Nov. 8, 1999 2:45 AM AP

Miami won an AFC showdown in convincing fashion, while Detroit won the NFC's marquee game with a last-minute touchdown.

Damon Huard threw two touchdown passes and Sam Madison intercepted Steve McNair three times as the Dolphins beat the Tennessee Titans 17-0 Sunday night in Miami.

The Dolphins, off to their best start since 1990, joined Jacksonville atop the AFC at 7-1. Tennessee fell to 6-2.

"There was no statement," Miami coach Jimmy Johnson said. "The only statement we're making right now is we're better than seven teams we've played. We've got a lot more to play."

Huard improved to 3-0 as a starter since Dan Marino was sidelined Oct. 17 by a pinched nerve in his neck. But the Dolphins' defense was the real star, handing the Titans their first shutout since 1989, when the franchise was in Houston.

"It's the first time I've been shut out," Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said. "I'm going to make sure this doesn't happen again."

At Pontiac, Mich., backup quarterback Gus Frerotte threw a 12-yard TD pass to Johnnie Morton with 28 seconds left to give Detroit a 31-27 win over St. Louis.

The Lions (6-2) won their fourth straight game to tie the Rams for best record in the NFC.

"We proved that we are for real," Detroit safety Ron Rice said. "One of the best teams in the NFL just came in here and got beat."

Frerotte, who completed 12-of-16 passes for 209 passes and two touchdowns, played the second half after starter Charlie Batch sprained a finger on his throwing hand. St. Louis quarterback Kurt Warner was 24-for-41 for 307 yards and three touchdowns.

"We knew it was going to be a battle," Warner said. "We knew it was going to be a great game, and it was."

In other NFL games, it was Baltimore 41, Cleveland 9; New York Jets 12, Arizona 7; Buffalo 34, Washington 17; Chicago 14, Green Bay 13; Jacksonville 30, Atlanta 7; Indianapolis 25, Kansas City 17; Carolina 33, Philadelphia 7; Pittsburgh 27, San Francisco 6; Tampa Bay 31, New Orleans 16; Seattle 37, Cincinnati 20; and Denver 33, San Diego 17.

Tonight, Dallas plays at Minnesota.

Ravens 41, Browns 9

Errict Rhett rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns as Art Modell's team returned to Cleveland, the city he abandoned in 1995.

Baltimore's defense rattled rookie quarterback Tim Couch, who passed for only 57 yards and was sacked four times before being replaced by Ty Detmer at the start of the fourth quarter. The Ravens (3-5) snapped a three-game losing streak, while the Browns fell to 1-8.

Jets 12, Cardinals 7

At East Rutherford, N.J., Keyshawn Johnson caught a 43-yard scoring pass from Rick Mirer with 5:29 left to give the Jets their first home win this season.

Curtis Martin rushed for more than 100 yards for the third straight game, gaining 131 on 38 carries. The Jets (2-6), who lost their previous four home games, sacked Dave Brown six times. Arizona fell to 2-6.

Bills 34, Redskins 17

At Landover, Md., Buffalo (6-3) scored on five of its first six possessions and Doug Flutie scrambled for a first down on four of them.

Flutie rushed for 40 yards, and completed 16-of-22 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Antowain Smith ran for two TDs as the Bills had their highest point total of the season. The Redskins fell to 5-3.

Jaguars 30, Falcons 7

At Atlanta, Mark Brunell passed for three touchdowns, Fred Taylor ran for 124 yards and the top-rated Jacksonville defense stifled the Falcons.

Jacksonville (7-1) set a team record by sacking Atlanta quarterbacks nine times. The Falcons (2-7) managed only four first downs and 58 yards in the second half.

Colts 25, Chiefs 17

At Indianapolis, Peyton Manning passed for 290 yards, extended his streak of touchdown passes to 21 games, and scored on a 7-yard scramble early in the fourth quarter as the Colts (6-2) won their fourth straight.

Manning's 7-yard TD run gave Colts a 22-17 lead over the Chiefs (5-3). Mike Vanderjagt added his fourth field goal of the game, a 37-yarder with 1:10 left.

Panthers 33, Eagles 7

At Charlotte, N.C., Carolina (3-5) forced five turnovers and converted them into 20 points to beat Philadelphia (2-7).

Carolina's Sean Gilbert had a sack and forced a fumble, and Kevin Greene had two sacks and a fumble recovery to lead a defense that held the Eagles to 249 yards. Steve Beuerlein threw three TD passes, including two to Muhsin Muhammad, and John Kasay kicked four field goals for the Panthers.

Bears 14, Packers 13

At Green Bay, Wis., Brett Favre drove the Packers 73 yards in the last 3:19, but Ryan Longwell's 28-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Bryan Robinson as time expired.

The Bears (4-5) snapped a three-game losing streak despite losing starting quarterback Cade McNown with a sprained right knee after the second series of the game. The Packers (4-4) lost for the third time in four games, including consecutive home defeats for the first time since 1991.

Buccaneers 31, Saints 16

Trent Dilfer, benched the previous week for Eric Zeier, threw three TD passes as Tampa Bay (4-4) won at New Orleans (1-7).

Dilfer, back in the starting spot because of Zeier's injured ribs, threw TD passes of 62 yards to Jacquez Green, 1 yard to John Davis and 10 yards to Darnell McDonald. Mike Alstott rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown for the Bucs.

Seahawks 37, Bengals 20

At Seattle, Jon Kitna passed for three touchdowns in the first half and Ricky Watters scored his first touchdowns of the season as the Seahawks (6-2) beat Cincinnati (1-8).

The Seahawks moved into sole possession of first in the AFC West with their best first-half record since 1984. The Bengals lost their fourth in a row for the second time this season.

Broncos 33, Chargers 17

At San Diego, rookie Olandis Gary rushed for 108 yards and scored twice as Denver (3-6) beat the Chargers (4-4) for the fifth straight time.

Jason Elam kicked four field goals for the Broncos, who were down to third-string quarterback Chris Miller because of injuries to Brian Griese and Bubby Brister. The Chargers have followed a three-game winning streak with a three-game losing streak in which they've been outscored 98-20.

Steelers 27, 49ers 6

At San Francisco, Kordell Stewart led five scoring drives as Pittsburgh (5-3) handed the 49ers (3-5) their fourth consecutive loss.

Stewart, who has struggled this season, completed 15-of-26 passes for 139 yards. Jerome Bettis ran for two touchdowns and Hines Ward caught a 13-yard scoring pass from Stewart as the Steelers won for the fourth time in five road games this season.