Week 17: Steelers take the AFC North; Panthers, Packers win division titles
Every Sunday, theScore brings you the biggest and most interesting stories as they happen. Check back throughout the day for important updates on everything you need to know.
Steelers claim the AFC North
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won the AFC North after a 27-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh was powered by Antonio Brown, who had a 71-yard punt-return score and 63-yard touchdown grab.
A concern for the Steelers will be the health of Le'Veon Bell, who was lost with a knee injury. If he can't go in the playoffs it's going to limit what Pittsburgh can do offensively.
The Steelers will now host the Baltimore Ravens next weekend and the Bengals will have to travel to Indianapolis and face the Colts.
Panthers win the NFC South
The Carolina Panthers lost six straight games at one point this season, but they are now going to be hosting a playoff game.
Carolina crushed the Atlanta Falcons 34-3 thanks to nearly 200 yards on the ground and a pair of pick-6s thrown by Matt Ryan.
The seven-win Panthers will now play host to the Arizona Cardinals on Wild Card Weekend and have become the first NFC South team to win the division two years in a row.
Packers top Lions to capture NFC North
The Detroit Lions still haven't won in Green Bay since 1991.
Green Bay jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but a pair of Calvin Johnson grabs leveled the score in the third quarter.
However, after leaving briefly with a calf injury, Aaron Rodgers returned to lead the Packers to a 30-20 victory.
The win earned the Packers a first-round bye and means the Lions will have to travel to Dallas and play the Cowboys next weekend.
Seahawks earn NFC's top seed
For the second straight season, the Seattle Seahawks will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Seattle defeated the St. Louis Rams 20-6 to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Seahawks endured struggles earlier this year, but have rounded into form at the perfect time. Anyone travelling to Seattle in January is in for the monumental task of trying to knock out the defending champs.
Baltimore is postseason bound
The San Diego Chargers simply needed to win on Sunday to reach the postseason, but the Kansas City Chiefs weren't having it. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 19-7 with backup Chase Daniel at the helm.
Kansas City made life miserable for Philip Rivers, sacking him seven times on the day.
The Chargers' loss opened the door for the Baltimore Ravens, who took down the Cleveland Browns 20-10 to secure the final playoff berth in the AFC. Baltimore is locked into the sixth seed.
Houston, which needed both the Chargers and Ravens to lose, put up a valiant fight. The Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17, but the Ravens' win officially knocked them out of contention.
Sunday was the last we'll see of J.J Watt until next season.
Buccaneers grab first overall pick
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be picking first overall in 2015 after losing to the New Orleans Saints.
Last time the Buccaneers had the 1st pick, they took Vinny Testaverde (1987).
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 28, 2014
Tampa came close to squandering the top pick after jumping out to a 20-7 lead over New Orleans, but the Saints stormed back to take it 23-20.
The loss gave Tampa a 2-14 record, and based on a tiebreaker with the Tennessee Titans, next year's top pick.
DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant set Cowboy records
The Dallas Cowboys captured the NFC East last week and have turned their attention to setting some team records.
DeMarco Murray became the Cowboys' single-season leading rusher on Sunday and Dez Bryant did the same when it comes to receiving touchdowns.
Bryant caught a pair of scores in the first quarter against the Washington Redskins to give him 16, and Murray exceeded Emmitt Smith's record of 1,773 rushing yards on an early run.