Taylor puts Jacksonville over the top

Fred Taylor’s 15-yard touchdown run with just more than 9 minutes left Saturday allowed Jacksonville to clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth with a 38-20 victory over the host Houston Texans.

The Jaguars trailed 13-10 at halftime and 20-17 in the fourth quarter before scoring three late touchdowns against the Texans (2-13), who have the league’s worst record and the inside track on the first pick in next April’s draft – likely Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

Jacksonville added two touchdowns late in the game on a 36-yard reception by Ernest Wilford and a 17-yard run by LaBrandon Toefield that was set up by an interception. That touchdown was Toefield’s third score of the day.

Dolphins 24, Titans 10

In his best performance since returning from a one-year retirement, Ricky Williams rushed for 172 yards and helped host Miami cap a perfect December for the first time in 20 years.

The Dolphins, eliminated from playoff contention last week, have won five in a row for the first time since 1999. They went 4-0 in December under first-year coach Nick Saban.

Lions 13, Saints 12

Jason Hanson rushed onto the field and kicked a 39-yard knuckleball field goal as the final seconds ticked off, giving Detroit a victory over New Orleans in San Antonio.

New Orleans, which lost on a bizarre penalty and rekick on the final play two months ago against Atlanta, figured to have this one locked away when John Carney kicked his fourth field goal for a 12-10 lead with 1:52 to play.

Joey Harrington, who had been benched twice this season, then connected with Roy Williams for two big completions on the Lions’ final drive.

Bills 37, Bengals 27

Terrence McGee ran a kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown and returned an interception 46 yards for another as Buffalo broke a five-game losing streak with a win in Cincinnati.

For the first time all season, the Bengals failed to win a game in which they were heavily favored. The 65,485 fans filed out glumly in their orange-and-black Santa hats after McGee made the final play of his remarkable game.

Cowboys 24, Panthers 20

Terry Glenn caught a 2-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds to play to give Dallas the win and ruin Carolina’s chance to lock up a postseason berth in Charlotte, N.C.

Dallas (9-6) needed a second chance to win, getting it when Julius Peppers was called for running into the kicker after Billy Cundiff missed a game-tying 33-yard field-goal attempt with 1:12 to play. The Panthers thought Peppers – who blocked a Cundiff attempt in the first half – or Ken Lucas tipped the ball, but an official review said they didn’t, and Dallas had three more chances.

After two running plays, Drew Bledsoe found Glenn in the corner of the end zone for the winning score.

49ers 24, Rams 20

Frank Gore ran 30 yards for a touchdown and seldom-used Maurice Hicks scored untouched on a 73-yarder on the game’s first snap as the 49ers (3-12) ended a seven-game losing streak with a win in St. Louis.

The win dropped them behind Houston in the race for the first pick in next April’s draft and the probable rights to Bush.

Steelers 41, Browns 0

Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass and Willie Parker had an 80-yard TD run as the Steelers improved their playoff chances.

With thousands of their fans waving “Terrible Towels” from every corner of Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Steelers dominated the Browns as thoroughly as in almost any meeting in the rivalry’s 55-year history, outgaining them 457-178 and sacked rookie quarterback Charlie Frye eight times.

Pittsburgh can clinch a wild-card playoff spot by beating Detroit at home next week.

Cardinals 27, Eagles 21

Josh McCown threw touchdown passes to Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and Arizona beat depleted Philadelphia.

Karlos Dansby returned an interception 11 yards for a score in the final game at its “temporary” home since the franchise moved from St. Louis to Tempe, Ariz., in 1988.

Broncos 22, Raiders 3

Jake Plummer threw for 268 yards, Mike Anderson surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season as host Denver clinched the AFC West and a first-round bye in the playoffs by beating archrival Oakland.

Kerry Collins was 17 for 41 for 178 yards for the Raiders and threw an interception in the Denver end zone.