PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in his fifth season. That doesn't mean he still can't learn a valuable lesson from Peyton Manning: Sometimes, inaccuracy beats impatience.

Manning took advantage of Roethlisberger's fourth-quarter interception to find Dominic Rhodes out of the backfield on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 3:04 remaining for Indianapolis' only lead, and the Colts rallied in a virtual must-win game to beat the Steelers, 24-20, yesterday.

Manning also hit Reggie Wayne on a 65-yard touchdown pass play on a tipped ball that wasn't well thrown and Dallas Clark on a 2-yard scoring pass six seconds before halftime following an unnecessary interception by Roethlisberger, helping end the Colts' 40-year losing streak in Pittsburgh.

"Coach (Mike) Tomlin told us all week they are a team that likes to score before the half and at the end of the game," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "That's what happened to us."

The Colts (5-4) had dropped their last 12 in Pittsburgh counting the postseason, dating to a 41-7 win in 1968 when the Steelers played at now-demolished Pitt Stadium.

"They certainly are tough to get here in Pittsburgh," Colts coach Tony Dungy said.

Except by teams quarterbacked by Mannings.

Pittsburgh (6-3) lost to a Manning-led team at home for the second time in three weeks despite leading 20-17 on Jeff Reed's 24-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter. They were beaten by Eli Manning's Giants 21-14 on Oct. 26, again after a fourth-quarter comeback.

The Steelers had a chance to win at the end, but Roethlisberger's pass into the end zone on the final play — with Nate Washington open briefly — was intercepted by Melvin Bullitt.

The first matchup between the AFC teams since Pittsburgh's stunning 21-18 win over the top-seeded Colts in the AFC divisional playoffs in January 2006 — Indianapolis was a big favorite to win the Super Bowl — followed the pattern of that game as the Steelers opened an early double digit lead, then tried to hold on.

In this one, a lucky tip and Roethlisberger's haste to try to get points when Pittsburgh wasn't in position to score late in the first half helped get the Colts back into the game after Pittsburgh led 7-0 and 17-7. All three of Roethlisberger's interceptions were pivotal.

"You'll never hear me say 'I' anything, but I lost this game," said Roethlisberger, who appeared to be crying into a towel when reporters entered the locker room. "I take it on myself. I let the guys down on offense and defense. It hurts, but we'll learn from it."

The Colts avoided going down by five games to Tennessee (9-0) in the AFC South and stayed on the fringe of the wild-card race; a loss would have left them with little margin for error in their final seven games.

"We definitely needed the game as far as confidence," Rhodes said.

Rhodes accounted for all 32 yards on Indianapolis' game-winning drive that followed Tim Jennings' interception at the Steelers' 32 with 4:44 to play. The backup running back carried three times for 15 yards ahead of his TD catch, in which Manning froze the defense with a play-action fake.

CHARGERS 20, CHIEFS 19

SAN DIEGO — Clinton Hart knocked down Tyler Thigpen's 2-point conversion pass with 23 seconds left and San Diego (4-5) held on to beat Kansas City (1-9). The Chiefs pulled within one on Thigpen's 3-yard pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez. The Chiefs went for the win, but Thigpen's pass to Gonzalez was deflected by Hart to cornerback Quentin Jammer, who made the interception while on the ground.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson passed O.J. Simpson and Corey Dillon for 15th place on the all-time rushing list at 11,279 yards. He gained 78 yards on 22 carries.

PATRIOTS 20, BILLS 10

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England rookie runner BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his best game as a pro and Matt Cassel had a solid one as the Patriots (6-3) beat Buffalo (5-4).

Green-Ellis, an undrafted rookie from Mississippi playing because three running backs are hurt, rushed for 105 yards on 26 carries and scored on a 1-yard run, his fourth straight game with a touchdown. Cassel, the steadily improving replacement for Tom Brady, scored on a 13-yard run on the Patriots' first series. He directed the offense with poise and completed 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards.

RAVENS 41, TEXANS 13

HOUSTON — Rookie Joe Flacco threw for two touchdowns and Ray Lewis had a pair of interceptions to lead Baltimore (6-3) to its fourth straight win, beating Houston (3-6). The Ravens have scored at least 27 points in a team-record four consecutive games.

Flacco was 15 of 23 for 185 yards and threw touchdowns to Yamon Figurs and Todd Heap, keeping his composure despite being under heavy pressure most of the day. Lewis' first interception came in the third quarter and his second one led to Heap's second touchdown. Troy Smith threw that 14-yard pass to make it 34-13.