Broncos give Patriots a break

With an injured Clinton Portis cheering from the sideline, the Broncos pounded Indianapolis, 31-17, last night to earn a playoff berth and assure the Patriots a first-round bye. The Patriots can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a victory or a Kansas City loss next weekend.

Quentin Griffin ran for 136 yards, Mike Anderson ran for 56 yards and one touchdown, and Jake Plummer ran for two scores for Denver.

Denver (10-5) won its fourth straight game and clinched its first playoff spot since 2000 and only its second postseason berth since John Elway retired following the 1998 championship season.

The Broncos also prevented the Colts (11-4) from wrapping up the AFC South and moving into position for a first-round bye.

Indianapolis still could win its first division title since 1999 with a victory next week at Houston, or a Tennessee loss. But New England (13-2) would have a better overall record and Kansas City (12-3) would have a better conference record. Denver dominated the game, running for 227 yards and holding the ball more than 44 minutes -- even without Portis, the NFL's second-leading rusher with 1,591 yards. Portis was inactive because of a sprained right knee and ankle sustained in last week's game against Cleveland. Indianapolis's offense never had a sustained drive in the second half and spent most of the night watching from the sideline. Peyton Manning became the first NFL quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in five straight seasons, and Marvin Harrison became the 21st player to top 10,000 yards receiving.

But it was one of the Colts' poorest offensive games of the year. Manning connected on 12 of 23 passes for 146 yards and Harrison had six catches for 85 yards. Edgerrin James carried 10 times for 42 yards.