The Seahawks finished as champs of the National Football Conference West at 7-9, the first playoff team with a losing record - not including the 1982 strike-shortened season - since the merger in 1970. It was Seattle's first division title since 2007.
At Indianapolis, Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes and Adam Vinatieri made a 43-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Colts their seventh American Football Conference South title in eight years.
The Colts (10-6) tied Dallas' NFL record for most consecutive playoff appearances (nine) and will face the New York Jets next weekend in a wild-card game.
At Houston, Arian Foster ran for 180 yards to capture the NFL rushing title for Houston.
The Jaguars (8-8) needed a win and a Colts loss to make playoffs, but couldn't overcome the absence of its top two offensive players. Quarterback David Garrard had finger surgery Thursday and Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew sat out with a right knee injury.
Indianapolis wound up winning minutes after the Jaguars' game ended.
At Atlanta, Matt Ryan and Atlanta put a decisive stamp on the NFC South title and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
The Falcons (13-3) earned their first division title since 2004, home-field edge throughout the NFC playoffs and a bye next weekend. The time off for Ryan and other starters came early, as backups took over in the fourth quarter.
At Cleveland, Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes as Pittsburgh won the AFC North to secure a first-round playoff bye.
The game could be the final one for Browns coach Eric Mangini.
Roethlisberger, who got to rest most of the second half, threw a 56-yard TD to Mike Wallace on his first pass.
At Baltimore, Ed Reed had two interceptions and Ray Lewis recovered two fumbles, part of an opportunistic defense that carried Baltimore.
Despite the victory, the Ravens (12-4) failed to get the help necessary to win the AFC North. Baltimore needed Pittsburgh to lose to Cleveland, but the Steelers won easily to deny the Ravens a first-round bye.
At Kansas City, Missouri, Michael Bush rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown as short-handed Oakland beat playoff-bound Kansas City to gain a unique NFL distinction.
The Raiders (8-8) finished 6-0 in the AFC West, the first team since the 1970 merger to go unbeaten in the division and not make the playoffs. The AFC West champion Chiefs (10-6) were 2-4 in the division, and will host the Ravens in the playoffs next Sunday.
At Green Bay, Wisconsin, Aaron Rodgers' 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Donald Lee gave Green Bay the lead, and its defense held on to clinch a wild card berth.
The Packers will visit the NFC East champion Eagles next Sunday.
At New Orleans, Josh Freeman passed for two touchdowns but Tampa Bay failed to make the playoffs.
The Bucs (10-6) entered the game needing a victory and losses by both the Giants and Packers to make the post season. The Giants and Packers both won. The Saints (11-5) will open the playoffs next Saturday against the NFC West champion Seahawks.
At Foxborough, Massachusetts, Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to cap a record-setting season as New England won its eighth straight.
The game meant nothing in the standings. Still, Brady played into the third quarter and finished with 36 touchdowns passing and four interceptions. He extended his NFL records to 335 straight passes without an interception and 28 consecutive regular-season wins as a starter at home.
At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Mark Brunell threw two touchdown passes in relief of Mark Sanchez and Joe McKnight ran for a career-high 158 yards as the Jets' defense dominated.
Having already clinched a postseason spot, New York (11-5) sat a handful of stars, including LaDainian Tomlinson and Darrelle Revis, but still earned the fourth 11-win season in franchise history - and first since the 1998 team went to the AFC championship game. The Jets open the playoffs against the Indianapolis Colts next Saturday.
At Detroit, Brett Favre stood in street clothes on the sideline in what likely was the final game of his 20-season career, watching the Lions (6-10) beat his Vikings for their fourth straight win.
The Vikings (6-10) closed out a lost season by putting the three-time MVP quarterback on the inactive because of a concussion, with rookie Joe Webb making his second start.
After the game, Favre said it was time for him to call it a career.
At Philadelphia, Stephen McGee threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten with 55 seconds left to lead Dallas over the NFC East champs.
Michael Vick and nearly every starter didn't play in a game that had no effect on Philadelphia's playoff positioning. The Eagles (10-6) are locked into the No. 3 seed and will host Green Bay in a wild-card game next Sunday.
At Landover, Maryland, the Giants got the win, but they didn't get the help they needed to make the playoffs.
Osi Umenyiora forced two of the defense's four turnovers, and the Giants ended with a 10-6 and no playoff spot after the Packers defeated the Bears to clinch the final NFC postseason spot.
At San Francisco, Alex Smith threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis in what likely was the quarterback's final hurrah with the 49ers in a matchup for last place in the awful NFC West.
Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick who becomes a free agent, threw for 276 yards and two TDs overall and the Niners (6-10) made interim coach Jim Tomsula a winner in what will probably be his only game coaching the team.
At Denver, rookie Ryan Mathews ran for three scores and Nate Kaeding kicked four field goals for San Diego.
The Broncos (4-12) closed out the season with more than 11 losses for the first time in club history, but secured the No. 2 overall pick in the April draft behind Carolina.
