Saints Make Playoff Move, Beat 'Zona

Tennessee upsets the Steelers' shot at top playoff berth

(NEWSER) - In NFL games today, New York Jets likely blew their playoff chances in a snowy loss to Seattle, while Tennessee clinched home-field advantage, AP reports:

• Seattle coach Mike Holmgren topped his former star player Brett Favre as the Jets missed several scoring chances and lost their bid to stay atop the AFC East, 13-3.
• The lowly Bills upended Denver, 30-23, as the Broncos failed to clinch a playoff berth.
• Tennessee routed the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-14 to clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
• With a 42-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Detroit Lions became the first team ever to go 0-15.

Atlanta outscores Seattle's 2nd string, Browns best San Fran

(NEWSER) - Chicago played spoiler for the second straight week, this time out-hustling New Orleans 33-25 despite gaining only 275 yards to the Saints' 413. The Bears' Devin Hester scored a record sixth kick return touchdown on the season and tacked on a TD reception in the win. Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke the NFL single-season completions record, nailing three TD passes in a losing effort. In other action: More»

Patriots top Bills, Saints crush Panthers, 49ers thump Rams

(NEWSER) - The New England Patriots overcame a 21-point deficit today with 49 unanswered points to rock the Buffalo Bills 49-21, the AP reports. The win earned the Pats home-field advantage and the AFC's top seed. Tom Brady threw for 338 yards and finished with the second-most passing yards in NFL history, 5,235—behind only Drew Brees, who threw for 5,486 this year with the New Orleans Saints. More»

Indy handles the Ravens, and New Orleans routs Arizona

(AP) - The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints are moving on in the playoffs. Peyton Manning led Indy to a methodical 20-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens and will play the winner of tomorrow's Jets-Chargers game for the AFC title. New Orleans, meanwhile, got big performances from Reggie Bush and Drew Brees and routed Arizona 45-14. The Saints will host the NFC title game for the first time in franchise history, playing the winner of the Cowboys-Vikings matchup. More»

Each game this round is a rematch, but don't expect similar results

(NEWSER) - All four match-ups for next weekend's NFL playoffs are been-there, done-that this season, but the outcomes aren't necessarily givens, USA Today reports:

• Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco's interceptions helped the Titans as much as Kerry Collin's 80-yard touchdown drive in defeating the Ravens, but Flacco's seen a lot of play since then.