Baltimore ? Finishing second-best was fine with Jamal Lewis, who was delighted to get the chance, at least, to run his way into the NFL record book.

Lewis fell tantalizingly short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record for yards rushing, in part because he was limited to five yards on eight carries after the third quarter.

But that didn’t ruin a truly memorable day for the 2003 NFL rushing champion and the Baltimore Ravens, who beat Pittsburgh, 13-10, in overtime Sunday night.

Earning the distinction of AFC North champions earlier in the day, the Ravens won on a 47-yard field goal by Matt Stover with 11:32 left in the extra session.

Lewis ran for 114 yards on 27 carries to finish the season with 2,066 yards rushing — 39 yards short of Dickerson’s mark of 2,105, set in 1984.

“I’m not disappointed,” Lewis said. “The opportunity was there, and we went at it. My line … they blocked well. It was in reach, but we didn’t get it. I think second is good.”

The result of the game became meaningless when Cincinnati lost to Cleveland earlier Sunday, clinching the division for the Ravens (10-6). Division champs for the first time in franchise history, Baltimore will open the postseason Saturday at home against the Tennessee Titans (12-4).

Because the game meant little to the Ravens, no one would have blamed Ravens coach Brian Billick for saving Lewis for the playoffs. But the starters played to the end.

“I am surprised coach left me in the game,” Lewis said.

Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis (31) eludes Pittsburgh's Kendrell Bell, left, on a 25-yard TD run in the first quarter. Lewis finished with 2,066 yards for the season -- 39 yards short of the NFL single-season rushing record -- in the Ravens' 13-10 overtime victory Sunday in Baltimore.

“This is the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Billick said. “You can’t cheat the game, you can’t cheat the fans.”

Lewis reached the 2,000-yard mark with seven minutes elapsed, had 73 yards after the first quarter and 109 yards after three periods.

But he gained only two yards on six carries in the fourth quarter and got three yards in overtime to finish with the second-best rushing season in the history of the league.

Cardinals 18, Vikings 17

Tempe, Ariz. — Arizona knocked Minnesota out of the playoffs with a fourth-down miracle that put Green Bay in. Josh McCown threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Poole on fourth-and-25 as time expired, rallying the Cardinals. That left the Vikings at 9-7 and gave the division title to the Packers, who beat Denver, 31-3. Had the Vikings won, Green Bay (10-6) would have been eliminated on a series of tiebreakers.

Packers 31, Broncos 3

Green Bay, Wis. — The biggest cheer at Lambeau Field came for the play in Arizona that got the Packers into the playoffs. Ahman Green reeled off a 98-yard touchdown run, and Brett Favre completed a hard week in which he buried his father to lead Green Bay.

Browns 22, Bengals 14

Cincinnati — Rookie Lee Suggs ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns as Cleveland knocked Cincinnati from playoff contention by beating the Bengals. That allowed Baltimore to clinch the AFC North title several hours before playing Pittsburgh in the final regular-season game.

Saints 13, Cowboys 7

New Orleans — Donte’ Stallworth’s 76-yard touchdown reception sent Dallas into the playoffs on a down note. The Saints (8-8), who will miss the playoffs for the third straight year, responded to a tongue-lashing from owner Tom Benson and a team meeting Friday night.

Lions 30, Rams 20

Detroit — Joey Harrington threw three touchdown passes as Detroit knocked St. Louis from the top spot in the NFC with 20 points in a span of 15:31 in the second half. The top-seeded team now is Philadelphia, also 12-4, but with a better conference record after beating Washington Saturday night.

Colts 20, Texans 17

Houston — Mike Vanderjagt kicked his NFL-record 41st consecutive field goal, a 43-yarder as time expired, giving the Colts the AFC South title. Vanderjagt went 37-for-37 this season.

Titans 33, Buccaneers 13

Nashville, Tenn. — Steve McNair stayed on the sideline, resting his aching legs for the playoffs as Neil O’Donnell threw two touchdown passes to Derrick Mason in his first start since Sept. 23, 2001. Tampa (7-9) became the first Super Bowl champion to finish with a losing record.

Dolphins 23, Jets 21

Miami — Olindo Mare kicked a 22-yard field goal with three seconds left to give Miami the win. The Dolphins (10-6) became the first team since Philadelphia and San Francisco in 1991 to win 10 games and miss the playoffs.

Falcons 21, Jaguars 14

Atlanta — Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes, including a 44-yarder to Peerless Price on Atlanta’s first fleaflicker of the season. Atlanta (5-11) improved to 3-1 since Vick returned to the starting lineup.

Panthers 37, Giants 24

East Rutherford, N.J. — Jake Delhomme threw two touchdown passes as former Giants assistant John Fox and his Panthers won in coach Jim Fassel’s final game after seven seasons in New York.

Chargers 21, Raiders 14

San Diego — LaDainian Tomlinson rushed 31 times for a career-high 243 yards and two touchdowns to close an otherwise miserable season for the Chargers (4-12). Tomlinson now has four career 200-yard games, tying him for second place all-time Jim Brown, Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders.