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 Manning, returning from injury after being out for seven weeks with
a foot injury, rallied Denver for 20 second-half points on the way
to a 27-20 home win over the Chargers.
The result was huge for the 12-4 Broncos, who would have missed out
on a first-round bye had they lost.
Instead, they will have a week off along with the New England
Patriots (12-4), who were relegated to second seeds after losing
20-10 to the Miami Dolphins.
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 28-12 to sneak
into the playoffs as a wild card when the New York Jets lost to the
Buffalo Bills.
The Jets controlled their own fate, with a win guaranteeing them a
spot in the playoffs, but quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed his
third interception of the game in the final minute to gift the Bills
a 22-17 victory.
The result, coupled with Pittsburgh's win over Cleveland, left both
teams with 10-6 records but the Steelers advanced on the tiebreaker.
The Houston Texans (9-7) claimed their third AFC South title in five
years with a 30-6 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Texans will host wild card Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) in the
first round, while the Steelers will visit the Cincinnati Bengals
(12-4).
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In the NFC, the Carolina Panthers (15-1) locked up the top seed and
home field advantage, while the Arizona Cardinals (13-3) have the
other first-round bye.
The Minnesota Vikings wrestled the NFC North title from the Green
Bay Packers with a 20-13 victory in the season finale.
As a result, the Vikings (11-5) will host the Seattle Seahawks
(10-6) and the Packers (10-6) will visit the Washington Redskins
(9-7) in the first round.
(Reporting by Tim Wharnsby in Toronto; Editing by Andrew Both/John
O'Brien)
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