Packers beat Bears, clinch No. 1 seed

With the first five-touchdown game of his NFL career, Aaron Rodgers ensured that the Green Bay Packers' playoff road will go through Lambeau Field.

He also made sure the rival Chicago Bears will be spending the playoffs at home.

Rodgers broke a close game wide open by leading three quick scoring drives in the second half, and the Packers beat the visiting Bears 35-21 on Sunday night.

Rodgers noted that he once threw six touchdowns in junior college - also in a rivalry game - but acknowledged this one was a little bit bigger.

"Yeah, this one's pretty special," Rodgers said.

With the win, the Packers (14-1) nailed down the No. 1 seed in the NFC and claimed another round of bragging rights in the NFL's most storied rivalry by knocking the Bears out of the playoff chase.

"We wanted the path to go through Lambeau," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson, another two to James Jones, and found tight end Jermichael Finley for a score. Rodgers was 21 of 29 for 283 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions when backup Matt Flynn took over for Rodgers with 7:54 left in the game.

Rodgers surpassed Lynn Dickey's single-season franchise record of 4,458 yards passing with one game left, although it's unclear how much Rodgers will play in the Packers' finale against Detroit.

The loss eliminated the Bears (7-8) from playoff contention and put the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs.

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Lions 38, Chargers 10: Host Detroit (10-5) made the playoffs for the first time since 1999 as Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes in the first half in beating San Diego (7-8).

The Lions have won three straight after a seven-game slump to earn a wild-card spot.

The Chargers will not be in the postseason for a second straight year after making it five times in a six-season stretch. And that might cost coach Norv Turner his job.

The Lions held San Diego scoreless until midway through the third quarter, when Philip Rivers threw an 11-yard pass to Malcom Floyd to make it 24-7.

Eagles 20, Cowboys 7: At Arlington, Texas, Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes and Philadelphia (7-8) beat Dallas (8-7).

This game became somewhat meaningless midway through the first quarter. A victory by the Giants eliminated the Eagles from the playoffs and turned the Dallas-New York game next weekend into a showdown to decide the NFC East title.

The Cowboys sat quarterback Tony Romo after one series and running back Felix Jones after two.

Vick threw a touchdown pass on the opening series and again just before halftime.