Football

The NFL playoffs start Saturday. Four division champions host first-round games this weekend, while Green Bay, San Francisco, New England and Baltimore enjoy a bye week and wait to begin their Super Bowl quest. Here’s a preview of this weekend’s games:

For the second time in as many nights, a missed field goal in overtime proved to be the deciding factor in a BCS bowl game. Michigan edged Virginia Tech, 23-20, after Hokies kicker Justin Myer missed a 37-yard field goal in the first overtime, allowing Michigan to kick a field goal of its own for the win moments later.

The Giants beat the Cowboys to win the NFC East, while the Bengals and Broncos lost, but received help from other teams to slip into the last remaining AFC playoff spots. The playoffs are scheduled to begin next Saturday, when Cincinnati travels to Houston and New Orleans hosts Detroit.

The Vikings lost 17-13 at home to the Chicago Bears Sunday afternoon to close the season with a 3-13 record.

It’s the final week of the NFL’s 2011 regular season and only three playoff spots remain: the AFC West and NFC East titles and an AFC wild card berth. The AFC North is Baltimore’s to lose, but both the Ravens and the rival Pittsburgh Steelers have already qualified for the playoffs. Each game this week is a divisional rematch. Here’s a preview of the week 17 action, with all games slated for Sunda

The NFL announced the NFC and AFC Pro Bowl teams Tuesday and defensive end Jared Allen is the lone Minnesota Viking to make the NFC team.

With the holidays comes the second week of the bowl season. This coming week features a lot of intriguing matchups, with Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III in action, along with several big name teams who struggled through disappointing seasons. Here’s are all the info you need to know for the next week in college football.

Thursday Night Football this week in the NFL with Houston at Indianapolis. Get the full preview here.

Rookie Doug Baldwin blocked a punt and caught a touchdown pass, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams 30-13 on “Monday Night Football.” Seattle (6-7) remains alive in the race for an NFC wild-card playoff spot as a result of the victory.

The Vikings lost 34-28 at Detroit to the Lions Sunday afternoon.  Joe Webb fumbled the football on the last play on a first and goal from the Lions 9-yard line and the game ended with the Lions recovering.

Last-second finishes decided several key games as the 2011 NFL entered its final stretch. Here’s a recap of all the NFL scores and action from Sunday:

Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes despite sustaining an ankle injury, and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 14-3 on Thursday night.