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| Jets beat Colts as play-offs take shape • Colts suffer first defeat since October 2008• Eagles and Cowboys to meet in NFC East title deciderThe New York Jets rallied for a 29-15 victory over the Indianapolis Colts that ended the NFL's longest regular-season winning streak at 23 games.The Colts (14-1) pulled Peyton Manning and a handful of other starters out of the game, with a 15-10 lead and 5:36 left in the third quarter, allowing the Jets back in.Brad Smith opened the second half with a 106-yard kickoff return to give New York (8-7) a 10-9 lead. The Colts regained the lead at 15-10 when Donald Brown scored on a one-yard run. But after Manning left, Marques Douglas returned a fumble from Manning's replacement, Curtis Painter, for a touchdown. The Jets sealed it with a 43-yard field goal and Thomas Jones's one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. They Jets can now make the play-offs if they beat Cincinnati next Sunday.It was the Colts' first loss since 27 October 2008 at Tennessee, and it ended a franchise-record 13-game winning streak at home.At Foxborough, Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, three to Randy Moss, as the Patriots clinched the AFC East with a 35-7 victory over Jacksonville, which dented the Jaguars' hopes of making the play-offs. For the Patriots (10-5), it was another encouraging outing in what had been an inconsistent season. They took the division after missing the play-offs last season for the first time since 2002 despite an 11-5 record.In Cincinnati, Carson Palmer's touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco completed a 98-yard drive in the closing minutes, sending the Bengals to the AFC North championship with a 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals (10-5) moved into the play-offs for only the second time in the past 19 years after dealing with the death of receiver Chris Henry earlier in the week.The Green Bay Packers have secured a play-off berth after forcing four interceptions by Matt Hasselbeck in a 48-10 victory over Seattle Seahawks, then getting a big boost from the Carolina Panthers. The victory, combined with the New York Giants' blowout loss to Carolina, put the Packers (10-5) back in the postseason after getting off to a disappointing 4-4 start this year.The Dallas Cowboys returned to the play-offs, dominating their 100th meeting with Washington Redskins in a 17-0 victory, and setting up an NFC East title showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tony Romo threw for 286 yards, Jason Witten had a career-long 69-yard reception to set up a score, and the defence had a first clean sheet in this fixture for six years. After starting 0-2 this month, Dallas recovered to win back-to-back December games for the first time since 2003.Matt Moore and the Carolina Panthers turned a New York farewell to Giants Stadium into a forgettable moment, beating the Giants 41-9.Playing in front of legendary former player Lawrence Taylor, the Giants (8-7) embarrassed themselves against a team with nothing at stake. Moore threw three touchdown passes, Jonathan Stewart rushed for a career-best 206 yards and the Panthers (7-8) shredded New York's defence, scoring on six of their first seven possessions before a disgusted final sellout crowd.In Philadelphia, David Akers kicked a 28-yard field goal with four seconds remaining, to give the Eagles a 30-27 victory over the Denver Broncos. Kyle Orton rallied the Broncos from a 27-10 deficit in the third quarter, but Donovan McNabb led the Eagles on a winning drive in the final minutes.After starting 6-0, the Broncos are now tied with four other teams for the final two wild-card spots in the AFC and are no longer in charge of their own destiny.Jeff Reed's 38-yard field goal put the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the Baltimore Ravens with 5:25 remaining and the Steelers finally managed to hold a fourth-quarter lead to remain in play-off contention after the 23-20 victory.The Steelers (8-7), their season seemingly ended by a five-game losing streak, won their second in a row. They go into the final weekend with a chance to sneak into the play-offs if they win at Miami and get some help.Tampa Bay's Carnell Williams had 129 yards rushing and Connor Barth kicked a 47-yard field goal in overtime, lifting the Buccaneers to a stunning 20-17 victory that prevented New Orleans from securing home-field advantage throughout the National Football Conference play-offs. Favourites New Orleans dropped a second straight game at home after opening the season 13-0.Houston Texans raced to an early 27-point lead over the Miami Dolphins, then held on to remain in the AFC play-off scramble with a 27-20 victory. The Texans (8-7) scored on their first five possessions and won despite being outscored 20-0 in the final 31 minutes. Houston kept alive their slim hopes of making the play-offs for the first time, while defending AFC East champion Miami (7-8) were all but eliminated.In Glendale, Arizona, Kurt Warner threw for 196 of his 313 yards in the second quarter as the Arizona Cardinals beat the Rams for the seventh time in a row. The 31-10 victory ensured the Cardinals (10-5) reached 10 regular-season wins for the first time since 1976, 12 years before the franchise moved from St. Louis to Arizona.Frank Gore scored a touchdown and topped the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive year as the San Francisco 49ers closed out the home season with a 20-6 victory over the Detroit Lions, but it will not be enough to get them into the play-offs.Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes, including a 42-yarder to Roddy White on Atlanta's first play from scrimmage as the Atlanta Falcons beat the Buffalo Bills 31-3 in Atlanta. The victory left the Falcons (8-7) in position to post back-to-back winning records for the first time in franchise history. The Falcons, in their 44th season and eliminated from the play-off chase last week, close their season in Tampa Bay.Jerome Harrison had 148 yards rushing as the Cleveland Browns won their third straight game, beating Oakland Raiders 23-9. With consecutive wins over Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Oakland, the Browns (4-11) have their first three-game winning streak since 2007 and only their third since 1999.Week 16 resultsNew York Jets 29-15 Indianapolis ColtsNew England Patriots 35-7 Jacksonville JaguarsCincinnati Bengals 17-10 Kansas City ChiefsGreen Bay Packers 48-10 Seattle SeahawksDallas Cowboys 17-0 Washington RedskinsCarolina Panthers 41-9 New York GiantsPhiladelphia Eagles 30-27 Denver BroncosPittsburgh Steelers 23-20 Baltimore RavensHouston Texans 27-20 Miami DolphinsSt Louis Cardinals 31-10 Los Angeles RamsSan Francisco 49ers 20-6 Detroit LionsAtlanta Falcons 31-3 Buffalo BillsCleveland Browns 23-9 Oakland RaidersNFLUS sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Flyers-Bruins prepare for snow in Classic at Fenway Park When the NHL's Winter Classic begins New Year's Day at historic Fenway Park, the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins may be as awe-struck as ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Burnley are at least five years behind Bolton, claims Owen Coyle Owen Coyle has rejected the suggestion that he joined Bolton Wanderers as manager for financial gain and said that he left Burnley because they were at least five years behind the set-up at the Reebok Stadium. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Rafael Benitez thwarted again by late goal The first crossed ball came into Liverpool’s box like a smart bomb zeroing through the sky. Jose Reina climbed and biffed it away with a fist. Back into the area came the ball and Sotirios Kyrgiakos repelled it with a header. Another cross, another Reina punch; a further centre still and Jamie Carragher was heroic, beating Ricardo Fuller to clear for a corner when Stoke’s substitute striker was poised to score. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Ljungberg says he doesn't see threat of MLS work stoppage Swedish midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is bypassing a chance to play in Europe and honoring the two-year contract he signed with the Seattle S ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |