DENVER — The game tape probably belongs in the trash. Still, a win is a win, and in this case, it left the Denver Broncos tantalizingly close to their first division title in seven years.

Kyle Johnson made a tiptoe catch for a touchdown, Champ Bailey set a franchise record with an interception in his fifth straight game, and Al Wilson made a big hit on the goal line yesterday to lift the Broncos to a 12-10 victory over the bumbling Baltimore Ravens.

"There are games you have to win ugly sometimes," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

Denver improved to 10-3 and, after the game ended, both Kansas City and San Diego lost to give the Broncos a two-game lead in the AFC West with three to go.

The end of the Chiefs game, a 31-28 loss to Dallas, was shown on the scoreboard, and the couple of thousand fans still filing out of the stadium cheered wildly when the Cowboys scored the late, go-ahead touchdown. It was one of the most exciting moments of an otherwise flat day at Invesco Field.

The Broncos haven't won the AFC West since 1998, the year they started 13-0 en route to their second straight Super Bowl title.

"It's big, but it's not the title we want," defensive lineman Trevor Pryce said of the AFC West.

To win the whole thing, they'll have to get much better than they were against Baltimore (4-9).

Jake Plummer threw for 236 yards and the touchdown to Johnson. Tatum Bell was held to 63 yards and Mike Anderson had only 21.

A better team would have taken advantage of Denver on this day, but the Ravens certainly don't qualify. This was the sixth time in 13 games they've been held to 10 points or fewer.

Most of their problems yesterday revolved around — who else? — struggling quarterback Kyle Boller, along with a questionable decision by coach Brian Billick.

Boller threw for 251 yards but turned it over three times — including two awfully thrown interceptions with the Ravens in scoring range.

Despite all that, Baltimore trailed by only two after Mark Clayton caught a 39-yard touchdown with 1:52 left.

After the kickoff, Denver got a first down on former University of Hawai'i star Ashley Lelie's end-around to seal the game.

The difference turned out to be Billick's decision to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1 earlier in the fourth quarter. On that play, Wilson knocked Chester Taylor back for a 4-yard loss to keep the score at 12-3.

JETS 26, RAIDERS 10

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —Curtis Martin missed his first game since 1998 with a sore right knee, and the Jets (3-10) sent out their third-string quarterback and third-string running back to beat Oakland (4-9).

Brooks Bollinger threw for one touchdown and set a team record for yards rushing by a quarterback with 56, Cedric Houston scored the first touchdown of his career, and John Abraham had two sacks that caused fumbles, helping the Jets break a seven-game losing streak.

Abraham led a defense that forced four turnovers and sacked Marques Tuiasosopo six times. Former Jets back LaMont Jordan, the understudy to Martin for four years, also failed to deliver many big plays for the Raiders, finishing with 49 yards on 14 carries.

Jordan criticized the decision to switch to Tuiasosopo, who started ahead of an ineffective Kerry Collins, and complained he didn't get the ball enough.

"I'm very frustrated," Jordan said. "Bringing in a new quarterback, you would think there would be more of an emphasis on the running game."

PATRIOTS 35, BILLS 7

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Despite a noticeable limp and playing on a slick, snowy field, Tom Brady kept his feet and his poise in leading New England (8-5) over Buffalo (4-9).

"He sucked it up and made plays for us as he always does," New England receiver Troy Brown said.

Brady was hurt when he was tackled in the end zone following a 3-yard scamper that opened the scoring. He finishing 29 of 38 for 329 yards, threw for two touchdowns, and even set a block to open the way for Deion Branch on a reverse.

Corey Dillon had 102 yards rushing and a touchdown, Brown and Christian Fauria caught touchdown passes and New England piled up a franchise-record 32 first downs.

BENGALS 23, BROWNS 20

CINCINNATI — The Bengals compensated for a rare off day by quarterback Carson Palmer with a season-high 169 yards from running back Rudi Johnson and Shayne Graham's 37-yard field goal on the final play to beat Cleveland (4-9).

Cincinnati (10-3) maintained its two-game lead over Pittsburgh in the AFC North and can clinch the title with a win next Sunday in Detroit. They've won 10 games for the first time since 1988, the last time they made it to the Super Bowl.

"It was a tough game offensively," said Palmer, who had season lows in completions and yards. He was 13 of 27 for 93 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a season-low passer rating of 53.5. "We didn't play well, I didn't play well."

DOLPHINS 23, CHARGERS 21

SAN DIEGO — Gus Frerotte threw two touchdown passes to Chris Chambers in the third quarter as the Dolphins (6-7) won their third straight to remain alive for the AFC East title and ended San Diego's (8-5) five-game winning streak.

Chambers had eight catches for 121 yards, and Frerotte was 14 of 22 for 229 yards.

The Dolphins held LaDainian Tomlinson to 75 yards on 21 carries and no TDs.

"We just came out flat," Chargers tight end Antonio Gates said. "We didn't come out playing Charger football."

TITANS 13, TEXANS 10

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kris Brown hooked a 31-yard field goal short and wide left with no time left as the Titans (4-9) handed the Texans (1-12) their sixth straight loss.

Brown also had a 37-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Tank Williams with 3:48 left.

Rob Bironas kicked a 21-yard field goal with 10 seconds left for Tennessee.

"I don't know if I have another way to describe that other than that was ugly," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.