Cardinals, Titans and Giants all heading to the playoffs
Give Darnell Dockett a break. It's been a long time since the Arizona Cardinals have won their division, much less hosted a postseason game.
So what if he didn't know how to celebrate?
"My coach was like 'Act like you've been there before, act like you've been there before,"' the Cardinals defensive tackle said. "I said 'Coach, I ain't been there before. I don't know how to act right now."'
Arizona clinched the NFC West on Sunday with a 34-10 rout of St. Louis, assuring the Cardinals (8-5) will host a postseason game for the first time since 1947, when they called Chicago home. It's also their first division crown since 1975, when they represented St. Louis.
Tennessee and the New York Giants also clinched playoff spots, but those were a little more expected. The Super Bowl champion Giants (11-2) backed into the top spot in the NFC East after a 20-14 loss to Philadelphia, when Pittsburgh edged Dallas 20-13 to hand New York the division.
The Titans (12-1) boast the best record in the league and the best mark in franchise history following their 28-9 victory over Cleveland.
"We know there's a lot of things left we want to accomplish," quarterback Kerry Collins said. "Today was a good first step."
In other NFL games Sunday, it was: Baltimore 24, Washington 10; Minnesota 20, Detroit 16; Denver 24, Kansas City 17; Miami 16, Buffalo 3; San Francisco 24, the New York Jets 14; New England 24, Seattle 21; New Orleans 29, Atlanta 25; Chicago 23, Jacksonville 10; Indianapolis 35, Cincinnati 3; and Houston 24, Green Bay 21.
A subdued celebration in Nashville, Tenn., featured players dumping a cooler of water over coach Jeff Fisher for the Titans' second consecutive playoff berth. Fisher credited the Titans' 10-0 start with helping them wrest the division away from the Colts.
"It's a rewarding feeling," Fisher said.
The Giants' celebration at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., was even more subdued, after a chaotic week involving the Plaxico Burress fiasco culminated with a loss to Philadelphia that snapped their seven-game winning streak.
"We didn't play well," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "We didn't play the way we had been playing. We're a better football team than that."
Then there were the Cardinals, who've had just one winning season in the last 24 years and earned their first playoff berth since 1998.
In Glendale, Ariz., players knew enough about celebrating to dump a bucket of ice water on coach Ken Whisenhunt, who has the team in the playoffs in his second season as coach.
"It was pretty cold, too," Whisenhunt said. "I was excited to get a bath. That's one of the things I guess as a coach you dream about."
Michael Bidwill, the team's president and son of longtime owner Bill Bidwill, raised both fists in triumph as he trotted off the field. In the locker room, players donned T-shirts and hats with "NFC West Champions" emblazoned on them.
Bidwill said his father "is very, very happy. This is the first time he's gotten a hat, you know. He likes his hat a lot."
Steelers 20, Cowboys 13
At Pittsburgh, Deshea Townsend's 25-yard interception return with 1:40 left finished a 10-point rally in a span of just 24 seconds for the Steelers.
Until the closing minutes, Dallas (8-5) had held Pittsburgh (10-3) to 238 total yards.
Ravens 24, Redskins 10
At Baltimore, Ed Reed set up a touchdown with an interception and scored on a 22-yard fumble return to help the Ravens win for the seventh time in eight games.
Baltimore (9-4) also enhanced its stature in the wild-card race and remained one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North. Baltimore hosts the Steelers next Sunday.
Washington (7-6) has lost four of five. The teams play their home games only 32 miles apart, but this was only the fourth meeting between them. The Ravens hold a 3-1 lead in the series.
Vikings 20, Lions 16
At Detroit, the Lions (0-13) moved closer to becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history, and became the fourth to start 0-13 or worse since 1976.
The Vikings (8-5) lost starting quarterback Gus Frerotte to a back injury, but Tarvaris Jackson filled in well and kept them atop the NFC North.
Broncos 24, Chiefs 17
At Denver, Jay Cutler guided the Broncos (8-5) on a tiebreaking 95-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter, snapping a three-game skid at home.
The Chiefs (2-11) had a chance, but Tyler Thigpen was stuffed on fourth-and-goal late.
Dolphins 16, Bills 3
At Toronto, the Dolphins (8-5) won for the sixth time in seven games at the Rogers Centre in what was supposed to be a "home" game for the Bills. Buffalo (6-7) lost for the sixth time in seven games.
49ers 24, Jets 14
At San Francisco, Shaun Hill passed for 285 yards and two touchdowns and the 49ers sent the AFC East-leading Jets (8-5) to their second straight embarrassing loss.
Joe Nedney kicked a 32-yard tiebreaking field goal in the fourth quarter and Bryant Johnson made a diving TD catch with 6:05 left to lift the 49ers (5-8), who have won three of four.
Patriots 24, Seahawks 21
At Seattle, Matt Cassel threw for 268 yards and a touchdown to help the Patriots (8-5) forge a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East. Seattle (2-11) lost its sixth straight and has its worst record since going a franchise-worst 2-14 in 1992.
Saints 29, Falcons 25
At New Orleans, Pierre Thomas rushed for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns, helping the Saints (7-6) keep alive their slim playoff hopes.
Matt Ryan threw for 315 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Atlanta (8-5).
Bears 23, Jaguars 10
At Chicago, Robbie Gould kicked three field goals and the Bears (7-6) rebounded from a loss at Minnesota last week to remain a game behind the Vikings in the NFC North.
The Jaguars (4-9) have dropped four in a row and six of seven.
Colts 35, Bengals 3
At Indianapolis, Peyton Manning threw for three touchdowns, Dominic Rhodes ran for one and cornerback Kelvin Hayden's interception return produced another for the Colts (9-4).
Cincinnati (1-11-1) had four turnovers and Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked four times.
Texans 24, Packers 21
At Green Bay, Wis., Matt Schaub returned from a knee injury to march Houston within range for Kris Brown's 40-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
It was the second straight late defensive meltdown at home by the Packers (5-8), while the Texans (6-7) managed their second victory in six days.