LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — TCU ran the ball seven consecutive times to set the tone against Kansas on Saturday night.

Four hours later, the Horned Frogs kept running the ball just to run out the clock.

Max Duggan threw for touchdowns on his only three completions while running 58 yards for another score, TCU ran for 337 yards in all, and the Horned Frogs bludgeoned their way to a 59-23 victory despite coach Gary Patterson estimating his team was “missing close to 40 guys” due to COVID-19 tests, contact tracing and run-of-the-mill injuries.

“Our whole thing is run the football if that’s what they’re going to allow us to do,” Patterson said. “Then the whole thing was, you get ahead, how do you get the game over with as quick as you can? We’re going to get home late tonight and we are going to have a game next week. The faster you can get off the field, less chance of getting hurt.”

Zach Evans ran for 100 yards on 12 carries, and Darwin Barlow added 83 yards rushing and a score, as the Horned Frogs (4-4, 4-4 Big 12) easily bounced back from a lopsided loss to West Virginia in which they failed to reach the end zone.

Duggan threw two TD passes to Pro Wells and another to Carter Ware, and Derius Davis returned a punt for a score, as Patterson’s crew romped to a 38-12 halftime lead. They settled into a ground-and-pound approach from there, and a pick-six from C.J. Caesar II and fumble recovery for a score by Dee Winters put an exclamation mark on the win.

The Jayhawks (0-8, 0-7) tried errant and unsuccessful Jalon Daniels and Thomas MacVittie before giving Miles Kendrick a shot at quarterback. The third-stringer provided a spark, completing 11 of 18 passes for 166 yards with two TD passes to freshman Luke Grimm, who’d had just nine catches without a score all season.

Still, he hardly could overcome a defense that allowed at least 52 points for the fourth straight game.

TCU plowed down field for an opening field goal, then it forced Kansas into three straight three-and-outs that the Horned Frogs answered with three consecutive touchdowns — and they were off and running. Literally.

On the first TD, Duggan dropped back on third-and-11 and hoisted a 46-yard pass to the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Wells, who walked backward into the end zone without a Jayhawk defender within 20 yards. On the second, Duggan tossed a 26-yard TD pass to the 6-4, 249-pound Ware, who didn’t have a defender within 30 yards of him.

Yes, the Jayhawks managed to lose a quarter-ton of tight ends on consecutive series.

“Whatever way we score,” Duggan said, “I’m going to be very happy.”

Their problems boiled over when a snap over Daniels’ head resulted in fourth-and-33 at their own 3-yard line. Kansas punter Reis Vernon, who had already shanked one kick, drilled a liner at Davis, who deftly weaved his way through the coverage for a 37-yard return that made it 24-0.

At that point, the Horned Frogs had 187 yards total offense. Kansas had minus-20.

The Jayhawks even had things go against them when they scored. Daniels threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Kwame Lassiter II and they successfully kicked the extra point, but coach Les Miles took the point off the board and accepted an offsides penalty instead. Kansas proceeded to try the 2-point conversion and was stuffed.

“I was absolutely certain we were going to see mistakes at some point,” Miles said. “The inability to play a game free of issues and mistakes, that’s something a good football team can get accomplished, and we’re heading in that direction.”

The game was designated senior day for Kansas, but it carried a big asterisk. Seniors are eligible to return for another season because of the pandemic, and the Jayhawks still have a makeup game against Texas on Dec. 12 at Memorial Stadium. But with many family members — pretty much the only folks allowed in the stands because of the recent spike in cases — having already made travel plans, Kansas decided to go forward with its senior send-off.

TCU controlled the line of scrimmage, particularly on offense, where its entire corps of running backs were usually several yards downfield before meeting a defender. The Horned Frogs averaged 8.2 yards on 41 carries.

Kansas had not played since Nov. 7 due to byes and COVID-19 procedures, so the Jayhawks should have been prepared. But they were dominated at the line of scrimmage, dropped a handful of passes and blew countless defensive assignments.

TCU plays its final scheduled game against No. 23 Oklahoma State next Saturday. Kansas heads to Texas Tech.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — TCU ran the ball seven consecutive times to set the tone against Kansas on Saturday night.Four hours later, the Horned Frogs kept running the ball just to run out the clock.Max Duggan threw for touchdowns on his only three completions while running 58 yards for another score, TCU ran for 337 yards in all, and the Horned Frogs bludgeoned their way to a 59-23 victory despite coach Gary Patterson estimating his team was “missing close to 40 guys” due to COVID-19 tests, contact tracing and run-of-the-mill injuries.“Our whole thing is run the football if that’s what they’re going to allow us to do,” Patterson said. “Then the whole thing was, you get ahead, how do you get the game over with as quick as you can? We’re going to get home late tonight and we are going to have a game next week. The faster you can get off the field, less chance of getting hurt.”Zach Evans ran for 100 yards on 12 carries, and Darwin Barlow added 83 yards rushing and a score, as the Horned Frogs (4-4, 4-4 Big 12) easily bounced back from a lopsided loss to West Virginia in which they failed to reach the end zone.TCU had no such trouble in this one.Duggan threw two TD passes to Pro Wells and another to Carter Ware, and Derius Davis returned a punt for a score, as Patterson’s crew romped to a 38-12 halftime lead. They settled into a ground-and-pound approach from there, and a pick-six from C.J. Caesar II and fumble recovery for a score by Dee Winters put an exclamation mark on the win.The Jayhawks (0-8, 0-7) tried errant and unsuccessful Jalon Daniels and Thomas MacVittie before giving Miles Kendrick a shot at quarterback. The third-stringer provided a spark, completing 11 of 18 passes for 166 yards with two TD passes to freshman Luke Grimm, who’d had just nine catches without a score all season.Still, he hardly could overcome a defense that allowed at least 52 points for the fourth straight game.TCU plowed down field for an opening field goal, then it forced Kansas into three straight three-and-outs that the Horned Frogs answered with three consecutive touchdowns — and they were off and running. Literally.On the first TD, Duggan dropped back on third-and-11 and hoisted a 46-yard pass to the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Wells, who walked backward into the end zone without a Jayhawk defender within 20 yards. On the second, Duggan tossed a 26-yard TD pass to the 6-4, 249-pound Ware, who didn’t have a defender within 30 yards of him.Yes, the Jayhawks managed to lose a quarter-ton of tight ends on consecutive series.“Whatever way we score,” Duggan said, “I’m going to be very happy.”Their problems boiled over when a snap over Daniels’ head resulted in fourth-and-33 at their own 3-yard line. Kansas punter Reis Vernon, who had already shanked one kick, drilled a liner at Davis, who deftly weaved his way through the coverage for a 37-yard return that made it 24-0.At that point, the Horned Frogs had 187 yards total offense. Kansas had minus-20.The Jayhawks even had things go against them when they scored. Daniels threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Kwame Lassiter II and they successfully kicked the extra point, but coach Les Miles took the point off the board and accepted an offsides penalty instead. Kansas proceeded to try the 2-point conversion and was stuffed.“I was absolutely certain we were going to see mistakes at some point,” Miles said. “The inability to play a game free of issues and mistakes, that’s something a good football team can get accomplished, and we’re heading in that direction.”SENIOR SEND-OFF, SORT OFThe game was designated senior day for Kansas, but it carried a big asterisk. Seniors are eligible to return for another season because of the pandemic, and the Jayhawks still have a makeup game against Texas on Dec. 12 at Memorial Stadium. But with many family members — pretty much the only folks allowed in the stands because of the recent spike in cases — having already made travel plans, Kansas decided to go forward with its senior send-off.THE TAKEAWAYTCU controlled the line of scrimmage, particularly on offense, where its entire corps of running backs were usually several yards downfield before meeting a defender. The Horned Frogs averaged 8.2 yards on 41 carries.Kansas had not played since Nov. 7 due to byes and COVID-19 procedures, so the Jayhawks should have been prepared. But they were dominated at the line of scrimmage, dropped a handful of passes and blew countless defensive assignments.UP NEXTTCU plays its final scheduled game against No. 23 Oklahoma State next Saturday. Kansas heads to Texas Tech.

TCU runs roughshod over winless Kansas in 59-23 victory

By Paul Newberry - Associated Press

The games will go on, hanging by the thread of the almighty dollar.

Even as the coronavirus rages out of control over wide swaths of the country, and some facets of society are beginning to shut down again in hopes of stemming the deadly tide, there are no plans to shutter sports like they did back in March.

Everyone is all-in on this utterly joyless pursuit.

But it’s easy to see why so many have tuned out these made-for-TV games.

The contests being played in largely empty stadiums and arenas, devoid of any atmosphere or excitement. The constantly changing lineups and scattershot rescheduling or canceling of games, often on a few hours notice. Teams forced to play in temporary, faraway homes because, well, we’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic that already has claimed a quarter of a million American lives.

Please welcome to the court ... your Tampa Bay Raptors?

Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean summed it up best when his team’s season opener was canceled shortly before tipoff because of COVID-19.

“This season already was a surreal experience all around,” said Crean, whose team hasn’t even played a game. “To all our fans, bear with us. It’s going to be this kind of year in college basketball.”

It’s already been that kind of week for the Bulldogs.

On Monday, they learned that their second game of the season, set for this Sunday against Gardner-Webb, would have to be canceled because of a positive test within their opponent’s program. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs hastily scheduled Florida A&amp;M as a replacement game. Then, on Wednesday, they had to call off the opener against Columbus State.

Florida A&amp;M — a team that wasn’t even on Georgia’s schedule a few days ago — is the new season opener.

Assuming nothing happens in the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, anyone planning to cap off Thanksgiving Day by watching the highly anticipated Baltimore-Pittsburgh NFL matchup in prime time had to make alternate plans — who’s up for some Parcheesi? — after that game was first pushed back to Sunday, and then to Tuesday by an outbreak that put more than a dozen Ravens on the coronavirus reserve list.

MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson was among those stricken, casting a further pall over a season that feels more like the reality show “Survivor: NFL All Stars.”

Keeping with that theme, winless Vanderbilt headed off to Missouri for what could be the first Power Five college football game to feature a female player.

Soccer goalkeeper Sarah Fuller was cleared to travel with the Commodores and poised to handle the kicking duties Saturday after a rash of COVID-19 issues swept through the special team unit.

“Let’s make history,” Fuller said in a tweet that included a picture of her wearing a Commodores jersey and holding a football.

“She’s really good with a soccer ball, she seems to be pretty good with a football, so we’ll see,” Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason actually said.

While we’re certainly pulling for Fuller’s quixotic pursuit, the lunacy of a Southeastern Conference football team having to do some impromptu recruiting from the women’s soccer program sums up the shameless exercise this season has become.

The only thing that truly matters is whether the network checks clear.

That’s certainly the case with the NBA, which not so long ago finished up its pandemic-delayed 2019-20 season by holding most of its playoffs before zero fans in a de facto high school gymnasium at Disney World.

While the bubble was an organizational marvel — and, most important, kept everyone healthy — the NBA has no plans of duplicating it as it rushes head-long into its next season with the pandemic firing on a larger, more terrifying scale than ever before.

The league conducted its draft last week, powered quickly through free agency, and is getting ready for teams to report to training camp next week — even though it hasn’t even released a schedule for a season that is supposed to begin Dec. 22.

“It’s going to be a wild year,” Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said. “We’re going to have to adjust on the fly.”

You’ll get no argument from the Toronto — uhh, make that the Tampa Bay Raptors.

Because of travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian government during the pandemic, the Raptors had to find an alternate home. They settled on Amalie Arena, home of the NHL Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning (who have no idea when they’ll get back on the ice, with time growing increasingly short for a planned New Year’s Day start).

Well, at least the weather along the Gulf Coast will be a lot nicer than a Canadian winter.

“I was just happy that it was somewhere warm,” quipped Raptors star Fred VanVleet, who remained with the vagabond franchise after agreeing to a four-year, $85 million contract.

At some point, hopefully in the not-too-distant future given the progress being made on the vaccination front, sports will return to normal.

The stands will be packed. The schedules won’t be changing on an hourly basis. The Raptors can return to their proper home.

Until then, it’s hard to find any reason to cheer.

By Paul Newberry - Associated PressThe games will go on, hanging by the thread of the almighty dollar.Even as the coronavirus rages out of control over wide swaths of the country, and some facets of society are beginning to shut down again in hopes of stemming the deadly tide, there are no plans to shutter sports like they did back in March.Too much money is at stake.Everyone is all-in on this utterly joyless pursuit.But it’s easy to see why so many have tuned out these made-for-TV games.The contests being played in largely empty stadiums and arenas, devoid of any atmosphere or excitement. The constantly changing lineups and scattershot rescheduling or canceling of games, often on a few hours notice. Teams forced to play in temporary, faraway homes because, well, we’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic that already has claimed a quarter of a million American lives.Please welcome to the court ... your Tampa Bay Raptors?Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean summed it up best when his team’s season opener was canceled shortly before tipoff because of COVID-19.“This season already was a surreal experience all around,” said Crean, whose team hasn’t even played a game. “To all our fans, bear with us. It’s going to be this kind of year in college basketball.”It’s already been that kind of week for the Bulldogs.On Monday, they learned that their second game of the season, set for this Sunday against Gardner-Webb, would have to be canceled because of a positive test within their opponent’s program. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs hastily scheduled Florida A&amp;M as a replacement game. Then, on Wednesday, they had to call off the opener against Columbus State.Florida A&amp;M — a team that wasn’t even on Georgia’s schedule a few days ago — is the new season opener.Assuming nothing happens in the next couple of days.Meanwhile, anyone planning to cap off Thanksgiving Day by watching the highly anticipated Baltimore-Pittsburgh NFL matchup in prime time had to make alternate plans — who’s up for some Parcheesi? — after that game was first pushed back to Sunday, and then to Tuesday by an outbreak that put more than a dozen Ravens on the coronavirus reserve list.MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson was among those stricken, casting a further pall over a season that feels more like the reality show “Survivor: NFL All Stars.”Keeping with that theme, winless Vanderbilt headed off to Missouri for what could be the first Power Five college football game to feature a female player.Soccer goalkeeper Sarah Fuller was cleared to travel with the Commodores and poised to handle the kicking duties Saturday after a rash of COVID-19 issues swept through the special team unit.“Let’s make history,” Fuller said in a tweet that included a picture of her wearing a Commodores jersey and holding a football.“She’s really good with a soccer ball, she seems to be pretty good with a football, so we’ll see,” Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason actually said.While we’re certainly pulling for Fuller’s quixotic pursuit, the lunacy of a Southeastern Conference football team having to do some impromptu recruiting from the women’s soccer program sums up the shameless exercise this season has become.Forget about wins and losses.The only thing that truly matters is whether the network checks clear.That’s certainly the case with the NBA, which not so long ago finished up its pandemic-delayed 2019-20 season by holding most of its playoffs before zero fans in a de facto high school gymnasium at Disney World.While the bubble was an organizational marvel — and, most important, kept everyone healthy — the NBA has no plans of duplicating it as it rushes head-long into its next season with the pandemic firing on a larger, more terrifying scale than ever before.The league conducted its draft last week, powered quickly through free agency, and is getting ready for teams to report to training camp next week — even though it hasn’t even released a schedule for a season that is supposed to begin Dec. 22.“It’s going to be a wild year,” Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said. “We’re going to have to adjust on the fly.”You’ll get no argument from the Toronto — uhh, make that the Tampa Bay Raptors.Because of travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian government during the pandemic, the Raptors had to find an alternate home. They settled on Amalie Arena, home of the NHL Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning (who have no idea when they’ll get back on the ice, with time growing increasingly short for a planned New Year’s Day start).Well, at least the weather along the Gulf Coast will be a lot nicer than a Canadian winter.“I was just happy that it was somewhere warm,” quipped Raptors star Fred VanVleet, who remained with the vagabond franchise after agreeing to a four-year, $85 million contract.At some point, hopefully in the not-too-distant future given the progress being made on the vaccination front, sports will return to normal.The stands will be packed. The schedules won’t be changing on an hourly basis. The Raptors can return to their proper home.Until then, it’s hard to find any reason to cheer.

Column: Sports hanging by the thread of the almighty dollar

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos quarterbacks Drew Lock, his backup Brett Rypien and practice squad member Blake Bortles were pulled off the practice field Saturday and sent home over concerns about their contact with QB Jeff Driskel, who is infected with COVID-19, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t addressed the situation publicly, confirmed a report by KUSA-TV in Denver that the three QBs were pulled out of practice before it ended Saturday.

The Broncos (4-6), who are scheduled to host the New Orleans Saints (8-2) on Sunday, were working with the NFL to resolve the situation.

All three quarterbacks were on the field during the brief viewing period at the start of practice.

Driskel went on the COVID-19 list Thursday.

Coach Vic Fangio has said he wasn’t concerned about his other quarterbacks getting sick because contact tracing showed they weren’t in close contact with Driskel. On Saturday morning, Fangio said the quarterbacks hadn’t been within 6 feet of each other.

But further investigation by the NFL’s medical team apparently raised concerns.

Lock, Rypien and Bortles have continued to test negative for the coronavirus.

Fangio canceled practice Friday when kick returner Diontae Spencer tested positive for the virus along with two staff members.

The news on the quarterbacks broke Saturday about the same time the Broncos announced they had signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year contract extension. Bolles, a former first round draft pick, has shown dramatic improvement this season.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos quarterbacks Drew Lock, his backup Brett Rypien and practice squad member Blake Bortles were pulled off the practice field Saturday and sent home over concerns about their contact with QB Jeff Driskel, who is infected with COVID-19, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press.The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t addressed the situation publicly, confirmed a report by KUSA-TV in Denver that the three QBs were pulled out of practice before it ended Saturday.The Broncos (4-6), who are scheduled to host the New Orleans Saints (8-2) on Sunday, were working with the NFL to resolve the situation.All three quarterbacks were on the field during the brief viewing period at the start of practice.Driskel went on the COVID-19 list Thursday.Coach Vic Fangio has said he wasn’t concerned about his other quarterbacks getting sick because contact tracing showed they weren’t in close contact with Driskel. On Saturday morning, Fangio said the quarterbacks hadn’t been within 6 feet of each other.But further investigation by the NFL’s medical team apparently raised concerns.Lock, Rypien and Bortles have continued to test negative for the coronavirus.Fangio canceled practice Friday when kick returner Diontae Spencer tested positive for the virus along with two staff members.The news on the quarterbacks broke Saturday about the same time the Broncos announced they had signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year contract extension. Bolles, a former first round draft pick, has shown dramatic improvement this season.

All Broncos QBs pulled out of practice over virus

Class 4A @ Hutchinson (Friday)&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605332834699.jpeg" alt="State Football KSHSAA" />
 <figcaption>State Football KSHSAA</figcaption>
 </figure>State Championship ScoresClass 2A @ Salina&nbsp;Rossville 27 Hoisington 20Class 1A @ Hays&nbsp;Olpe 14 Oakley 08-Man Division I @ Newton&nbsp;Little River 70 Wichita County 588-Man Division II @ Newton&nbsp;Hanover 46 St. Francis 24Class 3A @ Hutchinson&nbsp;Andale 20 Perry-Lecompton 0Class 4A @ Hutchinson (Friday)&nbsp;St. James Academy 56 Ark City 34Class 5A @ Pittsburg&nbsp;Mill Valley 49 Wichita Northwest 35Class 6A @ Olathe&nbsp;Derby 56 Blue Valley North 36

State High School Championship Game Scores

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582693944473.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rossville 27 Hoisington 20<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/sxwe1hl0/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

Hoisington falls 27-20 to Rossville in State Title game

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — McKinley Wright IV had 24 points, five rebounds and five assists to help Colorado beat Kansas State 76-58 in the final game of the Little Apple Classic on Friday night.

Kansas State started a season 0-2 with both games at home for the first time since 1962-63 and the first time overall since 2002-03. Colorado started a season 2-0 with both games on the road for the first time since 1960-61.

Maddox Daniels added 10 points for the Buffaloes, who pulled away in the second half with a 13-4 run, capped at 62-48 on Eli Parquet’s three-point play with 7:46 left.

Colorado never trailed after Parquet opened the scoring in the second half with a 3-pointer that gave the Buffaloes a 34-32 lead.

The Wildcats opened with a 22-9 lead. The Buffaloes answered with 14 straight points.

Nijel Pack was 4 of 6 from 3-point range and finished with 12 points to lead Kansas State.

The former Big 12 opponents met for 144th time and the first time in nearly 10 years. Colorado beat Kansas State 87-75 in the conference tournament quarterfinals on March 10, 2011.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — McKinley Wright IV had 24 points, five rebounds and five assists to help Colorado beat Kansas State 76-58 in the final game of the Little Apple Classic on Friday night.Kansas State started a season 0-2 with both games at home for the first time since 1962-63 and the first time overall since 2002-03. Colorado started a season 2-0 with both games on the road for the first time since 1960-61.Maddox Daniels added 10 points for the Buffaloes, who pulled away in the second half with a 13-4 run, capped at 62-48 on Eli Parquet’s three-point play with 7:46 left.Colorado never trailed after Parquet opened the scoring in the second half with a 3-pointer that gave the Buffaloes a 34-32 lead.The Wildcats opened with a 22-9 lead. The Buffaloes answered with 14 straight points.Nijel Pack was 4 of 6 from 3-point range and finished with 12 points to lead Kansas State.The former Big 12 opponents met for 144th time and the first time in nearly 10 years. Colorado beat Kansas State 87-75 in the conference tournament quarterfinals on March 10, 2011.

Wright's 24 points leads Colorado over Kansas State 76-58

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Christian Braun scored 30 points and No. 6 Kansas pulled away from Saint Joseph’s on Friday to win 94-72 in the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off.

Braun made 10 of 13 shots, hit five 3-pointers and added nine rebounds.

“Christian was terrific,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.

Said Braun: “For sure, it was more about being more aggressive. I didn’t play as well as I wanted to against Gonzaga.”

Ochai Agbaji, whose foul trouble proved costly in a 102-90 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga, added 18 points. Jalen Wilson had 14 for the Jayhawks (1-1).

Jack Forrest had 18 points for Saint Joseph’s (0-2). Ryan Daly and Dahmir Bishop added 14 for the Hawks.

“It’s great to be in this environment,” Saint Joseph’s coach Billy Lange said. “We can learn from this. We came to win but, big picture, our guys learned how to compete at this level.

“We were down like 59-55 with 11 minutes left. We have to keep doing what we were doing.”

Trailing by eight at halftime, the Hawks scored the first 10 points of the second half to go up 46-44. Daly’s layup capped the run. Kansas went on a 21-6 run to put the game away.

Saint Joe’s surprised the Jayhawks by taking a 27-20 lead, but Kansas recovered, then went on an 11-0 burst to go up 39-30 and led 44-36 at halftime.

Kansas made 50% of its shots and had a 51-33 advantage in rebounds. The Hawks stayed in the game by making 13 3-pointers.

Kansas: For the second straight game, the Jayhawks started slowly and needed to rally.

“I think every game we’re going to have slow starts,” Braun said. “That’s how difficult this year is going to be. But we gotta get better. That’s what early games are for. We’re figuring each other out.”

Saint Joseph’s: Based on 70 minutes of competitive basketball against Auburn and Kansas, the Hawks will be in a lot of games this season. The Hawks, who went 6-26 last season, return their top five scorers, including Daly, who averaged 20.6 points per game.

“We’re a young group,” Bishop said. “We’re having some shared experiences. ... This is teaching us to take things more seriously.”

With the combination of the foe and 6-foot-10 David McCormack getting injured, Kansas had to play more small ball. It worked: The Jayhawks had a 35-11 edge in fast-break points, 17 assists and held Saint Joseph’s to 35% shooting.

“I thought it was pretty good,” Self said. “We moved the ball well and we learned to drive. I was encouraged we can play small.”

Kansas: The Jayhawks have another top-10 matchup when they play Kentucky on Tuesday in Indianapolis, site of this season’s Final Four.

Saint Joseph’s: The schedule doesn’t get easier — the Hawks play at No. 3 Villanova on Monday.

“Last year was a different chapter. I don’t think about that,” Lange said. “We’re trying to create an identity based on our great history. We’re not going to shy away. We’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime. That’s how we roll.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Christian Braun scored 30 points and No. 6 Kansas pulled away from Saint Joseph’s on Friday to win 94-72 in the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off.Braun made 10 of 13 shots, hit five 3-pointers and added nine rebounds.“Christian was terrific,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.Said Braun: “For sure, it was more about being more aggressive. I didn’t play as well as I wanted to against Gonzaga.”Ochai Agbaji, whose foul trouble proved costly in a 102-90 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga, added 18 points. Jalen Wilson had 14 for the Jayhawks (1-1).Jack Forrest had 18 points for Saint Joseph’s (0-2). Ryan Daly and Dahmir Bishop added 14 for the Hawks.“It’s great to be in this environment,” Saint Joseph’s coach Billy Lange said. “We can learn from this. We came to win but, big picture, our guys learned how to compete at this level.“We were down like 59-55 with 11 minutes left. We have to keep doing what we were doing.”Trailing by eight at halftime, the Hawks scored the first 10 points of the second half to go up 46-44. Daly’s layup capped the run. Kansas went on a 21-6 run to put the game away.Saint Joe’s surprised the Jayhawks by taking a 27-20 lead, but Kansas recovered, then went on an 11-0 burst to go up 39-30 and led 44-36 at halftime.Kansas made 50% of its shots and had a 51-33 advantage in rebounds. The Hawks stayed in the game by making 13 3-pointers.BIG PICTUREKansas: For the second straight game, the Jayhawks started slowly and needed to rally.“I think every game we’re going to have slow starts,” Braun said. “That’s how difficult this year is going to be. But we gotta get better. That’s what early games are for. We’re figuring each other out.”Saint Joseph’s: Based on 70 minutes of competitive basketball against Auburn and Kansas, the Hawks will be in a lot of games this season. The Hawks, who went 6-26 last season, return their top five scorers, including Daly, who averaged 20.6 points per game.“We’re a young group,” Bishop said. “We’re having some shared experiences. ... This is teaching us to take things more seriously.”ADAPTINGWith the combination of the foe and 6-foot-10 David McCormack getting injured, Kansas had to play more small ball. It worked: The Jayhawks had a 35-11 edge in fast-break points, 17 assists and held Saint Joseph’s to 35% shooting.“I thought it was pretty good,” Self said. “We moved the ball well and we learned to drive. I was encouraged we can play small.”UP NEXTKansas: The Jayhawks have another top-10 matchup when they play Kentucky on Tuesday in Indianapolis, site of this season’s Final Four.Saint Joseph’s: The schedule doesn’t get easier — the Hawks play at No. 3 Villanova on Monday.“Last year was a different chapter. I don’t think about that,” Lange said. “We’re trying to create an identity based on our great history. We’re not going to shy away. We’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime. That’s how we roll.”

No. 6 Kansas, behind Braun’s 30 points, tops Saint Joseph’s

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t buying all the talk about Tom Brady’s struggles. They insist he’s still playing at a high level and will have to be at their best to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The reigning Super Bowl champions (9-1) visit the Bucs (7-4) on Sunday, with Patrick Mahomes facing Brady for the fourth time in his young career and Brady looking to shrug off a couple of subpar performances against playoff contenders.

“You can’t take anything away from Tom Brady. He’s still very smart, he’s still trying to throw the ball downfield, he still has the weapons. We’ll have our hands full,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said.

“He’s played against our system a number of times, even going back to New England,” Mathieu added. “He’s familiar with us. Now we have to get familiar with him and the weapons he has.”

Brady won two of the previous three matchups against Mahomes, including an overtime thriller in the AFC championship game two seasons ago.

The six-time Super Bowl champion played poorly in home losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Rams two of the past three weeks. Still, Kansas City coach Andy Reid cautioned against anyone writing off the 43-year-old quarterback.

Despite Brady’s recent struggles, particularly on deep passes, the Bucs have already matched their victory total from all of last season and remain in prime position to end a 12-year playoff drought that’s the second longest in the NFL.

“He’s unbelievable. He’s a great player, a Hall of Fame player. We’re lucky enough to have a chance to be in this era where we get to play him,” Reid said.

“He’s old, and it’s hard to tell he’s old,” Reid added. “And that’s a tribute to how he takes care of himself, and the care and living he does all the way around, from diet to workout to everything.”

The Chiefs have won five straight, the eighth consecutive year they’ve had a streak at least that long.

They avenged their lone loss last week a 35-31 victory at Las Vegas, with Mahomes throwing for 348 yards and two TDs.

Mahomes, who’s thrown for just over 312 yards per game with 14 TDs and one interception during Kansas City’s winning streak, was as surprised as anyone that Brady left the Patriots to sign with Tampa Bay in free agency last March.

“But he’s in a great spot. They’ve got a lot of weapons there,” Mahomes said, looking ahead to another head-to-head meeting.

“I don’t think it’s going to feel very much different. It’s still a very good football team that’s playing really good football and winning a lot of games,” Mahomes added. “I know it’s going to be a really big challenge for us.”

Brady threw a pair of costly interceptions and was 0 for 6 on passes traveling at least 20 yards in last week’s 27-24 loss to the Rams. He’s 0 for 19 on such throws over the past three games, which includes a 38-3 loss to the Saints.

The struggles have raised questions about whether the offense Brady is being asked to run following a historic 20-year stint with the Patriots is suited to what he does best.

Bucs coach Bruce Arians concedes the offense has been inconsistent, but attributes that to a lack of continuity caused in part by teams not having a usual offseason due to the coronavirus pandemic and injuries that have forced lineup changes and limited practice time for some players.

“He can do anything, so it’s not like he can’t do it,” Arians said, responding to critics who suggest the problem is the offensive scheme, which stresses pushing the ball downfield.

“We’ve had the guys open. We’ve just missed them,” Arians said.

“Each and every week is so different, but when they’re there, we need to hit them,” the coach added. “We can’t have them going off our fingertips, and we can’t overthrow them.”

Brady has lots of good things to say about Mahomes and the Chiefs, who lead the league in scoring at 32.1 points per game.

“He’s a terrific player, obviously. ... They’ve got their offense rolling,” Brady said. “I feel continuity is probably the most critical aspect of consistent performance. ... They’ve been in that system for a while. Coach Reid’s been there for a while. He’s a great coach. ... They’ve been tough to beat for a lot of years now.”

The Chiefs should be welcoming back wide receiver Sammy Watkins from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 5 just in time.

They lost Byron Pringle, who had been one of the bright spots in their wideout corps this season, to an ankle injury last week that landed him on injured reserve. Their only other healthy wide receivers on the 53-man roster are Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman.

The Chiefs have won the past two weeks despite allowing 31 points each to Carolina and Las Vegas. The Panthers threw for 331 yards while running for 104 during their game at Arrowhead Stadium before the bye week, and Derek Carr led the Raiders to 364 yards of total offense — and if not for a touchdown in the closing seconds, a win — last Sunday.

“Every football game won’t be a blowout. Every football game won’t be a dominant defensive performance,” Mathieu said, “but what our fans should see is us playing hard. Sticking together, no matter what, whether we’re up by 50 or down by 50. It’s about us staying together.”

Arians rejects the notion that some of Tampa Bay’s problems on offense are related to having too many playmakers on the roster. With their only being one ball, how could Brady possibly keep Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Ronald Jones, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy happy?

“I don’t think there’s such a thing. ... I don’t think you can have too many good players,” Arians said. “Looking at the team coming in here this week, I don’t think they have a problem with having too many really good players.”

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t buying all the talk about Tom Brady’s struggles. They insist he’s still playing at a high level and will have to be at their best to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The reigning Super Bowl champions (9-1) visit the Bucs (7-4) on Sunday, with Patrick Mahomes facing Brady for the fourth time in his young career and Brady looking to shrug off a couple of subpar performances against playoff contenders.“You can’t take anything away from Tom Brady. He’s still very smart, he’s still trying to throw the ball downfield, he still has the weapons. We’ll have our hands full,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said.“He’s played against our system a number of times, even going back to New England,” Mathieu added. “He’s familiar with us. Now we have to get familiar with him and the weapons he has.”Brady won two of the previous three matchups against Mahomes, including an overtime thriller in the AFC championship game two seasons ago.The six-time Super Bowl champion played poorly in home losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Rams two of the past three weeks. Still, Kansas City coach Andy Reid cautioned against anyone writing off the 43-year-old quarterback.Despite Brady’s recent struggles, particularly on deep passes, the Bucs have already matched their victory total from all of last season and remain in prime position to end a 12-year playoff drought that’s the second longest in the NFL.“He’s unbelievable. He’s a great player, a Hall of Fame player. We’re lucky enough to have a chance to be in this era where we get to play him,” Reid said.“He’s old, and it’s hard to tell he’s old,” Reid added. “And that’s a tribute to how he takes care of himself, and the care and living he does all the way around, from diet to workout to everything.”The Chiefs have won five straight, the eighth consecutive year they’ve had a streak at least that long.They avenged their lone loss last week a 35-31 victory at Las Vegas, with Mahomes throwing for 348 yards and two TDs.Mahomes, who’s thrown for just over 312 yards per game with 14 TDs and one interception during Kansas City’s winning streak, was as surprised as anyone that Brady left the Patriots to sign with Tampa Bay in free agency last March.“But he’s in a great spot. They’ve got a lot of weapons there,” Mahomes said, looking ahead to another head-to-head meeting.“I don’t think it’s going to feel very much different. It’s still a very good football team that’s playing really good football and winning a lot of games,” Mahomes added. “I know it’s going to be a really big challenge for us.”Brady threw a pair of costly interceptions and was 0 for 6 on passes traveling at least 20 yards in last week’s 27-24 loss to the Rams. He’s 0 for 19 on such throws over the past three games, which includes a 38-3 loss to the Saints.The struggles have raised questions about whether the offense Brady is being asked to run following a historic 20-year stint with the Patriots is suited to what he does best.Bucs coach Bruce Arians concedes the offense has been inconsistent, but attributes that to a lack of continuity caused in part by teams not having a usual offseason due to the coronavirus pandemic and injuries that have forced lineup changes and limited practice time for some players.“He can do anything, so it’s not like he can’t do it,” Arians said, responding to critics who suggest the problem is the offensive scheme, which stresses pushing the ball downfield.“We’ve had the guys open. We’ve just missed them,” Arians said.“Each and every week is so different, but when they’re there, we need to hit them,” the coach added. “We can’t have them going off our fingertips, and we can’t overthrow them.”Brady has lots of good things to say about Mahomes and the Chiefs, who lead the league in scoring at 32.1 points per game.“He’s a terrific player, obviously. ... They’ve got their offense rolling,” Brady said. “I feel continuity is probably the most critical aspect of consistent performance. ... They’ve been in that system for a while. Coach Reid’s been there for a while. He’s a great coach. ... They’ve been tough to beat for a lot of years now.”WIDE RECEIVER ROOMThe Chiefs should be welcoming back wide receiver Sammy Watkins from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 5 just in time.They lost Byron Pringle, who had been one of the bright spots in their wideout corps this season, to an ankle injury last week that landed him on injured reserve. Their only other healthy wide receivers on the 53-man roster are Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman.FEELING DEFENSIVEThe Chiefs have won the past two weeks despite allowing 31 points each to Carolina and Las Vegas. The Panthers threw for 331 yards while running for 104 during their game at Arrowhead Stadium before the bye week, and Derek Carr led the Raiders to 364 yards of total offense — and if not for a touchdown in the closing seconds, a win — last Sunday.“Every football game won’t be a blowout. Every football game won’t be a dominant defensive performance,” Mathieu said, “but what our fans should see is us playing hard. Sticking together, no matter what, whether we’re up by 50 or down by 50. It’s about us staying together.”NONSENSE?Arians rejects the notion that some of Tampa Bay’s problems on offense are related to having too many playmakers on the roster. With their only being one ball, how could Brady possibly keep Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Ronald Jones, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy happy?“I don’t think there’s such a thing. ... I don’t think you can have too many good players,” Arians said. “Looking at the team coming in here this week, I don’t think they have a problem with having too many really good players.”

Chiefs expect Brady-led Buccaneers to be at their best

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Drew Timme scored 25 points, Jalen Suggs added 24 and Corey Kispert had 23 to help No. 1 Gonzaga beat No. 6 Kansas 102-90 on Thursday in the season opener for both teams.

The Bulldogs built a double-digit lead in the first half at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off, then saw the Jayhawks tie it twice in the second half before putting them away. Gonzaga went on a 22-7 run to go up 96-78.

Suggs, who got in foul trouble in the first half, scored 17 of his 24 in the second half.

Marcus Garrett led Kansas with 22 points, and Ochai Agbaji added 17 points. Agbai picked up his fourth foul midway through the second half, which hurt the Jayhawks. When he left, Kansas trailed 70-67.

The Jayhawks rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half to tie it at 57.

On Friday, Gonzaga will play Auburn, and Kansas will face St. Joseph’s.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Drew Timme scored 25 points, Jalen Suggs added 24 and Corey Kispert had 23 to help No. 1 Gonzaga beat No. 6 Kansas 102-90 on Thursday in the season opener for both teams.The Bulldogs built a double-digit lead in the first half at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off, then saw the Jayhawks tie it twice in the second half before putting them away. Gonzaga went on a 22-7 run to go up 96-78.Suggs, who got in foul trouble in the first half, scored 17 of his 24 in the second half.Marcus Garrett led Kansas with 22 points, and Ochai Agbaji added 17 points. Agbai picked up his fourth foul midway through the second half, which hurt the Jayhawks. When he left, Kansas trailed 70-67.The Jayhawks rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half to tie it at 57.On Friday, Gonzaga will play Auburn, and Kansas will face St. Joseph’s.

No. 1 Gonzaga beats No. 6 Kansas 102-90 in season opener

Andy Reid knows quarterbacks. So does Jon Gruden. And Sean Payton.

For years, these elite NFL coaches have praised the performances of Tom Brady, Mr. Six Rings. And they do the same now with Patrick Mahomes, the NFL’s biggest playmaker.

On Sunday, in a matchup that fits prime time but wasn’t one CBS was about to let get away from its afternoon lineup, Mahomes and the Chiefs visit Brady and Tampa Bay.

They come into the showdown on different paths. Mahomes was heroic — again — in bringing Kansas City (9-1) back at Las Vegas, avenging its only defeat this season.

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians, who also knows a few things about quarterbacks, has called Mahomes’ college workout at Texas Tech “amazing.” A good word for Mahomes in the pros, too.

“The day I worked out Patrick, I think the wind was blowing about 35-40 miles per hour and it didn’t affect his ball at all,” he says. “It was amazing down in Lubbock that day.”

Arians, whose Bucs (7-4) have a bye next week (at last), saw his team and Brady struggle in a loss to the Rams on Monday night.

“We’ve got to get ready to play a great football team coming up,” Brady said. “Nothing has been great to this point. We’ve had some good wins, had some tough losses. Everything is about one week here in the NFL. We’re going to have to go play really, really well against a great football team next week.”

Thanksgiving being a family holiday, how fitting is it that defensive backs A.J. Moore of Houston and C.J. Moore of Detroit, identical twins, are playing against each other for the first time?

Houston beat Detroit 34-31 in overtime on Thanksgiving in 2012 after then-Lions coach Jim Schwartz challenged a Texans touchdown in the third quarter, which negated the automatic review and drew a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Washington (3-7) at Dallas (3-7), Thursday

Dallas has won eight of the previous nine meetings on the holiday, but the Cowboys lost at Washington earlier this year. They come off a victory at Minnesota that snapped a four-game slide. Quarterback Andy Dalton was knocked out of that first meeting with Washington by a concussion on a hit that led to linebacker Jon Bostic’s ejection. He returned after testing positive for the coronavirus and directed four touchdown drives against the Vikings. Ezekiel Elliott had his first 100-yard game of the season against Minnesota with 103 yards.

Washington’s Antonio Gibson leads all rookie running backs with eight rushing touchdowns. He has five TDs in his past four games.

One of the NFL’s best and most physical rivalries, but the Ravens are struggling and lost their past two games, while, clearly, the Steelers are surging.

The Steelers are the 17th team since 1970 to start a season 10-0. Their 10-game winning streak is the second-longest single-season string in franchise history: The 1975 team won 11 straight on its way to the team’s second straight Super Bowl title. The Steelers can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by the Raiders and the Dolphins.

This game was moved from Thursday night because of the Ravens’ coronavirus issues. Baltimore will be without running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram, along with defensive tackle Brandon Williams, all of whom are on reserve/COVID-19 list.

Both of these AFC South leaders won in overtime with comebacks last week. The Colts already won at Tennessee this month.

Tennessee has its best record after 10 games since going 10-0 in 2008, in part because the Titans have a league-low five turnovers. Derrick Henry became the first player in league history with multiple overtime rushing touchdowns in a single season and leads the NFL with 1,079 yards.

“That’s just what they do,” Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus says of Tennessee’s run game. “They are just going to stay committed to it, and we have to stay — we feel like we’re in good shape in terms of our perseverance, in terms of our discipline and we will want to take that in the game and being able to finish.”

The Colts have won four of their past five overall and four of the past five in this series. QB Philip Rivers (right big toe) hopes to make his 235th consecutive start, which would break a tie with Eli Manning for the 10th-most starts in league history.

Neither side comes into this renewal of the league’s longest rivalry playing their best. Indeed, Chicago has dropped four in a row as its offense has disappeared. Green Bay is 3-3 after a 4-0 start.

The Packers have won their past four home matchups with the Bears. Green Bay has gone 19-5 against Chicago when Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback.

Seattle (7-3) at Philadelphia (3-6-1), Monday night

Clearly, the way the Eagles have played has made their NFC East lead a mirage. And they’re in the midst of the toughest part of their schedule.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, are in the easiest portion, home meetings with both New York teams and a trip to Washington upcoming before finishing with divisional affairs with the Rams and 49ers. If Seattle’s defense that finally showed up in last week’s victory against Arizona is for real, Pete Carroll’s crew should be in good shape.

New York Giants (3-7) at Cincinnati (2-7-1)

A huge break for the Giants, who actually are playing the best among the dregs of the NFC East. They won’t have to face rookie sensation Joe Burrow after the quarterback and top overall draft choice tore knee ligaments in a loss at Washington.

“I think when you look at this division, this is really the starting point for the division,” Giants coach Joe Judge says. “We’re coming out of Thanksgiving after this weekend, everyone is really on equal ground. The only thing that matters is what we do from this point forward.”

Like the Ravens and Bengals in their division, the Browns have had some COVID-19 issues and will be without their best player, edge rusher Myles Garrett, for the second consecutive week. Cleveland has built its record by beating whoever it should, and certainly the Jaguars, losers of nine in a row, fit that category.

Jacksonville will go with yet another QB, journeyman Mike Glennon, who steps in for Jake Luton, who stepped in when Gardner Minshew was injured.

Had the Dolphins not stumbled in Denver, this could be considered a trap game. Instead, look for a determined bunch from Miami, which figures to shut down the inept Jets with its strong defense.

New York, threatening to become the third franchise to go 0-16 in a dozen years, hopes to get the oft-injured Sam Darnold back behind center. The Jets really need to evaluate him over the final six weeks as they head toward major decisions.

Los Angeles Chargers (3-7) at Buffalo (7-3)

No major QB decisions ahead for these teams. Buffalo took Josh Allen four spots after Darnold went in 2018 and has no reason to regret it. The Chargers grabbed Justin Herbert with the sixth overall spot in April and are thrilled with him.

The Chargers finally overcame their late folds in beating the Jets last week, while the Bills had a bye. Watch the performances of outstanding wideouts Keenan Allen of LA and Stefon Diggs of Buffalo.

It’s been stunning to see the Patriots flop against mediocre or worse teams, with losses to injury-wrecked San Francisco, inconsistent Denver, and awful Houston last week. They seem to have little direction on offense, and the last time we could say that was 20 years ago.

Arizona is right in the playoff mix in the NFC West and the conference, with two games against the division-leading Rams remaining. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has to know that New England neutralized the similar style of Lamar Jackson two weeks ago.

San Francisco (4-6) at Los Angeles Rams (7-3)

At least the 49ers had a week off to get somewhat healthier, but this is a shell of the conference championship squad. Its reward upon returning is perhaps the NFC’s most balanced squad.

The Rams don’t particularly run the ball well, but their dynamic passing attack makes up for that — and more. They won at Tampa Bay on Monday night even though Aaron Donald wasn’t quite the force he usually is. Keep an eye on No. 99 in this one

As Taysom Hill stepped in so admirably for the sidelined Drew Brees, the Saints seized the top spot in the NFC. It’s Hill’s show for now, and the New Orleans defense appears ready to keep things rolling. Considering the only remaining opponent with a winning record, albeit a formidable one, is Kansas City, the rest of the schedule could be, well, a Big Easy.

Denver, as up and down as anyone, ran all over Miami’s tough D last week. So the Broncos are no pushover.

Lack of defense could be decisive here. The Raiders have 11 sacks in the first 10 games, ranking 31st in the league. They allowed Kansas City to score touchdowns on two drives of at last 90 yards last week after giving up none in the first nine games. And they lost that game for just the third time in the past seven seasons when scoring at least 30 points.

The Falcons have 17 sacks to rank 24th in the league. And they are vulnerable in protection: Matt Ryan was sacked eight times by the Saints last Sunday.

The Vikings truly blew an opportunity by losing at home to Dallas and are 1-4 at home. The Panthers had their first shutout in 82 games when they manhandled Detroit as Brian Burns had a career-high two sacks. He leads all defensive ends in total tackles with 42.

Like the Cowboys, Carolina has the receivers to damage Minnesota’s spotty secondary.

Andy Reid knows quarterbacks. So does Jon Gruden. And Sean Payton.For years, these elite NFL coaches have praised the performances of Tom Brady, Mr. Six Rings. And they do the same now with Patrick Mahomes, the NFL’s biggest playmaker.On Sunday, in a matchup that fits prime time but wasn’t one CBS was about to let get away from its afternoon lineup, Mahomes and the Chiefs visit Brady and Tampa Bay.They come into the showdown on different paths. Mahomes was heroic — again — in bringing Kansas City (9-1) back at Las Vegas, avenging its only defeat this season.Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians, who also knows a few things about quarterbacks, has called Mahomes’ college workout at Texas Tech “amazing.” A good word for Mahomes in the pros, too.“The day I worked out Patrick, I think the wind was blowing about 35-40 miles per hour and it didn’t affect his ball at all,” he says. “It was amazing down in Lubbock that day.”Arians, whose Bucs (7-4) have a bye next week (at last), saw his team and Brady struggle in a loss to the Rams on Monday night.“We’ve got to get ready to play a great football team coming up,” Brady said. “Nothing has been great to this point. We’ve had some good wins, had some tough losses. Everything is about one week here in the NFL. We’re going to have to go play really, really well against a great football team next week.”Yep.Houston (3-7) at Detroit (4-6), ThursdayThanksgiving being a family holiday, how fitting is it that defensive backs A.J. Moore of Houston and C.J. Moore of Detroit, identical twins, are playing against each other for the first time?Houston beat Detroit 34-31 in overtime on Thanksgiving in 2012 after then-Lions coach Jim Schwartz challenged a Texans touchdown in the third quarter, which negated the automatic review and drew a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.Washington (3-7) at Dallas (3-7), ThursdayDallas has won eight of the previous nine meetings on the holiday, but the Cowboys lost at Washington earlier this year. They come off a victory at Minnesota that snapped a four-game slide. Quarterback Andy Dalton was knocked out of that first meeting with Washington by a concussion on a hit that led to linebacker Jon Bostic’s ejection. He returned after testing positive for the coronavirus and directed four touchdown drives against the Vikings. Ezekiel Elliott had his first 100-yard game of the season against Minnesota with 103 yards.Washington’s Antonio Gibson leads all rookie running backs with eight rushing touchdowns. He has five TDs in his past four games.Baltimore (6-4) at Pittsburgh (10-0)One of the NFL’s best and most physical rivalries, but the Ravens are struggling and lost their past two games, while, clearly, the Steelers are surging.The Steelers are the 17th team since 1970 to start a season 10-0. Their 10-game winning streak is the second-longest single-season string in franchise history: The 1975 team won 11 straight on its way to the team’s second straight Super Bowl title. The Steelers can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by the Raiders and the Dolphins.This game was moved from Thursday night because of the Ravens’ coronavirus issues. Baltimore will be without running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram, along with defensive tackle Brandon Williams, all of whom are on reserve/COVID-19 list.Tennessee (7-3) at Indianapolis (7-3)Both of these AFC South leaders won in overtime with comebacks last week. The Colts already won at Tennessee this month.Tennessee has its best record after 10 games since going 10-0 in 2008, in part because the Titans have a league-low five turnovers. Derrick Henry became the first player in league history with multiple overtime rushing touchdowns in a single season and leads the NFL with 1,079 yards.“That’s just what they do,” Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus says of Tennessee’s run game. “They are just going to stay committed to it, and we have to stay — we feel like we’re in good shape in terms of our perseverance, in terms of our discipline and we will want to take that in the game and being able to finish.”The Colts have won four of their past five overall and four of the past five in this series. QB Philip Rivers (right big toe) hopes to make his 235th consecutive start, which would break a tie with Eli Manning for the 10th-most starts in league history.Chicago (5-5) at Green Bay (7-3)Neither side comes into this renewal of the league’s longest rivalry playing their best. Indeed, Chicago has dropped four in a row as its offense has disappeared. Green Bay is 3-3 after a 4-0 start.The Packers have won their past four home matchups with the Bears. Green Bay has gone 19-5 against Chicago when Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback.Seattle (7-3) at Philadelphia (3-6-1), Monday nightClearly, the way the Eagles have played has made their NFC East lead a mirage. And they’re in the midst of the toughest part of their schedule.The Seahawks, meanwhile, are in the easiest portion, home meetings with both New York teams and a trip to Washington upcoming before finishing with divisional affairs with the Rams and 49ers. If Seattle’s defense that finally showed up in last week’s victory against Arizona is for real, Pete Carroll’s crew should be in good shape.New York Giants (3-7) at Cincinnati (2-7-1)A huge break for the Giants, who actually are playing the best among the dregs of the NFC East. They won’t have to face rookie sensation Joe Burrow after the quarterback and top overall draft choice tore knee ligaments in a loss at Washington.“I think when you look at this division, this is really the starting point for the division,” Giants coach Joe Judge says. “We’re coming out of Thanksgiving after this weekend, everyone is really on equal ground. The only thing that matters is what we do from this point forward.”Cleveland (7-3) at Jacksonville (1-9)Like the Ravens and Bengals in their division, the Browns have had some COVID-19 issues and will be without their best player, edge rusher Myles Garrett, for the second consecutive week. Cleveland has built its record by beating whoever it should, and certainly the Jaguars, losers of nine in a row, fit that category.Jacksonville will go with yet another QB, journeyman Mike Glennon, who steps in for Jake Luton, who stepped in when Gardner Minshew was injured.Miami (6-4) at New York Jets (0-10)Had the Dolphins not stumbled in Denver, this could be considered a trap game. Instead, look for a determined bunch from Miami, which figures to shut down the inept Jets with its strong defense.New York, threatening to become the third franchise to go 0-16 in a dozen years, hopes to get the oft-injured Sam Darnold back behind center. The Jets really need to evaluate him over the final six weeks as they head toward major decisions.Los Angeles Chargers (3-7) at Buffalo (7-3)No major QB decisions ahead for these teams. Buffalo took Josh Allen four spots after Darnold went in 2018 and has no reason to regret it. The Chargers grabbed Justin Herbert with the sixth overall spot in April and are thrilled with him.The Chargers finally overcame their late folds in beating the Jets last week, while the Bills had a bye. Watch the performances of outstanding wideouts Keenan Allen of LA and Stefon Diggs of Buffalo.Arizona (6-4) at New England (4-6)It’s been stunning to see the Patriots flop against mediocre or worse teams, with losses to injury-wrecked San Francisco, inconsistent Denver, and awful Houston last week. They seem to have little direction on offense, and the last time we could say that was 20 years ago.Arizona is right in the playoff mix in the NFC West and the conference, with two games against the division-leading Rams remaining. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has to know that New England neutralized the similar style of Lamar Jackson two weeks ago.San Francisco (4-6) at Los Angeles Rams (7-3)At least the 49ers had a week off to get somewhat healthier, but this is a shell of the conference championship squad. Its reward upon returning is perhaps the NFC’s most balanced squad.The Rams don’t particularly run the ball well, but their dynamic passing attack makes up for that — and more. They won at Tampa Bay on Monday night even though Aaron Donald wasn’t quite the force he usually is. Keep an eye on No. 99 in this oneNew Orleans (8-2) at Denver (4-6)As Taysom Hill stepped in so admirably for the sidelined Drew Brees, the Saints seized the top spot in the NFC. It’s Hill’s show for now, and the New Orleans defense appears ready to keep things rolling. Considering the only remaining opponent with a winning record, albeit a formidable one, is Kansas City, the rest of the schedule could be, well, a Big Easy.Denver, as up and down as anyone, ran all over Miami’s tough D last week. So the Broncos are no pushover.Las Vegas (6-4) at Atlanta (3-7)Lack of defense could be decisive here. The Raiders have 11 sacks in the first 10 games, ranking 31st in the league. They allowed Kansas City to score touchdowns on two drives of at last 90 yards last week after giving up none in the first nine games. And they lost that game for just the third time in the past seven seasons when scoring at least 30 points.The Falcons have 17 sacks to rank 24th in the league. And they are vulnerable in protection: Matt Ryan was sacked eight times by the Saints last Sunday.Carolina (4-7) at Minnesota (4-6)The Vikings truly blew an opportunity by losing at home to Dallas and are 1-4 at home. The Panthers had their first shutout in 82 games when they manhandled Detroit as Brian Burns had a career-high two sacks. He leads all defensive ends in total tackles with 42.Like the Cowboys, Carolina has the receivers to damage Minnesota’s spotty secondary.

Mahomes vs. Brady spices up Thanksgiving holiday week

NEW YORK (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are a perfect 10.

And they’re also once again No. 1 in the latest AP Pro32 poll.

The Steelers improved to 10-0 for the first time in franchise history with a 27-3 rout of the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars.

Pittsburgh received 10 of the 12 first-place votes for 382 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.

And the Steelers have a quick turnaround as they’re scheduled to host the rival Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night.

“After a layup win over the Jaguars, the Steelers can take another decisive step forward with a win over the Ravens and keep an eye on winning the all-important No. 1 seed in the AFC,” Newsday’s Bob Glauber said.

The Kansas City Chiefs, who are coming off a 35-31 win over Las Vegas, stayed at No. 2 in the poll. The Chiefs earned the remaining two first-place votes for 374 points.

And even without Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints remained at No. 3. Backup quarterback Taysom Hill led the Saints to a 24-9 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The 41-year-old Brees is out at least two more games because of fractured ribs.

“Taysom Hill better than expected and defense improving in all facets,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said.

The Los Angeles Rams climbed four spots to No. 4 after holding off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 27-24 win on Monday night. The Rams moved atop the NFC West and into the No. 2 spot in the conference’s playoff race while the Buccaneers slid five spots to No. 10.

“The Rams reminded us that they’re one of the NFC’s best teams with back-to-back wins against Seattle and Tampa Bay,” said Jenny Vrentas of The Monday Morning Quarterback. “And this season, it’s (coordinator) Brandon Staley’s defense that is leading the way.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are a perfect 10.And they’re also once again No. 1 in the latest AP Pro32 poll.The Steelers improved to 10-0 for the first time in franchise history with a 27-3 rout of the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars.Pittsburgh received 10 of the 12 first-place votes for 382 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.And the Steelers have a quick turnaround as they’re scheduled to host the rival Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night.“After a layup win over the Jaguars, the Steelers can take another decisive step forward with a win over the Ravens and keep an eye on winning the all-important No. 1 seed in the AFC,” Newsday’s Bob Glauber said.The Kansas City Chiefs, who are coming off a 35-31 win over Las Vegas, stayed at No. 2 in the poll. The Chiefs earned the remaining two first-place votes for 374 points.And even without Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints remained at No. 3. Backup quarterback Taysom Hill led the Saints to a 24-9 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The 41-year-old Brees is out at least two more games because of fractured ribs.“Taysom Hill better than expected and defense improving in all facets,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said.The Los Angeles Rams climbed four spots to No. 4 after holding off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 27-24 win on Monday night. The Rams moved atop the NFC West and into the No. 2 spot in the conference’s playoff race while the Buccaneers slid five spots to No. 10.“The Rams reminded us that they’re one of the NFC’s best teams with back-to-back wins against Seattle and Tampa Bay,” said Jenny Vrentas of The Monday Morning Quarterback. “And this season, it’s (coordinator) Brandon Staley’s defense that is leading the way.”The Buffalo Bills, who are coming off a bye, moved up one spot to No. 5.In an unusual twist, three teams, each 7-3 on the season, are tied at No. 6: the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts. The Seahawks gained seven spots, the Colts jumped five places and the Packers slipped two places after Indy outlasted the Packers 34-31 in overtime on Sunday.“If Philip Rivers keeps playing like he did against Green Bay, the Colts are a dangerous team heading toward the postseason,” said Alex Marvez of Sirius XM.The Tennessee Titans, tied with the Colts for the AFC South lead, also moved up five spots to No. 9 in the poll.