Patriots, Seahawks clinch divisions in different manners
The New England Patriots 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 (11-4) 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.
Who knows where the Seahawks (8-7) will go in the playoffs, considering how poorly they are playing. Seattle, the defending NFC champion, lost its third straight game when the Chargers’ Philip Rivers found Vincent Jackson alone in the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left. The 20-17 win was San Diego’s ninth straight and the Chargers (13-2) clinched a first-round bye.
“This doesn’t have to be a morgue,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. “To be honest with you, I am more on the upbeat side than the downbeat side. That’s a good football team, the Chargers. … There were a lot of good things that happened today. I’ll take it.”
The Patriots and Seahawks joined Dallas, Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans, San Diego and Indianapolis with playoff berths. The Ravens own the AFC North crown, while the Bears have the NFC North – and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs – the Saints the NFC South, and the Colts the AFC South. The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East by beating the Eagles today, but Philadelphia grabs a playoff spot by beating Dallas.
Defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh (7-8) won’t be back in the postseason after losing 31-7 to the Ravens. Also eliminated Sunday were San Francisco with a 26-20 defeat to Arizona, and Buffalo, edged 30-29 by Tennessee.
Both wild-card spots in each conference remained uncertain after Sunday’s games, although Philadelphia (8-6) has the inside track for an NFC berth and Denver (9-6) is in the best shape in the AFC.
In the NFC, Carolina, Atlanta, Green Bay, St. Louis and the New York Giants all are 7-8 and alive. For now, the Giants have the tiebreaker advantage despite losing six of seven games, including 30-7 to the Saints on Sunday.
New York is at Washington next Saturday night. Atlanta visits Philadelphia, St. Louis is at Minnesota, Green Bay is at Chicago, and Carolina goes to New Orleans on Sunday.
In the AFC, the Broncos clinch with a victory at home vs. San Francisco next weekend. The New York Jets (8-6) would get the other wild-card slot by winning at Miami on Monday night and then beating Oakland at the Meadowlands next Sunday.
The winner of Jacksonville at Kansas City, both 8-7, will have a chance of advancing with help from other teams. Same thing for Cincinnati, also 8-7, which hosts Pittsburgh. Tennessee (8-7 and winner of six straight) has a slight chance, as well, but needs to beat New England.