Perfect Patriots and Colts heading for showdown

BOSTON (Reuters) - The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts maintained their perfect records with convincing victories on Sunday, setting up a colossal showdown next week.

The Patriots (8-0) overwhelmed the Washington Redskins 52-7 while the defending Super Bowl champion Colts (7-0) crushed the Carolina Panthers 31-7.

New England's Tom Brady passed for three touchdowns and ran in two more in the rout of Washington. He completed 29 of 38 passes for 306 yards and scoring strikes to Mike Vrabel, Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

"8-0 is great, but it does not mean anything," Brady told reporters as the Patriots turned their attention to next Sunday's showdown in Indianapolis.

"It (the unbeaten record) does not guarantee us anything. We've got to keep improving throughout the season."

Vrabel, a linebacker, also forced three fumbles, one of which Rosevelt Colvin returned 11 yards for a touchdown. Brady's backup Matt Cassel rushed 15 yards for the Patriots' final score.

Washington (4-3) scored with three minutes left on the clock, quarterback Jason Campbell passing to Chris Cooley for a 15-yard touchdown.

In North Carolina, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes and Joseph Addai scored three times as Indianapolis put up 31 unanswered points after going behind to DeShaun Foster's early score for the Panthers.

Manning hit Addai on a four-yarder and connected with Reggie Wayne on a 59-yard pass play in a decisive third quarter.