Giants & Titans Clinch Top Seeds; Bears & Chargers Given New Life

NFL 2008 13-2 Tennessee Titans Defeat Steelers for AFC's top seed

The results have been unpredictable to say the least.

Heading into the final week of the 2008 regular season, the Chargers (7-8) are now in control of their own playoff destiny, the Bears (8-6) can win the NFC North with help from the Giants, while the Jets playoff chances look dim, after consecutive road wins over the Patriots and then-undefeated Titans

Remember November, when the Jets were being mentioned in the same sentence with the Giants and Super Bowl XLIII.

Colts 31, Jaguars 24

Week 16 did get off to a predictable note on Thursday night as the Colts defeated the Jaguars on the road, 31-24.

Peyton Manning was 29-for-34, passed for 364 yards and three TDs as the Colts (11-4) won their 8th in a row and, more importantly, clinched a playoffs berth as the AFC's 5th seed.

Ravens 33, Cowboys 24

But on Saturday night, unpredictability surfaced again as the Ravens defeated the Cowboys in Texas Stadium, 33-24.

The Ravens - Cowboys game had started out as advertised, a showdown between two elite NFL defenses. The Ravens took a 9-7 lead into halftime. The Ravens then added 7 points in the 3rd quarter for a 16-7 lead. But, then in the 4th quarter it was all about the offense as each team scored 17 points.

The Cowboys appeared to be dictating the rhythym of the game scoring twice to get within two points of the Ravens. But, each time the Ravens responded with spectacularly long runs from scrimmage. Willis McGahee first scampered for a 77-yard TD run, then Raven's fullback Le'Ron McClain burst through a Cowboys defense caught in headlights like deer for an 82-yard TD run. This a week after the Cowboys defense shut down the Giants for a 20-8 win.

Saturday's game may now wind up being the last NFL game at Texas Stadium as the Cowboys travel to Philadelphia and face the Eagles. Meanwhile, the Ravens gained control of the AFC's other wildcard slot. With a win at home against Jacksonville the Ravens are the number 6 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Then on Sunday, unpredictability got downright nasty as the Buccaneers, Eagles and Jets gave up control of their playoff destiny, while the Vikings and Broncos gave life to the Bears and Chargers.

Chargers 41, Buccaneers 24

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers led the San Diego Chargers, 24-20, as the fourth quarter started. But, the Chargers outscored the Buccaneers 21-0 in the the 4th quarter for a 41-24 victory. Chargers QB Philip Rivers found Antonio Gates on a five-yard TD pass for a Chargers 27-24 lead, then Darren Sproles took a screen pass 32 yards for a TD and 34-24 lead. Antoine Cason sealed the victory for the Chargers when he returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown.

The Bucs (9-6) lost their first home game of this season against a Chargers team that was previously 2-5 on the road. The Buccaneers now host the Raiders at home, but need the Eagles to defeat the Cowboys at home to make the playoffs. On the other hand, the Chargers (7-8) winners of 3 straight have complete control of their destiny, if not the advantage as they face the Broncos at home for the AFC West division title.

Redskins 10, Eagles 3

Due to the Cowboys and Buccaneers losses, the Eagles started their game against the Redskins in control of their playoff destiny. The Eagles winners of 3 straight and with a reputation for strong Decembers was visiting a Redskins team that had lost to the Bengals the previous week. Furthermore, the Redskins had lost 5 of their last 6 games.

The Eagles dynamic offensive duo -- Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook -- were somewhat invisible as the Eagles were unable to score a TD in the game. In fact, McNabb's fumble led to the only touchdown of the game.

Seahawks 13, Jets 3

After yesterday's debacle in Seattle, the Jets find themselves at the mercy of the Buffalo Bills, that is, if they can manage to beat the Dolphins at home. For the Jets to make the playoffs they need to win and the Patriots to lose to the Bills.

For the Jets, the west coast is definitely a problem as they are 0-4 on the road to the Chargers (7-8), Raiders (4-11), Niners (6-9) and Seahawks (4-11). Brett Favre was 18 for 31 with 187 passing yards, two interceptions and a miniscule 48.7 passer rating.

A Jets loss to the Dolphins and Chad Pennington on Sunday may wind up being the ultimate irony.

Chris Collinsworth: "You have to wonder, 'Is this the end of an era?' Brett Favre, at the end of the season, playing in an unlikely snowstorm in Seattle cannot knock off the 4-11 Seahawks. Amazing."

Falcons 24, Vikings 17

The Falcons were 3-4 on the road facing a Vikings team that had won 4 straight games and was 5-1 at home. But, the Vikings fumbled the ball 7 times handing the Falcons the win and a playoff berth. The Vikings must now beat the Giants at home in order to win the NFC North and make the playoffs.

Bills 30, Broncos 23

The Bills, losing to the Jets last week on late-game fumble, were ready to roll over for the Broncos in Denver. And in the beginning it appeared as though that was the way it would play out as the Broncos led 13-0.

But halfway thru the second quarter and on, the Bills played like they did in the first half of the NFL season when they started 5-1. The Bills managed to outscore the Broncos 30-10 even though the Broncos outgained the Bills 532 to 275 yards. Jay Cutler threw for 359 yards on 25-of-45 with 1 interception. Cutler's interception came with 6 minutes left in the game at the goal line.

Titans & Giants Clinch Top Seeds

However, a sense of logic did come back as the Titans won and the Giants regained their form to clinch the top seeds in the AFC and NFC plus gain the ever-important home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Titans clinched early on Sunday as they defeated the AFC's number two seed Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 31-14.

A solid offensive attack that netted the Titans 323 yards with scores on a Kerry Collins TD pass and TD runs from Chris Johnson and Lendale White were key to beating the visiting Steelers winner of 5 straight.

It was the first time the Steelers surrendered over 300 yards this 2008 season.

The Steelers attempt at a comeback was thwarted late in the game as Michael Griffin intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger pass and returned it 83-yards up the sideline for a Titans TD.

Meanwhile, the Giants closed out the day with a 34-28 victory in overtime over the Panthers.

With the NFC number 1 seed on the line, the Giants overcame an 11-point deficit in the second quarter and an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers in overtime. Brandon Jacobs scored his third touchdown of the game for the win, a two-yard run 5 minutes and 3 seconds into the overtime.

The Giants rushed for 301 yards. Derrick Ward ran for 215 yards on 15 carries (14.3-yard average). Brandon Jacobs added 87 yards rushing along with the 3 TDs after sitting out last week's Cowboys game with an injury. Eli Manning was 17-of-27 for 181 yards and 1 touchdown pass.

For the Panthers, DeAngelo Williams had a spectacular day scoring all four Carolina touchdowns (13-yards, 5-yards, 1-yard and 30-yards). Jake Delhomme completed 11-of-19 for 185 yards.

Giants & Titans Clinch Top Seeds; Bears & Chargers Given New Life - NFL 2008 Week 16