Tom Brady and Peyton Manning clinched division titles, Cam Newton reached the postseason for the first time and a pair of all-ornothing games loomed on the final weekend in a scrambled NFL playoff race.

The Chicago Bears missed a chance to seal a spot with a 54-11 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday night. Now, they’ll host Green Bay next Sunday — the winner takes the NFC North, the loser is done.

Several hours later, in the last game of the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys will host the Philadelphia Eagles. The Sunday night showdown decides who wins the NFC East and who goes home.

“Today we felt like we were playing for everything,” Tony Romo said after his fourth-down TD pass with 1:08 left Sunday sent Dallas over Washington 24- 23. “Next week will be the same thing.”

Meanwhile, all the AFC division titles got settled. Denver, New England and Cincinnati won to join Indianapolis with crowns.

Kansas City is assured of one AFC wild-card spot. Defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore, Miami and San Diego are tied at 8-7 for the other slot with even Pittsburgh at 7-8 still in it.

Advertisement

Newton and his Carolina Panthers, along with Seattle, are the only NFC teams with guaranteed playoff berths.

San Francisco (10-4) can clinch a playoff spot tonight with a win against visiting Atlanta.

Newton threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 23 seconds left to beat New Orleans 17-13, putting the Panthers in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Carolina (11-4) can wrap up the NFC South and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win next Sunday at Atlanta.

The 49ers, New Orleans and Arizona are competing for the last two NFC playoff slots.



Comments are not available on this story.