The rookie quarterback from Penn Charter High turned in another sharp performance as the Falcons beat host Green Bay (2-3) yesterday, 27-14, upstaging a gritty showing by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

It was the first road win of the season for the new and improved Falcons (3-2), putting a team that is supposed to be rebuilding over the .500 mark. Falcons coach Mike Smith had a feeling during pregame warmups that his young quarterback wasn't going to get rattled on the road this time.

"He said, 'Hey, this is pretty cool,' " Smith said. "Just nice, calm, cool and collected."

And efficient.

Ryan (16-for-26, 194 yards) threw for two touchdowns and an interception. Falcons wide receiver Roddy White caught eight passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, while Michael Turner ran for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Rodgers (25-for-37, 313 yards) threw for three touchdowns and an interception. He started despite a sprained shoulder that kept him out of practice for most of the week. He insisted that the quarterback-record consecutive starts streak held by his predecessor, Brett Favre, didn't place any added pressure on him to play.

In other games:

* COLTS 31, TEXANS 27: At Houston, Peyton Manning turned a collapse by the Texans (0-4) into a stunning victory for Indianapolis. The Colts (2-2) scored 21 points in a late span of 2:10 - two touchdowns thanks to fumbles by Sage Rosenfels - then intercepted Rosenfels' last-ditch comeback attempt for the win. Manning threw two touchdown passes, connecting with Reggie Wayne on a 5-yarder with 1:54 remaining for the decisive points.

* CARDINALS 41, BILLS 17: At Glendale, Ariz., second-year Bills quarterback Trent Edwards went down with a concussion on a fierce hit from safety Adrian Wilson on the third play of the game as the Bills (4-1) fell to the Cardinals (3-2). Rookie Tim Hightower had a pair of touchdown runs and Kurt Warner threw to Larry Fitzgerald twice for scores. J.P. Losman, who lost his job to Edwards, was 15-for-21 for 220 yards, most on an 87-yard touchdown pass to Lee Evans.

* STEELERS 26, JAGUARS 21: At Jacksonville, Ben Roethlisberger (26-for-41) threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, helping Pittsburgh (4-1) past the Jaguars (2-2). Pittsburgh snapped a four-game losing streak against Jacksonville.

* BEARS 34, LIONS 7: At Detroit, Kyle Orton set career highs in yards passing, completions and quarterback rating while throwing two touchdowns as Chicago (3-2) rolled past the Lions (0-4). He was 24-for-34 for 334 yards and had a 121.4 rating, improving to 3-0 against the Lions.

* BRONCOS 16, BUCCANEERS 13: At Denver, Jay Cutler (23-for-34, 227 yards) guided a patient Denver offense past the Buccaneers (3-2). Brandon Stokley hauled in Cutler's pass in the right flat and followed Brandon Marshall's big block for a 10-yard touchdown and Matt Prater kicked three field goals for Denver (4-1).

* DOLPHINS 17, CHARGERS 10: At Miami, halfback Ronnie Brown scored the decisive touchdown after a single wing direct snap, their smothering defense pulled off a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter, and Miami (2-2) upset San Diego (2-3).

* TITANS 13, RAVENS 10: At Baltimore, Kerry Collins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:56 left and Tennessee (5-0) beatb the Ravens (2-2). The Titans trailed, 10-6, before Collins directed the 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive.

* PANTHERS 34, CHIEFS 0: At Charlotte, DeAngelo Williams had 123 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns and Carolina (4-1) handed Kansas City (1-4) its first shutout in nearly 6 years. *