NFL REGULAR SEASON CONCLUDES… It took until the conclusion last night’s final game of the regular season to complete the postseason picture…
The Las Vegas Raiders (10-7) fought off the L.A. Chargers (9-8) 35-32 in overtime to claim the final playoff spot in the form of an AFC wild card. Las Vegas will visit the AFC North-champion Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) on Saturday in the first round. The Bengals fell 21-16 to the Cleveland Browns (8-9) in yesterday’s regular-season finale.
Earlier, the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) outlasted the Baltimore Ravens 16-13 in overtime to pave their way into the postseason as a wild card. Pittsburgh opens the playoffs on Sunday at AFC West-champion Kansas City (12-5).
The Buffalo Bills (11-6) clinched the AFC East with a 27-10 win over the New York Jets (4-13) and are set to host the AFC wild-card New England Patriots (10-7) on Saturday in the first round. The Patriots fell 33-24 to the Miami Dolphins (9-8) yesterday.
The Tennesee Titans (12-5), who clinched the AFC South title last week, locked up the conference’s top seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a 28-25 win over the Texans.
Over in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers (10-7) rallied past the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) 27-14 in overtime to earn the conference’s final wild card. San Francisco opens the playoffs on Sunday at NFC East-champion Dallas (12-5), a 51-26 winner over the wild-card Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) on Saturday. Despite the loss, the Rams locked up the NFC West title and will host wild-card the Arizona Cardinals (11-6) on Monday night in the first round. The Cardinals closed their regular season with a 38-30 loss to the Seattle Seahawks (7-10). Philadelphia visits the NFC South-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4) on Sunday in the first round. The Buccaneers ended the regular season with a 41-21 win over the Carolina Panthers (5-12).
The NFC North-champion Green Bay Packers (13-4) dropped yesterday’s finale 37-30 to the Detroit Lions (3-13-1) after already clinching the conference’s top seed and a first-round bye.
In other regular-season finales…
MINNESOTA 31, Chicago 17…
Washington 22, N.Y. GIANTS 7…
JACKSONVILLE 26, Indianapolis 11…
New Orleans 30 – ATLANTA 20