EAST RUTHERFORD (New Jersey), Dec 24: The New York Giants marched 96 yards to score the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left to beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 Sunday and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Giants quarterback Kerry Collins capped the long drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Ike Hilliard. Collins completed 30-of-47 passes for 338 yards in leading the NFC champions to their second last-minute win in a row following last week’s victory over Arizona.

The victory lifted the Giants to 7-7 while the Seahawks slipped to the same mark, severely denting their chance of an AFC wildcard spot.

The Giants moved within two games of the Eagles in the NFC East and travel to Philadelphia for a big game next week.

Shaun Alexander had 96 yards rushing and a touchdown for Seattle.

In Indianapolis, the New York Jets also rallied for the second week in a row and put themselves in solid shape for a postseason berth by edging the Colts 29-28.

Vinny Testaverde orchestrated a 76-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Becht with 58 seconds remaining for the winning margin.

In Atlanta, Chris Chandler set a club record with 432 passing yards, and rookie Jay Feely booted a 52-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Falcons to a 33-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills that kept them in the playoff chase.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Falcons (7-7) who trail Tampa Bay for the third and final NFC wild card berth. The Giants and New Orleans Saints are also 7-7.

The Falcons, however, have two difficult games left, against Miami and St Louis.

In Landover, Maryland, the Chicago Bears clinched a playoff berth and eliminated the Washington Redskins from postseason contention by posting a 20-15 victory.

Linebacker Brian Urlacher caught the go-ahead 27-yard touchdown pass from punter Brad Maynard on a fake field goal early in the fourth quarter.

In Tampa Bay, Brad Johnson threw for three touchdowns and fullback Mike Alstott rumbled for 101 yards rushing as the Buccaneers built a 30-point halftime lead on the way to a 48-21 triumph over New Orleans.

The 48 points matched a franchise high set in 1987 and moved the Buccaneers into a commanding position in the chase for the NFC’s last wild card berth. The Bucs improved to 8-6 while the Saints dropped to 7-7.

In Pittsburgh, Kordell Stewart threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another as the Steelers crushed the Detroit Lions 47-14.

In Minneapolis, Stacey Mack rushed for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Jacksonville Jaguars embarrassed the Minnesota Vikings 33-3 in a game between teams playing out the string.

Mark Brunell passed for 217 yards and a touchdown for the Jags (6-8) who posted their third straight win after a 1-8 stretch.

In Kansas City, the losing streak of the San Diego Chargers was extended to eight games when fullback Tony Richardson scored on a one-yard run with 48 seconds left to give the Chiefs a 20-17 victory.

In Charlotte, Marshall Faulk rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard jaunt, as the St Louis Rams moved closer to the NFC West title with a 38-32 victory over the Carolina Panthers who lost their 13th game in a row.

Rams quarterback Kurt Warner also threw a pair of touchdown passes and completed 18-of-23 throws for 217 yards as the Rams improved to 12-2, one game better than San Francisco in the West.

In Baltimore, the Ravens allowed their first 100-yard rusher in 51 games but came away with their first shutout of the season by blanking the Cincinnati Bengals 16-0 to move closer to securing a playoff berth.

Bengals back Corey Dillon rushed for 127 yards on 24 carries but that was not enough to get Cincinnati (4-10) points on the scoreboard.

In Green Bay, Brett Favre passed for three touchdowns under steady snow flurries at Lambeau Field as the Packers seized their first playoff berth since 1998 with a 30-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Favre reached 30 touchdown passes in a season for the sixth time in his career. Dan Marino is second overall with four and no other player has three.

In Tempe, Arizona, linebacker Ronald McKinnon scored on a 24-yard interception return off a deflection as the Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys 17-10.

Sunday’s results (home team in CAPS):

ATLANTA 33 Buffalo 30

BALTIMORE 16 Cincinnati 0

St Louis 38 CAROLINA 32

KANSAS CITY 20 San Diego 17

Jacksonville 33 MINNESOTA 3

NY GIANTS 27 Seattle 24

PITTSBURGH 47 Detroit 14

TAMPA BAY 48 New Orleans 21

Chicago 20 WASHINGTON 15

ARIZONA 17 Dallas 10

GREEN BAY 30 Cleveland 7

NY Jets 29 INDIANAPOLIS 28

—Reuters