New England can begin thinking about a fourth Super Bowl in six years after clinching the AFC East on Sunday. Seattle also got into the playoffs, securing the NFC West. The big difference: New England won and the Seahawks were stunned in the final minute by San Diego. The Patriots dealt Jacksonville's postseason hopes a severe blow with a 24-21 victory that earned them a fourth straight division title. They can't have a bye in the first round of the playoffs, however.

A few injuries suffered during Week 14 action could have a impact on several contests this week, starting with the 49ers-Seahawks game on Thursday night. Seattle, which clinches the NFC West with a win, will be without wide receiver Darrell Jackson.

Mike Holmgren had two of his best players miss games with injuries this season. Yet the Seahawks are still on the verge of winning their third straight NFC West title. The defending NFC champions can clinch the division crown with a win over the 49ers on Thursday night. Reigning rushing champion Shaun Alexander missed six games with a broken bone in his foot and Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was sidelined for four games with a sprained knee ligament. But Seattle owns a comfortable three-game lead over the 49ers and Rams in the NFC West.

LaDainian Tomlinson broke Shaun Alexander's NFL single-season touchdown record of 28 when he scored three times Sunday in the Chargers' game against the Broncos. With the fans chanting for Tomlinson, the star running back took a handoff from Philip Rivers and scored on a 6-yard run with 3:57 left to tie it. After Denver fumbled, Tomlinson got No. 29 on a 7-yard run just 47 seconds later.

Dennis Erickson has accepted the head coaching job at Arizona State, Idaho AD Rob Spear said Saturday night. The 59-year-old Erickson spent one season at Idaho in his second stint at the school, going 4-8. He led Miami to two national titles, also has been a head coach at Wyoming, Washington State and Oregon State and coached Seattle and San Francisco in the NFL.