LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for three touchdowns and Philip Rivers threw for two more as the San Diego Chargers pounded the Denver Broncos 52-21 to win their fourth consecutive game and complete an improbable comeback to capture their third AFC West Division title in a row.
San Diego (8-8) became the first team to make the post-season after starting 4-8 while Denver (8-8) are the first side since division play began in 1967 to relinquish a three-game lead with three to play.
The Broncos held sole possession of the AFC West lead for all 16 weeks prior to the collapse.
The Chargers, who advanced due to their 5-1 record in the division, secured the number four seed in the AFC playoffs and a home date against the fifth-seeded Indianapolis Colts (12-4).
Tomlinson scored twice in the first-half as San Diego built a commanding 24-6 lead, scoring on each of their four possessions without being forced to punt.
Rivers hit Brandon Manumaleuna and Darren Sproles, who had two scores of his own, with touchdown passes and also passed the 4,000-yard passing plateau on the season.
The 26-year-old Rivers finished the game going 15-for-20 with 207 yards and two touchdowns.
The Denver defence stopped San Diego just once in the contest and quarterback Jay Cutler's two interceptions contributed to a frustrating all-around game for the Broncos.
Cutler did throw one touchdown - a 25-yard effort to Tony Scheffler with 13:01 remaining in the fourth - and finished 29-for-45 with 282 yards in the game.
Tatum Bell had touchdown runs of 26 and 37 yards and rushed for 86 yards on eight carries.
In other matches, the Atlanta Falcons overcame the St Louis Rams 31-27, the Minnesota Vikings edged out the New York Giants 20-19, the Carolina Panthers outgunned the New Orleans Saints 33-31, the Oakland Raiders downed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-24, the Houston Texans beat the Chicago Bears 31-24, the Miami Dolphins proved too strong for the New York Jets 24-17 and the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Washington Redskins 27-24.
In more lop-sided encounters, the New England Patriots shut out the Buffalo Bills 13-0, the Baltimore Ravens thrashed the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-7, the Cincinnati Bengals finished a disappointing season with a 16-6 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Indianapolis Colts were too good for the Tennessee Titans 23-0, the Pittsburgh Steelers warmed up for the playoffs in style with a 31-0 win over the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles downed the Dallas Cowboys 44-6, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Seattle Seahawks 34-21 and the Detroit Lions finished a winless season with a 21-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
NFL results:
Atlanta Falcons 31 St Louis Rams 27
Buffalo Bills 0 New England Patriots 13
Cincinnati Bengals 16 Kansas City Chiefs 6
Green Bay Packers 31 Detroit Lions 21
Indianapolis Colts 23 Tennessee Titans 0
Minnesota Vikings 20 New York Giants 19
New Orleans Saints 31 Carolina Panthers 33
Pittsburgh Steelers 31 Cleveland Browns 0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 Oakland Raiders 31
Houston Texans 31 Chicago Bears 24
New York Jets 17 Miami Dolphins 24
Philadelphia Eagles 44 Dallas Cowboys 6
Arizona Cardinals 34 Seattle Seahawks 21
San Francisco 49ers 27 Washington Redskins 24
Baltimore Raves 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 7
Playoff matchups:
AFC
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins
Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Byes: Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
Byes: New York Giants, Carolina Panthers