DETROIT -- Jay Cutler threw for 257 yards and a touchdown and helped seal the game with a late scramble.
Despite beating the Lions 26-24, the Bears missed the playoffs.
Chicago (10-6) needed a Minnesota loss to Green Bay to reach the postseason.
The Lions (4-12) lost their last eight games and turned the ball over four times in the finale. Calvin Johnson fell short in his attempt to become the first player with 2,000 yards receiving in a season.
Cutler's 19-yard run on third down helped Chicago run out the clock late in the fourth quarter.
Bengals 23, Ravens 17
CINCINNATI -- Carlos Dunlap returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Ravens (10-6) had already clinched their second straight AFC North title, and they will open the playoffs at home against Indianapolis, which defeated Houston on Sunday.
The Bengals will travel to Houston.
49ers 27, Cardinals 13
SAN FRANCISCO -- Michael Crabtree caught touchdown passes of 49 and 7 yards as the 49ers won a second straight NFC West title.
Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-best 276 yards and two TDs as the Niners (11-4-1) earned a No. 2 seed thanks to Green Bay's loss to Minnesota.
Frank Gore ran for a 2-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter for his franchise-best 51st touchdown rushing.
Brian Hoyer went 19 of 34 for 225 yards and a late TD toss in his first
Seahwaks 20, Rams 13
SEATTLE -- Russell Wilson tied Peyton Manning's record for most touchdown passes by a rookie with 26, and his 1-yard TD run with 1:39 left allowed Seattle to finish as the only unbeaten team at home.
Seattle (11-5) entered the day with hopes of still winning the NFC West and getting a home playoff game, but those dreams were dashed when San Francisco beat Arizona. Seattle will be the No. 5 seed and face the NFC East winner -- Washington or Dallas -- next weekend.
The Rams (7-8-1) sacked Wilson six times, but couldn't come up with their first winning record since 2003.
Buccaneers 22, Falcons 17
ATLANTA -- The Falcons couldn't follow through with their plan to gain momentum for the playoffs as Josh Freeman threw a touchdown pass to Mike Williams and Doug Martin ran for 141 yards.
The Falcons (13-3) had little to play for as they already have home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs. Coach Mike Smith said he wanted to "finish the regular season the right way," and he stayed with his starters through the game.
The danger to Smith's strategy was losing a top starter to an injury. Defensive end John Abraham, Atlanta's best pass rusher, left with an apparent left ankle injury in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Dunta Robinson suffered a head injury in the first quarter and did not return.
Steelers 24, Browns 10
PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger threw three short touchdown passes, and Pittsburgh avoided its first losing season in nearly a decade.
Antonio Brown, Leonard Pope and Plaxico Burress scored for the Steelers (8-8). Pittsburgh's top-ranked defense forced four turnovers as the Steelers won for just the second time in the last six weeks.




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