on third down. Boller then completed an 11-yarder to rookie Mark Clayton, and got the Ravens in field-goal position with a 35-yard pass to Clayton.

PATRIOTS 16, JETS 3

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Corey Dillon scored on a 1-yard run and Kevin Faulk made three big third-down catches, keeping the Patriots' AFC East lead at two games.

Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals of 21, 34 and 22 yards to set a New England (7-5) record for points. He has 1,134 points, four more than Gino Cappelletti.

New York (2-10) managed only 164 yards.

"Having our defense on the field too long and us not scoring is a bad combination," Jets coach Herman Edwards said.

CHARGERS 34, RAIDERS 10

SAN DIEGO — Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes for San Diego (8-4), which won its fifth straight game.

Brees was 17 of 22 for 160 yards against Oakland (4-8).

"We've been able to get up on them and just continue to pound them and pound them," Brees said. "I think we know that if we go out and play our game and execute that that should be the result."