Using the back door
If they are partying on Bourbon Street, the Saints aren't taking part. Not yet.
New Orleans, coming off a nomadic season forced by Hurricane Katrina, clinched the NFC South on Sunday despite losing to Washington 16-10. The Saints (9-5) got the title thanks to losses by Carolina and Atlanta this weekend.
"I won't be celebrating at all tonight if that's what you're wondering," quarterback Drew Brees said. "I have the shirt. I have the hat. They're in my bag. I'll go home and I'll put them in my closet."
Still, the Saints are going to the postseason with only their third division title.
Also heading to the playoffs are the Ravens, Cowboys and Colts.
Baltimore didn't back in, beating Cleveland 27-17 for at least a wild-card berth. Dallas won 38-28 at Atlanta on Saturday, then got its playoff spot when Carolina and Minnesota lost Sunday.
Indianapolis, which doesn't play until Monday night at home for Cincinnati, won the AFC South when Jacksonville fell at Tennessee 24-17.
Redskins 16, Saints 10The Redskins (5-9) punished the Saints' defense with a running attack that racked up 161 yards. Coming off a career-high 171 yards a week earlier, Ladell Betts gained 119 on 22 carries.
Ravens 27, Browns 17At Baltimore, the Ravens (11-3) blew a 14-point lead and were without injured quarterback Steve McNair. Then Demetrius Williams ran under Kyle Boller's long pass and took it into the end zone, a 77-yard strike that snapped a tie.
Bears 34, Buccaneers 31At Chicago, the Bears (12-2) blew a 24-3 second-half lead, then recovered with big plays from backups Rashied Davis and Adrian Peterson in overtime that led to Robbie Gould's 25-yard field goal.
Cowboys 38, Falcons 28On Saturday in Atlanta, Terrell Owens hauled in two touchdown passes, Marion Barber scored on two punishing runs and the Cowboys (9-5) came back after blowing an early 14-0 lead.
Titans 24, Jaguars 17The Titans' defense beat up David Garrard and returned turnovers 83, 92 and 61 yards for TDs as host Tennessee (7-7) won its fifth straight.
Eagles 36, Giants 22Jeff Garcia threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Brown and a 2-point conversion and Trent Cole returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown 10 seconds late in the fourth quarter.
Chargers 20, Chiefs 9At San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson turned a simple off-tackle play into an 85-yard touchdown run, and finished with 199 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries to take over the NFL rushing lead from Kansas City's Larry Johnson. It was Tomlinson's eighth straight 100-yard game.
Patriots 40, Texans 7A week after their worst loss of the season raised doubts how far they could go in the playoffs, the host Patriots dominated. New England (10-4) leads the AFC East and can clinch the title with a win next Sunday at Jacksonville.
Jets 26, Vikings 13Chad Pennington bounced back from a bad game with 339 yards passing and one touchdown in leading the Jets to their third straight road victory and a 5-2 overall record away from home.
