Titans secure No. 1 seed; Falcons clinch playoff slot

Dec 22, 2008 - 4:34 AM By PA SportsTicker

Two of the league's biggest surprise teams made the biggest splashes in the NFL postseason chase on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans secured the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 31-14 victory over the Steelers in a showdown between the teams with the two best records in the AFC.

In the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons' feel-good story continued with a 24-17 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings, wrapping up a playoff berth 12 months after one of the more disastrous campaigns in franchise history.

The top seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs were at stake when the New York Giants (11-3) and Carolina Panthers (11-3) clashed Sunday night. New York already has clinched the NFC East and a first-round bye while the Panthers are assured of a wild card.

The New York Giants (12-3) claimed the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs after defeating the Carolina Panthers (11-4) on Sunday night. Carolina is already assured of a wild card spot and will claim the NFC South title with a victory at New Orleans next week.

Tennessee (13-2), which won its first 10 games, ended Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak as rookie Chris Johnson and LenDale White each rushed for second-half touchdowns.

"This was the message to the team this week: This was a momentum game for us," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "This was not a statement game by no means, but it was a momentum game. We needed to build momentum for the playoffs."

Atlanta had a nightmarish 4-12 season in 2007 that featured quarterback Michael Vick's arrest on federal dogfighting charges and the abrupt resignation of first-year coach Bobby Petrino after just 13 games.

In their place came came rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall draft pick, and rookie coach Mike Smith to help the Falcons pull off one of the most unlikely turnarounds in league history.

"I'm new to this, I've never had the opportunity to play in a game that could get you to the playoffs, so I was fired up," Ryan said.

Atlanta (10-5) took advantage of losses by conference foes Dallas (9-6), Tampa Bay (9-6) and Philadelphia (8-6-1) - as well as Minnesota (9-6) - to earn their playoff spot and throw the NFC postseason chase wide open.

The Falcons can still win the NFC South and grab the No. 2 overall seed with a victory at home over the woeful St. Louis Rams and a loss by the Panthers to the Saints next weekend.

The Vikings and Cowboys still control their playoff fates. Minnesota will win the NFC North by beating the visiting Giants and Dallas will capture a wild card with a victory at Philadelphia.

In the AFC, the Steelers are locked in as the No. 2 seed despite falling to Tennessee, but losses by the Denver Broncos (8-7) and New York Jets (9-6) on Sunday also opened up myriad possibilities.

The Broncos visit the San Diego Chargers (8-7) next weekend with AFC West title and No. 4 seed at stake.

The Miami Dolphins, who went 1-15 last season, can complete an astonishing turnaround with a victory at the Jets next week, which will clinch the AFC East title. If Miami loses, the New England Patriots (10-5) can claim the division by winning at Buffalo.

Indianapolis (11-4) already has the first wild card in the AFC wrapped up and the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) will secure the second wild card by beating the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.