The Atlanta Falcons capped an improbable comeback from a lost season yesterday, qualifying for the playoffs as a wild-card team by upsetting the Minnesota Vikings, 24-17.

The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, lost for the second straight week, falling 30-23 at home to Buffalo, while the Chargers won their third straight, beating Tampa, 41-24. That sets up a final week showdown in San Diego for the AFC West title.

Those two results were part of a wild weekend that left five playoff berths still to be filled: three in the AFC and two in the NFC.

Here is how it breaks down by conference:

AFC

Tennessee (13-2) has clinched the South and is guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after beating North champion Pittsburgh (11-4), 31-14, yesterday. Indianapolis (11-4) clinched a wild-card berth when it beat Jacksonville on Thursday night.

But the West will come down to Sunday's game in San Diego between the Broncos (8-7) and the Chargers (7-8).

And the East is still up for grabs among Miami and New England (each 10-5) and the New York Jets (9-6). The Dolphins and Jets play at the Meadowlands Sunday and if Miami wins, it wins the division. If the Jets win and New England wins at Buffalo, the Patriots take the title.

But if the Patriots lose and the Jets win, then the Jets are the champions.

Right now, Baltimore (10-5) leads for the second wild-card spot. If it wins at Jacksonville Sunday, it joins Indianapolis as a wild card — it holds the tiebreaker over the Patriots, who could become only the second 11-5 team not to make the playoffs if the Ravens and Dolphins both win.

NFC

The New York Giants (12-3) gained home-field advantage with their 34-28 overtime win over Carolina and Arizona (8-7) is the champion of the West.

The Panthers (11-4) have clinched a wild-card spot but needed to win in the Meadowlands to wrap up the South.

The Falcons (10-5) have one of the wild-card spots and could still win the South.

Minnesota (9-6) could clinch the North if Chicago (8-6) loses tonight at home to Green Bay. The Vikings also can clinch by beating the Giants at home next week or, if the Bears win tonight, with a loss by Chicago in Houston next week.

Dallas, which lost Saturday night to Baltimore to temporarily lose control of its playoff fate, got it back yesterday after Tampa Bay was beaten by San Diego. It needs only to win at Philadelphia (8-6-1) Sunday to get in.

If the Eagles win and the Bucs (9-6) lose at home to Oakland and Chicago loses at least once, then Philadelphia makes it.