Sunday's roundup: Manning rescues Broncos, who grab top seed

Denver — The top seed in the AFC playoffs belongs to Denver, along with a quarterback quandary.

Peyton Manning's stint as a backup didn't last very long. He replaced Brock Osweiler in the third quarter Sunday and led the Broncos to a 27-20 win over San Diego.

Coach Gary Kubiak said he played a hunch, but he refused to reveal who will be his starter in the playoffs — or even acknowledge he has quite the puzzle at the position.

Osweiler threw for 232 yards, including a 72-yard TD pass to Demaryius Thomas on the game's second play. But he was victimized by five turnovers, including two interceptions that weren't his fault, and a fumble by Emmanuel Sanders at the 10-yard line after a 46-yard reception.

One of Osweiler's interceptions went off receiver Jordan Norwood's hands. His arm was hit by a linebacker on the other, and his day was done after a fumble by C.J. Anderson on the second play after halftime.

None of that was his fault, but the Broncos needed a spark and Manning provided it.

"I don't think Brock did anything wrong," Kubiak said. "I know we had the turnovers, but a couple of them he had nothing to do with. But just my gut told me to turn it over to him and let him lead the football team. I'm just very proud of him. He's worked really hard to stay there for us and it couldn't be a bigger day to be there for us."

Manning led Denver to 20 points in 1 1/2 quarters despite going just 5 of 9 for 69 yards.

"It was tough on the emotions," Osweiler said. "But winning the AFC West is what it's all about."

Denver did that for the fifth consecutive time, staving off the Kansas City Chiefs, whose 23-17 win over Oakland would have sent the Broncos (12-4) tumbling into the wild-card round with a loss to San Diego.

The Chargers (4-12) wrapped up what might have been their final season representing San Diego as ownership tries to move the team to L.A.

Manning's last scoring drive lasted one play: a 23-yard run by Ronnie Hillman after emergency safety Shiloh Keo, who surrendered Antonio Gates' go-ahead TD in the third quarter, picked off Philip Rivers' errant pass with just under five minutes remaining.

Keo was in because starter Darian Stewart aggravated a pulled hamstring, one of two big injuries for Denver. The Broncos also lost Pro Bowl pass rusher DeMarcus Ware to a knee injury.

Rivers, for one, was surprised to see Osweiler get the hook.

"It wasn't like he was stinking it up out there," Rivers said. "But not surprised in the sense that you have a guy that hasn't been a backup in a game since '94 and is one of the best of all time."

Manning was healthy enough to suit up for the first time in seven weeks. Previously, in street clothes he'd watched his longtime understudy either from the sideline or on TV while dealing with an injured left foot. This was Manning's first game serving as a backup since his freshman year at Tennessee when he replaced an injured Todd Helton against Mississippi State on Sept. 24, 1994.

Because he didn't start, Manning didn't break the tie he holds with Brett Favre for most regular-season wins, 186.

Manning led the Broncos to 10 quick points and a 17-12 lead, but the league's best defense frittered it away when Tyrell Williams broke free for an 80-yard TD that put San Diego back on top 20-17.

"We didn't want them to lay down, but we wanted them to lay down a little faster than that," Aqib Talib said with a chuckle.

Cornerback Steve Williams saw that they didn't. He stripped and recovered Sanders' fumble, intercepted the ball that bounced off Norwood's hands and forced a fumble on a sack.

Manning said his foot felt good after the game, but he has to see how he feels Monday after taking a hard hit from defensive tackle Damion Square.

"He got me right in the chest," Manning said. "I've got to see how I feel tomorrow. I'm glad we won the division. I'm glad we won this game today. That would have been pretty sickening (to lose). It's been a different year. I was glad to be able to contribute in some way today."

So was Osweiler.

"Football is the ultimate team sport. It takes the entire team to win and I think we showed that today," Osweiler said. "As long as this football team is winning games, shoot, I don't care who's playing quarterback."

(At) Buffalo 22, N.Y. Jets 17: Ryan Fitzpatrick threw interceptions on each of New York's final three drives and the Jets' playoff hopes were dashed.

The Jets (10-6) would have made the postseason for the first time since 2010 with a win, but the defeat combined with Pittsburgh's win at Cleveland ended those hopes. New York had a five-game winning streak stopped, and the loss came against former Jets coach Rex Ryan — fired by New York and hired by the Bills (8-8) last January.

Fitzpatrick, who had thrown just one interception in the Jets' winning streak, was picked off by Leodis McKelvin in the end zone early in the fourth quarter with New York driving.

The game was decided when Fitzpatrick's side-arm pass over the middle was intercepted by A.J. Tarpley with 11 seconds remaining.

(At) Miami 20, New England 10: Tom Brady was sacked twice and knocked down at least half a dozen times, and New England missed a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Brady watched New England's final offensive series from the sideline. With the Patriots eager to protect his health, he threw a season-low 21 passes, but even so was lucky to make it through the game in one piece.

New England (12-4) ends up as a No. 2 seed after Denver defeated San Diego to earn the top seed.

The Dolphins (6-10) wrapped up a disappointing season and are expected to embark on a search for their ninth coach since 2004.

(At) Houston 30, Jacksonville 6: J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus led the defense and Jonathan Grimes scored twice to help the Texans clinch the AFC South.

Houston will host Kansas City next weekend in a wild-card game.

Grimes had a 12-yard touchdown reception and added a 3-yard rushing score in the second quarter to help Houston take a 20-3 lead by halftime. Kareem Jackson added a score on an interception return in the fourth quarter to pad the lead.

Watt, playing without a cast for the first time since breaking his left hand Dec. 9, had had three sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another one to help the Texans (9-7) to their first division title and playoff berth since 2012.

Blake Bortles threw for 239 yards with two interceptions for the Jaguars (5-11)

(At) Cincinnati 24, Baltimore 16:

AJ McCarron overcame a rough start and threw a pair of touchdown passes.

The Bengals (12-4) matched the best record in franchise history — they also won 12 games during the 1981 and 1988 seasons when they reached the Super Bowl.

Cincinnati will host Pittsburgh next weekend in a wild-card game.

The AFC North champions wasted a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed when they lost in Denver 20-17 on Monday night.

The Ravens finished 5-11.

(At) Carolina 38, Tampa Bay 10: Cam Newton ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more, and Carolina captured the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time.

Newton tied Steve Young's NFL record for most career TDs rushing by a quarterback with 43. Young took 15 seasons to reach that plateau; Newton did it in five.

Newton completed 21 of 26 passes for 293 yards as Carolina (15-1) overcame a slow start to build a 31-3 lead in the third quarter.

Rookie Devin Funchess (Michigan) had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown and Cameron Artis-Payne ran for 44 yards and a score as Carolina won its 11th straight home game.

Jameis Winston was intercepted twice, and the Bucs (6-10) finished last in the NFC South for the fourth time in five years.

(At) Kansas City 23, Oakland 17: Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes, Kansas City sacked Derek Carr six times, and the Chiefs collected a franchise-best 10th straight win.

The Chiefs are headed to Houston for a wild-card game next weekend after Denver won the AFC West with its win over San Diego.

Regardless, the Chiefs (11-5) are somehow in the dance after a 1-5 start.

The Raiders (7-9), who accounted for two of those victories, had the ball with 1:34 left. But Carr was sacked one last time, and the clock expired before they came close to a go-ahead touchdown.

Seattle 36, (at) Arizona 6: Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes in a second-quarter outburst and Seattle snapped Arizona's nine-game winning streak.

Seattle will play at either Washington or Minnesota in the wild card round next weekend, depending on the outcome of Sunday night's game between the Vikings and Green Bay.

The Seahawks (10-6) dominated from their opening possession and led 30-6 at the half.

It was a sour end to the regular season for the NFC West champion Cardinals (13-3), who already had clinched the NFC's No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye.

Tyler Lockett set up three of Seattle's four first-half touchdowns — with punt returns of 66 and 42 yards and a 36-yard reception.

Philadelphia 35, (at) N.Y. Giants 30: The New York Giants suffered another tough loss in what may have been Tom Coughlin's final game.

Former Giant Walter Thurmond scored on an 83-yard fumble return in the third quarter and Philadelphia added to Coughlin's season-long frustrations.

It was the third straight loss for the Giants (6-10) and finished a third straight losing season and a fourth straight year out of the playoffs.

After meeting with Eagles interim coach Pat Shurmur at midfield, Coughlin walked off the field, waving to the crowd just before walking into the tunnel.

Coughlin, who led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles in his 12 seasons, has a year left on his contract. His future is expected to be decided soon by co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch.

The 69-year-old might retire and end his 20-year NFL head coaching career.

Washington 34, (at) Dallas 23: Kirk Cousins (Michigan State) threw for three touchdowns before leaving late in the first half of a playoff tune-up.

Cousins broke Jay Shroeder's franchise record for yards passing in a season, finishing with 4,166. Had the game mattered, he might have threatened Sonny Jurgensen's 48-year-old team record of 31 touchdown passes, instead settling for 29.

The Redskins (9-7) won four straight to finish the season, their longest streak since winning the last seven the last time they made the playoffs in 2012. The NFC East champions will be the No. 4 seed on wild-card weekend.

Kellen Moore had 435 yards passing and three touchdowns after throwing an interception and losing a fumble on a snap to help dig a quick 21-0 hole for the Cowboys (4-12).

(At) Indianapolis 30, Tennessee 24: Recently signed Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley each threw a touchdown pass in the first half and Jerrell Freeman scored on a 23-yard interception in the second for the Colts.

The Colts (8-8) won their last two games to avoid the first losing season since 2011, but didn't get the help they needed — a Houston loss and seven other games to go the right way — to make the postseason.

Josh Freeman was 15 of 28 for 149 yards and one interception while running Indy's regular offense. Lindley ran the 2-minute offense and gave Indy a 20-14 halftime lead with an 18-yard TD pass.

Tennessee (3-13) clinched the No. 1 draft pick by losing its fourth straight. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger fell to 0-10 as a starter.

New Orleans 20, (at) Atlanta 17: Jamarca Sanford's interception at the Atlanta 25 with less than two minutes remaining set up Kai Forbath's 30-yard field goal as time expired.

Sanford cut in front of Devonta Freeman for the interception with 1:47 remaining.

It was the Saints' sixth sweep of the season series with the Falcons in 10 years under coach Sean Payton. Payton is 15-5 against Atlanta.

The loss denied the Falcons (8-8) their chance to give first-year coach Dan Quinn a winning record. The Saints (7-9) avoided giving coach Sean Payton his first 10-loss season.

Drew Brees threw for 323 yards, including a touchdown pass to Ben Watson.

Julio Jones had nine catches for 149 yards for Atlanta.

(At) San Francisco 19, St. Louis 16 (OT): Phil Dawson kicked a 23-yard field goal 11:33 into overtime for his fourth of the game to lift San Francisco in what might have been Jim Tomsula's last game as coach.

Dawson came through after Greg Zuerlein's 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Dontae Johnson, giving San Francisco the ball back with 4:49 to play.

Blaine Gabbert passed for 354 yards and a 33-yard touchdown for the 49ers (5-11), who avoided their worst finish since 4-12 in 2005.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher finished 7-9 for his fourth straight losing season running the team.