Quick Kicks

NFL playoff picture

Buffalo clinched its sixth AFC East title in eight years with a 23-20 victory over Miami on Sunday.

The Bills dealt the Dolphins a blow to their playoff hopes and are likely to play in a wild-card round game on Dec. 30 or Dec. 31.

Buffalo joined Kansas City and Pittsburgh as AFC division winners. The Steelers, who beat New England 41-27 on Saturday, already have secured a first-round bye, and Kansas City is closing in on one.

Also assuring itself of an NFC playoff berth - and a first-round home game if it is a wild card - was Philadelphia, which edged Arizona 21-20.

Already in from the NFC are San Francisco, Dallas and Green Bay.

Atlanta faces the unenviable prospect of having to defeat San Francisco in its season finale to have a shot at the playoffs.

Detroit extended its winning streak to six games with a 44-0 victory Sunday against Jacksonville and remain in strong contention for a playoff berth. If Minnesota loses tonight at San Francisco, the Lions will make the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.

Even if the Vikings win, the Lions get in with a victory next week at Tampa Bay.

Barely alive is St. Louis, which fell 35-23 to Washington. At 7-8, the Rams must beat Miami next week and get help elsewhere.

Buffalo loves Cox

Bryan Cox walked off the field, spitting every few steps until he reached the tunnel and was showered with beer by the fans who love to hate him.

Cox had been ejected moments before the Buffalo Bills closed their 23-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Rich Stadium. Cox’s gesture appeared to be at the 79,531 who came to watch the Dolphins lose, but perhaps he was spitting at the whole messy season.

“We wanted to win this game bad,” Dolphins linebacker Chris Singleton said. “We came in here thinking we were going to win. We just came up short.”

The Dolphins, who started the season with four straight victories and Super Bowl potential, now might come up short of the playoffs.

Cox was tossed after getting into a fight with Buffalo fullback Carwell Gardner in the fourth quarter. Gardner attempted to get into the Miami locker room after the game, but was pushed away by security guards.

“I’ve got nothing to say,” Cox said.

Monday night matchup

The Minnesota Vikings can answer Steve Young and Jerry Rice with a scoring combination of their own in Warren Moon and Chris Carter.

Moon and Carter have been at the center of an offensive revival by the Vikings (8-6), who will try to keep it going tonight against the 49ers (10-4).

The matchup between two traditionally strong finishers - San Francisco and Minnesota have the best December records since 1992 - carries playoff implications for both sides.

San Francisco clinched the NFC West title when Atlanta lost 21-17 to Carolina on Sunday, but is still seeking home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye. Minnesota probably has to win its last two games to go to the playoffs for a fourth straight season under Dennis Green.

, DataTimes