DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos are out to snap a pair of ignominious streaks Sunday when they host the Chiefs just 17 days after losing for the 16th consecutive time to Kansas City. The Broncos are seeking their first victory over the Chiefs since Week 2 of the 2015 season. If they lose to them again Sunday, that will tie the Rams' 17-game skid against the 49ers 1990s, which is the second-longest ever. The record is 20 consecutive losses by the Bills to the Dolphins in the 1970s. Another streak the Broncos would like to end is their 0-11 mark against Patrick Mahomes.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, and the Buffalo Bills hung on to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-18 on Thursday night. After a week of questions about his “low-energy” approach and Buffalo’s slow-starting offense, Allen came through for the Bills. He had been listed on the Bills’ report with a right shoulder injury and was checked in the blue medical tent in the second quarter, but remained in the game. Gabriel Davis had a career-best nine catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Baker Mayfield tried to rally the Buccaneers late, but the game ended on a Hail Mary attempt. Tampa Bay has lost three straight.
UNDATED — The best team in the NFC already added an All-Pro to the secondary. More moves are coming around the NFL. Teams looking to bolster their rosters for the second half have until Tuesday’s trade deadline at 4 p.m. EDT. Several established veterans could end up switching uniforms. There were a slew of trades at this time last season. The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t wait to upgrade at safety, acquiring two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans earlier this week. Byard is a significant addition at a position that was depleted by injury and the departure of C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency.
UNDATED — Even before the Michigan sign-stealing scandal, college football coaches are eager to eliminate the need for sideline signals. The NCAA football playing rules committee has been slow to embrace the use of coach-to-player communication technology because of concerns that it could provide a competitive advantage to schools that could afford better tech. The Michigan case is likely to accelerate the move. The NFL has allowed it for years.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Top-ranked Kansas is headed into the men's college basketball season expecting to compete for a national championship. They return three core players from last year's team that lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They also brought in a highly regarded three-man freshman class and perhaps the best transfer class in the country, headlined by 7-foot-2 ex-Michigan center Hunter Dickson and former Towson sharpshooter Nick Timberlake. The Jayhawks will face a stout schedule that includes No. 17 Kentucky, the loaded Maui Invitational and defending national champion UConn all before Dec. 1 comes to an end.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Overlooked by oddsmakers and angered by analysts, the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a Surprise Series against the also unexpected Texas Rangers. But the mindsets couldn’t be more different ahead of Friday night’s opener in Major League Baseball’s third all-wild card title matchup. The Diamondbacks listen to all the slights and keep track of them. The Rangers say they ignore all the outside chatter. Zac Gallen starts the opener for the Diamondbacks and Nathan Eovaldi will be on the mound for the Rangers.
HOUSTON (AP) — As Dusty Baker officially ended one notable chapter in his illustrious career, he said Thursday he feels an obligation to do more around the game with his next one. Baker, 74, is retiring after his fourth season managing the Houston Astros, who came one win shy of reaching the World Series for a third straight year with a loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series. The toothpick-chewer and epic storyteller finished his career ranked ninth all-time with 2,183 victories in 4,046 regular-season games. He was the 12th manager in major league history to reach 2,000 wins and the first Black man to do it.
THURSDAY SCORES
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Buffalo 24 Tampa Bay 18
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
L.A. Lakers 100 Phoenix 95 (in progress)
Final Milwaukee 118 Philadelphia 117
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 6 San Jose 0
Final Winnipeg 4 Detroit 1
Final Pittsburgh 4 Colorado 0
Final OT Montreal 4 Columbus 3
Final OT Carolina 3 Seattle 2
Final OT Anaheim 4 Boston 3
Final Philadelphia 6 Minnesota 2
Final N-Y Islanders 3 Ottawa 2
Final Toronto 4 Dallas 1
Final St. Louis 3 Calgary 0
Final N-Y Rangers 3 Edmonton 0