NFL: Baltimore 24, Cincinnati 16

CINCINNATI, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Ray Rice scored twice Sunday and Baltimore clinched a first-round playoff bye with a 24-16 victory over Cincinnati, which made the post-season as a wild card.

Rice ran for touchdowns of 70 and 51 yards as the Ravens (12-4) claimed their first AFC North title since 2006 and captured the conference's No. 2 seed.

Cincinnati (9-7), meanwhile, backed into playoffs despite the loss when the New York Jets and Denver Broncos each fell Sunday.

Denver lost to Kansas City just as the Bengals were coming up short of the end zone on their final drive in the waning seconds.