NFL: NFL releases wild-card, divisional playoffs schedule

The Washington Redskins' 28-18 victory over the Dallas Cowboys determined the NFC East champion and finalized next week's NFL playoff schedule.

In a rematch of last season's AFC Wild-Card Game, NBC will broadcast the Cincinnati Bengals heading to Houston toface the Texans on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. This time around, the Texans are limping into the playoffs.

Another rematch will air in prime time Saturday night.Adrian Peterson's Vikings will head to Lambeau Field for a rubber match against the Green Bay Packers at 8 p.m. ET. If it's anything like Sunday's instant classic, we are in for a treat.

Sunday's schedule will start in Baltimore. Chuck Paganowill bring his Indianapolis Colts in to face his former employers, the Ravens, at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. It has been a ridiculous ride for Pagano and rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. The Colts showed Sunday against Houston that they're ready to beat playoff competition.

The final game of the weekend will feature the NFC East champ Redskins hosting the Seattle Seahawks at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Pretty sweet slate.

The NFL also announced the times of the divisional-round games. On Saturday, Jan. 12, the Denver Broncos will host the lowest remaining AFC seed at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the San Francisco 49ers will start their playoff adventure at 8 p.m. ET on the same day.

The Atlanta Falcons will try to avoid going one-and-done again at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 13. The AFC's No. 2 seed, the New England Patriots, will finish the weekend at 4:30 p.m. on the same day.

Saturday can't get here soon enough. @ nfl.com

NFL Wild Card Weekend schedule
(All times Eastern) 
Saturday 
4:30 p.m.: Bengals at Texans (NBC) 
8 p.m.: Vikings at Packers (NBC) 
Sunday 
1 p.m.: Colts at Ravens (CBS) 
4:30 p.m.: Seahawks at Redskins (Fox) 

Divisional Playoffs schedule
(All times Eastern) 
Saturday, Jan. 12 
4:30 p.m.: Ravens/ Colts/ Bengals atBroncos (CBS) 
8 p.m.: Packers/ Redskins/ Seahawks at49ers (Fox) 
Sunday, Jan. 13 
1 p.m.: Redskins/ Seahawks/ Vikings atFalcons (Fox) 
4:30 p.m.: Texans/ Ravens/ Colts atPatriots (CBS)

NFL: Alfred Morris set franchise rushing record for season

Washington Redskins rookie running back Alfred Morris has broken Clinton Portis’ franchise record for yards rushing in a season.

Morris reached 1,524 yards for the season with a 10-yard gain in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Portis gained 1,516 yards on the ground in 2005.

Morris was a sixth-round draft choice out of Florida Atlantic in this year’s draft.

He entered the game Sunday needing 104 yards to top Portis’ team mark. Morris topped 100 for the day with his second carry of the second half and was up to 111 yards two runs later. He had a 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Fans began chanting “Alfred Morris!” after he broke the record.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. @ washingtonpost.com

NFL: Norv Turner thinks his San Diego Chargers stint is over

Norv Turner isn't stupid. He has known for weeks that his time with the San Diego Chargers is done, and he won't pretend otherwise.

"Obviously, we're going to meet with the team, and I'm sure they'll start looking for a new coach," Turner said afterSunday's 24-21 win over the Oakland Raiders, via The Associated Press.

It's not often you see a coach wave the white flag like that, but few things are as certain in the NFL landscape right now as Turner being done in San Diego after a 7-9 season.

Turner has gone 56-40 in six seasons with the Chargers, but he's just 24-24 since 2010. If Turner chooses to stay in coaching on the NFL level, he'll likely have his choice of several teams as an offensive coordinator. Another head-coaching opportunity is not promised, however.

"It's tough," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said of Turner. "You've played quarterback for a guy for 102 games. That's a lot of time spent. A lot of fun, a lot of hard work, plenty of disagreements and aggravations. It's hard.

"Other than my dad, I don't know that there has been a coach that you've had so much respect for and trust for. Six years is a long time."

And now Turner's time is up. @ nfl.com

NFL: Andy Reid told he's out as Philadelphia Eagles coach

The Philadelphia Eagles didn't waste any time delaying the inevitable.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that coach Andy Reid was informed during a Friday meeting with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie that he'd be fired after the season finale against the New York Giants, according to two sources. The Eagles are expected to formally announce Reid's firing Monday.

The Eagles strongly denied the report, saying Lurie and Reid will meet Monday. During the Eagles' postgame news conference, Reid denied talking to Lurie about his job status.

"Whatever he chooses will be the right thing," Reid said in regard to Lurie's decision. "He's always done things for the best interest of the Eagles, and I completely understand either way."

No matter when the news becomes official, the Reid era has ended in ignominious fashion. TheEagles finished a 4-12 season with a 42-7 loss to the New York Giants.

Reid was the longest-tenured coach in the NFL at 14 seasons, going 130-92-1 during the regular season. He led the Eagles to nine playoff appearances, including five NFC title games and oneSuper Bowl appearance.

The quick decision comes as no surprise. The Eagles are expected to aggressively go after some of the big names available in the coaching market. Oregon coach Chip Kelly and Penn State coach Bill O'Brien have been tied to Philadelphia in various reports.

Reid, meanwhile, doesn't figure to be out of work for long. Multiple reports have suggested Reid is interested in the San Diego Chargers job, but NFL.com's Albert Breer reported that interest doesn't appear to be mutual. Reid will want a lot of personnel control, and that wouldn't be the situation in San Diego.

Lurie surely regrets bringing back Reid for this season. The Eaglesowner publicly read Reid the riot act after last season and said an 8-8 record wouldn't be acceptable. No one had any idea that things would get much, much worse. @ nfl.com

NFL: Adrian Peterson just shy of setting NFL rushing record

"Nine yards what?"

Adrian Peterson didn't know. The man who carried the Minnesota Vikings to a playoff berth didn't know how close he had come to breaking Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season rushing record until Fox Sports reporter Pam Oliver told him during a postgame interview.

Peterson finished the Vikings' 37-34 win over theGreen Bay Packers with 199 yards and one touchdown, but he finished the season with 2,097 rushing yards. The ultimate workhorse carried the ball 34 times in the game that extended Minnesota's season.

"Ultimately we got the 'W,'" Peterson said after the game, via The Associated Press. "We said during the week, if (the record) happens, it happens. Don't focus on it."

Peterson underwent surgery on the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee exactly one year to the day before his monster game against the Packers. His 2012 season will be remembered by everyone old enough to watch it. Sunday's performance is the type of game you'll tell your grandchildren about, without needing to embellish it one bit.

"I told myself to come into this game focused on one thing, and that's winning," Peterson said. "(Breaking the record) wasn't meant to happen, or it would've happened. Not to say it doesn't hurt, because it does. But we came in here tonight and accomplished the ultimate goal, and that was getting a win and punching our ticket to the playoffs."

Peterson somehow returned from surgery a better runner. His vision and toughness are better than ever. He dragged an awful Vikings passing game and a so-so defense all the way to the playoffs.

That's better than a record. And it should be enough for Peterson to win NFL MVP. @ nfl.com

NFL: Sean Payton, Saints reach five-year contract extension

"The New Orleans Saints quickly acted to eliminate what was shaping up to be a major offseason question mark.

Fox Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reported Friday that the Saints andSean Payton have agreed in principle to a five-year contract extension that will keep the coach in New Orleans.

Some details still need to finalized, and the contract also needs league approval, a source familiar with the agreement told NFL.com's Albert Breer. Payton signed an extension with the Saints last year, but the NFL rejected it because of concerns over contract language.

Payton joined Saints owner Tom Benson at his courtside seats at New Orleans Arena for Friday night's Hornets-Toronto Raptors game.

"He's always been our head coach," Benson, who talked with Payton once per week during the suspension, told The Times-Picayune. "I never had any doubt about that."

Saints quarterback Drew Brees echoed Benson's comments, writing in a text message to Mike Triplett of The Times-Picayune: "Very happy that it is offical. Never had any doubts though."

Payton has been away from the Saints while serving a season-long suspension for his role in the team's bounty program. Payton's contract had been set to expire after this season, and Glazer previously reported that the coach would "keep all his options open" if he couldn't reach a new agreement with the Saints.

Dallas was a hotly rumored destination for Payton, who lives in the area, but that likely was a case of leverage in negotiations more than anything else. The Cowboys are in contention for a playoff spot, and coach Jason Garrett's job reportedly is safe, according to Glazer. Payton and theSaints, who are 7-8 without their coach this season, had little reason not to do business sooner rather than later.

This is a smart move for the Saints, who acted aggressively to retain Payton, who's 62-34 as their coach and took them to their only Super Bowl championship. TheSaints have work to do to return to contending status in the NFC, but keeping Payton in house is a huge step in returning this wayward franchise to pre-bounty normalcy." @ nfl.com

NFL: 2013 Pro Bowl Rosters

Rosters by position

*-denotes starter
x-denotes out because of injury
y-denotes replacement for injured or Super Bowl player
z-will not play; Super Bowl participant

AFC Offense Position Player(s) Quarterback *-Peyton Manning, Denver Tom Brady, New England Matt Schaub, Houston Running back *Arian Foster, Houston Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Ray Rice, Baltimore Fullback *-Vonta Leach, Baltimore Wide receiver *-A.J. Green, Cincinnati *-Andre Johnson, Houston Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Wes Welker, New England Tight end *-Rob Gronkowski, New England Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Tackle *-Joe Thomas, Cleveland *-Duane Brown, Houston Ryan Clady, Denver Guard *-Logan Mankins, New England *-Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Wade Smith, Houston Center *-Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Chris Myers, Houston Defense Position Player(s) Defensive end *-J.J. Watt, Houston *-Cameron Wake, Miami Elvis Dumervil, Denver Interior linemen *-Geno Atkins, Cincinnati *-Vince Wilfork, New England Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Outside linebacker *-Von Miller, Denver *-Tamba Hali, Kansas City Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Inside/Middle linebacker *-Jerod Mayo, New England Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Cornerback *-Champ Bailey, Denver *-Johnathan Joseph, Houston Antonio Cromartie, N.Y. Jets Free safety *-Ed Reed, Baltimore Strong safety *-Eric Berry, Kansas City LaRon Landry, N.Y. Jets Special teams Position Player(s) Punter Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City Placekicker Phil Dawson, Cleveland Kick returner Jacoby Jones, Baltimore Special-teamer Matthew Slater, New England Long snapper TBA

NFC Offense Position Player(s) Quarterback *-Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Matt Ryan, Atlanta Robert Griffin III, Washington Running back *-Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Frank Gore, San Francisco Fullback *-Jerome Felton, Minnesota Wide receiver *-Calvin Johnson, Detroit *-Brandon Marshall, Chicago Julio Jones, Atlanta Victor Cruz, N.Y. Giants Tight end *-Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Jason Witten, Dallas Tackle *-Joe Staley, San Francisco *-Russell Okung, Seattle Trent Williams, Washington Guard *-Mike Iupati, San Francisco *-Jahri Evans, New Orleans Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants Center *-Max Unger, Seattle Jeff Saturday, Green Bay Defense Position Player(s) Defensive end *-Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants *-Julius Peppers, Chicago Jared Allen, Minnesota Interior linemen *-Justin Smith, San Francisco *-Henry Melton, Chicago Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Outside linebacker *-Aldon Smith, San Francisco *-DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Clay Matthews, Green Bay Inside/Middle linebacker *-Patrick Willis, San Francisco NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco Cornerback *-Charles Tillman, Chicago *-Tim Jennings, Chicago Patrick Peterson, Arizona Free safety *-Dashon Goldson, San Francisco Earl Thomas, Seattle Strong safety *-Donte Whitner, San Francisco Special teams Position Player(s) Punter Thomas Morstead, New Orleans Placekicker Blair Walsh, Minnesota Kick returner Leon Washington, Seattle Special-teamer Lorenzo Alexander, Washington Long snapper TBA

Rosters by team

*-denotes starter
x-denotes out because of injury
y-denotes injury replacement

AFC Team Player(s) Baltimore (6) Jacoby Jones, kick returner *-Vonta Leach, fullback Haloti Ngata, interior lineman *-Ed Reed, free safety Ray Rice, running back *-Marshal Yanda, guard Cincinnati (2) *-Geno Atkins, interior lineman *-A.J. Green, wide receiver Cleveland (2) Phil Dawson, placekicker *-Joe Thomas, offensive tackle Denver (5) *-Champ Bailey, cornerback Ryan Clady, tackle Elvis Dumervil, defensive end *-Peyton Manning, quarterback *-Von Miller, outside linebacker Houston (8) *-Duane Brown, tackle *-Arian Foster, running back *-Andre Johnson, wide receiver *-Johnathan Joseph, cornerback Chris Myers, center Matt Schaub, quarterback Wade Smith, guard *-J.J. Watt, defensive end Indianapolis (2) Robert Mathis, outside linebacker Reggie Wayne, wide receiver Kansas City (5) *-Eric Berry, strong safety Jamaal Charles, running back Dustin Colquitt, punter *-Tamba Hali, outside linebacker Derrick Johnson, inside/middle linebacker Miami (1) *-Cameron Wake, defensive end New England (7) Tom Brady, quarterback *-Rob Gronkowski, tight end *-Logan Mankins, guard *-Jerod Mayo, inside/middle linebacker Matthew Slater, special-teamer Wes Welker, wide receiver *-Vince Wilfork, interior lineman N.Y. Jets (2) Antonio Cromartie, cornerback LaRon Landry, strong safety Pittsburgh (2) Heath Miller, tight end *-Maurkice Pouncey, center

NFC Team Player(s) Arizona (1) Patrick Peterson, cornerback Atlanta (3) *-Tony Gonzalez, tight end Julio Jones, wide receiver Matt Ryan, quarterback Chicago (5) *-Tim Jennings, cornerback *-Brandon Marshall, wide receiver *-Henry Melton, interior lineman *-Julius Peppers, defensive end *-Charles Tillman, cornerback Dallas (2) *-DeMarcus Ware, outside linebacker Jason Witten, tight end Detroit (1) *-Calvin Johnson, wide receiver Green Bay (3) Clay Matthews, outside linebacker *-Aaron Rodgers, quarterback Jeff Saturday, center Minnesota (4) Jared Allen, defensive end *-Jerome Felton, fullback *-Adrian Peterson, running back Blair Walsh, placekicker New Orleans (2) *-Jahri Evans, guard Thomas Morstead, punter N.Y. Giants (3) Victor Cruz, wide receiver *-Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end Chris Snee, guard San Francisco (9) NaVorro Bowman, inside/middle linebacker *-Dashon Goldson, free safety Frank Gore, running back *-Mike Iupati, guard *-Aldon Smith, outside linebacker *-Justin Smith, interior lineman *-Joe Staley, tackle *-Donte Whitner, strong safety *-Patrick Willis, inside/middle linebacker Seattle (5) Marshawn Lynch, running back *-Russell Okung, tackle Earl Thomas, free safety *-Max Unger, center Leon Washington, kick returner Tampa Bay (1) Gerald McCoy, interior lineman Washington (3) Lorenzo Alexander, special-teamer Robert Griffin III, quarterback Trent Williams, tackle