DETROIT -- Jay Cutler led the Chicago Bears to victory, then uttered three words that must have felt awkward coming out of his mouth. "Go Pack Go," he said. It was no use. Chicago kept its playoff hopes alive -- but only momentarily. The Bears beat the Detroit Lions 26-24 on Sunday, then were eliminated from post-season contention when Minnesota edged Green Bay 37-34 to earn the final NFC wild card. The Bears (10-6) needed a Minnesota loss to reach the playoffs. Instead, they became only the second club since the post-season expanded to 12 teams to miss out after a 7-1 start, according to STATS. The other was Washington in 1996. The Lions (4-12) lost their last eight games and turned the ball over four times in the finale. Calvin Johnson fell short in his attempt to become the first player with 2,000 yards receiving in a season. Minnesota played Green Bay as part of the later session of Sunday afternoon games. As players watched on TV, there were some quiet groans in the Chicago locker room after the Vikings scored an early touchdown. "Its just aggravating to have to wait and see what has to go down," running back Matt Forte said. "We took care of our part, so thats all we can bank on right now." The game ended up going down to the wire, and the Bears didnt get the help they needed from the rival Packers. That kept Chicago out of the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. "Of course, I think were moving in the right direction," coach Lovie Smith said in an interview with Chicagos WFLD-TV after the Bears were eliminated. "A lot of times you talk about the five out of six. To me, you count all of the years, all nine of the years. You talk about the last three or so. The last three -- disappointing last year, disappointing this year. But a 10-6 season normally gets you in and we just didnt do enough." Chicago was almost knocked out of the playoff picture by the Lions. Detroit trailed 20-3 late in the first half but pulled within two in the fourth quarter and had the ball at its own 9-yard line before a three-and-out forced a punt. The Bears ran out the last 3:40, with Cutlers 19-yard run on third down keeping the drive going. The Chicago quarterback threw for 257 yards and a touchdown. Johnson, who broke Jerry Rices record of 1,848 yards receiving the previous weekend, finished at 1,964 after catching five passes for 72 yards. "Its hard to shut down Calvin Johnson, but we just put as many guys as we possibly could on him," Smith said. "We doubled him a lot, and we were always rolling extra guys at him. We didnt want to get anything deep; we wanted him to earn everything he got underneath." Detroits Matthew Stafford went 24 of 42 for 272 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He finished the season with an NFL-record 727 pass attempts, surpassing Drew Bledsoes mark of 691 from 1994. Stafford fell short of a second consecutive 5,000-yard season, finishing at 4,967 through the air. It was a surprising fall for the Lions, who made the playoffs last season for the first time in a dozen years. Coach Jim Schwartz wouldnt address speculation about his job status. "The thing Im most concerned with is getting this team back to where we all want it to be," he said. "Im not proud at all of our record." The Lions scored two straight touchdowns to make it 20-17 in the third quarter, but Chicago, which came into the game with a league-high 40 takeaways, forced another key turnover. Staffords fumble gave the Bears the ball at the Detroit 13. It was the fourth time the Bears started a drive inside the Detroit 25, and they ended up kicking a field goal. Olindo Mare added another field goal, a 20-yarder with 10:47 left in the fourth, to make it 26-17. Staffords 9-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie pulled Detroit closer, but it wasnt enough. Cutler threw a 55-yard pass to Alshon Jeffery to the Detroit 27 on Chicagos first play from scrimmage, delighting the many Chicago fans in attendance at Ford Field. But that drive stalled, and the Bears actually had to punt after Cutler fumbled on third down and the ball was recovered back at midfield. After the Lions kicked a field goal, Chicago struck back when Cutler swung a pass out to Earl Bennett, who made the catch behind the line of scrimmage, got a block and outran the defence for a surprisingly easy 60-yard touchdown. Joique Bell fumbled away the ensuing kickoff, and the Bears kicked a field goal. In the second quarter, Stafford fumbled deep in his own territory. Julius Peppers recovered for Chicago, and his short return gave the Bears the ball at the 10. Forte scored on a 1-yard run to make it 17-3. The Lions werent done giving the ball away. Tim Jennings picked off Staffords overthrown pass, and his 31-yard return to the Detroit 23 set up another field goal. Staffords 25-yard scoring pass to Kris Durham with 12 seconds left in the half made it 20-10, and he threw a 10-yarder in the third to Will Heller. NOTES: Chicago TE Matt Spaeth left the game with a concussion. ... The Bears were without LB Brian Urlacher (hamstring). He last played on Dec. 2. cheap nfl jerseys . A co-scoring leader with the Roughnecks last season, Dobbie was named the Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals, adding three assists and collecting three loose balls as the team rallied for a 12-9 victory on the road over the defending champion Toronto Rock on Sunday. wholesale nfl jerseys . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. http://www.cheapchinajerseynfl.us.com/ . They got it when Jamar Walls blocked punt touchdown return proved to be the difference Friday, clinching the Stampeders a home playoff game with a 27-13 victory over the hapless Eskimos. nfl jerseys china .Y. - The Buffalo Sabres have recalled rookie defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen two days after he was sent down to the minors. jerseys from china . Andre Iguodala added 18 points and Kenneth Faried had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who improved to 11-2 at home this season after their eight-game winning streak at the Pepsi Center was snapped Thursday in a loss to Minnesota.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants backfield went into "next guy up" mode Friday as Brandon Jacobs was deemed doubtful for Sundays game against Seattle with a sprained left MCL. DJ Ware, the Giants third running back behind Jacobs and starter Ahmad Bradshaw, will now move to Bradshaws primary backup with seventh-round draft pick DaRel Scott going into the third spot. Scott has only played on special teams for Giants (3-1), but could see his first offensive action in third-down blocking situations. "Ready-ready," an eager but anxious Scott said Friday. "Im just waiting for them to call my number. Theres definitely a lot of anxiety going right now. But Im preparing as best I can." Scott offered some glimpses of his potential in the preseason. Against Chicago, he posted a 97-yard touchdown run. He also took a fake punt 65 yards for a touchdown against New England. Now, the five-foot-11, 210-pound Scott hopes to see at least a couple of carries, though picking up blitzes as Eli Manning drops back will more likely be his role. Scott said hes consulted often with Ware on that point, considering that was Wares major role behind Jacobs. Ware has just three carries for 22 yards. "DJs helped me a lot on third-down situations," Scott said. "I rely on him because if I do have a role Sunday, itll be in third-down situations." Ware was hoping for something more substantive than mere blocking now that hell play in rotation with Bradshaw. Jacobs had averaged just over eight carries per game, which would suit Ware fine. He said rust from being left out of the offensive gameplan -- he serves as the up-man on the kickoff return team -- would not be an issue. "This is just a great opportunity right now, and I cant wait to get out there," Ware said. "Im just out there runningg, reading my offensive line, reading my linebackers, reading all my keys.dddddddddddd Trying to run downhill as fast as I can and leaving no witnesses when I get away from people. "Im just going to go out and play hard and fast, and now that Im not nervous, itll be easier to do." Not as easy will be the overall task of getting an inconsistent running game untracked against the leagues 14th-ranked run defence. Centre David Baas has been ruled out with a neck injury, which leaves reserve Kevin Boothe with the responsibility of producing the physicality the interior of the line has lacked so far. Giants running backs have averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, good for No. 29 in the league. Wares cutting style and his six-foot, 225-pound frame can make people miss. But Ware does not present the punishing entity that Jacobs does. "It affects the gameplan, but theres opportunities for others to step up," coach Tom Coughlin said. "They have to step up and do the job." Meanwhile, the frustration surrounding Jacobs slow healing is tangible. He injured the knee during the Arizona game, and was pulled from the lineup after his fourth-quarter touchdown. He did not practise this week in preparation for the Seahawks (1-3). On Thursday, Jacobs said "It doesnt feel too bad. Im just waiting to be unleashed, and thats about it." That wont happen now until next week against Buffalo, at the earliest. "I thought hed make more progress, but that hasnt been the case," Coughlin said. "I dont know if its a setback, but there is swelling." NOTES: Defensive end Justin Tuck (neck/groin) also missed practice and is doubtful. ... CB Prince Amukamara (foot) is out. ... Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (ribs), LB Michael Boley (knee), and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) are probable. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '