American football: The Gods smile on Packers

THE Green Bay Packers are heading to the National Football League playoffs, with a little help from the Arizona Cardinals and, as quarterback Brett Favre said, maybe a little help from a guardian angel.

Ahman Green set a Green Bay record with 218 rushing yards, including a 98-yard touchdown, to lead the Packers to a 31-3 rout of shorthanded Denver. But the Packers needed league laughing stocks Arizona to upset Minnesota in order to qualify for the postseason as the NFC North division champions.

That didn't seem likely when the Vikings held a 17-6 lead with under two minutes left. But Arizona staged a dramatic rally as Nathan Poole made a leaping 28-yard touchdown catch on the final play of the game for an 18-17 victory.