The last time the Detroit Lions made the NFL playoffs, Barry Sanders was their star.
They’re back, for the first time in 12 years, earning an NFC wild-card berth by beating San Diego 38-10, knocking the Chargers from contention Saturday.
“This is an accomplishment,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “It’s a big step for our team and our organization.”
The Lions gave owner William Clay Ford the game ball.
Detroit (10-5) plays at NFC North champion Green Bay next Sunday before going on the road in the wild-card round.
New England, which already owns the AFC East title, grabbed a first-round bye with a 27-24 comeback victory against Miami. The Patriots (12-3) will have home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs if they beat Buffalo next week.
“It’s good to clinch,” said Deion Branch, who caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady, “but not by the way we played. It’s not the way you want to do it.”
The Dolphins led 17-0 at halftime before New England stormed back.
The New York Giants beat the local rival Jets 29-14 to tie Dallas at 8-7 atop the NFC East. The Cowboys, who lost 20-7 to Philadelphia, visit the Giants next Sunday night, with the winner taking the division, the loser going home.
Dallas lost to the Giants 37-34 on Dec. 11.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo missed most of Sunday’s game with a bruised right hand as Dallas got within 7 seconds of being shut out.
“We need to be as healthy as we can be next week,” coach Jason Garrett said.
The Giants virtually ended the Jets’ shot at the AFC playoffs in a sloppy game.
“Given everything that was at stake, and all the noise that has been coming out of Florham Park,” Giants co-owner John Mara said of the Jets’ bragging all week that they were the better team, “yeah, it means a little more.”
Denver’s 40-14 loss at Buffalo dropped it into a tie atop the AFC West with Oakland, which beat Kansas City 16-13 in overtime. Still, if the Broncos (8-7) beat Kansas City in Denver next Sunday, they take the division.
“Everything is still on the table,” quarterback Tim Tebow said. “We have to go and execute and play a little better. Hopefully, we can get in the tournament.”
The Raiders get in if they defeat the Chargers in Oakland and the Chiefs beat the Broncos.
“The man told me, `Hue, we’ll win it in the end.’ I believe that,” said Raiders coach Hue Jackson, reflecting on a conversation he had with Al Davis before the Raiders owner died in October. “I don’t know how it’s going to happen. I don’t care how it’s going to happen.”
Baltimore and Pittsburgh remained atop the AFC North at 11-4, with the Ravens holding the tiebreaker after sweeping the Steelers. Baltimore beat Cleveland 20-14 and Pittsburgh blanked St. Louis 27-0.
If the Ravens win at Cincinnati (9-6) next week, they take the division and the Steelers get a wild card. If the Bengals win, they not only hand the Steelers a chance to grab the AFC North, but the Bengals get the last conference wild card.
“We started this quite a while ago _ seems like just yesterday,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said after a 23-16 win over Arizona, which was eliminated from NFC wild-card contention. “But now we’re right where we want to be at the end.”
Seattle (7-8) also dropped out of the NFC wild-card race with a 19-17 home loss to San Francisco (12-3), which currently is seeded second to the Packers (13-1 heading into the Sunday night game with Chicago) in the NFC and owns the NFC West crown.
Tennessee (8-7) has a slim hope of grabbing the final AFC wild card, but needs tons of help despite a 23-17 win over Jacksonville.
If Atlanta (9-5) beats New Orleans (11-3) on Monday night, it still could take the NFC South, but would clinch at least a wild card. The Saints already are in the playoffs.
Also with an outside shot at a wild card is Chicago (7-7), which must win its last two games and have the Falcons fall twice.
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