Jets zoom into playoffs on final day; Pats are out

The New York Jets won the AFC East title -- and shook up the entire NFL playoff picture -- with an emphatic victory over Green Bay, while New England won't get to defend its Super Bowl title.

The Jets' 42-17 win over the Packers on Sunday knocked both the Miami Dolphins and the Patriots out of the playoffs. The Patriots made a last-ditch try for the postseason by coming back to beat the Dolphins at home, 27-24 in overtime.

The Jets, who started 1-4, not only rallied to win an unlikely division title, they sent the Cleveland Browns to the postseason and denied the Packers home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Atlanta got the final wild-card slot in the NFC despite losing 24-16 to the Browns. The Falcons made it in after the Saints lost to the Panthers 10-6.

In the AFC, the division winners are the Jets, Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Oakland. Cleveland and Indianapolis are the wild cards. The Colts got in when Kansas City lost to Oakland on Saturday.

In the NFC, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Green Bay and San Francisco won their divisions, with the wild-card spots going to the New York Giants and the Falcons. The Giants beat the Eagles in overtime Saturday.

Both New York teams are heading to the postseason for the first time in 16 years.

Green Bay's loss gave the Eagles (12-4) home field throughout the NFC playoffs. The Raiders have the advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

The playoffs open Saturday with the Colts at the Jets and the Falcons at the Packers. On Sunday, the Browns are at the Steelers and the Giants are at the 49ers. San Francisco finishes the regular season Monday night at St. Louis.

The Titans, Raiders, Eagles and Buccaneers -- who beat Chicago 15-0 on Sunday night -- have first-round byes.

Patriots 27, Dolphins 24, OT

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The Miami Dolphins blew two double-digit leads and the AFC East crown by losing to the Patriots.

Adam Vinatieri kicked a 35-yard field goal 2:03 into the extra session to cap the Patriots' comeback from a 24-13 deficit in the final five minutes of regulation.

Ricky Williams rushed for 185 yards and ended the season with 1,853 yards to win the league's rushing title.

Jets 42, Packers 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York running back Curtis Martin finished with 83 yards Sunday and 1,094 for the year, his eighth straight season over 1,000 for the Jets (9-7).

Browns 24, Falcons 16

CLEVELAND -- Rookie William Green ran for 178 yards and scored on a 64-yard TD run with 3:53 left to lift the Browns.

Despite the loss, the Falcons backed into the NFC playoffs as a wild card when New Orleans lost at home to Carolina. Atlanta last appeared in the postseason in 1998.

The Browns won without quarterback Tim Couch, who broke his right leg in the first half.

Panthers 10, Saints 6

NEW ORLEANS -- Carolina cornerback Terry Cousin had two interceptions and a fumble recovery to preserve the Panthers' victory.

After going 5-0 against first-place teams, the Saints (9-7) were 0-3 against last-place teams in the final three games.

Steelers 34, Ravens 31

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers overcame two more Tommy Maddox interceptions that set up touchdowns, rallying from 11 points down in the fourth quarter.

Titans 13, Texans 3

HOUSTON -- The Titans blocked a punt and field goal and Eddie George scored the game's only touchdown with 5:14 to play.

Bills 27, Bengals 9

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Drew Bledsoe ran for a touchdown and passed for another as Buffalo (8-8) erased memories of last year's 3-13 season.

The Bengals (2-14) set a franchise low for fewest wins in a season.

Redskins 20, Cowboys 14

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Redskins (7-9) ended a 10-game losing streak to the Cowboys as LaVar Arrington scored one touchdown and set up another with a pair of fumble recoveries.

The Cowboys finished 5-11 for the third time in Campo's three years as coach.

Vikings 38, Lions 36

DETROIT -- Daunte Culpepper threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Vikings won their third straight.

Broncos 37, Cardinals 7

DENVER -- Rookie Clinton Portis ran for a career-high 228 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Broncos.

Denver (9-7), which lost five of eight after a 6-2 start, missed the playoffs for the third time in four years since winning consecutive Super Bowls.

Colts 20, Jaguars 13

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts needed an 11-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Marcus Pollard with 2:26 left to put away the Jaguars (6-10).

Marvin Harrison caught six passes for a season-low 28 yards. He finished the year with an NFL record 143 receptions and 1,722 yards.

Seahawks 31, Chargers 28, OT

SAN DIEGO -- Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck scored the tying touchdown on a 1-yard sneak with a second left in regulation, and Rian Lindell kicked a 24-yard field goal with 5:02 left in overtime as the Seahawks stunned the Chargers.

Buccaneers 15, Bears 0

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked the perfect time to beat their cold-weather jinx.

With a first-round bye on the line, the Buccaneers' defense hounded the short-handed Bears (4-12), and Martin Gramatica kicked five field goals to give Tampa Bay the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

-- From wire reports