PATS EARN FIFTH STRAIGHT BYE

AROUND THE LEAGUE

* STEELERS 20, CHIEFS 12: At Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger passed for 220 yards and a touchdown, Le'Veon Bell added a score and the Steelers locked up a postseason berth with a methodical win over Kansas City. Pittsburgh (10-5) faces Cincinnati next week for the AFC North title. Either way, the Steelers will be playing January football for the first time in 3 years ago. Pittsburgh has won seven of nine. The Chiefs (8-7) have lost four of five and need to beat San Diego next Sunday and receive plenty of help to make it back to the playoffs for a second straight year under coach Andy Reid.

* FALCONS 30, SAINTS 14: At New Orleans, Julio Jones returned from a hip injury to catch seven passes for 107 yards, and the Falcons remained in playoff contention. Matt Ryan completed 30 of 40 passes for 322 yards and a TD and Devonta Freeman ran for a 31-yard score for Atlanta (6-9), which can win the NFC South by beating Carolina next week. The Saints (6-9), who committed three turnovers in the fourth quarter, lost their fifth straight at home and were eliminated.

* PANTHERS 17, BROWNS 13: At Charlotte, N.C., Cam Newton threw for one TD and ran for another as Carolina (6-8-1) took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The victory sets up the winner-take-all showdown next Sunday at Atlanta. The winner will join the 2010 Seattle Seahawks as the only teams in NFL history to reach the postseason in a non-strike-shortened season with a losing record.

Johnny Manziel made his second NFL start for Cleveland (7-8) but left with 1:49 remaining in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return.

* PACKERS 20, BUCCANEERS 3: At Tampa, Fla., Aaron Rodgers threw for 318 yards and one TD to help the Packers (11-4) clinch a wild-card playoff berth. Eddie Lacy scored on a 44-yard run, Jordy Nelson caught a 1-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter and had nine receptions for 113 yards, while Randall Cobb finished with 11 catches for 131 yards. Green Bay closes the regular season at home against Detroit, and a victory will give the Packers another NFC North crown. The Bucs (2-13) have lost five straight.

* LIONS 20, BEARS 14: At Chicago, Joique Bell scored the go-ahead touchdown on a sweet run in the fourth quarter, and Ndamukong Suh had two sacks for Detroit (11-4). Calvin Johnson added six catches for 103 yards for Detroit (11-4), which came away with a narrow victory over a struggling team after locking up its second trip to the postseason in 15 years. The Lions secured a playoff spot with the Eagles' loss to Washington on Saturday. They were hoping to lock up their first division championship since 1993. The NFC North race will come down to next week's game at Green Bay.

* TEXANS 25, RAVENS 13: At Houston, running back Arian Foster threw a TD pass, Randy Bullock made a franchise-record six field goals and Houston's defense dominated to keep slim playoff hopes alive. The Ravens (9-6) now need some help next week to get into the postseason after Joe Flacco threw a season-high three interceptions. Houston (8-7) remains in the hunt with the victory, but needs several teams to lose next week. With three quarterbacks hurt, the Texans started Case Keenum, who got his first win in nine NFL starts.

* DOLPHINS 37, VIKINGS 35: At Miami Gardens, Fla., Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, buoyed by a thrilling comeback win, said Joe Philbin will return as coach next season. Ross made his announcement in the locker room shortly after the Dolphins (8-6) won on a safety. Rookie Terrence Fede blocked a punt for a safety with 41 seconds left, and Ryan Tannehill threw four TD passes. The Dolphins overcame a 14-0 deficit to take the lead, but trailed again after giving up 15 points in an 11-second span in the fourth quarter. Minnesota fell to 6-9.

* GIANTS 37, RAMS 27: At St. Louis, Odell Beckham Jr. caught two TD passes and rolled up 148 yards receiving against a defense that hadn't allowed a TD in three straight games, leading the New York Giants over the Rams. Beckham set a franchise rookie record with his 10th and 11th TD catches, shattered another rookie mark for receptions and topped 1,000 yards. The Giants (6-9) had a season-best 514 yards in total offense and have won three in a row heading into their finale at home against the Eagles

* RAIDERS 26, BILLS 24: At Oakland, Calif., Derek Carr threw two TD passes and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals to help the Raiders knock the Buffalo Bills from playoff contention. The Bills (8-7) needed to win their final two games and get some help to end the NFL's longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. But they failed at the easiest part, beating the lowly Raiders (3-12), and will miss the playoffs for a 15th straight season.