KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs are alone with the best record in the AFC, one game ahead of the Patriots and Titans and two up on the Chargers, Colts and Bengals. That's crucial with three games remaining because there is only one bye for the playoffs, and that team also earns home-field advantage throughout the AFC postseason. Kansas City begins the stretch run against Pittsburgh, which is fighting for its postseason hopes, on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Then comes road trips to Cincinnati and Denver, two more teams that are trying to keep their playoff chances alive.
DENVER (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes has gotten into his opponents' heads and they're playing right into his hands. The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers have both made the mistake this month of believing they had to eschew field goals to go for touchdowns and keep up with the prolific Mahomes when playing for the points would have benefitted them more. This isn't a new phenomenon. A young Peyton Manning used to make teams wig out and do unconventional things in trying to keep up with the high-scoring, quick-strike Indianapolis Colts.
UNDATED (AP) — The opportunity to cash in on endorsements probably was a major factor in the decision of some college football recruits on signing day last week. But the head of a company that works with schools and athletes in the new world of NIL doubts it was an overriding one for most. Athliance CEO Peter Schoenthal said name, image and likeness programs tied to schools are in the spotlight now. He says eventually they'll become like factors such as facilities, playing time and academics. Most recruits didn't mention NIL in media reports. Several coaches said it was a big deal.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Kendall Brown, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Flo Thamba scored 16 points apiece to lead five players in double figures, and No. 1 Baylor beat Alcorn State 94-57. Baylor took a 10-point lead on a 3-pointer by James Akinjo with 14:31 left in the first half. The Bears led by double digits for good after Akinjo's layup made it 22-11. Dominic Brewton led the Braves with 19 points. Alcorn State lost its fifth straight and has yet to play a home game this season.
UNDATED (AP) — Defending national champion Baylor has maintained its top spot in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll, though not without ceding a No. 1 vote to Arizona, while the six remaining unbeatens continued their rise. Duke stayed No. 2 after ending a two-week break with three easy wins. Purdue was third while Gonzaga and UCLA flip-flopped their spots, with the Bruins rounding out the top five while being on a COVID-19 pause. Arizona jumped two spots to No. 6. Providence and Wisconsin entered the AP Top 25 while UConn and Arkansas dropped out.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Daniel Carlson’s 48-yard field goal as time expired sent the Las Vegas Raiders to a 16-14 win over the COVID-19-depleted Cleveland Browns in a game pushed back two days by the NFL amid an uptick of virus cases across the league. Down by a point, quarterback Derek Carr patiently drove the 7-7 Raiders into Cleveland territory in the final two minutes. Then Carlson shrugged off being iced by the Browns to boot his winner, keeping Las Vegas in the playoff mix.
CHICAGO (AP) — Kirk Cousins passed for two touchdowns and the Minnesota Vikings evened their record at 7-7 with a 17-9 victory over the Bears in Chicago. The two-time Pro Bowler also connected with Justin Jefferson for a 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter and threw a 7-yarder to Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the third. Dalvin Cook ran for 89 yards D.J. Wonnum had three sacks and the Vikings recovered three fumbles.
MONDAY SCORES
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Las Vegas 16 Cleveland 14
Final Minnesota 17 Chicago 9
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Baylor 94 Alcorn St. 57
Final (3)Purdue 79 Incarnate Word 59
Final (4)Gonzaga 95 N. Arizona 49
Final St. John's 2 (15)Seton Hall 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Orlando at Toronto 7:30 p.m. (Postponed)
Final Philadelphia 108 Boston 103
Final Chicago 133 Houston 118
Final Oklahoma City 102 Memphis 99
Final Utah 112 Charlotte 102
Final Golden State 113 Sacramento 98
Final San Antonio 116 L.A. Clippers 92
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Columbus at Buffalo 7 p.m. (Postponed)
Montreal at N-Y Islanders 7 p.m. (Postponed)
Colorado at Detroit 7:30 p.m. (Postponed)
Anaheim at Edmonton 9:30 p.m. (Postponed)
Final Dallas 7 Minnesota 4