Bills Buffalo Chiefs

The Buffalo Bills won a winor-go-home game to make the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons. For the first time in the 1990s, Kansas City will be sitting out the postseason.

Jim Kelly, battling the flu, threw 4-yard touchdown passes to Tony Cline and Quinn Early in the fourth quarter, lifting the sluggish Bills to a 20-9 victory over the visiting Chiefs and a home playoff game next week.

“We persevered,” Bills coach Marv Levy said. “We didn’t set the world on fire, but we got moving when we needed it. It’s a great credit to our players. It’s as exciting a win as I’ve had in some time.”

Steve Christie kicked field goals of 41 and 42 yards for the Bills.

“This team show its resiliency,” Bills defensive end Bruce Smith said. “Now that we’re in the playoffs, everybody is zip-zip. We all have the same record. It’s a whole new ballgame.”

Pete Stoyanovich’s three field goals accounted for all the scoring for the Chiefs, who needed a Jacksonville loss to reach the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

The Chiefs had been the only team to make the playoffs every season in this decade, and they lost four of their last five games after an 8-3 start to fall out of the picture, losing a tiebreaker to the onrushing Jaguars.

“I don’t know that we embarrassed ourselves,” Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “You embarrass yourself when you don’t play hard. Every player on this team played hard.”

Kelly completed 20 of 29 passes for 279 yards, two TDs and an interception. Thurman Thomas gained 43 yards rushing and joined Detroit’s Barry Sanders, who had been the only backs to eclipse 1,000 yards in eight straight seasons.

Jaguars 19, Falcons 17

At Jacksonville, Fla., the Jaguars had every reason to believe their season would end.

They were written off at 4-7 after a 28-3 loss at Pittsburgh five weeks ago. And they couldn’t help but hang their heads when Morten Andersen took the field for a 30-yard field goal that would have ended their season and their playoff hopes.

“I thought it was over,” quarterback Mark Brunell said.

Anderson, one of the best kickers in NFL history, appeared to slip as the ball squirted just left of the upright, giving the Jaguars a 19-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The victory was the fifth in the row for the Jaguars (9-7), capping an amazing turnaround that made them the second second-year expansion team in the playoffs.

“It almost renders me speechless,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “We’re in the playoffs.”

Panthers 18, Steelers 14

At Charlotte, N.C., the Panthers had more trouble with the Pittsburgh junior varsity than they’ve had with mighty San Francisco.

The Panthers clinched the NFC West title by beating the Steelers on three John Kasay field goals, a safety and Kerry Collins’ 9-yard touchdown pass to Wesley Walls on their first possession.

But the Pittsburgh backups who played most of the final three quarters gave the Panthers fits.

Kordell Stewart, playing full-time quarterback for the first time this season, ran 80 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, the longest run from scrimmage by a quarterback in the history of the NFL. Then he drove Pittsburgh into scoring position three times in the final quarter, only to be turned away by a Carolina defense that allowed only 56 second-half points all season.

The two most serious threats came late.

First the Steelers’ Ernie Mills dropped a fourth-down pass in the end zone with 3:54 left. Then Chad Cota intercepted Stewart with 29 seconds left on a pass from the 8.

It not only was the first division title for a second-year team, but just the third time in 14 years that San Francisco has failed to win the NFC West.

Eagles 29, Cardinals 19

At Philadelphia, Gary Anderson kicked five field goals and the Eagles got five sacks. William Fuller had three sacks for Philly, which held the Cardinals to 229 yards.

Bucs 34, Bears 19

At Tampa, the Bucs scored their most points in 57 games and extended their home winning streak to five. The Bears set an NFL record by losing their 18th straight regular-season road game in December and January.

Oilers 24, Ravens 21

At Baltimore, Steve McNair threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Houston won a sixth road game for the first time in franchise history. Baltimore’s Vinny Testaverde threw three touchdown passes to Michael Jackson, but the Ravens lost for the 10th time in 12 games.

Bengals 31, Colts 24

At Cincinnati, Jeff Blake threw a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes as the Bengals finished with their best record since 1990. Cincinnati was 7-2 under Bruce Coslet, whose contract has been extended for four years.

Dolphins 31, Jets 28

At East Rutherford N.J., Dan Marino threw for three touchdowns and rookie Karim Abdul-Jabbar gained 152 yards as the Dolphins finished at .500 in their first season under Jimmy Johnson.

Packers 38, Vikings 10

At Green Bay, Brett Favre threw three TD passes to break his own NFC single-season record with 39. It was Green Bay’s 16th straight victory at Lambeau Field, where the Packers have never lost a playoff game.

Redskins 37, Cowboys 10

At Washington, Terry Allen scored three touchdowns and Scott Blanton kicked three field goals as the Redskins won the final game at RFK Stadium. The Cowboys, already assured of the NFC East title, rested offensive stars Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Mark Tuinei and Eric Bjornson.

Chargers 16, Broncos 10

At San Diego, Junior Seau, despite spraining his right knee in the second quarter, dominated a game that had no playoff meaning.

Seau recovered two fumbles, setting up the Chargers’ first 10 points, and he deflected three passes.

Denver finished at 13-3, still the best in the AFC, despite losing backup QB Bill Musgrave to a separated right shoulder.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SUNDAY’S BEST

Quarterbacks Gus Frerotte 22-31-346-0-1 Vinny Testaverde 23-32-307-3-2 Jeff Blake 22-37-284-3-1

Running backs Karim Abdul-Jabbar 30-152-1 Natrone Means 27-110-0 Edgar Bennett 18-109-1

Receivers Henry Ellard 7-155-0 Curtis Conway 9-120-0 Michael Jackson 5-117-3