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 In the AFC, the post-season puzzle is nearly complete with the
Patriots, Bengals, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts all
confirmed as division champions and the Kansas City Chiefs having
also secured a playoff berth.
With just one week remaining on the regular season schedule, the
Miami Dolphins (8-7), Baltimore Ravens (8-7), San Diego Chargers
(8-7) and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) will battle for the AFC's final
wildcard spot.
Things are not as clear in the NFC, where all four division crowns
were still up for grabs and only the Seahawks and Panthers had
locked up playoff positions.
Before the day is over, however, the NFC could yet crown one
unlikely division champion. The Chicago Bears (8-6) were in position
to clinch the North title with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in
the nightcap after the playoff hopes of the Detroit Lions (7-8)
disappeared in a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants and the
Green Bay Packers (7-7-1) fell 38-31 to the Steelers on the Frozen
Tundra at snowy Lambeau Field.
The Seahawks entered Sunday with the NFL's best record and unbeaten
at home for two seasons but fell to 12-3 after being upset by the
surprising Arizona Cardinals (10-5), who kept their own playoff
dreams alive with a gritty 17-10 victory.
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer threw four interceptions but the
Arizona defense could not be breached as Seattle failed to secure
the NFC West division crown and home field advantage throughout the
playoffs after suffering their first home defeat since December 24,
2011.
Three more teams confirmed their invitations to the post-season
party on a pulsating penultimate Sunday that dripped with of high
drama and nail-biting action.
Nowhere were tensions running higher than in Charlotte, North
Carolina where Carolina quarterback Cam Newton engineered a last
gasp touchdown drive to cap a thrilling 17-13 win over the New
Orleans Saints (10-5) and give the Panthers (11-4) their first trip
to the post-season since 2008.
After Drew Brees had marched New Orleans 97 yards, hitting Jimmy
Graham for a go ahead touchdown, Newton went right to work,
preventing the Saints from clinching the NFC South division crown
and a first round playoff bye.
With 55 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts, Newton took the
Panthers 65 yards on five plays hitting Domenik Hixon with a 14-yard
touchdown strike to stun the Saints and send the sellout Charlotte
crowd into wild celebration.
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"Man it was so close," said Newton. "We have to win games
like this, it wasn't pretty but this is the definition of a
playoff team, a playoff game, real close.
"We depended on the defense at times but when we needed to score
we did."
DALTON LEADS BENGALS
In Cincinnati, Andy Dalton tossed four touchdowns as the Bengals
(10-5) pounded the Minnesota Vikings 42-14 to clinch a playoff
berth.
That result coupled with Miami Dolphins loss to the Buffalo
Bills was enough to earn the Bengals a third straight playoff
appearance.
Later on Sunday, the Bengals had more to celebrate when the
Patriots crushed the Ravens 41-7 earning Cincinnati the AFC
North crown.
Even before New England (11-4) had kicked off against Baltimore
they had clinched a fifth straight AFC East crown and playoff
spot when the Dolphins (8-7) were upset 19-0 by the Bills in icy
Buffalo.
In Houston, Peyton Manning enjoyed a record smashing day
throwing four touchdown passes as the Broncos (12-3) tamed the
Texans 37-13 nailing down a third consecutive AFC West division
title and a first round bye after the Chiefs (11-4) were
surprised 23-7 by the Colts (10-5).
Manning's four touchdown strikes gave him 51 for the season
eclipsing the record of 50 set by the Patriots' Tom Brady in
2007.
The Dallas Cowboys (8-7) kept their post-season hopes alive when
Tony Romo found DeMarco Murray with a 10-yard touchdown strike
with just 68 seconds left on the clock to eke out a 24-23 win
over the Washington Redskins.
The victory sets up a winner-take-all showdown next Sunday
against the Philadelphia Eagles (8-6) in the regular season
finale that will decide the NFC East champion.
The San Diego Chargers remained in the AFC playoff picture with
a 26-13 win over the Oakland Raiders.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto;
editing by Gene Cherry)
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