The Packers defeated the Bears 35-21 on Sunday night to lock up the top seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. Aaron Rodgers threw five touchdowns passes for the first time in his career as Green Bay won at Lambeau Field. "Yeah, this one's pretty special," Rodgers said. The win also knocked the Bears out of the playoff chase. "We wanted the path to go through Lambeau," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

The Patriots clinched a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs in their 27-24 win over the Dolphins on Christmas Eve. Trailing 17-0 in the first half, New England scored 27 straight points to begin the second half. "You don't want to, certainly, make a habit of this," said Tom Brady, who scored on two one-yard sneaks and threw for a one-yard touchdown. "We showed some resiliency." New England (12-3) won its seventh straight game. After the Texans lost to the Colts on Thursday night, the Patriots needed a win or a tie to lock up one of the top two spots in the AFC. "It's good to clinch," said Deion Branch, who caught the touchdown pass from Brady, "but not by the way we played. It's not the way you want to do it."

The Lions defeated the Chargers 38-10 on Saturday afternoon to clinch their first playoff berth since 1999. The crowd at Ford Field chanted "Play-offs! Play-offs!" as the final few minutes ticked away and the players took a victory lap around the field after the game. Matthew Stafford appeared to be touched by the face-to-face interaction with fans hanging over the railing to reach his raised right hand. "You could just get a sense of how much it meant to them," Stafford said. "It was fun to give them that kind of joy." The Lions (10-5) have won three straight after a seven-game slump to earn an NFC wild card, turning around the franchise after it was bad enough just three years ago to become the league's only 0-16 team.

Indianapolis 19, Houston 16 Trench Counter: Colts +1.9, Texans -1.9 The Indianapolis Colts (2-13) won their second straight game with a late score against the Houston Texans (10-5) on Thursday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. Dan Orlovsky connected with Reggie Wayne for a six-yard touchdown with just 19 seconds left in regulation to win the game. Indianapolis racked up 24 first downs, totaled 320 totals and went 7-for-17 on third down. Arian Foster ran all over the Colts to the tune of 158 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries as the Texans averaged 5.5 yards per touch on the ground. Houston managed just six points in the second half on a pair of field goals, and punted twice. Orlovsky led the Colts on a 12-play, 78-yard drive over 97 seconds to ensure the team's second win of the season. Baltimore 20, Cleveland 14 Trench Counter: Ravens +4.1, Browns -4.1 The Baltimore Ravens (11-4) raced out to a 20-0 lead and held on to defeat the Cleveland Browns (4-11) despite a second-half charge. Joe Flacco went 11-for-24 with 132 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as the Ravens totaled 284 yards. Ray Rice helped them control the clock as he ran 23 times for 87 yards and Ricky Williams added 45 yards on 10 touches. Rice was a threat as a receiver as well, catching three passes for 48 yards and a score. Seneca Wallace was serviceable as the starter in place of the injured Colt McCoy. He went 19-for-33 with 147 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Peyton Hillis was Cleveland's leading offensive player with 24 carries for 112 rushing yards. Joshua Cribbs helped put the Browns in good field position often, returning five kicks for a total of 113 yards and one punt 84 yards for a touchdown. Buffalo 40, Denver 14 Trench Counter: Bills +14.3, Broncos -14.3 The Denver Broncos (8-7) took an early lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Tim Tebow, but the Buffalo Bills (6-9) took grabbed the lead in the second quarter and didn't look back. The Bills had just 14 first downs, but racked up 351 total yards and scored a trio of defensive/special teams touchdowns. Leodis McKelvin returned a punt 80 yards, Jairus Byrd returned an interception 37 yards and Spencer Johnson intercepted Tebow for a 17-yard score in the fourth. Tebow had his worst effort as a starter this season, throwing four interceptions. The Buffalo defense sacked him three times and also deflected eight passes. He finished 13-for-30 with 185 yards with his only touchdown coming on a 17-yard connection to Daniel Fells in the third quarter. Carolina 48, Tampa Bay 16 Trench Counter: Panthers +24.5, Buccaneers -24.5 The Carolina Panthers (6-9) thumped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) thanks to a strong effort by Cam Newton and their defense. Newton set the NFL rookie passing mark (previously held by Peyton Manning) and accounted for four touchdowns. Newton went 12-for-17 with 171 yards and three passing scores, with six rushes for 65 yards and a score. Carolina's defense recorded three sacks and five tackles for loss. Josh Freeman went 28-for-38 with 274 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while also losing a fumble. Sammie Stroughter and Kellen Winslow also dropped the football for Tampa Bay, which has struggled mightily in the second half of the season. The Panthers scored four straight touchdowns to begin the second half to put the game away. Cincinnati 23, Arizona 16 Trench Counter: Bengals +8.9, Cardinals -8.9 The Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) led 23-0 after the third quarter before the Arizona Cardinals (7-8) put 16 points on the board in the final period. Andy Dalton went 18-for-31 with 154 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, while adding five scrambles for 48 yards. Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott combined to rush 26 times for 85 yards. Jerome Simpson made perhaps the catch of the year in the second quarter on a 19-yard score. With the game out of reach, John Skelton led the Cardinals on three scoring drives in the fourth quarter. He finished 23-for-44 with 297 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Before their first score of the game, Arizona went interception, punt, punt, punt, interception, punt, interception, punt and punt on their first nine possessions. Over that stretch that accumulated just 103 yards. Oakland 16, Kansas City 13 (OT) Trench Counter: Raiders -8.7, Chiefs +8.7 The Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) dominated the box score, but the Oakland Raiders (8-7) came away with the victory at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs forced overtime when Kyle Orton found Dwayne Bowe for a three-yard touchdown with 1:02 left in regulation to tie the score. Less than three minutes into the extra period, Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 36-yard field goal to win the game. Kansas City had twice as many first downs as Oakland and accumulated 435 total yards. Both teams were flagged more than 10 times with the two teams combining for 180 yards penalized. Orton, who started for the Chiefs, went 21-for-36 with 300 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. New England 27, Miami 24 Trench Counter: Patriots +1.9, Dolphins -1.9 Trailing 17-0 at the half, the New England Patriots (12-3) stormed back in the third quarter and held on late to beat the Miami Dolphins (5-10) at Gillette Stadium. New England struggled offensively early, but finished with 26 first downs, 400 total yards and went 8-for-17 on third down. Tom Brady went 27-for-46 with 304 yards and a touchdown as well as 17 yards rushing and two scores. Matt Moore led the Dolphins expertly in the first half, but the Patriots rattled him in the second half. He finished 17-for-33 with 294 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Moore also lost a fumble in the loss. Reggie Bush had yet another exceptional game on the ground, rushing 22 times for 113 yards before leaving late with an injury. Brandon Marshall was Miami's offensive star with seven catches for 156 yards and a score. N.Y. Giants 29, N.Y. Jets 14 Trench Counter: Giants +13.3, Jets -13.3 The New York Giants (8-7) backed up their smack talk against the rival New York Jets (8-7) at their shared home of MetLife Stadium. Eli Manning connected with Victor Cruz for a 99-yard catch-and-run late in the second quarter to give the Giants a lead they would not relinquish. A safety and late touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw sealed the victory for the NFC East club. Mark Sanchez helped give the Jets an early 7-0 lead on a five-yard touchdown pass to Josh Baker, but the team didn't score again until midway through the fourth period when Sanchez score from one-yard out. The Jets committed 10 penalties for 95 yards and Sanchez committed three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble). Pittsburgh 27, St. Louis 0 Trench Counter: Steelers +11.8, Rams -11.8 The Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) scored at least three points in each of the game's four quarters as they blanked the St. Louis Rams (2-13) at Heinz Field. With Charlie Batch starting in placed of the injured Ben Roethlisberger (ankle), the Steelers rushed for three touchdowns. John Clay (10 yards), Rashard Mendenhall (one yard) and Isaac Redman (two yards) all scored on the ground. The Rams only managed 232 total yards on 63 plays. The Pittsburgh defense sacked Kellen Clemens three times, had eight tackles for loss and six pass deflections. Clemens went 9-for-24 with 91 yards, while Steven Jackson starred with 24 carries for 103 yards in the loss. Tennessee 23, Jacksonville 17 Trench Counter: Titans +4.2, Jaguars -4.2 The Tennessee Titans (8-7) led 10-0 early and held off the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) on Saturday afternoon. The Titans had 407 total yards, but they committed three turnovers. Tennessee didn't commit a single turnover and achieved two more first downs than Jacksonville. Matt Hasselbeck went 24-for-40 with 350 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Tight end Jared Cook was his top target, catching eight passes for 169 yards and a score. Greg Jones scored on a one-yard run with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter to pull Jacksonville to within a score, but the Titans used an eight-play, 45-yard drive to run out the clock and ensure victory. Maurice Jones-Drew carried the ball 24 times for 103 yards and a touchdown, while rookie Blaine Gabbert completed half of his 42 passing attempts for 198 yards and an interception. Minnesota 33, Washington 26 Trench Counter: Vikings +10.7, Redskins -10.7 The Minnesota Vikings (3-12) and Washington Redskins (5-10) were tied early in the fourth quarter, but Joe Webb led the Vikings to a rare win. Both teams flirted with 400 total yards, had 20 or more first downs and they nearly split the time of possession. The Vikings scored in each quarter and the Redskins only failed to score in the first period. Christian Ponder went 8-for-13 before he was sidelined with a concussion. Webb went 4-for-5 with 84 yards and touchdowns in relief, while Toby Gerhart finished with 11 carries for 109 yards on the ground. Adrian Peterson had 12 carries for 38 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a leg injury. Evan Royster started for the Redskins with 132 yards on 19 carries. Detroit 38, San Diego 10 Trench Counter: Lions +14.4, Chargers -14.4 The Detroit Lions (10-5) clinched their first playoff berth since 1999 with a dominant win over the San Diego Chargers (7-8). The Lions led 24-0 at halftime and Cliff Avril returned an interception four yards with less than three minutes left in regulation to seal the victory. Matthew Stafford finished 29-for-36 with 373 yards and three touchdowns, with Calvin Johnson leading the way (four receptions for 102 yards and a score). San Diego rallied with 10 straight points in the third quarter, pulling them to within two possessions, but Kevin Smith scored a touchdown for Detroit a little more than four minutes later to swing the momentum. Detroit amassed 440 total yards and went an impressive 9-for-13 on third down. Philadelphia 20, Dallas 7 Trench Counter: Eagles +7.8, Cowboys -7.8 Having been eliminated from the playoff race earlier in the afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles (7-8) thumped the indifferent Dallas Cowboys (8-7) in Arlington, Texas. The Eagles held the Cowboys scoreless until seven seconds remaining when Stephen McGee connected with Miles Austin for a four-yard touchdown. McGee replaced Tony Romo in the first half. Dallas had little to gain from a win or loss. Michael Vick went 18-for-32 with 293 yards and two touchdowns. He scrambled just three times for 10 yards. Dallas held LeSean McCoy in check as he tallied just 35 yards on 13 carries. Vick shared the wealth nicely, with DeSean Jackson (five receptions for 90 yards), Jeremy Maclin (72 yards and a touchdown) and Brent Celek (52 yards and a score) having productive afternoons. The Philadelphia defense had three sacks and eleven quarterback hits in the victory. San Francisco 19, Seattle 17 Trench Counter: 49ers +6.2, Seahawks -6.2 The San Francisco 49ers (12-3) allowed their first rushing touchdown of the season, but still came out victorious against the Seattle Seahawks (7-8) at CenturyLink Field. David Akers kicked a 39-yard field goal with 2:57 left in regulation to give San Francisco the win. The game-winning kick came less than four minutes after Marshawn Lynch found the end zone on a four-yard dash. San Francisco had seven more first downs, close to 100 more total yards and went 2-for-3 on fourth down. Frank Gore had 23 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown, while Lynch finished with 21 touches for 107 yards and a score.

Atlanta 41, Jacksonville 14 Trench Counter: Falcons +17.3, Jaguars -17.3 In need of a win to bolster their playoff chances, the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10) at the Georgia Dome on Thursday night. The Falcons led 27-0 at halftime and then 41-0 before the Jaguars saved some face with a pair of touchdowns. Atlanta had 20 first downs, held the ball for more than 38 minutes and racked up 373 total yards. Jacksonville was limited to just 207 total yards and committed four turnovers. Matt Ryan went 19-for-26 with 224 yards and three touchdowns despite standing on the sidelines for a majority of the fourth quarter. Ryan hooked up with Roddy White ten times for 135 yards and a pair of scores. The Falcons sacked Jacksonville rookie Blaine Gabbert five times and Corey Peters returned a fumble 13 yards for a touchdown early in the third period. Dallas 31, Tampa Bay 15 Trench Counter: Cowboys +19.4, Buccaneers -19.4 Tony Romo accounted for four touchdowns in the first half as the Dallas Cowboys (8-6) cruised to an easy win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10) on Saturday night. Romo finished with 249 yards, three touchdowns passes and another one on the ground as Dallas excelled offensively. The Cowboys collected 28 first downs, went 7-for-13 on first down, held the ball for nearly 38 minutes and had 399 total yards. The Buccaneers didn't score until early in the third quarter when Dekoda Watson returned a Romo fumble seven yards for a score. The Cowboys responded with a field goal before Josh Freeman connected with Dezmon Briscoe for a 13-yard touchdown, which was Tampa Bay's only offensive score of the game. The Buccaneers struggled mightily, managing just 190 total yards and seven first downs. Miami 30, Buffalo 23 Trench Counter: Dolphins +9.6, Bills -9.6 Reggie Bush powered the Miami Dolphins (5-9) over the Buffalo Bills (5-9) thanks to a tremendous effort on the ground after struggling early on. Bush ran for a career-high 203 yards on 25 carries, including a 76-yard touchdown run with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter that gave Miami a 30-13 lead. Matt Moore played well for the Dolphins, going 10-for-20 with 217 yards and two scores, one to Brandon Marshall and another to Anthony Fasano. Ryan Fitzpatrick struggled, despite throwing for 316 yards and two scores. Both of his touchdowns came in the final six minutes with Buffalo playing against Miami and the clock. He tossed three interceptions, although his receivers gave him little help on balls that weren't badly thrown. The victory was the first for interim coach Todd Bowles, who replaced Tony Sparano this week. Seattle 38, Chicago 14 Trench Counter: Seahawks +15.8, Bears -15.8 The Seattle Seahawks (7-7) continue to play surprisingly tough football, beating the Chicago Bears (7-7) at Solider Field thanks in part to a pair of defensive touchdowns. Seattle held Chicago to 221 total yards and forced five turnovers, including a 20-yard interception return by Red Bryant in the third quarter and a 42-yard interception return by Brandon Browner in the final period. The Seahawks, trailing 14-7 at halftime, scored 31 unanswered points in the second half. Tarvaris Jackson went 19-for-31 with 227 yards and a touchdown to help lead Seattle offensively, while Marshawn Lynch carried the ball 20 times for 42 yards and two scores. Caleb Hanie struggled yet again, going 10-for-23 with 111 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Carolina 28, Houston 13 Trench Counter: Panthers +7.1, Texans -7.1 After clinching their first-ever playoff berth last week, the Houston Texans (10-4) failed to show against the Carolina Panthers (5-9). The Panthers sprinted out to a 21-0 lead and held on after a charge in the second half to ensure victory. Cam Newton went 13-for-23 with 149 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing seven times for 55 yards. Houston outgained Carolina, but the Texans were just 2-for-9 on third down. Arian Foster lost a fumble, but he rushed 16 times for 109 yards and a score while also hauling in five passes for 58 yards. He was the team's leading rusher and receiver. Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates struggled, throwing for 212 yards and two interceptions on 19-for-30 passing. Indianapolis 27, Tennessee 13 Trench Counter: Colts +7, Titans -7 The Indianapolis Colts (1-13) won for the first time this season as they put a damper on the playoff hopes of the Tennessee Titans (7-7) in the process. The Colts didn't explode offensively, but they made timely plays and limited the Titans despite extended drives. Tennessee had 21 first downs and 388 total yards, against 10 first downs and 287 yards for Indianapolis, but they committed three turnovers. Dan Orlovsky managed a good game, going 11-for-17 with just 82 yards, but he tossed the go-ahead touchdown on an 18-yard pass to Reggie Wayne midway through the third period. Jacob Lacey then returned an interception 32 yards to give the Colts a 17-6 edge. Donald Brown, who had 16 carries for 161 yards on the afternoon, put the game away on an 80-yard run with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. Kansas City 19, Green Bay 14 Trench Counter: Chiefs +4.3, Packers -4.3 The Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) completed the biggest upset of the 2011 season as they handed the Green Bay Packers (13-1) their first loss of the year. The Chiefs amassed 438 total yards and only allowed Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense to hold the ball for less than 24 minutes overall. Rodgers didn't commit a turnover, but he had his worst statistical game of the season -- going 17-for-35 with 235 yards and two touchdowns (one through the air and another on the ground). Kansas City played under interim coach Romeo Crennel, who took over for fired head man Todd Haley. Green Bay led for a few minutes in the third quarter and Rodgers brought them to within five points after scoring on an eight-yard dash with just over two minutes left in regulation. The Packers were unsuccessful in their attempt at an onside kick after the score. New Orleans 42, Minnesota 20 Trench Counter: Saints +21.8, Vikings -21.8 The New Orleans Saints (11-3) submitted a dominant offensive performance against the Minnesota Vikings (2-12) thanks to none other than Drew Brees. He went 32-for-40 with 412 yards and five touchdowns. The Saints had 36 first downs, 573 total yards and held onto the ball for close to 39 minutes. He connected with nine different receivers and threw touchdown passes to four (Lance Moore, Darren Sproles, Jimmy Graham and John Gilmore). Christian Ponder wasn't horrible, throwing for 120 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, but the Minnesota defense couldn't stop Brees and the Saints. Adrian Peterson returned from injury and ran 10 times for 60 yards, while running back Toby Gerhart led the team with four receptions for 46 yards and two touchdowns. Washington 23, N.Y. Giants 10 Trench Counter: Redskins +2.9, Giants -2.9 The Washington Redskins (5-9) played spoiler by defeating the New York Giants (7-7) at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Redskins jumped out to a 17-0 lead and held on to beat their NFC East rival. Washington held New York without a touchdown until Ahmad Bradshaw ran in for a three-yard score with just 33 seconds left in regulation. The Giants had 22 first downs and 324 total yards, but Eli Manning threw three interceptions and they went 3-for-9 on third down. The Redskins had fewer first downs and total yards, but they committed just two penalties and held onto the ball for close to 35 minutes. Cincinnati 20, St. Louis 13 Trench Counter: Bengals -1, Rams +1 The Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) didn't play that well, but they had enough to top the St. Louis Rams (2-12). They trailed at halftime, but scored 17 consecutive points to take a 20-6 edge into the final half of the fourth quarter. St. Louis was held out of the end zone until there was just 1:08 left when Kellen Clemens found Danario Alexander for a 25-yard touchdown. The Rams had 305 total yards, but they went just 2-for-13 on third down. The game was quite ugly with the teams combining for 21 penalties for 210 yards. Cincinnati's rookie receiver, A.J. Green, who briefly left with an injury, had a game-high 115 yards on six receptions. Detroit 28, Oakland 27 Trench Counter: Lions -7.9, Raiders +7.9 The Detroit Lions (9-5) scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes to stun the Oakland Raiders (7-7) in California. Matthew Stafford, who led the comeback, finished with 391 yards and four touchdown passes, two of which went to Calvin Johnson, who hauled in nine catches for 214 yards in the win. Stafford found Johnson for the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute left in regulation. Carson Palmer helped move the ball down field in place for a 65-yard field goal attempt to win the game, but Detroit blocked the attempt by Sebastian Janikowski. Palmer finished 32-for-40 with 367 yards and a score, connecting often with Darrius Heyward-Bey. DHB had eight receptions for 155 yards and a score. New England 41, Denver 23 Trench Counter: Patriots +7.5, Broncos -7.5 The New England Patriots (11-3) solved the puzzle that is Tim Tebow as they beat the Denver Broncos (8-6) and won the AFC East title in the process. Tom Brady had 320 yards and two touchdowns, while the three-headed rushing monster of Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 28 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Tebow went 11-for-22 with 194 yards and scrambled 12 times for 93 yards and two scores, but he didn't have enough help from his defense to complete another late-game comeback victory. Willis McGahee and Lance Ball helped Tebow dominate on the ground, combining to rush 18 times for 134 yards and another score on the ground. Arizona 20, Cleveland 17 (OT) Trench Counter: Cardinals +6.9, Browns -6.9 The Cleveland Browns (4-10) led 17-7 in the third quarter, but the Arizona Cardinals (7-7) stormed back as they scored 13 unanswered points to end the game. Jay Feely kicked the game-winning 22-yard field goal in overtime. John Skelton started at quarterback for the Cardinals with Kevin Kolb on the mend. He went 28-for-46 with 313 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Beanie Wells helped balance the offense with 15 rushes for 51 yards and a score. Seneca Wallace, who had 226 passing yards and a touchdown, started for the concussed Colt McCoy. Greg Little was Wallace's top target. The rookie wide receiver had five catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. Cleveland's defense sacked Skelton four times, had eight tackles for loss and six pass deflections. Philadelphia 45, N.Y. Jets 19 Trench Counter: Eagles +22.6, Jets -22.6 The Philadelphia Eagles (6-8) dominated a turnover-filled game against the New York Jets (8-6) in South Philadelphia. The Eagles jumped out to a 28-0 lead and LeSean McCoy finished things off with two rushing touchdowns in the second half. Each team committed four turnovers, but the Eagles were better at capitalizing on mistakes. Michael Vick passed for 274 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while McCoy finished with 102 yards and three scores on 18 carries. Mark Sanchez tossed a pair of interceptions and also lost a fumble in the damaging loss. The embattled quarterback went 15-for-26 with 150 yards and two scores, one to Santonio Holmes and another to Plaxico Burress. The Eagles pestered the Jets all afternoon, sacking Sanchez four times, deflecting six passes and returning a Holmes fumble for a touchdown.

Pittsburgh 14, Cleveland 3 Trench Counter: Steelers +9.7, Browns -9.7 The Cleveland Browns (4-9) hung with the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3), but they ultimately fell at Heinz Field on Thursday night. The Browns got on the board first with a 20-yard field goal by Phil Dawson a little more than five minutes into the first quarter, but they did not score again. Cleveland gained 19 first downs and had 304 total yards, but they committed two costly turnovers. Ben Roethlisberger returned from a left leg injury to help lead the Steelers to victory. He went 16-for-21 with 280 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Pittsburgh had 416 total yards, but fumbles by Hines Ward and Heath Miller stunted drives. Roethlisberger averaged 11.7 yards per pass. The game garnered a number of headlines because of a questionable hit by linebacker James Harrison on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. Philadelphia 26, Miami 10 Trench Counter: Eagles +8, Dolphins -8 Michael Vick returned and the Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) got back into the win column against the Miami Dolphins (4-9). The Dolphins led 7-0 after the first quarter, thanks to a 16-yard touchdown pass by Matt Moore to Brandon Marshall, but the Eagles scored the next 24 points to take control of the game. Philadelphia scored three touchdowns and a field goal in the second quarter, including a pair of runs by LeSean McCoy. Dan Carpenter kicked a 22-yard field goal in the third quarter and the Philadelphia defense rounded out the scoring in the fourth quarter with a safety on a tackle of J.P. Losman. Moore was replaced by Losman because of a head injury. The Eagles had nine sacks and an interception of Moore. Vick played well in his return from a rib injury, going 15-for-30 with 208 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He scrambled just twice for nine yards. Houston 20, Cincinnati 19 Trench Counter: Texans -0.6, Bengals +0.6 The Houston Texans (10-3) rebounded from a 16-3 deficit against the Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) to notch their first-ever playoff berth. A few minutes after their win, they clinched the AFC South title thanks to a Tennessee loss. T.J. Yates, the team’s rookie quarterback, led them on a game-winning drive and connected with Kevin Walter for a six-yard score with two seconds less to ensure victory. Houston scored 17 of the team’s final 20 points. The Texans had 25 first downs and 412 total yards, but four turnovers stalled extended drives. Yates threw an interception and lost a fumble, while Arian Foster and Ben Tate both dropped the football. Cincinnati sacked Yates five times, had seven tackles for loss and seven pass deflections. Andy Dalton, another rookie signal-caller, went 16-for-28 with 189 yards and a touchdown. Detroit 34, Minnesota 28 Trench Counter: Lions +1.9, Vikings -1.9 The Detroit Lions (8-5) jumped out to a 21-0 lead against the Minnesota Vikings (2-11) and held on late for an important late-season win. Detroit scored 21 points in the first 10 minutes of the game, but Minnesota refused to go down without a fight. The Vikings had 29 first downs, 425 total yards and went 8-for-14 on third down. However, six turnovers doomed a possible comeback. Christian Ponder threw three interceptions and the team also surrendered three fumbles. Matthew Stafford tossed two touchdowns in the first quarter and he finished with 227 yards on 20-for-29 passing. Vikings backup quarterback Joe Webb had the team within a yard of a potential game-winning touchdown, but he fumbled as Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy tugged on his facemask. No foul was called and Detroit was victorious. Webb broke a 65-yard run in the third quarter to bring the Lions to within 10 points and he connected with Toby Gerhart on a two-yard touchdown with 7:54 left in regulation to keep the team within striking distance. New Orleans 22, Tennessee 17 Trench Counter: Saints -2.4, Titans +2.4 The New Orleans Saints (10-3) needed two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to ensure a victory over the Tennessee Titans (7-6) at LP Field. After trading field goals over the first 40-plus minutes, Jake Locker scored on a six-yard run to give Tennessee a 10-9 edge. After the score, Drew Brees led the Saints on back-to-back touchdown drives with both ending in touchdown passes to Marques Colston. Locker found Nate Washington for a 40-yard touchdown with less than six minutes left in regulation to bring Tennessee to within five points, but they turned the ball over on downs on their next possession. The Saints held onto the football for 37:33 and amassed 437 yards of total offense. They were also 11-for-19 on third down, compared to just 1-for-10 by Tennessee. N.Y. Jets 37, Kansas City 10 Trench Counter: Jets +22.5, Chiefs -22.5 The New York Jets (8-5) rode three second-quarter touchdowns to an easy win over the Kansas City Chiefs (5-8) to improve their playoff hopes. The Jets had the edge in first downs (24 to 13), total yardage (314 to 221), third-down conversions (4-for-12 to 2-for-12) and time of possession (37:42 to 22:18). Over a span that stretched from the second quarter to the third, New York scored touchdowns on four of five possessions. With Tyler Palko starting, the Chiefs scored just twice -- on a first-quarter field goal and a touchdown early in the fourth quarter when the outcome of the game had long been decided. The Jets sacked Palko five times and held the Chiefs to just 3.8 yards per offensive snap. Shonn Greene starred for New York for the second-straight week, rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown and grabbing three passes for 58 yards. New England 34, Washington 27 Trench Counter: Patriots +2.8, Redskins -2.8 The New England Patriots (10-3) narrowly edged the Washington Redskins (4-9) in a surprisingly close contest on Sunday afternoon. The Patriots led 14-3 with less than two minutes left in the first quarter, but they trailed in the second period and needed a late defensive stop to avoid overtime. Washington had the edge in first downs, total yards and time of possession and they had the ball on New England’s nine-yard line with less than a minute remaining in regulation. Rex Grossman was intercepted by Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo at the five-yard line to end the team’s comeback bid. With a chance to record an upset, Washington punted, punted and then suffered the turnover on their final three possessions of the game. A sideline argument between Tom Brady and his offensive coordinator midway through the fourth quarter earned a lot of attention. Atlanta 31, Carolina 23 Trench Counter: Falcons +0.1, Panthers -0.1 Trailing 23-7 at halftime, the Atlanta Falcons (8-5) scored 24 unanswered points against the Carolina Panthers (4-9) to record a comeback win. Matt Ryan tossed a trio of touchdown passes in the second half to lead the comeback and the Atlanta defense clamped down on Cam Newton and the Panthers. Both teams flirted with 400 yards of total offense, but Carolina committed a pair of turnovers. After scoring on three of their six possessions in the first half, the Panthers finished the game with possessions as follows: punt, interception, interception, punt, punt, missed field goal and turnover on downs. Meanwhile, the Falcons went field goal, touchdown, missed field goal, touchdown, punt and touchdown after a horrid first half. Jacksonville 41, Tampa Bay 14 Trench Counter: Jaguars +17, Buccaneers -17 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9) led 14-0 early in the second quarter, but the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) exploded for four touchdowns over a seven-minute span in the period to seize control of the game. Jacksonville scored the final 41 points of the game and Tampa Bay committed an unsightly seven turnovers (three interceptions and four fumbles). The Jaguars used those miscues to score two touchdowns -- an eight-yard fumble return and another recovered in the end zone. Maurice Jones-Drew joined the party late, rushing for a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He rushed 27 times for 85 yards in the victory. The point total was a season-high for Jacksonville, who hadn’t scored 40 or more points since Week 16 of the 2007 season. Baltimore 24, Indianapolis 10 Trench Counter: Ravens +9.8, Colts -9.8 The Baltimore Ravens (10-3) improved their standing in the AFC playoff race while keeping the Indianapolis Colts (0-13) from the win column at M&T Bank Stadium. The Colts were held to just a field goal until Dan Orlovsky found Jacob Tamme for a 13-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis was held to 12 first downs, 167 total yards and just two conversions on third down. Ray Rice helped the Ravens control the clock as he ran 26 times for 103 yards and a touchdown. Joe Flacco was more than serviceable as well, going 23-for-31 with 227 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Baltimore scored in every quarter but the fourth, while Indianapolis was horrible on the ground. They rushed 16 times for 50 yards (3.1-yard average). Denver 13, Chicago 10 (OT) Trench Counter: Broncos +6.4, Bears -6.4 The legend of Tim Tebow lives on. The Denver Broncos (8-5) earned their sixth straight win on Sunday, beating the Chicago Bears (7-6) in overtime in Colorado. After an ugly first half offensively, Tebow led the Broncos on two scoring drives in the fourth quarter and the defense forced a key turnover in the extra frame. Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas for a 10-yard touchdown with 2:08 left in regulation and then the defense forced a three-and-out. Matt Prater forced overtime with a 59-yard field goal and he won the game with a 51-yarder following a fumble by Chicago running back Marion Barber. The Broncos may have only gotten on the scoreboard late, but they were far better over the course of the entire game. Denver had the edge in first downs, third down conversion rate and total yards. Arizona 21, San Francisco 19 Trench Counter: Cardinals -1.5, 49ers +1.5 The Arizona Cardinals (6-7) used a late defensive stop to record an upset win over the San Francisco 49ers (10-3) in Glendale. Trailing 19-7 midway through the third quarter, the Cardinals ended the game with a pair of unanswered touchdowns and a stunning defensive performance. After Frank Gore scored on a 37-yard run, Arizona held San Francisco to just 51 yards over the final 27 minutes of the game. John Skelton led the Cardinals to the comeback win after Kevin Kolb was knocked out with a head injury in the first quarter. Skelton finished 19-for-28 with 282 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Larry Fitzgerald had a very productive afternoon with seven catches for 149 yards and a score. Alex Smith was inaccurate for San Francisco, going 18-for-37 with just 175 passing yards. Green Bay 46, Oakland 16 Trench Counter: Packers +23.3, Raiders -23.3 The Green Bay Packers (13-0) remained perfect and embarrassed the Oakland Raiders (7-6) in the process at Lambeau Field. The Packers led 31-0 at halftime and cruised to an easy win against a potential playoff club. Aaron Rodgers had 281 yards, two touchdowns and an interception before giving way to Matt Flynn. Ryan Grant had perhaps his best effort of the season, rushing 10 times for 85 yards and two scores. Carson Palmer tossed four interceptions against just one touchdown on 42 passing attempts. Oakland moved the ball very well, but three of their five turnovers came in Green Bay territory. The Raiders have dropped their last two games, putting them a game back of the Broncos in the AFC West race. Chargers 37, Buffalo 10 Trench Counter: Chargers +6.3, Bills -6.3 The San Diego Chargers (6-7) kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a thumping of the slumping Buffalo Bills (5-8). The loss eliminated the Bills from postseason contention. The Chargers led 16-0 at halftime, but the Bills scored the first 10 points of the third quarter. Philip Rivers and San Diego then kicked into gear again with a pair of touchdown passes and a 26-yard interception return for the score by Steve Gregory. The Chargers totaled 366 yards of offense and had the ball for more than 35 minutes. In addition to three interceptions, Buffalo was 0-for-2 on fourth down. With the game already lost, the Bills sent Tyler Thigpen out for their final offensive series. Thigpen attempted just three passes, but his final one was an interception.

The Texans came back to defeat the Bengals 20-19 on Sunday afternoon, clinching their first-ever playoff berth in the process. With a little more than two minutes left, rookie quarterback T.J. Yates led Houston down the field for the game-winning score. "It's pretty crazy," Yates said. "A lot of people in this organization have waited a long time for this. This is a special day for this team and this organization." Yates threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Walter with two seconds left to lift the Texans to victory. A few minutes after their win, they clinched the AFC South title when Tennessee lost to New Orleans.