Monday, December 23, 2002
Oakland has won three straight AFC West titles and can clinch home-field advantage with a win Saturday against Kansas City.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rich Gannon and Eddie George helped their teams clinch division titles -- with a little help from their big rivals.
Gannon set the NFL record for completions in a season and passed for 201 yards as the Raiders won the AFC West for the third straight season with a 28-16 home victory over Denver on Sunday.
The Raiders (10-5) were able to clinch after the San Diego Chargers lost 24-22 to Kansas City.
Tennessee clinched the AFC South with a 28-10 victory in Jacksonville, with George running for two touchdowns and 89 yards.
The Titans (10-5) also got some assistance en route to the division crown -- Indianapolis lost at home 44-27 to the New York Giants.
The rest of the AFC playoff race is unclear. Twelve of the 16 teams remain mathematically alive for the playoffs -- only Houston, Cincinnati, Jacksonville and Buffalo have been eliminated.
Other spots
In the NFC, Tampa Bay (11-3) clinched the NFC South without playing because New Orleans lost 20-13 to Cincinnati. If Philadelphia (12-3) beats the New York Giants next weekend, the Eagles get home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
Gannon broke Warren Moon's 11-year-old record for completions in a season in the second quarter and now has 411 completions this season.
He finished 18-for-27 with one TD and needs 475 yards in the season finale against Kansas City to break Dan Marino's record of 5,084 yards passing, set in 1984.
After scoring on its first three possessions, Oakland weathered a strong second-half comeback led by backup Steve Beuerlein, who passed for 234 yards after relieving an injured Brian Griese for Denver (8-7).
Tennessee's Steve McNair ran for a season-high 58 yards and threw for 115 against the Jaguars (6-9).