Lions remain perfectly inept

The Detroit Lions own a dubious piece of NFL history -- with perhaps more on the way.

Detroit became the first 0-15 team ever when it was routed 42-7 by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Lions will try to avoid a perfectly awful season in the finale at Green Bay, where they haven't won since 1991.

Drew Brees threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns after four Saints ran for scores in the first half. Brees stayed in the game with a 35-point lead late in the fourth quarter to move closer to Dan Marino's single-season record for yards passing. He needs 402 at home against Carolina to break Marino's record of 5,084 set in 1984.

The Lions were outscored by a combined 176 points at home this season, smashing the previous record of 146 set by the 1981 Colts. Only the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976 went through a season winless in the modern era, but it was a 14-game schedule.

Titans 31, Steelers 14

Kerry Collins threw for a touchdown, Chris Johnson and LenDale White ran for a score apiece, and the Titans routed the Steelers in a showdown of the AFC's best teams. Tennessee clinched the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Titans, an NFL-best13-2, ended the Steelers' five-game winning streak and became the first team to top 300 yards against Pittsburgh (11-4) this season. They finished with 323 yards.

Falcons 24, Vikings 17

The Falcons' stunning turnaround season will roll on into the playoffs, thanks to Matt Ryan's unflappable poise, Justin Blalock's hustle and the generosity of the Vikings.

Ryan threw for a touchdown and made no big mistakes, Blalock recovered a fumble in the end zone for another score and the Vikings committed four turnovers as Atlanta (10-5) clinched a postseason berth. The Falcons were 4-12 a year ago.

Tarvaris Jackson made his second straight start for the Vikings (9-6).

Bills 30, Broncos 23

Now it all comes down to a trip to San Diego for the right to represent the woeful AFC West in the playoffs.

The Broncos blew an early 13-0 lead, setting up an all-or-nothing matchup against the Chargers next week for the division title.

The Broncos (8-7) led the Chargers (7-8) by three games with three to go, but now face the possibility of having led the West by themselves from opening weekend through Christmas with nothing to show for it.

Chargers 41, Buccaneers 24

Philip Rivers, the NFL's highest-rated passer, threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Chargers keep their playoff hopes alive and deal a crushing blow to the Buccaneers (9-6).

After their third straight win in what amounted to elimination games for a team that began the season with expectations of reaching the Super Bowl, San Diego (7-8) got the help it needed when Buffalo beat Denver.

Dolphins 38, Chiefs 31

Chad Pennington threw three touchdown passes, continuing one of the most remarkable comeback seasons in NFL history in temperatures that plunged into single digits. With their fourth victory in a row and eighth in nine games, the Dolphins (10-5) can clinch the AFC East next week, just one year after finishing a league-worst 1-15.

The Chiefs (2-13) concluded the home portion of what's certain to be the worst season in the 49-year history of the franchise. They were 1-7 at Arrowhead.

Patriots 47, Cardinals 7

New England is peaking in time for the postseason, crushing Arizona with a blizzard of points on a snow-covered field. It won't keep the Cardinals out of the playoffs. And it might not be enough to get the Patriots in.

The Patriots pressured Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner into one of his worst games in 11 pro seasons as he threw for just 30 yards.

The Cardinals' defense was as miserable as the weather, allowing the Patriots (10-6) to score on nine of their 10 possessions before quarterback Matt Cassel got the rest of the game off.

If the Patriots win at Buffalo next Sunday, they still may become the second team to miss the postseason with an 11-5 record since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978.

Seahawks 13, Jets 3

Seattle's Maurice Morris sliced through the snow like a sled for a season-high 116 yards and John Carlson scored the only touchdown on a short pass from backup Seneca Wallace as the lowly Seahawks ended New York's stay atop the AFC East.

New York (9-6) now must beat AFC East co-leading Miami at home next week and needs help in order to make the playoffs.

Redskins 10, Eagles 3

Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot stopped Eagles receiver Reggie Brown as he caught the ball near the goal line on the final play of the game.

Washington stymied an Eagles team that was averaging close to 33 points during a three-game winning streak, and Clinton Portis scored his first touchdown in eight weeks in a win that offered the Redskins a consolation prize on the day they were mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

Philadelphia (8-6-1) has a must-win game at home against Dallas in next week's season finale, and still could fall short of the playoffs with a victory.

Bengals 14, Browns 0

As bad as they've been, the Bengals can brag they're Ohio's best NFL team. And that ain't saying much.

Cedric Benson rushed for a career-high 171 yards and Leon Hall returned one of his three interceptions 50 yards for a touchdown to help the Bengals (3-11-1) get their first road win this season, over the hapless Browns (4-11).

Raiders 27, Texans 17

Johnnie Lee Higgins caught a 29-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 80 yards for another score as Oakland (4-11) defeated the Texans (7-8).

Giants 34, Panthers 28, OT

The NFC road to the Super Bowl will run through the Meadowlands because the New York Giants did what you have to do in bad weather -- run the ball.

Derrick Ward ran for career-best 215 yards and set up Brandon Jacobs' winning 2-yard touchdown run with 9:57 left in overtime and the Super Bowl champion Giants clinched the NFC's top seed for the postseason with a comeback victory against the Panthers (11-4).

New York (12-3) forced the overtime when Jacobs plowed into the end zone from a yard out, and Eli Manning hit Domenik Hixon on a slant pattern for the tying 2-point conversion with 3:21 to play.

-- AP