Steelers top Packers on final play

Super Bowl champions Pittsburgh scored on the final play to beat the Green Bay Packers 37-36 on Sunday and avoid elimination from the playoffs.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tossed a desperation 19-yard pass to Mike Wallace as time expired and Jeff Reed kicked the game-winning extra point as the Steelers (7-7) kept their slim hopes for postseason play alive.

The victory ended a five-game slide by the Steelers (7-7) and halted Green Bay's five-game winning streak.

Roethlisberger threw for a team-record 503 yards and three touchdowns as he outdueled the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, who had 383 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Pittsburgh, who had not won since early November, need to win their remaining two games and rely on losses by other teams to have any chance for a return to the postseason.

The Steelers are among six teams with 7-7 records still in the hunt for a playoff berth

France Internationals Hugo Lloris & Hatem Ben Arfa Coveted By Manchester United

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson continues to be closely associated with Olympique de Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa and reports also suggest he could make a swoop for Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper Hugo Lloris too.

Rumours surrounding a potential January move to Old Trafford for out-of-favour Ben Arfa first began to circulate late on Friday, but the speculation has stepped up in intensity on Sunday, when radio station RTL confirmed that the former Lyon youth’s agent had held talks with representatives of the Premier League titans.

It is suggested that the 22-year-old could join the Red Devils in the coming weeks for around €9 million before being loaned out to either Birmingham City or Everton. Ferguson supposedly wants the Parisian-born talent toughened up a little before regularly turning out at the Theatre of Dreams.

The People suggests that Lloris is also a potential target for the Scottish manager. With Edwin van der Sar in the twilight of his career, the young France international goalkeeper would seem an ideal replacement as he has been in stunning form with les Gones as well as his country.Turning 23 years old on Boxing Day, Lloris’ has already demonstrated his consistency at a top level, although he is still considered a youngster by goalkeeping standards.

No fee has been suggested for his services, but it would be in excess of the €8.5m Lyon paid Nice for him in the summer of 2008.

In Italy, meanwhile, has pin-pointed Fiorentina's Sebastien Frey as a potential successor to van der Sar.

Mavs end Cavaliers' winning streak

The Dallas Mavericks shook off the absence of injured starter Dirk Nowitzki to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-95 in a meeting of division leaders on Sunday.

Tim Thomas, who started for Nowitzki, scored 22 points and Jason Terry had 19 for the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks, who ended Cleveland's five-game winning streak.

James scored 18 points in a rampant first half for the Central Division-leading Cavaliers, but was checked late in the game and had little support from guard Mo Williams, held to eight points, and center Shaquille O'Neal, who managed just five.

Delonte West picked up some of the slack scoring 18.