(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-10 15:27

DETROIT - Jason Witten caught a 16-yard pass from Tony Romo for the winning touchdown 18 seconds from time to help the Dallas Cowboys survive a major scare from the Detroit Lions with a 28-27 road win on Sunday.

The New England Patriots stayed on course for a perfect season with a 34-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts improved to 11-2 with a 44-20 drubbing of the Baltimore Ravens.

The Cowboys' victory, their seventh in succession, clinched the NFC East title with a 12-1 record.

Detroit (6-7) lost for the fifth time in a row after leading the entire game until Romo connected with Witten and Nick Folk kicked the extra point.

"It's fun sometimes to be in a situation where you need to have a drive or a shot or something to win the game," Romo told reporters after leading Dallas to its best start in franchise history.

"The guys fought all day and it is sure exciting to come out on top," he added.

Witten, the Cowboys tight end, had a career day with 15 receptions for 138 yards, though his fourth-quarter fumble at the Detroit one-yard line caused his team a few anxious moments.

Romo completed 35 of 44 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns. His eight-yard pass to Marion Barber with 29 seconds left in the first half pulled the Cowboys back to 20-14 after they had trailed 10-0 and 20-7.

Kevin Jones rushed for two touchdowns and T.J. Duckett had a 32-yard run for a score for Detroit.

*Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, two to Randy Moss, to lift the New England Patriots to their 13th consecutive win with a 34-13 home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-4). Brady, who passed for 399 yards, has 45 touchdowns for the season.

TOUCHDOWN PASSES

*Peyton Manning produced four touchdown passes to top 300 for his career as the Indianapolis Colts (11-2) crushed the Baltimore Ravens 44-20 to earn a sixth straight playoff spot. Joseph Addai scored three times, twice on rushes and once on a Manning pass. Baltimore (4-9) lost its seventh consecutive game.

*Brett Favre passed for two touchdowns, including an 80-yarder to Greg Jennings, as the Green Bay Packers (11-2) claimed the NFC North title with a 38-7 home victory over the Oakland Raiders (4-9).

*The Seattle Seahawks (9-4) clinched their fourth consecutive NFC West title with a 42-21 home win over the Arizona Cardinals as Matt Hasselbeck threw for four touchdowns. Kurt Warner had three TD passes for Arizona.

*Trent Edwards passed for four touchdowns, two each to Robert Royal and Lee Evans, as the Buffalo Bills (7-6) handed the winless Miami Dolphins their 13th loss with a 38-17 home victory.

*Jay Cutler's four touchdown passes sparked the Denver Broncos (6-7) to a 41-7 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs (4-9). Brandon Marshall caught two of the TD passes from Cutler.

*LaDainian Tomlinson scored on a 16-yard run in overtime to help the San Diego Chargers (8-5) beat the Tennessee Titans 23-17.

*Substitute quarterback Sage Rosenfels passed for three touchdowns and Andre Davis had a 97-yard kickoff return as the Houston Texans (6-7) surprised the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-14.

*The Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) held the Carolina Panthers (5-8) scoreless in the second half for a 37-6 home win.

*The New York Giants (9-4) escaped with a 16-13 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) when a 57-yard field goal attempt by the Eagles' David Akers hit the right upright with a second remaining.

*Lineman Kevin Williams ran 18 yards with an interception for a touchdown on the game's first play as the Minnesota Vikings (7-6) rolled to their fourth straight win, a 27-7 road victory over the San Francisco 49ers (3-10).