FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Last season New England needed a last-second field goal to slip by Kansas City during the regular season and overtime to do it again in the AFC championship game. Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs get another chance this week against a Patriots team that’s struggling on offense but has one of the NFL’s top defenses. Playoff implications are at stake for both teams. New England can extend its NFL record to 11 consecutive playoff berths with a win. Kansas City can clinch the AFC West title with a win and Oakland loss.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals manager Mike Matheny has announced his first coaching staff in Kansas City and most of the names are familiar. Hitting coach Terry Bradshaw and pitching coach Cal Eldred will return from Ned Yost's staff in the same roles. Pedro Grifol will move from working with catchers to bench coach, Rusty Kuntz will move back to first base and Vance Wilson will shift to third base. Larry Carter is joining the big league club after working with Royals minor league players, and John Mabry and Rafael Belliard are the newcomers to the organization.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Grant Sherfield had 15 points to lead five Wichita State players in double figures as the Shockers rolled past Central Arkansas 95-69. Erik Stevenson, Jamarius Burton, Jaime Echenique and Tyson Etienne added 13 points apiece for the Shockers.
DENTON, Texas (AP) — Kristian Doolittle got the last of his 28 points when he swished a 3-pointer with 13.5 seconds remaining and Oklahoma beat North Texas 82-80. The Sooners hadn't led since the game's opening minutes when their only senior hit the go-ahead shot Thursday night. Austin Reaves added 22 points for 7-1 Oklahoma. North Texas dropped to 3-6. The Mean Green had a final chance but Thomas Bell's 3-pointer ricocheted off the rim as time ran out. Umoja Gibson led North Texas with 21 points.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 8 Baylor will play in the Big 12 championship game with a possible playoff spot on the line. Both teams are 11-1. The Sooners are going for their fifth consecutive Big 12 title in Saturday's game at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Oklahoma has been to the playoff three of the last four seasons. This is Baylor's first Big 12 title game. The Bears have a chance to avenge their only loss. They lost 34-31 at home to Oklahoma just three weeks ago.
UNDATED (AP) — LSU will have plenty of fans on the campuses of Oklahoma, Baylor and perhaps Utah this week. A Georgia upset of LSU in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday likely puts two SEC teams into the College Football Playoff. The Pac-12 and Big 12 would probably get left out of the four-team field in that case. An LSU victory would essentially eliminate Georgia while opening up a spot for either Utah or the winner of Saturday's Big 12 championship game between Oklahoma and Baylor. Utah first must worry about beating Oregon in Friday's Pac-12 championship game.
National Headlines
CHICAGO (AP) — Mitchell Trubisky threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score in the Chicago Bears' 31-24 victory over the slumping Dallas Cowboys. Trubisky shook off an early interception near the goal line to complete 23 of 31 passes for 244 yards, helping Chicago improve to 7-6. Dak Prescott was 27 of 49 for 334 yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys, who have dropped three straight to fall to 6-7.
CINCINNATI (AP) — All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas completed a $64 million, four-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, the biggest free agent deal in franchise history. They agreed to the deal earlier in the week. Moustakas was in town to sign it Thursday and get introduced at the team's annual fan festival. Cincinnati scored the fourth-fewest runs in the NL last season despite one of the league’s most hitter-friendly ballparks.
NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Jake Marisnickhas been acquired by the New York Mets from the Houston Astros for two prospects -- left-hander Blake Taylor and outfielder Kenedy Corona. Marisnick could play center field and allow the Mets to use Brandon Nimmo primarily in left. The 28-year-old Marisnick hit .233 with 10 homers, 34 RBIs and 10 steals last season.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins will make further extensions to safety netting at Target Field next season. This is the third such enhancement they've made in five years. The latest additions will leave the ballpark with netting on the left-field line at 275 feet long and 22 feet high. The right-field line will have coverage 255 feet long and 21 feet high. The nets above the dugouts will also be stretched to 16 feet high.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos star linebacker Von Miller says he might miss the game against the Houston Texans because of his left knee injury. Miller revealed he sprained the MCL in his left knee two weeks ago against Buffalo. He was held out last weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers, ending his 95-game starting streak.
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Antwaun Woods has been arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and tampering with evidence. Police in the Dallas suburb of Frisco say Woods told them he tried to put out a marijuana cigarette when he knew he was about to be stopped for speeding. The Cowboys' practice facility is in Frisco. Woods is injured and won’t play Thursday night at Chicago.
Thursday Scores
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Chicago 31 Dallas 24
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final OT (14)Auburn 81 Furman 78
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Washington 119 Philadelphia 113
Final Denver 129 New York 92
Final Houston 119 Toronto 109
Final OT Phoenix 139 New Orleans 132