NEW YORK (AP) -The Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants secured playoff berths Sunday, while the Tennessee Titans took control of their fate in the AFC.
Jacksonville’s 49-11 romp past Oakland gave it an 11-4 record and the fifth seed in the AFC. The Jaguars will finish second to Indianapolis in the AFC South and will open the playoffs at either San Diego or Pittsburgh in the wild-card round.
“This was the first step,” cornerback Rashean Mathis said. “We have a few more steps to go. We are still climbing the mountain. We haven’t reached the top of it yet. We haven’t even peaked. After we peak, then the champagne bottles will come.”
The Giants weren’t popping any bubbly either after a 38-21 win at Buffalo that qualified them for the postseason. New York (10-5) will finish second to Dallas in the NFC East and will play at either Seattle or Tampa Bay in the wild-card round.
“I’m enjoying being 10-5,” linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “I’m looking forward to Christmas and looking forward to the playoffs.”
Tennessee controls the other AFC wild-card spot. After beating the New York Jets 10-6, the Titans (9-6) will make it by winning at defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis in a night game next Sunday. If the Titans lose, then Cleveland, also 9-6, will go no matter what it does against San Francisco in its finale.
Although Tennessee owns the tiebreaker if both win, the Browns play an NFC team and have completed their schedule against AFC opponents at 7-5. Tennessee is 6-5 in conference and must beat the Colts to get to 7-5, sending the tiebreaker to record against common opponents, where the Titans have the edge.
The race for the second wild card in the NFC is between Minnesota, Washington and New Orleans. The Vikings hosted the Redskins on Sunday night.
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