Kubiak in no hurry to choose starting QB for playoffs

The upstart Vikings survived despite a shaky finish in hostile territory.

When an achy Tom Brady had finished fending off questions about the New England Patriots’ desultory regular-season finale, he stepped gingerly off the interview podium, looking a little wobbly as he heads for…

The Chargers (4-12) wrapped up what might have been their final season representing San Diego as ownership tries to move the team to L.A.

None of that was his fault, but the Broncos needed a spark and Manning provided it.

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s magic came to an end. If the Packers can prevail with a win, they will claim the NFC North title and a home playoff game at Lambeau Field. NY (6-9) ended its season with three consecutive losses. He watched the Patriots’ final offensive series from the sideline along with teammate Rob Gronkowski.

With the Pats eager to protect Brady’s health, he threw a season-low 21 passes, and even so he was lucky to make it through the game in one piece.

– Texans 30, Jaguars 6: At Houston, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus led the defense and Jonathan Grimes scored twice to help the Texans clinch the AFC South.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the No. 6 seed after beating the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills.

CINCINNATI – AJ McCarron overcame a rough start and threw a pair of touchdown passes.

No, you didn’t see that coming.

The road to the Super Bowl will go through Charlotte for the first time after the Panthers locked up top spot in the NFC with a 38-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But a Denver win also meant Brock Osweiler would start over Manning in the playoffs. Young took 15 seasons to reach that plateau; Newton did it in five. The veteran completed 5 of 9 passes for 59 yards and no touchdowns, and those who would prefer to turn his second-half relief appearance into a myth will tell you that it was much more than stats.

Manning hadn’t played since throwing four interceptions before being yanked on November 15 in a 29-13 loss to Kansas City.

The top seed in the AFC playoffs belongs to Denver, along with a quarterback quandary.

On the second play from scrimmage, Denver’s Demaryius Thomas turned a short pass from Osweiler into a 72-yard touchdown.

Seattle will play at either Washington or Minnesota in the wild card round next weekend, depending on the outcome of Sunday night’s game between the Vikings and Green Bay.

Cousins finished with 176 yards for the game and 4,166 for the season, just the third 4,000-yard performance in Redskins history. Had the game mattered, he might have threatened Sonny Jurgensen’s 48-year-old team record of 31 touchdown passes, instead settling for 29. Just when it looked as if Manning may never play in another National Football League game, the Broncos struggled with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, committing five turnovers and trailing 13-7 to the Chargers early in the second half.

They also land a first-round bye, providing critical time for Manning’s left foot to continue to heal while also allowing him to spend two weeks’ worth of practices running the starting offense.

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns to bring about the victory, with the hapless Browns restricted to just four Travis Coons field goals.

Detroit was bet to a 2½-point favorite and beat Chicago 24-20, keeping the Bears under their season win total of 5½ and helping Lions coach Jim Caldwell’s job status.