St. Louis ? Coach Mike Martz couldn’t care less that the Rams finished .500. Somehow, his team is in the playoffs.

The Rams clinched a postseason berth when Jeff Wilkins kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime to beat the New York Jets, 32-29, Sunday. They got a little help earlier in the day when Minnesota lost.

“This is why you coach, for moments like this,” Martz said after the Rams extended their up-and-down season. “It really is.”

The Rams (8-8) won a finale that, in the end, they needed much more than the Jets. For much of the game, they played more like the team that was supposed to be one of best in the NFC than the seemingly crumbling franchise that had lost four of five entering the final weekend.

Now they will play Saturday afternoon at Seattle in the first round. St. Louis won both regular-season meetings.

“We’ve just had a million things go wrong and goofy things happen all year,” offensive guard Adam Timmerman said. “We kept fighting and fighting, and to get in the playoffs is one of those really sweet things.”

The Jets (10-6) qualified as an AFC wild card before the game even ended when the Bills lost to the Steelers. They play Saturday night at San Diego.

“I hate to lose getting in, but we’ll take it,” coach Herman Edwards said. “Now, all we have to do is get in the playoffs and win.”

Marc Bulger went 29-for-39 for 450 yards and three touchdowns, and Wilkins won it with 3:03 left in overtime for the Rams’ fourth playoff berth in five seasons under Martz.

St. Louis receiver Torry Holt (81) joins back judge Bill Schmitz, left, and side judge Laird Hayes in signaling a touchdown. Holt set an NFL record on the play, becoming the first player in NFL history with five consecutive 1,300-yard receiving seasons, and scored twice in the Rams' 32-29 overtime victory Sunday in St. Louis.

Despite the loss, New York made the playoffs for the third time in four seasons under Edwards. But the Jets enter the postseason on a downer, having gone 5-6 in their final 11 games following a 5-0 start.

They also lost wide receiver Wayne Chrebet (concussion) in the first half, but Chrebet is expected to play next week.

Curtis Martin had 153 yards on 28 carries, winning the NFL rushing title with 1,697 yards by one yard over Shaun Alexander of the Seahawks while moving into fourth place on the NFL career-rushing list.

Seahawks 28, Falcons 26

Seattle — Matt Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes and got another TD on a sneak. The Seahawks (9-7) barely avoided another late meltdown when Warrick Dunn was stopped on a two-point conversion attempt that would have forced overtime after reserve quarterback Matt Schaub threw a three-yard TD pass to Brian Finneran as time expired.

Seattle’s Shaun Alexander ran for 80 yards, finishing a yard behind Martin (1,697) for the rushing title.

It was a meaningless game for Atlanta (11-5), which lost its final two after securing the NFC’s No. 2 seed in the playoffs two weeks ago. Atlanta gets a first-round bye.

Michael Vick played just over one quarter and was 6-of-7 for 35 yards and one TD. Dunn finished with 132 yards.

Redskins 21, Vikings 18

Landover, Md. — The Vikings wilted for the second year in a row with a chance to clinch a postseason berth in the finale. But they got in anyway when New Orleans beat Carolina.

The Vikings (8-8) lost seven of their last 10 games after a 5-1 start. Last year, they fell from 6-0 to 9-7 and were eliminated by a touchdown pass on the last play of the season at Arizona. Mike Tice jokingly referred to himself as “Coach Collapse” last week, but at least he is in the playoffs for the first time since taking over from Dennis Green during the 2001 season.

Minnesota will play Sunday at Green Bay.

The Redskins (6-10) gave a spirited finish to Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs’ disappointing comeback season, his worst in 13 years with the Redskins.

Broncos 33, Colts 14

Denver — The Broncos took care of the Indianapolis ‘B’ team and earned the right to face Peyton Manning and the real Colts next week in the playoffs. Jake Plummer threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns to lift the Broncos to the AFC’s final wild-card spot.

The result eliminated Jacksonville and Baltimore from the playoff race and meant the Broncos (10-6) start the postseason Sunday in a familiar place — at Indianapolis (12-4), where they lost, 41-10, in last year’s first round.

Manning played just one series, throwing two passes and finishing the regular season with the same NFL-record 49 touchdowns he entered the week with. Edgerrin James ran one time for minus-2 yards.

By going 1-for-2, Manning finished the year with a 121.1 passer rating, easily breaking Steve Young’s record. After the first drive, Manning stood on the sideline with headphones on and watched rookie Jim Sorgi lead the Colts.

Saints 21, Panthers 18

Charlotte, N.C. — The Saints finally won a game that mattered … then missed the playoffs anyway when St. Louis won.

Needing to beat the Panthers to stay in playoff contention, the Saints (8-8) forced three turnovers and had six sacks. Aaron Brooks passed for 216 yards and threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Joe Horn. The victory capped an impressive turnaround for the Saints and might have saved coach Jim Haslett’s job.

The defending NFC champion Panthers (7-9) started the season 1-7 and lost 14 players to injury before rallying behind a patchwork group of replacements. A desperation 60-yard field goal at the end of regulation was blocked by Tony Bryant.

Steelers 29, Bills 24

Orchard Park, N.Y. — Fourth-string running back Willie Parker had 102 yards rushing, and backup linebacker James Harrison returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown, knocking Buffalo out of playoff contention.

The Steelers won their 14th straight to match the record set by Miami in 1972 and became just the fourth team in NFL history to finish 15-1.

The Bills (9-7) had a six-game winning streak snapped, but made it close when Willis McGahee scored his second touchdown on a one-yard plunge with 78 seconds left. But the Bills failed on an onside kick.

Ravens 30, Dolphins 23

Baltimore — The Ravens (9-7), playing against downtrodden Miami (4-12), which started third-string quarterback Sage Rosenfels, built a 27-7 lead, then held on. But with Denver’s victory, Baltimore fell out of playoff contention.

Jamal Lewis scored a touchdown and ran for 167 yards, giving him 1,006 for the season.

Baltimore’s Jarret Johnson returned an interception for a score, and teammate Ed Reed got his ninth interception and returned it 41 yards to get an NFL record for return yardage in a season (358).

Patriots 21, 49ers 7

Foxboro, Mass. — New England, a franchise-best 14-2 for the second straight season, got Tom Brady’s two TD passes after he threw an interception and lost a fumble.

Corey Dillon ran for 116 yards and one touchdown, but also lost a fumble. And the Patriots’ regular-season record of scoring first in 20 straight games ended on Ken Dorsey’s four-yard pass to third-string tight end Steve Bush late in the first quarter.

The 49ers matched their franchise-worst 2-14 record and clinched the top pick in this year’s draft.

Bengals 38, Eagles 10

Philadelphia — With Donovan McNabb and several other starters sitting out, the Eagles’ backups were thoroughly dominated. Rudi Johnson ran for three touchdowns and 99 yards, and Jon Kitna threw a scoring pass, helping the Bengals win their second straight game to finish 8-8 for the second year in a row.

The Eagles (13-3) had five turnovers in their worst performance since a 38-0 loss to Seattle in the 1998 season opener. Philadelphia secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs two weeks ago.

Titans 24, Lions 19

Nashville, Tenn. — Billy Volek threw for 175 yards and a touchdown before being knocked out of the game because of a separated right shoulder in the fourth quarter, but the Titans snapped a five-game skid.

The Titans (5-11) were without 14 players from their opening-day roster because of injuries, but had more than enough to handle Detroit (6-10).

Packers 31, Bears 14

Chicago — Brett Favre and the Packers (10-6) warmed up for the playoffs at home, where they will play host to Minnesota.

Favre played the first quarter and one series in the second, going 9-of-13 for 196 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers beat the Bears (5-11) for the 21st time in the last 26 meetings — including 11 straight on the road.

Browns 22, Texans 14

Houston — Kelly Holcomb’s return to the lineup provided a lift to the Browns’ punchless offense, and Cleveland (4-12) ended a nine-game losing streak, denying Houston (7-9) its first non-losing season.

Lee Suggs had his third straight 100-yard rushing day with 131 yards, and Steve Dawson kicked five field goals, giving Browns interim coach Terry Robiskie his only victory in five games since replacing Butch Davis on Nov. 30.

Cardinals 12, Buccaneers 7

Tempe, Ariz. — Neil Rackers kicked four field goals, and the Cardinals stifled the Tampa Bay offense.

Coach Jon Gruden’s team lost its fourth in a row to finish 5-11, Tampa Bay’s worst record since going 5-11 under Sam Wyche in 1993.

Rookie tackle Darnell Dockett led the Arizona defense with an interception, fumble recovery and sack. The Cardinals (6-10) finished 5-3 at home in Dennis Green’s first season as coach.

Jaguars 13, Raiders 6

Oakland, Calif. — On a muddy, rain-soaked field, the Jaguars (9-7) concluded their first winning season in five years. Greg Jones scored on a one-yard run for the game’s only touchdown that broke a third-quarter tie.

But the Broncos’ victory over the Colts sent Jacksonville packing instead of to the playoffs. It was disappointing finish for a club that hoped to extend its season the year Jacksonville plays host to its first Super Bowl.

The Raiders (5-11) had a chance to send the game into overtime in the final seconds, but Kerry Collins fumbled the snap on fourth-and-goal at the two, picked it up and was tackled for a loss.

Giants 28, Cowboys 24

East Rutherford, N.J. — Tiki Barber capped a record-setting night by scoring on a three-yard run with 11 seconds to play to become the New York Giants’ all-time leading rusher.

Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes as the Giants (6-10) snapped an eight-game losing streak and gave new coach Tom Coughlin something to savor heading into the offseason.

The late heroics providing Manning his first career victory and spoiled a great effort by Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde in what might have been the final game of his 18-year career.

Testaverde threw for a touchdown and engineered a late 80-yard march that set up Julius Jones’ go-ahead one-yard run with 1:49 to play. But the Cowboys (6-10) couldn’t hold on.