The Minnesota Vikings survived a battle against the revitalised Indianapolis Colts and Detroit beat the New York Jets to decide the four remaining spots in the play-offs of the National Football League.

Minnesota, Detroit, Miami and New England each made post-season reservations with an eye on the Super Bowl next month - but the Jets and Washington were each eliminated.

The Vikings put an end to an agonising five weeks of defeats after a brilliant start to the season.

They had to play without injured first choice quarterback Brad Johnson, but reserve Randall Cunningham responded with four touchdown passes in a 39-28 victory.

The Colts, playing the role of spoiler after thrashing Miami last week 41-0, pulled to within 36-28 after a touchdown pass from Jim Harbaugh to Marvin Harrison with eight minutes remaining.

But Kelly Holcomb, replacing the injured Harbaugh on the next series, fumbled and set up Eddie Murray's clinching 25-yard field goal for the Vikings.

At the Silverdome, a frightening injury to Detroit linebacker Reggie Brown quieted the celebration as the Lions ended the Jets' season with a 13-10 victory.

With the Lions holding a 13-10 lead in the fourth quarter, Brown was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital.

Dallas Cowboy defender Kevin Smith tries to intercept from Amani Toomer

When play resumed after 20 minutes, Detroit held on to the lead and Barry Sanders became the third running back in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

He finished the night with 184 yards - including a 53-yard dash to seal the victory at the end of the game.

The Lions' win also knocked Washington out of play-off contention. The Redskins beat Philadelphia 35-32 earlier in the day, but needed a loss by eitherthe Lions or Vikings to go through.

Miami and New England, who play on Monday night in Florida for the AFC East title, both advance to the play-offs following the Jets' defeat.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hammered the Chicago Bears 31-15 to assure themselves of a home game in the play-offs next week.

In other games, the New York Giants beat Dallas 20-7, Kansas City held off New Orleans 25-13, Cincinnati edged Baltimore 16-14, Tennessee beat Pittsburgh 16-6, Jacksonville whipped Oakland 20-9, Denver destroyed San Diego 38-3 and Arizona nipped Atlanta 29-26.

Sunday's results in full

• Cincinnati 16 Baltimore 14
• NY Giants 20 Dallas 7
• Kansas City 25 New Orleans 13
• Minnesota 39 Indianapolis 28
• Tampa Bay 31 Chicago 15
• Tennessee 16 Pittsburgh 6
• Washington 35 Philadelphia 32
• Arizona 29 Atlanta 26
• Denver 38 San Diego 3
• Detroit 13 Ny Jets 10
• Jacksonville 20 Oakland 9
• Seattle 38 San Francisco 9

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©