AP National Sports

By BRENDAN McGAIR Associated Press FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — For the second straight week, the fate of the New England Patriots was sealed on a late-game mistake. Entering a crucial three-game stretch with little margin for error, the Patriots saw their playoff hopes pushed further in the wrong direction when running back Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled

By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — James Cook rushed for a career-high 99 yards and scored his third NFL touchdown during Buffalo’s 35-13 victory over the Chicago Bears. Cook and Devin Singletary led the way as the Bills gained a season-high 254 yards rushing while clinching the AFC East title. The 23-year-old

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Davis Mills threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks with 2:52 left, and the Houston Texans snapped a nine-game skid by beating the sliding Tennessee Titans 19-14. The start of the game was delayed by an hour in a joint agreement by

By DAVID GINSBURG Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons saw their slim playoff hopes end by virtue of a chilling defeat that featured a familiar slow start and ended with coach Arthur Smith again talking about the team’s need to show progress. In between the opening kickoff and final whistle of Saturday’s 17-9

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Members of the New York Giants were in the Mall of America when a shooting occurred Friday evening at the mall’s Nordstrom’s location. A few players were in the mall, and several players were in the team’s meal room, a meeting-type room just outside their hotel, which was adjacent to the mall.

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes and the Cincinnati Bengals forced a late turnover in the red zone to preserve a 22-18 win over the New England Patriots. The Bengals won their seventh straight game and remained in the driver’s seat for a second consecutive

TORONTO (AP) — Daulton Varsho views his trade to the Toronto Blue Jays as potentially being one of the best things that could happen to him despite the initial shock. The former Arizona Diamondbacks slugger was sent to Toronto for veteran outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catching prospect Gabriel Moreno. Varsho provides the Blue Jays

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Devin Singletary and James Cook ran for long touchdowns in the third quarter and the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC East title by beating the Bears 35-13 on Saturday in one of the coldest games in Chicago. Josh Allen ran for a TD and threw for

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Seahawks offense struggled again on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium, where it twice failed on fourth down and Geno Smith threw a pick in the end zone in a 24-10 loss. The defeat was the fifth in six games for a team that was

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer BALTIMORE (AP) — Tyler Huntley threw a first-half touchdown pass, and the Baltimore defense kept the Atlanta Falcons out of the end zone in a 17-9 victory that ended up assuring a playoff spot for the Ravens. About a half-hour after Baltimore took care of the Falcons, New England

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — D’Onta Foreman ran for a career-high 165 yards and a touchdown, and the Carolina Panthers racked up a franchise record 320 yards on the ground to beat the Detroit Lions 37-23. The Panthers improved to 6-9 and can would win the NFC South title with

Former USC and Pitt quarterback Kedon Slovis says he’s transferring to BYU. Slovis announced his decision on social media by tweeting a picture showing himself in a BYU uniform. He has one year of eligibility remaining. Slovis will compete for the starting job at BYU in the program’s first season in the Big 12 Conference,

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill each had touchdown runs and the New Orleans Saints went outside and handled Cleveland’s arctic-like cold in a 17-10 win over the Browns. Cleveland was officially eliminated from the playoffs. The Saints came in 0-6 in outdoor games this season before

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, Kansas City shut down Geno Smith and Seattle’s slumping offense and the Chiefs rolled to a 24-10 victory over the Seahawks on Saturday. Travis Kelce had six catches for 113 yards, and Kadarius

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Quarterback Jalen Hurts is out with a sprained throwing shoulder, and tight end Dallas Goedert is active as Philadelphia tries to clinch the top seed in the NFC in a visit to Dallas. Gardner Minshew is set for his first start of the season for the Eagles. Philadelphia also can win

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The game between the Houston Texans at the Tennessee Titans kicked off Saturday after an hourlong delay because of extreme cold and power outages in the region. The temperature was 20 degrees when the Texans kicked off with the wind chill making it

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SAO PAULO (AP) — Family members of Brazilian soccer great Pelé are gathering at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo where the 82-year-old global icon has been since the end of November. Doctors said earlier this week that Pelé’s cancer had advanced, adding the three-time World Cup winner