Five NFL teams haven't lost this season. One of them, the New England Patriots, haven't lost in more than a year.

The Super Bowl champions tied the league mark for consecutive victories Sunday with their 18th, a 31-17 decision in Buffalo. The Patriots have won all three games this season, three in the 2003 postseason and the final 12 of the '03 regular season.

That perfection lifted them among some of the great teams in pro football history. Four other NFL teams - Chicago did it twice - and the 1947-48 AAFC Cleveland Browns did it. San Francisco, Denver and Miami also achieved the feat, and New England can break the record at home against winless Miami next weekend.

"It is pretty impressive," defensive lineman Richard Seymour said after returning a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown in the final three minutes. "When it comes down the stretch, when it comes time to win, we feel we're going to win."

It has been 53 weeks since the Patriots lost, 20-17 at Washington on Sept. 28, 2003.

Tom Brady put the Patriots ahead for good with a 2-yard pass to tight end Daniel Graham four minutes into the fourth quarter. Brady went 17-for-30 for 298 yards and two touchdowns, the other a 30-yarder to David Patten.

The Bills (0-3) allowed seven sacks.

"It's just the attitude that we have," Seymour said. "And we have a heck of an attitude that we won't be denied."

At Chicago, David Akers kicked four field goals and Chicago native Donovan McNabb improved to 5-0 against the Bears (1-3).McNabb threw for 222 yards and a touchdown to Terrell Owens, who caught eight passes for 110 yards. Brian Westbrook ran for 115 yards and caught nine passes for 63 yards to help the Eagles improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1993.McNabb was 24-of-38 for 237 yards, but he was intercepted in the third quarter, snapping a streak dating to last season of 161 consecutive passes without a pick.

At Miami, the Dolphins sank to 0-4 for the first time since their expansion season, 1966, as the Jets (3-0) forced four turnovers by quarterback Jay Fiedler in the second half. Donnie Abraham went 66 yards for a touchdown with an interception.New York's Curtis Martin ran for 110 yards, the third game in a row and the 50th time in his career over 100. He moved into 10th place on the career rushing list at 12,094.The Dolphins have scored two touchdowns while committing 14 turnovers.

At Jacksonville, the Colts (3-1) handed the Jaguars (3-1) their first loss thanks to the precision of Peyton Manning, who went 13-for-13 for 162 yards on three touchdown drives."It's great to have No. 18 back there with all the stuff he can do and the different ways he can help you," said Brandon Stokley, who caught eight passes for 97 yards. "It's priceless."Edgerrin James' 3-yard touchdown run gave the Colts a 24-17 lead, Jacksonville drove into Indy territory with less than two minutes to play, but Fred Taylor was stopped on fourth-and-1.

At Houston, the Texans have their first winning streak. Last week, they beat Kansas City and in their win over Oakland, the Texans (2-2) forced five turnovers by the Raiders (2-2).Oakland's new starting quarterback, Kerry Collins, turned it over on the last four drives. Houston converted the first three of Collins' mistakes into two field goals by Kris Brown, with a 15-yard touchdown pass from David Carr to Andre Johnson in between."The bottom line is I made stupid throws and gave them the ball," Collins said. "I put this all on me. I've just got to be smarter."

At Green Bay, the Packers fell to 1-3 for the first time since 1993 and have their first three-game losing streak under fifth-year coach Mike Sherman. Tiki Barber rushed for 182 yards, with a 52-yard touchdown run, Kurt Warner threw a TD pass to Jeremy Shockey for the Giants (3-1), who have won three straight.Packers quarterback Brett Favre was knocked from the game with a head injury, but threw a TD pass for the 29th successive game.

At San Diego, the Titans (1-3) lost their third in a row, but star quarterback Steve McNair didn't play (bruised sternum). The star quarterback of this game was Drew Brees, who threw for three touchdowns, including a spectacular 58-yarder to Reche Caldwell. LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 147 yards and one touchdown for the Chargers (2-2).Brees' big game came six days after prize rookie Philip Rivers was promoted from third-stringer to backup quarterback.

It was vintage Emmitt Smith as the host Cardinals (1-3) won for the first time with Dennis Green as coach.Smith's 77th 100-yard rushing game tied Walter Payton's NFL mark, and he threw the first pass of his 15-year pro career. It went for a touchdown."So much is said: 'He doesn't have this left. He doesn't have that left,'" Cardinals QB Josh McCown said. "You could have fooled me today."The NFL's career rushing leader had his best game since leaving Dallas two years ago, gaining 127 yards in 21 carries, and the Cardinals rushed for 211 yards against the mistake-prone Saints (2-2).

At San Francisco, where the 49ers were heavily booed in falling to 0-4 for the first time in 25 years, Marshall Faulk ran for 121 yards. Isaac Bruce had seven catches for 100 yards as the Rams (2-2) got their ninth victory in 11 games against their longtime rivals.St. Louis built a 24-0 halftime lead.San Francisco lost cornerback Mike Rumph to a broken right arm in the second quarter.

At Cleveland, the Redskins (1-3) fell for the third straight week, converting only one of 11 third downs. They also had communication problems, costing them some timeouts, just as in last week's loss to Dallas.Lee Suggs, out the first three games with a neck injury, rushed for 82 yards and scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter for Cleveland (2-2). His first carry of the season was a 25-yard dash.

At Tampa, Jason Elam's third field goal, from 24 yards, won it. Jake Plummer threw a 5-yard TD pass to Patrick Hape for the Broncos (3-1).The Buccaneers (0-4) got their only touchdown on a 51-yard reception by Michael Clayton, his first NFL TD. Safety John Lynch, making his emotional return to Tampa, merely touched Clayton on the back, thinking the rookie was down. Clayton, whose helmet was knocked off when his head was brushed by Lynch's knee, stood up and took off for the end zone to complete a 51-yard pass play.