Rookie ... Robert Girffin III will lead Washington into the NFL playoffs. Source: Evan Vucci / AP
The Vikings are in, the Superbowl-champion Giants are out, the Texans blew their seeding and rookie QBs rule the roost so Fox Sports leads you through the action on a frenetic final day in the NFL regular season.
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The 2012 rookie quarterback class will be written in the history books as one of the greatest ever with four first-year players leading their teams to the post-season.
Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick have played with poise and composure well beyond their years, but their job isn't nearly complete with NFL wildcard week looming large.
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A matchup between RGIII's Redskins and Wilson's Seahawks immediately pits two of these electrifying rookies against each other in the nation's capital.
Washington claimed the NFC East and simultaneously ended Dallas' season with a 28-18 win in Sunday's late game thanks largely to the contribution of another first-year star.
Shrouded by the hype surrounding Griffin, Alfred Morris left it until the final day to break the club's single-season rushing record of 1516 yards set by Clinton Portis in 2005.
His 200-yard, three-touchdown night was the difference in clinching the division and ensuring Washington became the first team since the 1996 Jaguars to start 3-6 and still reach the playoffs.
They are also the first team since the 1943 Giants to have rookie leaders in both passing and rushing with Griffin noting post-game that he was just nine years of age the last time the Redskins finished atop the NFC East.
Washington now prepares to host Seattle after the Seahawks took care of St Louis 20-13. The scoreboard ultimately proved inconsequential given other results, but it was the ideal tune-up for Wilson who orchestrated yet another late game-winning drive.
The Seahawks closed the season on a 5-0 run, out-scoring opponents 193 to 60 but will have their hands full in a tantalising wildcard matchup.
In San Francisco, Kaepernick and the 49ers clinched the NFC West and a first week bye with a 27-13 win over Arizona while Luck and the Indianapolis Colts scored an upset 28-16 win to spoil Houston's plans.
Instead of a week off, the former Superbowl favourites now must re-group to face Cincinnati.
The Bengals prevailed 23-17 over Baltimore in what was essentially a dead rubber where almost every starter was rested.
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Houston also hosted Cincinnatti in the first week of last season's playoffs, winning 31-10.
The Ravens meanwhile get the unenviable task of hosting the red-hot Colts who put the finishing touches on a 9-2 run to close the regular season.
Chuck Pagano's emotional return was the key story in Indianapolis on Sunday though with the Head Coach returning to the sidelines for the first time since being diagnosed with Leukaemia three months ago.
Luck's extraordinary influence on the Colts has turned the franchise from a 2-14 record into a playoff-contending 11-5 team within just 12 months.
While it was an opportunity lost for Houston, it was a stroke of good fortune for Denver and New England who are ultimately the beneficiaries of the Colts' win.
With a 38-3 triumph over the lowly Chiefs, the Broncos finished the regular season 13-3 and swiped home field advantage from the Texans.
Installed as new Superbowl favourites in the closing weeks of the season, this was an unexpected gift for the Broncos who must surely fancy their chances of a deep playoff run at the intimidating Mile High Stadium.
The Patriots meanwhile trounced Miami 28-0 to move into the top seeds and earn the week off.
Tom Brady threw for 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns en-route to another stellar year that has him firmly entrenched in the MVP discussion.
The Minnesota Vikings clinched their first playoff berth since 2009 with a dramatic 37-34 victory over Green Bay.
After the Packers rallied to tie the game at 34 in the dying minutes, Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson drove from their own 28-yard line to set Blair Walsh up for the 29-yard, game-winning field goal.
However, Green Bay doesn't have to wait long for revenge with the Vikings scheduled to visit Lambeau Field in next week's sudden-death wildcard round; a matchup that Aaron Rodgers' troops won 23-14 just four weeks ago.
While already the most bitter of rivals, the Packers didn't endear themselves to the Chicago Bears whose playoff hopes hung on a Green Bay victory.
Having beaten Detroit 26-24 earlier in the day, the Bears were left to wonder what might have been as they watched time tick away on a season that held so much promise at 7-1.
Another team relying on help to salvage an underwhelming campaign was New York Giants.
Although confidently taking care of business 42-7 against Philadelphia, the fate of the defending champions was sealed by Chicago and Minnesota's respective victories.
It was a disappointing end for the Giants who could only manage a 3-5 record from the half-way mark of the season and the champs will be forced to watch on as a rival swoops upon their crown.
Wildcard Weekend (dates and times AEDT)
Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans (Sunday, 8:30am)
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 12:00pm)
Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens (Monday, 5:00am)
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Redskins (Monday, 8:30am)
