CLEVELAND -- Derek Anderson threw five touchdown passes, Jamal Lewis rushed for 216 yards and the Cleveland Browns, so desperate after losing their home opener they traded their starting quarterback, outlasted the Cincinnati Bengals and Carson Palmer 51-45 on Sunday.

Anderson had a breakout game against the Browns (1-1), going 20-of-33 for 328 yards and the five TDs, which tied a team record shared by Frank Ryan, Bill Nelsen, Brian Sipe and Kelly Holcomb.

A week ago, Anderson was backing up Charlie Frye before being brought in during the first half. Two days later, the Browns dealt Frye to Seattle.

Palmer went 33-of-50 for 401 yards and tossed a career-high six TDs, but his final chance to rally the Bengals (1-1) ended when he was intercepted with 21 seconds left by Leigh Bodden, who made a diving grab near Cleveland's sideline.

It was just the third time in NFL history that two QBs threw five TD passes in the same game. Oakland's Tom Flores (6) and Houston's George Blanda (5) both did it on Dec. 22, 1963, and Billy Kilmer of New Orleans (6) and Charley Johnson of St. Louis (6) also did on Nov, 5, 1969.

Johnson had 11 catches for 209 yards and two TDs, and jumped headfirst after the second score into the Dawg Pound, where he was baptized in a shower of beer by Cleveland's rowdiest fans.

Packers 35, Giants 13

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brett Favre picked a near-perfect way to become the winningest quarterback in NFL history.

Favre completed his first 14 passes of the second half and threw three touchdown passes to rally the Green Bay Packers over Eli Manning and the New York Giants. The victory was the 149th of Favre's 17-year career, giving him one more win than Hall of Famer John Elway.

It also gave the Packers their first 2-0 start since they won their first three in 2001.

The loss was the second straight for the undisciplined and error-prone Giants, something that hasn't happened at the start of a season since 1996.

Favre was 29-of-38 for 286 yards, including 18-of-21 for 147 yards in the second half. He threw a go-ahead 2-yard touchdown pass to Bubba Franks on the Packers' opening series of the second half. Rookie DeShawn Wynn added touchdown runs of 6 and 38 yards.

Manning, whose playing status was uncertain all week because of a sprained shoulder, was 16-of-29 for 211 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress.

Colts 22, Titans 20

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Peyton Manning threw for 312 yards and a touchdown, and the Indianapolis Colts held off Tennessee when their defense stopped Vince Young on a final-drive comeback.

Unlike last December, when Rob Bironas capped a similar comeback with a 60-yard field goal, the Colts collapsed around Young on fourth-and-4. That forced him to lob the ball away in the final seconds.

Manning, 28-of-42, kneeled down to run out the final seconds as champion Indianapolis (2-0) reminded Tennessee (1-1) which team remains atop the AFC South.

Adam Vinatieri had one of his worst days in years despite making field goals of 22, 39 and 20 yards. He had an extra point blocked and a field goal partially blocked that bounced off the crossbar before going over. He also missed a 36-yarder.

Young was 17-of-27 for 184 yards and a touchdown, but couldn't lead the Titans to 2-0 for the first time since 1999.

49ers 17, Rams 16

ST. LOUIS -- Dante Hall fumbled while catching a punt and Marcus Hudson recovered for San Francisco, setting up the winning field goal by Joe Nedney.

The Rams' Jeff Wilkins missed a 56-yard field goal try with 59 seconds to play, the ball falling about a yard short of the goal post.

Next page >

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.