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SportsDecember 16, 2002

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East for the second year in a row as A.J. Feeley passed for two touchdowns, leading a 34-21 win over the Washington Redkins Sunday. The Eagles (11-3) can clinch home-field advantage in the NFC by beating Dallas and the New York Giants on the road. Washington (5-9) was sloppy as ever in Steve Spurrier's dismal first season as coach...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East for the second year in a row as A.J. Feeley passed for two touchdowns, leading a 34-21 win over the Washington Redkins Sunday.

The Eagles (11-3) can clinch home-field advantage in the NFC by beating Dallas and the New York Giants on the road. Washington (5-9) was sloppy as ever in Steve Spurrier's dismal first season as coach.

On the second play from scrimmage, Stephen Davis fumbled after breaking loose toward midfield. Michael Lewis recovered for Philadelphia, and Davis separated his right shoulder on the play.

That didn't lead to a score, but two other Washington fumbles did. Champ Bailey fumbled a punt for the second week in a row to set up a 28-yard field goal by David Akers. Carlos Emmons had a 44-yard fumble return for a score in the third quarter.

Broncos 31, Chiefs 24

DENVER -- Clinton Portis overcame two first-half fumbles and tied a team record with four touchdowns as Denver (8-6) beat Kansas City (7-7) to end a three-game losing streak.

Portis ran for three touchdowns and 130 yards, and had a spectacular 66-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

Kansas City's Priest Holmes had 161 yards on 18 carries, his fifth straight 100-yard game, but limped off with a right hip injury early in the fourth quarter.

Vikings 32, Saints 31

NEW ORLEANS -- Daunte Culpepper, who accounted for four touchdowns, fumbled the snap on a 2-point conversion with 5 seconds left, picked up the ball and lunged into the end zone as Minnesota (4-10) stunned New Orleans (9-5) for its first road victory in more than two years.

With 5:21 left, Culpepper drove the Vikings 73 yards, hitting a double-teamed Randy Moss for a 13-yard touchdown. Culpepper's conversion run ended Minnesota's 16-game road losing streak.

The Saints could have clinched a playoff spot, but fell two games behind Tampa Bay in the NFC South. Aaron Brooks completed 21 of 33 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked four times for New Orleans. which got 69 yards on 18 carries from Deuce McAllister.

Seahawks 30, Falcons 24, OT

ATLANTA -- Shaun Alexander's 27-yard touchdown run gave Seattle (5-9) a victory after Jay Feely of Atlanta (8-5-1) missed a 36-yard field goal in a history-making overtime session. It was the 22nd overtime game of the season, breaking the NFL record set in 1995.

Michael Vick helped the Falcons tie the game with a 12-yard TD pass to Trevor Gaylor with 17 seconds left in regulation. Vick then drove Atlanta to the Seattle 18, but Feely missed to the right, and the Seahawks quickly made Atlanta pay.

Dolphins 23, Raiders 17

MIAMI -- Ricky Williams ran for a modest 101 yards, but Miami's defense limited the NFL's top-ranked offense to a mere 218 yards as the Dolphins (9-5) clipped the Raiders (9-5).

Jason Taylor had three sacks, giving him at least one in a team-record seven consecutive games, and Patrick Surtain's interception ended Oakland's last bid.

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Bucs 23, Lions 20

DETROIT -- Martin Gramatica's 38-yard field goal with 3:04 lifted Tampa Bay (11-3) past Detroit (3-11) and put the Bucs into the NFC playoffs for the fourth straight season.

Packers 20, 49ers 14

SAN FRANCISCO -- Brett Favre passed for 201 yards in a steady downpour and Green Bay (11-3) stopped one last San Francisco (9-5) drive at its 11 with 22 seconds left.

Steelers 30, Panthers 14

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh (8-5-1) turned two Carolina (5-9) fumbles into touchdown runs by Jerome Bettis to seize control of the AFC North.

Colts 28, Browns 23

CLEVELAND -- Marvin Harrison broke an NFL record for receptions in a season with 127 -- including two touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in the second half -- as Indianapolis (9-5) rallied past Cleveland (7-7) to take the lead in the AFC South.

Jaguars 29, Bengals 15

CINCINNATI -- Mark Brunell threw a season-high three touchdown passes as Jacksonville (6-8) beat Cincinnati (1-13) before the smallest crowd ever at Paul Brown Stadium -- 42,092.

Giants 37, Cowboys 7

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tiki Barber scored on a 1-yard run and set up another touchdown in a 21-point first quarter with a 60-yard dash, helping the Giants (8-6) rout the Cowboys (5-9) and stay alive in the NFC wild card chase.

Bills 20, Chargers 13

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Travis Henry ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner from 26 yards with 52 seconds remaining, as Buffalo (7-7) beat San Diego (7-7).

Ravens 23, Texans 19

HOUSTON -- Jeff Blake threw two touchdown passes and Matt Stover kicked three field goals as Baltimore (7-7) beat Houston (4-10) and kept alive its slim playoff hopes.

Bears 20, Jets 13

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Chris Chandler completed 23 of 28 passes for 177 yards as Chicago (4-10) beat New York (7-7) to severely damage the Jets' playoff hopes.

-- From wire reports

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