Setting the stage

Seahawks top seed Malcolm Smith returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown, Marshawn Lynch added a 2-yard scoring run and the Seahawks clinched the NFC West title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 27-9 victory over the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Seattle (13-3) matched the franchise record for victories in a season and finally wrapped up the No. 1 seed after losses to San Francisco and last week to Arizona, which snapped a 14-game home winning streak. The Seahawks are looking to reach their first Super Bowl since the 2005 season, when they also had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Blount lifts Patriots LeGarrette Blount rushed for a career-high 189 yards and two touchdowns and had two long kickoff returns as the New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 34-20 and clinched a first-round AFC bye. Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals for the Patriots (12-4).

Panthers clinch Cam Newton threw two touchdown passes, Greg Hardy had a team-record four sacks and the Carolina Panthers clinched the NFC South with a 21-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers (12-4) earned a first-round bye and homefield advantage for at least one game as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. - Roundup, summaries, 5CPostseason glance All times Central AFC WILD-CARD ROUND JAN. 4 Kansas City at Indianapolis, 3:35 p.m. JAN. 5 San Diego at Cincinnati, 12:05 p.m.

DIVISIONAL ROUND JAN. 11 TBA at New England, 7:15 p.m.

JAN. 12 TBA at Denver, 3:40 p.m.

NFC WILD-CARD ROUND JAN. 4 New Orleans at Philadelphia, 7:10 p.m. JAN. 5 San Francisco at Green Bay, 3:40 p.m. DIVISIONAL ROUND JAN. 11 TBA at Seattle, 3:35 p.m.

JAN. 12 TBA at Carolina, 12:05 p.m.

Sports, Pages 15 on 12/30/2013

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