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NFL: Tony Romo breaks Troy Aikman's record for yards passing as Cowboys thump Colts

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Tony Romo speaks after the Cowboys claimed top spot in the NFC East division

Dallas Cowboys ended a four-year play-off drought in a dominant 42-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, with Tony Romo throwing four touchdown passes and breaking Troy Aikman's franchise record for yards passing.

The Cowboys (11-4) emphatically ended a three-game home losing streak, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions to take the NFC East and help Dallas make it back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2009 season. 

Romo set the record on his fourth touchdown pass, a 25-yarder to tight end Jason Witten. The TD put him at 32,961 yards, 19 more than the three-time Super Bowl winner.

The 34-year-old Romo is already the franchise leader in touchdown passes. He was up to 240 after the toss to Witten, 75 more than Aikman.

Aikman is still the franchise leader in attempts and completions, but is likely to be replaced in those categories, too.

The Colts (10-5) didn't have much to play for with the AFC South title secured, and looked like it while barely avoiding their first shutout loss in 21 years.

The Cowboys, five-time Super Bowl winners, will be aiming to reach their first title game since the 1995 season when they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the championship.

Seahawks through

The defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks secured their place in this season's play-offs just before taking the field against NFC West rivals the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cowboys' victory, coupled with the Eagles loss to the Redskins, meant the Seahawks were guaranteed a play-off place regardless of the results in their final two regular season games.

Seattle still produced a ruthless 35-6 win over the Cardinals, with Russell Wilson throwing for two touchdowns and running for another to edge the Seahawks closer to another NFC West title. 

Odell Beckham Jr. caught two touchdown passes and rolled up 148 yards receiving against a defence that hadn't allowed a TD in three straight games as he helped lead the New York Giants to a 37-27 victory over the St Louis Rams.

Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals to help the Oakland Raiders knock the Buffalo Bills from play-off contention with a 26-24 victory.

The Bills (8-7) needed to win their final two games and get some help to end the NFL's longest active play-off drought at 14 seasons. But they failed at the easiest part, beating the lowly Raiders (3-12), and will miss the playoffs for a 15th straight season.

Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Menelik Watson donated his match fee for the game - reportedly around $18,000 - to the family of four-year-old Ava Urrea, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, after she spent a day with the Raiders last week.

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