Patriots, Seahawks clinch division titles

The New England Patriots can begin thinking about a fourth Super Bowl in six years after clinching the AFC East on Sunday.

Seattle also got into the playoffs, securing the NFC West. The big difference: New England won and the Seahawks were stunned in the final minute by San Diego.

The Patriots (11-4) dealt Jacksonville's postseason hopes a severe blow with a 24-21 victory that earned them a fourth straight division title. They can't have a bye in the first round of the playoffs, however.

"We've accomplished something now," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi while he donned a championship hat and T-shirt. "It's our first goal. We can look at it as a positive for the next couple of days. The first thing you have to do is to win the division and then go from there."

Who knows where the Seahawks (8-7) will go in the playoffs, considering how poorly they are playing. Seattle, the defending NFC champion, lost its third straight game when the Chargers' Philip Rivers found Vincent Jackson alone in the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left. The 20-17 win was San Diego's ninth straight and the Chargers (13-2) clinched a first-round bye.

"This doesn't have to be a morgue," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "To be honest with you, I am more on the upbeat side than the downbeat side. That's a good football team, the Chargers."

The Patriots and Seahawks joined Dallas, Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans, San Diego and Indianapolis with playoff berths. Philadelphia (9-6) secured at least a NFC wild card berth with its win Monday over Dallas.

The Ravens own the AFC North crown, while the Bears have the NFC North -- and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs -- the Saints the NFC South, and the Colts the AFC South.

Defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh (7-8) won't be back in the postseason after losing 31-7 to the Ravens. Also eliminated Sunday were San Francisco with a 26-20 defeat to Arizona, and Buffalo, edged 30-29 by Tennessee.

Denver (9-6) is in the best shape in the AFC.

In the NFC, Carolina, Atlanta, Green Bay, St. Louis and the New York Giants all are 7-8 and alive. For now, the Giants have the tiebreaker advantage despite losing six of seven games, including 30-7 to the Saints on Sunday.

In the AFC, the Broncos clinch with a victory at home vs. San Francisco next weekend. The New York Jets (8-6) would get the other wild-card slot by winning its final two games.

The winner of Jacksonville at Kansas City, both 8-7, will have a chance of advancing with help from other teams. Same thing for Cincinnati, also 8-7. Tennessee (8-7 and winner of six straight) has a slight chance, as well, but needs to beat New England.