American Football: Peyton wins 'Manning Bowl' bragging rights

The New York Giants lost the Manning Bowl to the Indianapolis Colts but their Big Apple rivals the Jets backed up their bold pre-match talk with a decisive victory over the New England Patriots.

Peyton Manning showed no mercy to his younger brother Eli as the Colts crushed the Giants 38-14 to maintain a vice-like grip on the family bragging rights.

After a week one loss to the Houston Texans, the Colts looked every bit the Super Bowl contenders they are expected to be this season, Peyton throwing for three touchdowns while a swarming defence harassed little brother Eli all night.

While the Mannings embraced the Manning Bowl II hype they were relieved to have it over with, although Peyton hinted at a game plan that might see them renew the family feud in February in Dallas on one of the sporting world's biggest stages.

Peyton said he and the Colts are prepared to do what they can to help Eli and the Giants and expects little brother to return the favour, starting next weekend when New York host the Colts AFC South rivals the Tennessee Titans.

"I think they [the Giants] will be fine," Peyton said. "They will be playing the Titans next week and we'll be pulling hard for them and we're going to do our best to help them when we play all these other NFC East teams. So I'm real proud of him [Eli] and I love him."

In New York, second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez silenced his critics on Sunday by outduelling Tom Brady, leading the Jets to a 28-14 victory over the Patriots. "This team is a lot tougher than people think," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said. "We've got great resolve and we'll find a way to get it done. We don't make excuses." The Jets scored 21 unanswered points to the delight of nearly 80,000 spectators at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Sanchez completed 21 of 30 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns while Brady was 20 of 36 for 248 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice.

While the Jets (1-1) and Sanchez were breathing a little easier, the Minnesota Vikings (0-2) were licking their wounds after quarterback Brett Favre fumbled the ball inside his own end zone in a 14-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins (2-0).

The Vikings made the NFC title game last year under Favre's direction but are already playing catch-up after NFC North rivals the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears both improved to 2-0.

"I didn't envision starting off 0-2," said Favre, who spent the off-season deciding whether to return for his 20th NFL campaign. "But I knew it would be very difficult."

Favre completed 22 of 36 passes for 225 yards and was intercepted three times. Linebacker Koa Misi recovered Favre's fumble in the end zone to score with six minutes left in the third quarter and give Miami a 14-0 lead.

The Bears won their second game of the season 27-20 over the Dallas Cowboys (0-2) in Texas. Jay Cutler threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns while Dallas quarterback Tony Romo completed 35 of 51 passes for 374 yards and a touchdown but threw two first-half interceptions.

The Cowboys lost to the Washington Redskins in week one, marking the first time since 2001 they have lost their first two games of the season. "You sit there and you wonder if you're ever going to win a football game when you get to this point," Romo said. "We've got to do things better. And we need to figure it out in a hurry."