LITTLE ROCK — 4 teams clinch
San Diego, Arizona and Minnesota clinched division titles Sunday, while Philadelphia surged into the playoffs as at least a wild card.
The Chargers (11-3) edged Cincinnati 27-24, and when Denver lost to Oakland, the AFC West belonged to San Diego for the fourth consecutive season.
The Cardinals (9-5) won the NFC West for the second successive year by beating Detroit 31-24, then having San Francisco lose at Philadelphia 27-13. The Eagles (10-4) moved into the postseason with that victory.
Philadelphia made the playoffs for the eighth time this decade.
Philly hosts Denver, then travels to Dallas, which is one game behind the Eagles in the division.
RESULTS Tennessee 27, Miami 24, OT Arizona 31, Detroit 24 Atlanta 10, NY Jets 7 Houston 16, St. Louis 13 New England 17, Buffalo 10 Cleveland 41, Kansas City 34 Oakland 20, Denver 19 San Diego 27, Cincinnati 24 Baltimore 31, Chicago 7 Tampa Bay 24, Seattle 7 Pittsburgh 37, Green Bay 36 Phila. 27, San Francisco 13 Carolina 26, Minnesota 7
BY THE NUMBERS
6 Number of seasons between 1,000-yard seasons for Miami’s Ricky Williams - an NFL record - after Williams eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark against Tennessee Titans on Sunday
8 Number of career kickoff returns for a touchdownby Cleveland receiver Joshua Cribbs after he returned two against Kansas City on Sunday
13 Consecutive losses to New England by Buffalo.
286 Rushing yards by Cleveland runningback Jerome Harrison, breaking Jim Brown’s team record.
503 Passing yards thrown by Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger46,256Announced attendance for the Houston-St. Louis game in St. Louis, the lowest in Rams history
Sports, Pages 17 on 12/21/2009