Steelers win, advance to playoffs

Jerome Bettis made sure that what likely was his final game in Pittsburgh wasn’t the Steelers’ last game of the season.

Bettis matched his career high with three touchdown runs, none longer than 5 yards, and the Steelers overcame some sloppy defensive play to beat the Detroit Lions 35-21 Sunday and secure their 10th playoff appearance in 14 seasons under coach Bill Cowher.

Bettis, the fifth-leading rusher in NFL history, didn’t have a big yardage game – 41 yards – as Willie Parker got most of the carries while gaining 135 yards. But Bettis scored on runs of 1, 5 and 4 yards to help the Steelers (11-5) overcome an early 14-7 deficit against the Lions (5-11), who finished another dismal season with six losses in their final seven games.

The Steelers allowed Joey Harrington to throw three touchdown passes after allowing only one touchdown and 12 points in their previous three games, but still won their fourth in a row to return to the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.

Bucs 27, Saints 13

Joey Galloway caught his ninth and 10th touchdown passes to set a franchise season record and Tampa Bay beat New Orleans in Tampa, Fla., to clinch its first NFC South division title in three years.

Galloway rebounded from injuries that sidelined him for part of 2004 with 83 receptions for 1,287 yards, including TD passes of 7 and 4 yards from Chris Simms.

Colts 17, Cardinals 13

Indianapolis’ defense had a late goal-line stand after Jim Sorgi threw two touchdown passes to give coach Tony Dungy a victory over visiting Arizona three days after he returned to the team following his oldest son’s funeral in Tampa.

Indianapolis set a single-season franchise record for wins by avoiding its first three-game losing streak since midway through the 2002 season.

Chiefs 37, Bengals 3

Larry Johnson ran for 201 yards and a career-high three scores on 21 carries, his ninth straight 100-yard game, and broke Kansas City’s single-season rushing record as the Chiefs pounded playoff-bound Cincinnati in Kansas City, Mo.

Only Shayne Graham’s first-quarter field goal kept the Bengals from being shut out for the first time since 2001.

Dolphins 28, Patriots 26

Miami beat New England in Foxborough, Mass., for its sixth straight victory, its longest winning streak in 13 seasons.

Olindo Mare kicked four field goals for the Dolphins, who started the season 3-7, but closed strong under first-year coach Nick Saban.

Vikings 34, Bears 10

Brad Johnson passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns to lead Minnesota to a meaningless victory over NFC North champion Chicago in Minneapolis.

Thomas Jones ran 12 times for 62 yards in the first half to finish with 1,335 yards for Chicago. Jones’ rushing total was the highest for a Bears player other than Walter Payton and the greatest sum since Payton’s 1,551 yards in 1985.

Jaguars 40, Titans 13

Jacksonville scored 27 points in the first half and routed visiting Tennessee for its eighth win in the last nine games.

Jaguars backup quarterback David Garrard, filling in for the injured Byron Leftwich, was 10 of 16 for 128 yards before giving way to third-string QB Quinn Gray after halftime. Gray, a second-year pro, threw the first two TD passes of his career.

Rams 20, Cowboys 10

Its playoff incentive gone, Dallas couldn’t muster much enthusiasm against St. Louis in Irving, Texas.

Aveion Cason and Arlen Harris ran for their first touchdowns since 2003 and Jeff Wilkins added two field goals, giving the Rams a victory over the Cowboys that added one more disappointment to Dallas’ finish.

Jets 30, Bills 26

Justin Miller returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown with 5:58 remaining, and Ty Law had three interceptions as New York beat Buffalo in East Rutherford, N.J.

Browns 20, Ravens 16

Dennis Northcutt returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown and Cleveland defeated visiting Baltimore, which finished the season 0-8 on the road.

49ers 20, Texans 17 (OT)

Joe Nedney kicked a 33-yard field goal with 3:52 left in overtime and San Francisco earned its first consecutive victories in more than two years with a victory over visiting Houston.

The loss assures the Texans of the first pick in this year’s NFL draft.