ST. LOUIS — Even on the road, the chorus of "Romo!, Romo!" from Dallas Cowboys' fans was easily audible at the start of the second half.

Tony Romo told the coaching staff after pregame warmups he wasn't up to playing with a broken right pinkie. He was in uniform, giving fans false hope, but they were stuck with Brad Johnson.

The 40-year-old backup quarterback couldn't keep up with a suddenly potent, opportunistic St. Louis Rams' offense, throwing three interceptions. Steven Jackson ran for 160 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns and the Rams (2-4) looked like contenders instead of sad sacks for the second straight game under new coach Jim Haslett in a surprisingly easy 34-14 victory yesterday.

"It was a tough day for all of us," Johnson said. "We had miscues across the board."

The Rams won, 19-17, at Washington last week in their first game since replacing Scott Linehan, ending a run of 17 losses in 20 games and four blowout losses to start the season.

Their response to Haslett, beginning his second stint as a head coach, has exceeded expectations.

"I think it's just the will of the players, more than anything," Haslett said. "I thought they played extremely well today, in all three phases."

St. Louis' defense did its part, forcing four turnovers for the second straight game.

The Rams' Marc Bulger was 14 of 19 for 173 yards and one touchdown, and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe had two interceptions.

Johnson finished 17 of 34 for 234 yards.

Dallas safety Roy Williams will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right forearm for the second time.

BEARS 48, VIKINGS 41

CHICAGO — Kyle Orton threw two touchdown passes and special teams chipped in with two more as Chicago (4-3) beat Minnesota (3-4).

Chicago intercepted Gus Frerotte four times even though its injury-riddled secondary was missing starting cornerbacks Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman and nickel back Danieal Manning.

Orton completed 21 of 32 passes for 283 yards.

"We've got a group of guys who are together," Orton said. "It doesn't matter what happens outside that huddle. It's everybody inside the huddle working for a common goal and we work together very well."

Chicago scored on special teams on a strange sequence in the opening quarter, when Chris Kluwe dropped a snap and had his punt blocked. He then attempted an illegal kick, and Garrett Wolfe scooped up the ball and ran 17 yards for a touchdown. Later, Charles Gordon muffed a punt when he tried to block Zackary Bowman. Instead, the ball hit him and Bowman recovered in the end zone to give Chicago a 24-17 lead.

GIANTS 29, 49ERS 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brandon Jacobs ran for two touchdowns, Eli Manning threw for one, Michael Johnson had two interceptions and New York (5-1) beat San Francisco (2-5).

This one wasn't pretty for either team, especially San Francisco, which turned over the ball three times, allowed six sacks and had 13 penalties for 134 yards.

The Giants had their moments, too. On the verge of building a 17-point lead late in the third quarter, Manny Lawson blocked John Carney's field-goal attempt and Nate Clements returned it 74 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 24-17.

Jacobs had 17 carries for 69 yards, and Manning was 16 of 31 for 161 yards.

"We're happy to be at 5-and-1," Manning said. "We've played some outstanding games, offensively and defensively. Today our defense played well."

PANTHERS 30, SAINTS 7

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jake Delhomme threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns, Jonathan Stewart rushed for another score and Carolina (5-2) routed New Orleans (3-4).

Delhomme, 7-2 against his former team, threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith and a 4-yard TD to DeAngelo Williams.

Carolina twice stopped New Orleans on fourth down in the second half. Julius Peppers had a sack and a forced fumble, and the Panthers improved to 4-0 at Bank of America Stadium.

"I thought we got beat in every area," Saints coach Sean Payton said.

BUCCANEERS 20, SEAHAWKS 10

TAMPA, Fla. — Jeff Garcia was a Pro Bowl quarterback last season. He played like one again last night.

Garcia completed 26 of 37 passes for 310 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant on the Buccaneers' opening drive, as Tampa Bay (5-2) beat Seattle (1-5).

"He was hot tonight," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "His mobility was a factor tonight, and he created a lot of opportunities running and throwing for a lot of people."