Falcons clinch playoff berth

The Atlanta Falcons capped an improbable comeback from a lost season Sunday, qualifying for the playoffs as a wild-card team by upsetting the Minnesota Vikings 24-17.

The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, lost for the second straight week, falling 30-23 at home to Buffalo, while the Chargers won their third straight, beating Tampa 41-24. That sets up a final-week showdown in San Diego for the AFC West title. The game has been moved to 5:15 p.m. and will be televised by NBC.

Those two results were part of a wild weekend that left five playoff berths still to be filled: three in the AFC and two in the NFC.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

The New York Giants (12-3) have won the East and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after beating Carolina (11-4), and the Falcons (10-5) have one of the wild-card spots.

Minnesota (9-6) could clinch the West if Chicago (8-6) loses tonight at home to Green Bay. The Vikings also can clinch by beating the Giants at home next week or, if the Bears win Monday, with a loss by Chicago in Houston next week.

Dallas, which lost Saturday night to Baltimore to temporarily lose control of its playoff fate, got it back Sunday after Tampa Bay was beaten by San Diego. The Cowboys need only to win at Philadelphia (8-6-1) next Sunday to get in.

If the Eagles win and the Bucs (9-6) lose at home to Oakland and Chicago loses at least once, then Philadelphia makes it.

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

Tennessee (13-2) has clinched the South and is guaranteed home-field advantage after beating North champion Pittsburgh (11-4) on Sunday. Indianapolis (11-4) also has clinched. The West will come down to Sunday's game in San Diego between the Broncos (8-7) and the Chargers (7-8).

And the East is still up for grabs among Miami and New England (each 10-5) and the New York Jets (9-6). The Dolphins and Jets play at the Meadowlands next Sunday and if Miami wins, it wins the division. If the Jets win and New England wins at Buffalo, the Patriots take the title. But if the Patriots lose and the Jets win, then the Jets are the champions.

Baltimore (10-5) leads for the second wild-card spot. If it wins at Jacksonville next Sunday, it joins Indianapolis as a wild card — it holds the tiebreaker over the Patriots, who could become only the second 11-5 team not to make the playoffs if the Ravens and Dolphins both win.

Notes

• Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis became the 24th player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 career yards.

• LaDainian Tomlinson of San Diego rushed for 90 yards to join Barry Sanders and Curtis Martin as the only players in NFL history to run for 1,000 in each of their first eight seasons.