On Sunday, the Colts may have cut off a place in the playoffs but the Packers may have cut their playoff throats.

The Colts (8-4) got out of Cleveland with a 10-6 victory in one of many weather-dampened games but the only one without an offensive touchdown. Give the game ball to DE Robert Mathis for picking up a Derek Anderson fumble and lumbering 39 yards for a fourth-quarter TD.

It was the Colts' fifth victory by four points or fewer. And with the next three games against Cincinnati, Detroit and Jacksonville before closing against Tennessee, the escape-artists from Indy should be assured of at least a wild-card spot.

Colts' close wins

Week 2 Minnesota 18-15 Week 5 Houston 31-27 Week 10 Pittsburgh 24-20 Week 12 Houston 23-20 Week 13 Cleveland 10-6

Pack's close losses

Week 5 Seattle 27-17 Week 9 Tennessee 19-16 OT Week 10 Minnesota 28-27 Week 13 Carolina 35-31

Meanwhile, the Packers (5-7) lost at home 35-31 to Carolina in rain and, eventually, snow.

That was Green Bay's fourth loss by four points or fewer, leaving the Packers with almost no wild-card hopes and two games out of the lead in the NFC North with four games to play.

Mathis and the rest of the maligned Colts defense picked the perfect day to rise up as the offense went cold even though Indianapolis finished a 5-0 November run. Peyton Manning threw for just 125 yards and fumbled instead of scoring on fourth down from six inches out.

The outcome may have been the "last nail" for Browns Coach Romeo Crennel. Cleveland owner Randy Lerner denies he has been talking to former Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher.

Nobody believes Lerner but the better question may be if Cowher would want to coach the Browns.

In Green Bay, it was a vital victory for Carolina (9-3), setting up a NFC South showdown at home with Tampa Bay. RB DeAngelo Williams got one game ball for his four TDs, but give another to WR Steve Smith for his outstanding 54-yard reception on the Pack 1 that set up Williams' winning TD.

NFC divisional showdowns

Every week has vital games now and Sunday had two major NFC rematches.

*NY Giants 23, Washington 7 -- Neither the weather nor a self-inflicted gun shot wound by star WR Plaxico Burress could keep the Giants from their appointed rout of the NFC East. The Giants (11-1) have a three-game lead over Dallas with four games to play and are headed for a first-round playoff bye. Washington (7-5) is out of the division title chase and in trouble in the wild-card race after losing three of four -- all at home -- after its 6-2 start.

*Tampa Bay 23, New Orleans 20 -- The Bucs (9-3) stayed tied for the NFC South lead with Carolina heading into a road battle with the Panthers next Monday night. New Orleans (6-6) can forget the division title and probably must win out to have a shot at a wild-card berth.

Fantasy heartbreaks

*Baltimore's Mark Clayton was involved in two gigantic scoring plays. The wide receiver threw to WR Derrick Mason for a 32-yard TD. Shortly after that, Clayton caught a 70-yard scoring pass. He finished with 196 total yards. The heartbreak? Among Sportsline.com's thousands of leagues, Clayton is owned in just 15 percent and was activated in only 3 percent.

*Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart appeared headed for a 45-yard TD run but was caught at the Green Bay 2. QB Jake Delhomme scored on a 1-yard run while Stewart finished with 58 yards on just four carries -- and no TDs.

Travel jinx ends

Who would have thought it would be San Francisco that would end the jinx of teams being unable to win when they cross three time zones from west to east? Those teams were 0-15 this season until the 'Niners won in Buffalo 10-3. And it was a 1 p.m. start, which is 10 a.m. for West Coast body clocks.

Denver had the chance to start a positive streak in a late-afternoon game in East Rutherford, N.J. -- and whipped the Jets. So maybe now it's good luck to travel east?

Sunday snapshots

*Of first 11 games Sunday, road teams were 10-1, with Tampa Bay being the home victor.

*Tampa's rain and, later, Green Bay's snow looked fabulous in High Def! Sure beats being there.

*Our weekly question: Are you ready to believe in the Atlanta Falcons yet?

*And say good-bye to San Diego.

*Washington inducted Sean Taylor into its Ring of Fame one year after his shooting death. RB Clinton Portis ran onto the field with a No. 21 flag and all Redskins had a 21 emblem on their uniforms.

*Numerous times when Indy's Manning would be changing the play at line of scrimmage, Cleveland's linebackers would advance and lean over the center to eavesdrop.

*Easy to believe Buffalo has the world's biggest offensive line -- averaging 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds.

*Closing thought: Broncos get beat at home by Oakland 31-10 and Jets knock off Tennessee on the road 34-13 -- and then Broncos whip Jets 34-17 on road in the rain? The NFL is a strange place.