By Larry Fine

(Reuters) – The Cincinnati Bengals edged the Pittsburgh Steelers to reach the NFL playoffs, and the Indianapolis Colts joined the postseason party by capping their remarkable turnaround in pressure-packed action on Sunday.

The advancement of Cincinnati (9-6), 13-10 winners over their bitter AFC North rivals, and Indianapolis (10-5), who beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13, completed the playoff list in the American Football Conference, though seeding issues remained.

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey (Reuters) – The New York Jets looked like a team without a flight plan on Friday with rumors swirling about trading quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow and coaches leaving town.

Head coach Rex Ryan, whose 6-8 team had their playoff hopes dashed in Monday’s ugly loss to Tennessee, maintained a cone of silence over the future, declining to even confirm his back-up quarterback for Sunday’s game against San Diego.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The never-say-die San Francisco Giants’ rousing drive to the World Series title capped a year of surprises, sensational individual achievements and big-name doping controversies in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Miguel Cabrera of the pennant-winning Detroit Tigers claimed the first Triple Crown sweep of the American League’s (AL) major offensive categories in 45 years by slugging 44 home runs with 139 runs batted in, while batting .330.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) – A visit with the grief-stricken family of a six-year-old victim from last week’s Connecticut elementary school massacre has left New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz looking at life through a different lens.

The National Football League player said on Wednesday the 75-minute visit to the home of six-year-old Giants fan Jack Pinto, who was a buried in a replica Cruz jersey, has altered his view on life.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Adding more hope to their dream of a long-awaited return to the NBA winner’s circle, the New York Knicks enjoyed a role reversal night against the once-mighty Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

Raining down three-pointers and playing tight defense in sticking to their new formula for success, Carmelo Anthony and his team mates beat the struggling Lakers 116-107, easing to victory after building a 26-point lead in the second quarter.

NEW YORK, Dec 13 (Reuters) – Tom Watson won seven major golf championships in Scotland during his illustrious playing career and the PGA of America hopes that translates into a U.S. Ryder Cup victory.

Watson will not be wielding a club when the U.S. face Europe in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland, but the newly-minted, Ryder Cup captain aims to inspire and impart confidence to counter a Europe team that has won seven of the last nine events.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Newly-appointed U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson has been critical of Tiger Woods’s behavior in the past, but on Thursday he said there is no one he wants more to be on his team.

Watson said he would use one of his captain’s picks on Woods if the 14-times major champion failed to secure an automatic berth to the 12-man team for the biennial event through his PGA Tour results.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Limiting how far the ball travels and the type of putters players can use could do more harm than good for golf, the PGA of America said on Tuesday.

The PGA of America, who is opposed to a proposed ban on players anchoring long putters to their body, feels making golf easier would grow the game and is ready to resist a possible move to reign in the distance golf balls travel.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The United States will announce their new Ryder Cup captain on Thursday, breaking with tradition by revealing his identity on breakfast television.

The PGA of America said the captain would be introduced on NBC’s Today Show before attending a formal news conference near the top of New York City’s Empire State Building.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) – Rookie running back David Wilson found himself in the New York Giants dog house after fumbling in the opening game of the season and struggling to master pass protection assignments.

You could excuse the first-round draft pick for howling with delight on Sunday after a breakout game in which he dashed 97 yards for a touchdown with a kickoff return, and rushed for two more scores including a 52-yarder in a 52-27 romp over the New Orleans Saints.