San Diego tight end Antonio Gates dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Denver safety Nick Ferguson defends. The Chargers bolted to a 41-3 victory Sunday in Denver.

Denver ? The Chargers handed the Broncos their worst home loss since 1966 by rediscovering their winning formula: hold onto the ball.

Reigning MVP LaDainian Tomlinson amassed 140 yards, including 73 on three receptions, and backup Michael Turner added 147 yards on 10 carries, highlighted by a 74-yard touchdown trot along the Broncos’ bewildered sideline in the fourth quarter of the Chargers’ 41-3 rout Sunday.

One week after committing four turnovers, the Chargers (2-3) had none in ending their three-game skid by winning consecutive games in Denver for the first time since 1967-68.

They handed the Broncos (2-3), losers of three straight, their worst home loss since the Kansas City Chiefs’ 56-10 thumping on Oct. 23, 1966.

Patriots 34, Browns 17

Foxborough, Mass. – The New England Patriots made history with a victory over the Browns, the latest victim of a powerhouse that seems to score at will.

Tom Brady threw for three touchdowns, tying an NFL record with at least three in each of his first five games. Junior Seau grabbed two interceptions, and New England became the first team to start a season with five victories by at least 17 points.

The Patriots never trailed for the fourth game as they moved to 5-0 for the third time in club history. So far, they’ve been behind for just 12 minutes, 36 seconds this season – and they followed that 7-3 deficit against Buffalo with 35 unanswered points in a 38-7 victory.

The Browns (2-3) had shown promise after years of mediocrity. But they lost running back Jamal Lewis due to an injured right foot after he rushed for 11 yards on their first play.

Colts 33, Buccaneers 14

Indianapolis – Missing five starters, the Colts’ offense dominated the game and the clock, while a revamped defense played as stingy as ever.

Kenton Keith ran for two scores and 121 yards in his first NFL start, and Peyton Manning threw two more touchdown passes as the Colts (5-0) headed into the bye week unbeaten for the third straight year.

Indianapolis kept the ball an astounding 38:15 and limited the Bucs (3-2) to eight yards rushing and 74 yards in offense in the first three quarters, 56 yards coming on Tampa’s only meaningful scoring drive.

It didn’t take Manning long to get started even without injured Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison or running back Joseph Addai. He found Dallas Clark for a 10-yard TD pass on the Colts’ first possession, then relied on a grinding drive that Keith capped with a one-yard TD run – his first NFL score – early in the second quarter.

Ravens 9, 49ers 7

San Francisco – Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and their crew suffocated San Francisco on all but a few plays, and Matt Stover made up for Baltimore’s near-equal offensive ineptitude with three field goals.

Niners coach Nolan was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator for three years before leaving Brian Billick’s staff along with top assistant Mike Singletary in 2005, rebuilding the 49ers using many of Billick’s principles.

But neither coaching staff could get more than a flicker of offense. The Ravens (3-2) didn’t get in the end zone despite outgaining San Francisco 315-163, yet they hung on with the franchise’s lowest point total in a victory since the former Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996.

Steelers 21, Seahawks 0

Pittsburgh – The injury-depleted Steelers still were too much for the Seahawks.

The Steelers (4-1) didn’t have their two best defensive players, their two starting wide receivers or much offense for the first half.

Ben Roethlisberger, scrambling and improvising without his usual receivers, finally led three successive lengthy touchdown drives highlighted by Najeh Davenport’s runs.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s undermanned defense, missing safety Troy Polamalu and tackle Casey Hampton, dominated against Seattle (3-2).

Roethlisberger bounced back from a two-interception performance in a 21-14 loss at Arizona the previous week to complete 13 consecutive passes. Starting receivers Hines Ward (knee) and Santonio Holmes (hamstring) didn’t play.

Redskins 34, Lions 3

Landover, Md. – Fullback Mike Sellers more than made up for the absence of the Redskins’ top two receivers, and Washington’s ball-control offense kept the Lions’ passing game off the field.

The Redskins held the ball and wore down the Lions to keep alive a 70-year hex for Detroit in the nation’s capital.

Sellers, who has been pleading with coach Joe Gibbs to get the ball more often, caught a pass for one touchdown and ran for another as the Redskins (3-1) made it 21-0 at home against the Lions since moving to Washington in 1937.

Detroit (3-2) had been averaging 28.5 points and 387.3 yards per game. But the Lions could only generate a field goal and 149 total yards.

Texans 22, Dolphins 19

Houston – Kris Brown kicked five field goals, including the winner on a career-long 57-yarder with one second remaining, to lead the Texans over the Dolphins, losers of eight straight.

Brown tied an NFL single-game record with three makes over 50 yards. He hit two 54-yarders earlier in the game for the Texans (3-2).

The Dolphins (0-5) are off to their worst start since losing the first six to open the 2004 season.

Giants 35, Jets 24

East Rutherford, N.J. – Giants rookie Aaron Ross returned the second of his first two NFL interceptions 43 yards for a touchdown with just over three minutes remaining to seal the victory over the Jets in the latest Battle of New York.

A week after getting 12 sacks against Philadelphia, the Giants (3-2) had only one, by Osi Umenyiora with less than three minutes left. But they intercepted Chad Pennington three times. The last was the most costly as the Jets (1-4) were driving for a potential go-ahead score.

Pennington, who had good protection all game, threw a pass to Jerricho Cotchery, but Ross stepped in front of it and took off down the left sideline and into the end zone.

Panthers 16, Saints 13

New Orleans – Steve Smith fought for yards through two tacklers to turn a short catch into a crucial first down, and John Kasay made a 52-yard field goal as time expired. Panthers players mobbed Kasay at midfield as he dropped New Orleans to 0-4.

The Saints were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender, but now their chances of even competing for a playoff spot are slim. Only the 1992 San Diego Chargers have fought back from an 0-4 start to do that since the NFL went to a 12-team playoff system in 1990.

Carolina moved to 3-2.

Titans 20, Falcons 13

Nashville, Tenn. – Vincent Fuller picked off a pass and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown, and Kyle Vanden Bosch sacked Byron Leftwich with 1:01 left, as the Titans overcame five turnovers.

The victory allowed the Titans (3-1) to continue their best start since 2003, when they last reached the playoffs. But it couldn’t have been uglier for a team coming off its bye as Vince Young matched his career high with three interceptions.

Atlanta (1-4) scored only 13 points off the turnovers and botched plenty of chances to win, including three missed field goals.

Cardinals 34, Rams 31

St. Louis – Kurt Warner produced three touchdowns, one in his typical relief role and two more after Matt Leinart was sidelined by a collarbone injury.

Rod Hood returned an off-target pass by Gus Frerotte 68 yards for an easy go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Warner and Edgerrin James scored disputed touchdowns on short runs, helping the Cardinals (3-2) win for the third straight season in their former home base.

Frerotte made his first start since the end of 2005 in place of Marc Bulger, who has two broken ribs, and threw three touchdown passes for the winless Rams (0-5).

Bears 27, Packers 20

Green Bay, Wis. – The Packers coughed up five turnovers and their chance to remain undefeated, blowing a second-half lead.

Brian Griese threw the go-ahead touchdown to tight end Desmond Clark with 2:05 left. Brett Favre drove the Packers (4-1) to the Bears 31, but threw an incomplete pass and an interception to safety Brandon McGowan in the end zone to end the game.

The inconsistent Favre popped up in the third quarter, throwing a head-scratching interception to Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher that let Chicago (2-3) back into the game.

Griese then threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Greg Olsen.