Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers (right) throws during the second half of an NFL game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Photo: IC

Baltimore and Carolina captured the last two NFL playoff spots with victories on Sunday while Aaron Rodgers shook off a calf injury to spark a crucial Green Bay triumph.

Carolina routed host Atlanta 34-3 in a matchup of teams with losing records for the National Football Conference (NFC) South Division crown while Baltimore downed Cleveland 20-10 and took the last American Football Conference (AFC) wild-card playoff spot after San Diego lost 19-7 at Kansas City.

Rodgers returned from a second-quarter left calf injury late to run for one touchdown and throw for another in the second half to spark the host ­Packers over Detroit 30-20. Aggravating the ­injury was Detroit's Ndamukong Suh stepping on Rodgers' left leg twice late in the game, actions the league says it will review for possible disciplinary action.

With the victory, Green Bay claimed the NFC North crown over the Lions and earn a first-round playoff bye on the final day of the NFL regular season.

The Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions, defeated visiting St Louis 20-6 for a sixth win in a row to finish 12-4 and claim the top seed in the NFC playoffs, including a first-round bye and a home-field edge with Green Bay (12-4) taking the second seed.

Next weekend's first-round NFC ­playoff games will find Detroit (11-5) at Dallas (12-4) and Arizona (11-5) at Carolina (7-8 with one draw).

In the AFC playoffs, New England (12-4) has the top seed with Denver (12-4) second after a 47-14 rout of Oakland and both took first-round byes.

Next weekend's AFC playoff matchups were decided in the final contest when Pittsburgh defeated visiting Cincinnati 27-17 in a showdown for the AFC North crown.

The Steelers (11-5) will host Baltimore (10-6) while Cincinnati (10-5-1) will visit Indianapolis (11-5).

Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes, one of them a 63-yard (68.9-meter) connection to Antonio Brown, who opened the scoring on a 71-yard punt return touchdown. But the Steelers lost running back Le'Veon Bell to a knee injury in the third quarter that could be a major playoff ­setback.

In Atlanta, Cam Newton ran for one touchdown and threw for another while Roman Harper and Tre Boston returned interceptions for touchdowns to spark the Panthers' victory over the Falcons. Carolina edged New Orleans (7-9) for the division crown and joined Seattle in 2010 as the only clubs with losing ­records to reach the playoffs.

In Baltimore, Joe Flacco threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to rally the host Ravens past the Browns. A loss by San Diego, which would have advanced instead with a victory, put Baltimore in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.

In Kansas City, Cairo Santos kicked four field goals and Travis Kelce ­recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown to power the Chiefs, whose long shot playoff hope ended with Baltimore's win.

New England lost 17-9 at home to ­Buffalo but the Patriots had already clinched a top playoff seed.

The Bills ended a 13-year losing streak at New England to finish 9-7 but missed the playoffs for a 15th consecutive ­season, the longest active drought in the NFL.