Site last updated: Saturday, September 19, 2026

Log In

Reset Password
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Patriots clinch home-field; Ravens, Jets, Chiefs get in

Redskins running back Ryan Torain (46) dives into the end zone over the top of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Don Carey (22) during Washington's 20-17 overtime win Sunday. The loss damaged Jacksonville's division title hopes.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are staying home throughout the AFC playoffs.

They secured the AFC's top seed and home-field advantage through the first three rounds with a 34-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It's the third time the Patriots (13-2) have finished first in the conference since 2003, and the eighth time in 10 years they've won the AFC East.

“It never gets old,” Brady said. “We never get tired of winning.”

Brady hasn't lost in Foxborough in the regular season since 2006, although the Patriots were routed at home by Baltimore in the playoffs last season. Still, it will be a tough task for any team to win at Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots are unbeaten in 16 consecutive regular-season games since losing to Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, 2008, with Matt Cassel in for an injured Brady.

“This football team is getting better,” nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. “We're not where we want to be by any means, but we're definitely moving forward.”

So are the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, who also clinched spots in the postseason in opposite ways. The Ravens (11-4) won at Cleveland 20-10, while the Jets (10-5) lost 38-34 at Chicago but got in when Jacksonville lost to Washington 20-17 in overtime.

Kansas City (10-5) earned its first AFC West championship since 2003 when it beat Tennessee 34-17 and San Diego lost at Cincinnati. The Chargers had won the last four division crowns. The Chiefs improved from 4-12 last year to have the best turnaround in franchise history, with a home game against Oakland remaining.

“It just means we were just that bad last year,” guard Brian Waters said. “Our goal is to get to the next part of the season.”

Philadelphia (10-4) clinched the NFC East without even playing when the New York Giants lost 45-17 at Green Bay. The Eagles' night game against Minnesota was moved to Tuesday night because of blizzard conditions in Philadelphia.

At Buffalo, Brady threw three touchdown passes, including two to tight end Rob Gronkowski, and extended his streak of attempts without an interception to 319. That topped the NFL mark of 308 set by Bernie Kosar with Cleveland in the 1990-91 seasons.

“I guess I'm glad I'm not throwing interceptions,” Brady said, shrugging off the record.

Brady finished 15 of 27 for 140 yards, and had his eighth straight game with two or more scores. Alge Crumpler had a 4-yard touchdown catch, Danny Woodhead scored on a 29-yard run and Shayne Graham kicked two field goals.

The Patriots round out their season by hosting Miami next weekend and are marching to the playoffs riding a seven-game win streak — their longest since going 16-0 in 2007. Brady's leading an offense that has scored 31 or more points in seven straight games. He also has thrown only four interceptions, and none in his past 10 games, since two in a 23-20 win over Baltimore on Oct. 17.

At Cleveland, Ed Reed picked off two of rookie Colt McCoy's passes as the Ravens clinched a postseason berth for the third straight season and stayed tied with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North.Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes, while Ray Lewis and Baltimore's tenacious defense backed up some pregame trash talk by bottling up Peyton Hillis. Baltimore still could win the division, but does not own the tiebreaker with the Steelers. The Ravens must beat Cincinnati at home and hope Pittsburgh loses at Cleveland next Sunday.“It doesn't matter,” Lewis said. “The only thing you can ask for in this business is to get in the dance. We're in and we have to take care of business against Cincinnati.”

At Chicago, Jay Cutler threw three touchdown passes, Matt Forte ran for 113 yards and the Bears (11-4) sent the Jets to their third loss in four games. Chris Harris intercepted Mark Sanchez's pass intended for Santonio Holmes with about a minute left to end New York's comeback bid, but the Jets' season won't be ending next week.The Jets clinched their second straight postseason trip under Ryan with Jacksonville's loss.The Bears won for the seventh time in eight games after blowing an early 10-point lead and are in good position to lock up a bye. Cutler completed 13 of 25 passes for 215 yards, with Johnny Knox catching four for 92 with two touchdowns, the second coming when he beat Antonio Cromartie on a 26-yarder that broke a 31-31 tie in the third quarter.

At Kansas City, Mo., Matt Cassel threw three touchdown passes and Eric Berry returned an interception 54 yards for another score for the playoff-bound Chiefs. Cassel hit 12 of his first 13 passes for the Chiefs, including touchdown tosses to Jamaal Charles on their first two possessions.The Titans (6-9) spent much of the game dropping passes, missing arm tackles and piling up penalties while losing for the seventh time in eight games.The Chiefs' 10 wins matched their combined total of the previous three seasons. Dwayne Bowe had six catches for 153 yards, including a career-best 75-yard touchdown as the Chiefs remained unbeaten in seven home games.

At St. Louis, Sam Bradford set an NFL record for completions in a rookie season and his first touchdown pass in four games helped put the Rams a win from a playoff berth. The Rams (7-8) need to win at Seattle (6-9) next week to clinch the NFC West and secure their first postseason spot since 2004.

At Tampa, Fla., Josh Freeman threw for 237 yards and a career-best five touchdowns to help the Buccaneers keep their playoff hopes alive.Kellen Winslow and rookie Mike Williams each had a pair of TD receptions for the Bucs (9-6), who guaranteed themselves a winning record after going 3-13 a year ago in their first season under coach Raheem Morris.Seattle (6-9) played most of the game without injured quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and lost for the seventh time in nine games.

At Cincinnati, Carson Palmer threw four touchdown passes during a near-perfect performance in the swirling snow, ending the Chargers' run of four straight AFC West titles.The Chargers (8-7) froze up in their coldest game in nearly three years, losing for only the second time in their last 22 games in December.Palmer led the Bengals (4-11) to their second straight win with a cast of reserve receivers.

At Green Bay, Wis., Aaron Rodgers threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns in his return from a concussion to lead the Packers (9-6), who need to beat Chicago next week to make the playoffs.The loss left the Giants (9-6) clinging to fading playoff hopes and wondering if there was a hangover effect from last week's collapse against Philadelphia. New York's turnover issues continued as the Giants lost two fumbles and Eli Manning threw four interceptions.

At Oakland, Calif., Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes and iced the game with a 27-yard keeper.The Colts (9-6) allowed Jacoby Ford to return the opening kick for a TD, overcame a pair of interceptions by Manning in the second half and survived four field goals from Sebastian Janikowski, including two from more than 50 yards, to move within a win of clinching the AFC South title for their ninth straight playoff berth.The Raiders (7-8) were eliminated earlier when the Chiefs beat the Titans.

At Jacksonville, Fla., Kevin Barnes intercepted David Garrard's second pass in overtime, setting up Graham Gano's 31-yard field goal.Rex Grossman had a touchdown pass early, and Ryan Torain added a 1-yard plunge on fourth down late as the Redskins (6-9) ended a four-game losing streak.The Jaguars (8-7) have lost two in a row and need to win at Houston next week and have Tennessee upset Indianapolis to win the AFC South.

At Miami, Detroit took advantage of two interceptions to score 17 points in the final 4:37. With the comeback, the Lions (5-10) have won three consecutive games for the first time since 2007.The Dolphins (7-8), eliminated from the playoff race last week, finished 1-7 at home to match a franchise low.

At Denver, Tim Tebow scored on a 6-yard scramble with 3 minutes left in his first home start to cap the Broncos' comeback from a 17-0 halftime deficit.Matt Schaub was driving the Texans for a go-ahead score when Syd'Quan Thompson picked off a pass deflected by Justin Bannan at the Broncos 27 with a minute remaining.

More in Professional

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS