ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Neither rain, sleet nor snow — and not even Bills tight end Kevin Everett's inspirational return to Buffalo — could prevent the New York Giants from clinching a playoff berth yesterday.

A rediscovered running attack and an opportunistic defense carried the Giants past the Bills and the elements in a 38-21 win.

"I'm very proud," said running back Brandon Jacobs, who scored twice and finished with a career-high 145 yards. "I'm proud of my team. I'm proud of the defense. It means a lot."

The game began with a pelting rain and ended with flurries and wind gusts above 50. The conditions contributed to the teams committing four turnovers each and not mounting much of a passing attack.

Good thing the Giants (10-5) had a plan to run the ball, something they were criticized for failing to do in a 22-10 loss to the Redskins last week. They rushed for 291 yards, their most since they had 351 on Nov. 29, 1959, against Washington.

Jacobs' two scores, including a powerful 43-yard run, rallied the Giants from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit.

New York's defense did the rest as Kawika Mitchell intercepted Trent Edwards and returned it 20 yards for the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter. Corey Webster then sealed the victory by scoring on a 34-yard interception return.

The Bills (7-8) had plenty to play for even though they were eliminated from playoff contention following an 8-0 loss at Cleveland last weekend. That's because of Everett, the tight end who addressed the team before the game in his first visit to Buffalo since sustaining a severe spinal cord injury in the Bills season opener against Denver on Sept. 9.

Everett is now walking on his own while continuing his rehab in Houston.

SEAHAWKS 27, RAVENS 6

SEATTLE — Matt Hasselbeck shook off two interceptions to throw two touchdown passes and Shaun Alexander had his biggest rushing day since Week 4 as the Seahawks clinched the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

Hasselbeck's scores gave him a career-high 27 TD throws this season. One went to Alexander, on a screen pass of 14 yards. That gave Seattle (10-5) a 21-0 lead late in the first half.

Alexander turned a season of being booed at home into holiday cheers by gaining 73 yards on 13 carries. Alexander averaged 42 yards a game in his previous eight games before this romp against the Ravens' depleted defense. Baltimore was missing nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis, Pro Bowl defensive end Trevor Pryce and both starting cornerbacks.

The Ravens (4-11), with 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith completing 16 of 33 passes in his first NFL start, extended their franchise-record losing streak to nine games. It took Smith's 79-yard TD pass to Derrick Mason with 4:41 left for Baltimore to avoid its first shutout since Sept. 15, 2002.

LIONS 25, CHIEFS 20

DETROIT — The Lions took advantage of playing a team slumping more than them and avoided making NFL history.

Detroit (7-8) snapped a six-game losing streak and surpassed the most victories it has had in any of seven seasons under team president Matt Millen. The Lions also guaranteed they won't be the first team in the league to finish 6-10 after winning six of their first eight games.

Kansas City (4-11) has dropped eight straight, the franchise's worst skid since losing nine in a row in 1987.

T.J. Duckett ran for a season-high 102 yards and a touchdown, and Detroit had a 19-point lead in the first half, but the victory wasn't sealed until Chiefs receiver Samie Parker foolishly dived to the ground at the Lions' 30 after getting a lateral with no time left.

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