New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez celebrates a long gain to near the goal line, which set up a touchdown, against the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Jan. 1, 2012. The Patriots won 49-21. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez celebrates a long gain to near the goal line, which set up a touchdown, against the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Jan. 1, 2012. The Patriots won 49-21. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots linebacker Dane Fletcher (52) drops Buffalo Bills wide receiver Derek Hagan (80) to the field after a pass in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Jan. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) steps into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Jan. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) stands on the sideline during the final minutes of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in Miami. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 19-17. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New Orleans Saints fullback Jed Collins (45) celebrates his touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
By winning every game in the second half of the season, the New England Patriots own home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs,
By losing their last three games, the New York Jets won't be going to a third straight conference title game.
The Patriots (13-3) have earned the right to stay at home throughout the AFC playoffs after a 49-21 victory over Buffalo, which led 21-0. It should be comforting to them, except the Patriots have lost their last two home playoff games, and their last three postseason games overall.
"It depends on how we play," three-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady said. "It's great playing at home. It's great to have a bye. But I think we have to concentrate here this week on what we need to do to play our best football in a couple weeks."
The Jets (8-8) finished a late-season collapse with a 19-17 loss at Miami to fall out of contention. They dropped their final three games after taking control of the AFC's final wild-card spot.
"We played well in spurts this season but we weren't consistent enough," said quarterback Mark Sanchez, who was among the most inconsistent Jets. "You have to ask yourself the tough questions and clean things up for next season.
"It doesn't feel good now but we'll come back and be just fine."
San Francisco (13-3) is just fine thanks to a turnaround season. Under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC behind Green Bay (15-1) after a 34-27 win at St. Louis.
"I'll sit back and watch the games. Let the games begin," tight end Vernon Davis said. "My mind is about to go on a whole new phase, that's the way I see it. We've just got to keep growing, keep trucking."
New Orleans (13-3) is seeded third after a 45-17 win over Carolina. The Saints will host either Detroit (10-6) or Atlanta, which was hosting Tampa Bay in a later game.
Tennessee (9-7) stayed alive in the AFC wild-card chase by edging Houston 23-22 when the Texans, No. 3 in the AFC, missed a 2-point conversion with 14 seconds to go. The Titans needed help in late games: Cincinnati losing to Baltimore, Denver and Oakland both winning.
The Broncos were hosting Kansas City and a win would give them the AFC West. A loss would hand the title to the Raiders if they win at home against San Diego.
With a victory over the Ravens, Cincinnati would take the final AFC wild card. It also gets that spot if either Oakland or Denver loses and it loses to Baltimore. And the Ravens are AFC North winners with a victory or a loss by Pittsburgh at Cleveland.
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