Swann denies LA Clippers beat retirement Timberwolves comments aimed 120-116 at team16 18 TUES DAY, DECEMBER 24, 2013

High-flying Everton eye unbeaten home year Page 19

PHILADELPHIA: ’ Bryce Brown, right, breaks free of Chicago Bears’ James Anderson, top left, and Roc Carmichael during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, in Philadelphia. (Inset) smiles after throwing his fourth of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter yesterday. — AP Manning’s big day leads Broncos Panthers, Patriots, Bengals clinch playoff berths

INDIANAPOLIS: Not many players can overshadow a wild lost their seventh straight, the second in a row by one point. Pittsburgh in 1997. The Patriots (11-4) earned their fifth straight of his worst days as a pro, delaying any celebration of an NFC weekend of NFL playoff possibilities. Peyton Manning can. And Pierre Garcon (11 catches, 144 yards) broke Art Monk’s single- AFC East title. The 11th division crown for New England coach West championship. The Seahawks can clinch the division with did. Manning broke Tom Brady’s single-season record with his season franchise reception record, while coach Mike Shanahan Bill Belichick tied him with Don Shula for most since the 1970 a win over St. Louis next Sunday. Palmer twice was intercepted 51st touchdown pass, the last of four on Sunday in Denver’s 37- clinched his worst record in his 20 seasons as a . merger. The loss dropped the Ravens (8-7) into a tie with Miami in the end zone, including Richard Sherman’s second pick of the 13 win at Houston. New England’s Brady set the mark in 2007, and San Diego for the final AFC wild card slot. Baltimore gets in game early in the fourth quarter. After Seattle (12-3) took a 10-9 beating Manning’s previous record of 49 in 2004 with Steelers 38, Packers 31 with a win at Cincinnati. lead with 7:26 left, Palmer led the Cardinals 75 yards and found Indianapolis. At Green Bay, the Packers blew a chance to grab the NFC Floyd for a juggling TD catch. “I think it’s a unique thing and a neat thing to be a part of North lead. Le’Veon Bell ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:28 Bills 19, Dolphins 0 NFL history, even though it may be temporary,” Manning said left, then Pittsburgh withstood Green Bay’s last throw into the The Dolphins had a three-game winning streak snapped Giants 23, Lions 20, Ot after the Broncos (12-3) clinched the AFC West and a first-round end zone. Bell’s TD came soon after scrambling Packers quarter- and are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a fifth consecu- At Detroit, Josh Brown’s 45-yard field goal lifted the Giants playoff bye. “So I’m going to enjoy it as long as it lasts, and back Matt Flynn fumbled while being tackled by Troy Polamalu. tive season. With the loss, Miami (8-7) needs help from other and knocked the Lions (7-8) from postseason consideration. hopefully the Hall of Fame will send the ball back once some- The Steelers recovered at the Packers 17 and scored five plays teams, but must beat the New York Jets next weekend. Kyle They lost for the fifth time in six games, blowing fourth-quarter body throws for more.” later. Micah Hyde’s 70-yard kickoff return to the Steelers 31 gave Williams had two of Buffalo’s season-best seven sacks to key a leads in each setback that might seal Jim Schwartz’s fate. The Manning might have seemed an outsider to re-establish the the Packers one last chance. Green Bay got to the 1, but after a stifling defensive performance. The shutout was Buffalo’s first embattled coach chose to play for overtime by running out the standard considering the neck injuries that required surgery Packers penalty the game ended when Flynn’s pass to Jarrett since a 23-0 win over Washington at Toronto on Oct. 30, 2011. clock with 23 seconds and two timeouts left from the Detroit and forced him to sit out the 2011 season with the Colts. But Boykin sailed incomplete in the end zone. It’s a long shot, but And it was the Bills’ first shutout at Ralph Wilson Stadium since a 25. When the crowd reacted with a chorus of boos, Schwartz he’s been sensational in Denver and has more records in sight the Steelers (7-8) are still mathematically in the hunt for an AFC 21-0 win over Miami on Dec. 17, 2006. The Bills (6-9) closed their turned his head toward the stands and appeared to angrily with one game remaining. wild-card spot. They need a lot of help. home schedule with seven sacks for 56 this season, breaking shout back at the fans. Schwartz has lost nine straight games in He has a career-high 5,211 yards passing this season, third in their previous high of 50 during a 14-game season in 1964. December or January. The Giants (6-9) overcame ’s NFL history and 265 yards shy of the 5,476 yards Drew Brees Bengals 42, Vikings 14 late in regulation and Andre Brown’s on the gained in 2011. At Cincinnati, Vincent Rey returned an interception 25 yards Panthers 17, Saints 13 opening possession in overtime. “I’m grateful for people that helped me along the way and for a touchdown as the Bengals clinched the AFC North. Andy threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Domenik I’ve certainly put some time and work into it,” Manning said Dalton threw four touchdown passes as the Bengals (10-5) Hixon with 23 seconds left to lift the host Panthers to the team’s Chargers 26, Raiders 13 when asked if he could have predicted grabbing back the remained perfect at home and secured an unprecedented third first playoff berth since 2008. Carolina (11-4) can wrap up the At San Diego, the Chargers beat Oakland by overcoming record. “But no, it would be hard to say you could have imag- straight playoff appearance. In his past four home games, NFC South and a first-round bye with a win next Sunday at three turnovers while benefiting from two turnovers and 12 ined this at that point, so we’re excited about the win and hope- Dalton has thrown for five, three, three and four . Atlanta. The Panthers intercepted Drew Brees twice and sacked penalties for 73 yards by the Raiders. Philip Rivers threw a go- fully we can keep it going next week.” The Bengals have topped 40 points in each of their past four him six times to avenge a 31-13 loss two weeks ago. Still, the ahead, 4-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Ryan Manning regained his record with 51 when he threw for 400 home games, a club record. The Vikings (4-10-1) had allowed Panthers needed some big, last-minute plays from Newton. He Mathews ran for 99 yards and one touchdown, setting a career yards, with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The 51st the second-most points in the league heading into the game. led the Panthers 65 yards in 32 seconds for the winning score. high with 1,111 yards. Nick Novak kicked four field goals for San was on a 25-yard pass to Julius Thomas with 4:28 remaining. They gave up 40 for the third time this season. The Saints (10-5) still are in position to clinch a playoff berth. Diego (8-7). The Chargers have won three straight games for Just 21/2 minutes earlier, he tied the mark with a 20-yard pass They have dropped five of their last six games away from the the first time this season, but need more help to end a three- to Eric Decker. Patriots 41, Ravens 7 Superdome. year playoff drought. They have to beat Kansas City at home He entered the game with 47 and his first touchdown came At Baltimore, Logan Ryan had two , LeGarrette next Sunday and have Miami and Baltimore both lose. Oakland on a 36-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas in the second quarter. Blount scored twice and the Patriots ended the Ravens’ four- Cardinals 17, Seahawks 10 (4-11) helped San Diego, too, by committing all those penalties. The second was a 10-yard throw to Decker earlier in the fourth game winning streak. The previous time these teams met the At Seattle, overcame four interceptions to period. AFC title hung in the balance and Baltimore used a strong sec- throw a 31-yard touchdown to Michael Floyd with 2:13 left. The Jets 24, Browns 13 The loss extended Houston’s franchise-record skid to 13 ond half to pull out a 28-13 victory. In this one, New England Cardinals kept their postseason hopes going while snapping Geno Smith threw two touchdown passes to David Nelson games. Should they lose to Tennessee next week, the Texans (2- took a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter and never let up the Seahawks’ 14-game home win streak. Arizona (10-5) had to and ran for another score. Smith had his first game with at least 13) will own the first pick in the draft. The weekend concludes behind a defense that forced four turnovers and had four sacks. win after Carolina beat New Orleans. And the Cardinals did two TD passes since October, with no turnovers or sacks. The with Atlanta (4-10) at San Francisco (10-4) in the final game at It was Baltimore’s most lopsided loss since a 37-0 defeat at thanks to a stingy defense that flustered Russell Wilson into one rookie was 20 of 36 for 214 yards and also ran for 48 yards - Candlestick Park on Monday night. including a 17-yard scoring scamper in the fourth quarter. Chris Ivory rushed for 109 yards on 20 carries for the Jets (7-8), who Chiefs 23, Colts 7 NFL results/standings were eliminated from the playoff picture last week. Jason At Kansas City, threw for 241 yards and a Campbell was intercepted twice as the visiting Browns (4-11) touchdown, Donald Brown ran 51 yards for another score, and NY Jets 24, Cleveland 13; Indianapolis 23, Kansas City 7; Cincinnati 42, Minnesota 14; Denver 37, Houston 13; Tennessee 20, Jacksonville 16; lost their sixth straight. Indianapolis (10-5) assured Denver of the AFC West crown. The Buffalo 19, Miami 0; Carolina 17, New Orleans 13; Dallas 24, Washington 23; St. Louis 23, Tampa Bay 13; Arizona 17, Seattle 10; NY Giants 23, Chiefs (11-4) committed four turnovers. Jamaal Charles ran for Detroit 20 (OT); San Diego 26, Oakland 13; Pittsburgh 38, Green Bay 31; New England 41, Baltimore 7; Philadelphia 54, Chicago 11. Rams 23, Buccaneers 13 106 yards and the game’s opening score. Kansas City will be the Conference National Football Conference At St. Louis, Robert Quinn got three of St. Louis’ seven sacks fifth seed in the AFC playoffs and likely will visit the Colts in the AFC East NFC East and set a franchise season record. Quinn leads the NFL with 18 wild-card round. W L T OTL PF PA PCT Philadelphia 9 6 0 0 418 360 .600 sacks. He broke Kevin Carter’s franchise mark of 17 in the 1999 New England 11 4 0 1 410 318 .733 Dallas 8 7 0 0 417 408 .533 title season. Zac Stacy rushed for 104 yards on 33 Eagles 54, Bears 11 Miami 8 7 0 0 310 315 .533 NY Giants 6 9 0 0 274 377 .400 carries and a touchdown, and the Rams (7-8) matched their vic- At Philadelphia, threw two touchdown passes, NY Jets 7 8 0 0 270 380 .467 Washington 3 12 0 0 328 458 .200 tory total from last year. But left tackle Jake Long injured his LeSean McCoy ran for two scores and Philadelphia (9-6) set up a Buffalo 6 9 0 2 319 354 .400 NFC North knee on the first series. Coach Jeff Fisher believes Long tore a winner-take-all NFC East matchup at Dallas. That game has AFC North Chicago 8 7 0 1 417 445 .533 knee ligament. The Buccaneers (4-11) managed just 170 total been moved to prime time next Sunday. The Bears (8-7) came in Cincinnati 10 5 0 2 396 288 .667 Green Bay 7 7 1 0 384 400 .500 yards, setting a season low for the second straight week. Baltimore 8 7 0 1 303 318 .533 Detroit 7 8 0 1 382 362 .467 needing a win to clinch the NFC North and the No. 3 seed. But Pittsburgh 7 8 0 0 359 363 .467 the Eagles (9-6) played like the team trying to lock up a playoff Cleveland 4 11 0 0 301 386 .267 Minnesota 4 10 1 0 377 467 .300 Titans 20, Jaguars 16 berth. Now, the Bears must tie or beat the Packers (7-7-1) at AFC South NFC South At Jacksonville, Nate Washington scored on a 30-yard recep- home next week to win the North. Indianapolis 10 5 0 0 361 326 .667 Carolina 11 4 0 0 345 221 .733 tion in the fourth quarter and Tennessee (6-9) got a much- Tennessee 6 9 0 2 346 371 .400 New Orleans 10 5 0 0 372 287 .667 needed defensive stop late to end a three-game losing streak. Cowboys 24, Redskins 23 Jacksonville 4 11 0 0 237 419 .267 Atlanta 4 10 0 0 309 388 .286 The highlight for the Jaguars (4-11) came when Jacksonville Dallas (8-7) staged a late rally to stay in the postseason pic- Houston 2 13 0 1 266 412 .133 Tampa Bay 4 11 0 1 271 347 .267 honored retiring center Brad Meester with a reception - the ture. Tony Romo recovered from a bad interception and rallied AFC West NFC West pass-catching kind. The Jaguars called a screen play for the 14- the visiting Cowboys from a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit. Denver 12 3 0 1 572 385 .800 Seattle 12 3 0 0 390 222 .800 year veteran center who announced Wednesday that Sunday’s He found DeMarco Murray for a 10-yard touchdown pass on Kansas City 11 4 0 0 406 278 .733 San Francisco 10 4 0 0 349 228 .714 game would be his home finale. Meester reported as an eligible fourth down with 1:08 remaining. The victory ended a four- San Diego 8 7 0 1 369 324 .533 Arizona 10 5 0 0 359 301 .667 receiver, lined up at and then caught the game December losing streak for Dallas. The Redskins (3-12) Oakland 4 11 0 0 308 419 .267 St. Louis 7 8 0 0 339 337 .467 to gain 9 yards. — AP