Weekend Sports In Brief
PRO FOOTBALL
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Dallas ended a four-year playoff drought in a dominating 42-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, with Tony Romo throwing four touchdown passes and breaking Troy Aikman's franchise record for yards passing.
The Cowboys (11-4) emphatically ended a three-game home losing streak, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions to take the NFC East.
Dallas had an opening for its first division title and postseason berth since 2009 because of Philadelphia's 27-24 loss at Washington on Saturday. The Eagles were eliminated with the Cowboys' win.
The Colts (10-5) didn't have much to play for with the AFC South title secured, and looked like it while barely avoiding their first shutout loss in 21 years.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Tom Brady and the Patriots will be resting at home for the start of the playoffs.
The only question left is whether the AFC's road to the Super Bowl will run through New England.
Jonas Gray scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter after New England intercepted Geno Smith, and the Patriots clinched a bye with a 17-16 victory over the New York Jets.
New England has earned a bye in five straight seasons, the longest streak since the current playoff format began in 1990.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross stood on the sideline at the end of Sunday's wild victory sharing a laugh with those around him, his mind made up regarding the direction of the franchise.
He's keeping his coach.
The Dolphins will sit out the playoffs for the sixth year in a row despite Sunday's 37-35 victory over Minnesota, but afterward Ross announced Joe Philbin will return for a fourth season as coach.
Ross said his decision wasn't based on what happened Sunday, but the win certainly helped the Dolphins' mood after dismal back-to-back losses spoiled their playoff hopes.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston was cleared Sunday of the accusations he faced at a student code of conduct hearing involving an alleged sexual assault two years ago.
Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Major Harding wrote in a letter to Winston that the evidence was ''insufficient to satisfy the burden of proof.'' Prosecutor Willie Meggs made a similar decision a year ago when he decided not to criminally charge Winston, citing a lack of evidence.
This month, a two-day hearing was held to determine whether Winston violated four sections of the code of conduct - two for sexual misconduct and two for endangerment.
The woman can request an appeal within five days.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Terrance Broadway passed for 227 yards and a touchdown, Hunter Stover kicked three field goals and Louisiana-Lafayette defeated Nevada in the New Orleans Bowl 16-3 on Saturday.
Stover kicked a career-best 46-yard field goal in the first half and added kicks of 35 and 30 yards for the Ragin' Cajuns (9-4), who completed their fourth consecutive nine-victory season with their fourth straight New Orleans Bowl win.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Nick Vigil ran for a touchdown and also combined with his brother to make 16 tackles as Utah State shut down UTEP 21-6 Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl.
Utah State (10-4) won a bowl game for the third straight year. UTEP (7-6) fell to 0-6 in postseason play since winning the 1967 Sun Bowl.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Utah quarterback Travis Wilson ran for three touchdowns and passed for another Saturday, leading the No. 23 Utes to a 45-10 rout of Colorado State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Wilson rushed for a season-high 91 yards on 11 carries and completed 17 of 26 passes for 158 yards.
Utah (9-4) scored three times in the first quarter and finished with 548 total yards, including 359 on the ground.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Shayne Davern ran for a career-high 101 yards and two touchdowns and Air Force beat Western Michigan 38-24 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on a soggy Saturday night.
Dexter Walker returned a fumble 60 yards for Air Force, which finished the season 10-3 after going 2-10 last year. Miami of Ohio was the last previous team to follow a 10-loss season with 10 victories, going from 1-11 in 2009 to 10-4 in 2010.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Roger Lewis caught a 78-yard touchdown pass from James Knapke with 1:04 remaining to lift Bowling Green to a 33-28 victory over South Alabama on Saturday night in the inaugural Camellia Bowl.
The Falcons (8-6) responded one play after the Jaguars (6-7) took their first lead.
Knapke was 25-of-39 passing for 368 yards and two long touchdowns to Lewis.
BOXING
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Boxing great Muhammad Ali was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia that was caught early and should result in a short hospital stay, an Ali spokesman said Saturday night.
The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinson's disease, is being treated by his team of doctors and is in stable condition, said his spokesman, Bob Gunnell.
Gunnell declined to say where the 72-year-old Ali is hospitalized.
GOLF
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - India's Arjun Atwal won the Asian Tour's season-ending Dubai Open on Sunday, rallying on the final hole to beat 19-year-old South Korean player Wang Jeung-hun by a stroke.
A shot behind entering the par-5 18th, Atwal closed with a birdie and Wang made a bogey.
The 41-year-old Atwal won for the first time since the PGA Tour's 2010 Wyndham Championship. He finished with a 6-under 66 for a 16-under 272 total at The Els Club Dubai.
Wang had a 67.