NFL ROUNDUP \ Sunday’s other games

Cardinals 34, Rams 10

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner threw for 279 yards and the defense scored twice as the Cardinals clinched their first division title in 33 years. The Cardinals, long the league’s doormat franchise with just one winning season in the last 24 years, earned their first playoff berth since 1998 and first divisional title since they won the NFC East in 1975. They will host a playoff game for the first time since, as the Chicago Cardinals, they defeated Philadelphia to win the NFL title in 1947. Arizona’s defense scored both of the team’s second-half touchdowns, including a team record-tying 99-yard interception return by rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with 3:11 to play. Arizona (8-5) beat St. Louis (2-11) for the fifth straight time and extended the Rams’ losing streak to seven games.

Eagles 20, Giants 14

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Giants finally found some bigger distractions than Plaxico Burress: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and the desperate Eagles. But they still clinched the NFC East when Dallas lost to Pittsburgh. Westbrook ran 30 yards for a touchdown, caught another 40-yarder from McNabb, and the Eagles’ defense limited the Giants to 211 yards. The Super Bowl champions’ seven-game winning streak ended. McNabb finished 19-of-30 for 191 yards on a windy day as the Eagles controlled the ball for almost 35 minutes. Westbrook was the workhorse, gaining 131 yards on 33 carries and catching six passes for 72 yards. The Eagles (7-5-1) remained in the playoff hunt after winning their second straight.

Vikings 20, Lions 16

DETROIT — The Lions took another big step toward making NFL history. The Lions (0-13) had chances to win, as they did in a two-point loss at Minnesota, but couldn’t make enough plays, just as they have failed to throughout a miserable season. At this point, Detroit is expected to finish the season as the first 0-16 team in league history, with games remaining at Indianapolis, against New Orleans and at Green Bay. The Lions are the fourth team to start 0-13 or worse since 1976, when Tampa Bay infamously finished 0-14 as an expansion team. The Vikings (8-5) lost starting quarterback Gus Frerotte to a back injury, but Travaris Jackson filled in well and kept them atop the NFC North.

Broncos 24, Chiefs 17

DENVER — Jay Cutler guided the Broncos on a tie-breaking 95-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter and Denver’s defense stuffed quarterback Tyler Thigpen on fourth-and-goal. The Broncos (8-5) snapped a three-game skid at home and put themselves on the cusp of ending a three-year playoff drought. The bad news for the Broncos was they lost bulldozing rookie running back Peyton Hillis to a strained right hamstring. He’s their sixth tailback to go down this season.

Dolphins 16, Bills 3

TORONTO — Miami took advantage of an indifferent Bills “home” crowd, an inept Buffalo offense and the cozy indoors of the Rogers Centre to stay firmly in playoff contention. Chad Pennington completed 23 passes, including his final 11 attempts, and hit Anthony Fasano for a 20-yard touchdown as the Dolphins (8-5) won for the sixth time in seven games. The Dolphins’ defense did the rest, allowing only 163 yards to a Bills team playing its first of five annual regular season games in Toronto.

Patriots 24, Seahawks 21

SEATTLE — Matt Cassel calmly stared down blitzes for completions with his team’s playoff chances in the balance. Then Sammy Morris leaped into the end zone from 1 yard on fourth down with 2:44 remaining. Cassel was 26-of-44 for 268 yards and a touchdown, with no turnovers. Cassel was 5-for-8 on the decisive drive from the New England 29. He converted third-down throws to Jabar Gaffney and Wes Welker, who caught a season-high 12 passes for 134 yards.

Saints 29, Falcons 25

NEW ORLEANS — Pierre Thomas rushed for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns, and New Orleans kept alive it slim playoff hopes. Thomas scored his first touchdown on a 7-yard screen early in the fourth quarter. He also scored the winning touchdown on a 5-yard toss sweep, a score he set up with his 88-yard kickoff return after Matt Ryan’s 12-yard scramble had given the Falcons a 25-22 lead. Reggie Bush added 80 yards rushing, including a career-long 43-yard run that set up his 5-yard touchdown catch. Drew Brees was 18-of-32 for 230 yards and two TDs in one of the most balanced performances by New Orleans’ normally pass-heavy offense. New Orleans (7-6) finished with a season-high 184 yards rushing. Ryan, meanwhile, was 24-for-33 for 315 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Atlanta (8-5).

Bears 23, Jaguars 10

CHICAGO — Danieal Manning set the tone for a strong defensive effort with an early interception, and Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen caught touchdown passes. Robbie Gould kicked three field goals for the Bears (7-6). With the game-time temperature at 18 degrees, Manning warmed up the crowd when he picked off David Garrard and returned it 42 yards to the 5 on the third play from scrimmage. That set up Clark’s 2-yard touchdown catch.

Texans 24, Packers 21

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Playing his first game in a month because of a knee injury, quarterback Matt Schaub marched the Texans to set up Kris Brown’s 40-yard field goal on the final play of the game. It was the second straight late defensive meltdown at home by the Packers (5-8), whose playoff hopes pretty much disappeared. The Texans won despite committing four turnovers, perhaps the byproduct of a warm-weather team playing in temperatures that hovered around 3 degrees at kickoff.

Associated Press