DETROIT — Cincinnati has shed its laughingstock image, winning its first division title since 1990 against a team that fits its former reputation.

Carson Palmer threw three touchdown passes in the first half and Deltha O'Neal had one of three interceptions to lead the Bengals to a 41-17 victory over Detroit yesterday.

"It's a great accomplishment, and it's one of the many goals we set out to do," said Palmer, who has thrown 30 TD passes, breaking Ken Anderson's team record by one set in 1981. "We still have two tough games left, and a chance to get a bye."

Cincinnati (11-3) won its fourth straight game to claim the AFC North, after 14 straight years without a winning record.

"Even a garbage can gets a steak now and again," said offensive tackle Willie Anderson, a Bengal since 1996.

The Bengals have a chance for their best record ever, having gone 12-4 in 1981 and 1988. They made the Super Bowl both years.

The reeling Lions (4-10) lost their fifth in a row, and seventh of eight since sharing the division lead.

"We are suffering," said Detroit's interim coach Dick Jauron, who fell to 0-3.

The tone was set on the opening kickoff when Detroit's R.W. McQuarters fumbled. By the end of the first quarter, the Bengals led 17-0 after Palmer threw two TDs and they forced two turnovers.

"That's what you fear against a team like that," Jauron said.

Palmer was 28 of 39 for 274 yards with three TDs, matching a season high, and two interceptions. He connected with Chad Johnson (a career-high 11 catches for 99 yards), T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who left the game with an ankle injury, and Kelly Washington on scoring throws.

Rudi Johnson had 117 yards rushing and two TDs. He scored on the first drive after halftime to put the Bengals ahead 31-7, and added a second TD early in the fourth.

Detroit's Jeff Garcia was 13 of 21 for 138 yards with one TD and three interceptions, including one to O'Neal, who broke a team record with 10 interceptions. Garcia was replaced early in the fourth quarter by Joey Harrington, who finished 6 of 7 for 77 yards and a TD in what might have been his last home game as a Lion.

"I realize the cutthroat nature of this business and the produce-now mentality, and we haven't done it," Harrington said.

STEELERS 18, VIKINGS 3

MINNEAPOLIS — Pittsburgh forced three turnovers and a safety, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scored the game's only touchdown on a 3-yard run in the second quarter as the Steelers (9-5) snapped a six-game winning streak by Minnesota (8-6).

Jeff Reed made all three of his field-goal attempts and Willie Parker rushed 14 times for 81 yards for Pittsburgh, which stayed in step with San Diego (9-5) for the last AFC wild card spot.

"We did what we had to do," receiver Hines Ward said. "We'll take it."

The Vikings sealed their own demise at the end of an embarrassing week. Four players, including injured quarterback Daunte Culpepper, were charged Thursday with three misdemeanors apiece for lewd behavior in the infamous bye-week boat party.

"Our focus was great all week. I don't think that had anything to do with it," said Brad Johnson, who threw two costly interceptions — including one in the end zone late in the first half. "They beat our butts."

SEAHAWKS 28, TITANS 24

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Matt Hasselbeck threw three touchdown passes, including a 2-yarder to Darrell Jackson in the fourth quarter, and Seattle (12-2) rallied past Tennessee (4-10) to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Seahawks won its 10th straight for the first time in team history and also matched the 1984 squad for most wins in a season.

Seattle's Shaun Alexander ran for a TD, giving him an NFL-best 24, and the league's best rusher coming into the weekend became only the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 1,600 yards in consecutive seasons. He finished with 26 carries for 172 yards.

"It's great to know I'm going to be in the second round of the playoffs," Alexander said. "This is a new door for us, but it's something we've been preparing for for a long time, so we're really excited."

Steve McNair led the Titans to 24 straight points and a 24-14 lead midway through the third quarter. He threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns, and Jarrett Payton also ran for a TD. But the performance didn't soothe the hurt of losing.

"I'm not going to sit here and say we're four points behind a team that's got the best record in the NFC," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "I can tell you this. I'm proud of the fight and proud of everything I got out of our football team."

JAGUARS 10, 49ERS 9

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Quarterback David Garrard ran 13 yards for a touchdown, Josh Scobee kicked the winning 32-yard field goal and Jacksonville (10-4) edged lowly San Francisco (2-12) on a cold and dreary day.

The Jaguars moved closer to a playoff berth, but they made it more difficult than it should have been and raised more questions about an offense that has been somewhat stagnant without quarterback Byron Leftwich.

"You have to be concerned," said Fred Taylor, who ran 17 times for 61 yards. "We've been winning some ugly ones, but they count."

Jacksonville won for the sixth time in seven games — all of the victories against teams with losing records — and the last four have come by a combined 17 points.

TEXANS 30, CARDINALS 19

HOUSTON — The Texans (2-12) found a good way to quiet critics who accused them of tanking games to stay ahead in the race for the No. 1 draft pick.

After three straight heartbreaking losses, they finally held on to a lead to beat Arizona (4-10).

"We know we're not out there trying to throw games," Texans receiver Andre Johnson said. "If we were really trying to lose, how did we win this one?"

They won it by jumping to a 24-10 halftime lead with a combined three touchdowns from backup running backs Jonathan Wells (7 and 3 yards) and Vernand Morency (25 yards) and by taking advantage of an injury-plagued and mistake-prone Arizona team.

Arizona's Kurt Warner was having a good day, going 10 of 10 for 115 yards and a touchdown, before injuring his knee. Coach Dennis Green said Warner had a medial collateral ligament injury and will likely miss the rest of the season.