Pittsburgh thumps Browns, nets first-round bye

Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes and the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 41-9 to win the AFC North and secure a first-round playoff bye.

Roethlisberger, who got to rest most of the second half, threw a 56-yard TD to Mike Wallace on his first pass.

The Steelers (12-4) built a 31-3 halftime lead and rocked the rival Browns (5-11), who didn't put up much of a fight in their finale.

Colts 23, Titams 20: Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes and Adam Vinatieri made a 43-yard field goal as time expired, giving host Indianapolis (10-6) a victory over Tennessee (6-10) and its seventh AFC South title in eight years.

Manning was 27 of 41 for 264 yards and threw his 398th and 399th career TD passes.

Texans 34, Jaguars 17: Arian Foster ran for 180 yards to capture the NFL rushing title in host Houston's (6-10) win over Jacksonville (8-8).

Falcons 31, Panthers 10: Matt Ryan and host Atlanta (13-3) put a decisive stamp on the NFC South title and home-field advantage in the playoffs with a win over anemic Carolina (2-14).

The Falcons earned their first division title since 2004, home-field edge throughout the NFC playoffs and a bye next weekend. The time off for Ryan and other starters came early, as backups took over in the fourth quarter.

Ravens 13, Bengals 7: Ed Reed had two interceptions and Ray Lewis recovered two fumbles, part of an opportunistic defense that carried host Baltimore (12-4) past Cincinnati (4-12).

Despite the victory, the Ravens failed to get the help necessary to win the AFC North. Baltimore needed Pittsburgh to lose to Cleveland, but the Steelers won easily to deny the Ravens a first-round bye.

Raiders 31, Chiefs 10: Michael Bush rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown and visiting Oakland (8-8) beat playoff-bound Kansas City (10-6) to gain a unique NFL distinction.

The Raiders finished 6-0 in the AFC West, the first team since the 1970 merger to go unbeaten in the division and not make the playoffs.

Packers 10, Bears 3: At Green Bay, Wis., Aaron Rodgers' 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Donald Lee to give Green Bay (10-6) the lead, and its defense held on to clinch a wild card berth by beating Chicago (11-5).

Buccaneers 23, Saints 13: Josh Freeman passed for two touchdowns and visiting Tampa Bay (10-6) beat New Orleans but failed to make the playoffs.

The Saints (11-5) will open the playoffs next Saturday on the road vs. Seattle.

Patriots 38, Dolphins 7: At Foxborough, Mass., Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes as New England (14-2) flattened Miami (7-9) to win its eighth straight.

Jets 38, Bills 7: At East Rutherford, N.J., Mark Brunell threw two touchdown passes in relief of Mark Sanchez, Joe McKnight ran for a career-high 158 yards and the New York (11-5) defense dominated Buffalo (4-12).

Lions 20, Vikings 13: Brett Favre stood in street clothes on the sideline in what likely was the final game of his 20-season career, watching host Detroit (6-10) beat Minnesota (6-10) for its fourth straight win.

Giants 17, Redsksins 14: At Landover, Md., Osi Umenyiora forced two of the defense's four turnovers, and New York stopped Washington (6-10) to end with a 10-6 record and no playoff spot after Green Bay defeated Chicago to clinch the final NFC postseason spot.

Chargers 33, Broncos 28: Rookie Ryan Mathews ran for three scores and Nate Kaeding kicked four field goals in visiting San Diego's (9-7) win over Denver (4-12).