ATLANTA (AP) β The Carolina Panthers took the NFC South title by taking advantage of the mistake-prone Falcons in a 34-3 victory in Atlanta. Roman Harper scored on a 31-yard return in the second quarter, and Tre Boston helped clinch the win with his 84-yard interception return late in the third quarter. Cam Newton threw for a touchdown, ran for another and had a game-high 51 rushing yards on six carries as the Panthers finished 7-8-1, the first team to make the playoffs with a losing record since the 2010 Seahawks.
UNDATED (AP) β The Baltimore Ravens grabbed the final AFC wild-card berth by defeating the Cleveland Browns 20-10 while San Diego was absorbing a 19-7 loss at Kansas City. Joe Flacco went 8 for 9 for 161 yards and two touchdowns during a 17-point fourth quarter. He finished 22 for 36 for 312 yards, and the two TD passes gave him a career-high 27 for the season.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) β The Green Bay Packers are NFC North champs for the fourth consecutive year after Aaron Rodgers was 17 of 22 for 226 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 30-20 triumph over Detroit. Rodgers put the Packers ahead to stay with his second TD pass of the day to Randall Cobb, then scored on a one-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to put the Packers ahead 28-14. The Lions settle for a wild-card berth after falling to 11-5 despite Matthew Stafford’s three scoring strikes.
UNDATED (AP) β The Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up division titles. Marshawn Lynch scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 9-yard run with 12:07 remaining before the Seahawks completed a 20-6 win over St. Louis, giving Seattle the NFC West crown. The Steelers are AFC North champs after Ben Roethlisberger threw for 317 yards and two scores in a 27-17 triumph over Cincinnati.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) β The San Francisco 49ers were winners in Jim Harbaugh’s last game as their coach, beating Arizona 20-17. Harbaugh announced his departure during his postgame news conference, although he did not reveal if he resigned or was fired. Colin Kaepernick (KAP’-ur-nik) threw a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown pass to Bruce Miller late in the third quarter for the 8-8 Niners.
