The NFL season is coming to a close and the standings are taking shape heading into Week 15 and with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks looking to lock up No. 1 seeds in the playoffs, teams like the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are fighting for division titles.
The Seahawks are tops in the NFC right now with an 11-2 record over the Saints, who have the edge in the south division over the Panthers after winning over them on Sunday night. The teams play again in two weeks and that could be a huge game, while the Patriots now are looking to try and rebound after losing Rob Gronkowski. The Panthers are going to make it in, just depends on where, while the Cowboys and the Eagles are battling for the NFC East division title. The playoffs should be very interesting in both the AFC and NFC and the wild card races are getting close.
Check here for the NFL standings.
Denver Broncos reached the playoffs and the Indianapolis Colts claimed the AFC South title after plenty of snow and weather elements on Sunday
Snow buried yard-markings, cut visibility and inspired the building of snowmen on the sidelines in four contests played in conditions that set up a slew of sensational scoring plays and a series of breath-taking comebacks.
In more conventional settings, the Broncos (11-2) charged past the Tennessee Titans (5-8) 51-28 to clinch a playoff berth and hand the Colts the AFC South division title.
Indianapolis (8-5) claimed their crown despite losing 42-28 to the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals (9-4).
The San Francisco 49ers denied their NFC West rivals the Seattle Seahawks a division-clinching victory by beating the visitors 19-17.
Frank Gore burst through Seattle's line for a 51-yard run to set up a game-winning, 22-yard field goal by Phil Dawson with 26 seconds left.
It was Dawson's fourth field goal of the game and improved the 49ers to 9-4 while dropping the Seahawks to 11-2.
The teams' two young quarterbacks dueled to a standoff.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick completed 15 of 29 passes for 175 yards with one touchdown with one interception. Seattle signal caller Russell Wilson hit on 15 of 25 passes for 199 yards, one TD with one interception.
SLIPPING, SLIDING
Early games in the East were hit by snow storms that caused slipping, sliding and an avalanche of big plays as offensive players in the open field cut past stumbling defenders.
The most frantic finish came in a 29-26 victory for the reigning Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (7-6) over the visiting Minnesota Vikings (3-9-1) that allowed the winners to maintain a fragile hold on an AFC wild card berth.
Five touchdowns were scored over the last 125 seconds of the game in ping-pong fashion.
"Oh my gosh. I don't know if there has ever been a crazier (finish) ever," Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters.
Flacco had the last laugh, throwing a nine-yard touchdown strike to Marlon Brown with four seconds left to cap a five-play, 80-yard drive that took just 41 seconds.
The last-gasp drive came after Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel threw a short pass to receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who raced 79 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 45 seconds left in the game.
(Reuters)
