TAMPA, Fla. — For more than 19 ½ months, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs endured the bitter memory of their loss to the Bucs in Super Bowl 55.

When given a chance for some revenge Sunday night, they settled an old score with a mostly lopsided one.

Mahomes outsmarted the Bucs defense in the Chiefs’ 41-31 win over Tampa Bay at Raymond James ...Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — At the end of an ugly performance on a gloomy New Jersey afternoon, the Chicago Bears found themselves pulling together for one last eyes-closed, fingers-crossed, full-prayers miracle.

Only 8 seconds remained Sunday and the Bears were 67 yards from MetLife Stadium’s north end zone, the landmark for a potential last-...Read more

The Patriots were down to their third-string quarterback. They were down to rookie Bailey Zappe, who took over for injured backup Brian Hoyer in the first quarter.

That alone had disaster written all over it.

Seriously? A rookie having to come on at Lambeau Field and play his first NFL snaps? And duel with Aaron Rodgers no less?

Only, there ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers aren’t just bad this season. They are boring.

What’s going wrong is the reason the stands were only about two-thirds full — at best — at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday in Carolina’s 26-16 loss to Arizona, and will likely be less full one week from now for the next home game.

The Panthers (...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Three takeaways from the Raiders’ 32-23 win over the Broncos on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium:

1. Get the win

The Raiders didn’t care about style points Sunday; they just needed a victory.

They got a little bit of both. All three phases made big plays as part of their first victory this season.

A team that has been unable to ...Read more

GREEN BAY, Wis. — As Brian Hoyer walked off the field Sunday, head down and carrying his team’s best hopes of an upset into the locker room, the Patriots turned to a fourth-round rookie.

Bailey Zappe, their last remaining quarterback, had no choice but to replace Hoyer and take the field against Aaron Rodgers in his NFL debut. Waves of ...Read more

There is an old saying in the music business: you spend your whole life preparing to make your first album, and six months preparing to make your second.

Kevin O'Connell spent six months preparing for his first game as an NFL head coach. He spent a handful of days preparing for each of the next three. The results are telling.

His debut was a ...Read more

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel repeatedly said there is no timetable for Tua Tagovailoa’s return on Friday after his quarterback suffered a concussion in Thursday night’s loss at the Cincinnati Bengals.

His thoughts are certainly more with Tagovailoa’s personal health than how quickly he can get game ready.

But Dolphins fans — and ...Read more

Who could have predicted the first week of October would have brought these things to pass?

The Miami Dolphins are forcing the NFL to rewrite its concussion rules. Good ol’ boys are stuffing fish with leaden balls to cheat at fishing tournaments. Antonio Brown was shown flashing his backside and his frontside at a woman in a pool in Dubai.

...Read more

NFL star J.J. Watt said he’ll play Sunday, just two days after having his heart “shocked” back into sync.

“I went into A-Fib on Wednesday, had my heart shocked back into rhythm on Thursday and I’m playing today,” the Arizona Cardinals pass rusher tweeted Sunday afternoon, hours before his team was slated to take the field against ...Read more

HOUSTON — Austin Ekeler ran for two first-half touchdowns, the Chargers’ first rushing scores of the season, and Justin Herbert threw for two TDs as the Chargers ended a two-game losing streak with a 34-24 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

Nasir Adderley’s interception and 30-yard return on the Texans’ first ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Even on a wet, blustery day, the Eagles found a way to stay hot.

The team overcame a sluggish start to maintain its undefeated record, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 29-21, on a rain-soaked Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles (4-0) preserved their status as the lone undefeated team in the NFL against a Jaguars ...Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Daniel Jones did it all until he couldn’t. Tyrod Taylor and Saquon Barkley played some quarterback. The defense handled Justin Fields.

And the Giants are 3-1 heading to London next week.

Sunday’s 20-12 win over the Chicago Bears saw Jones hurt his left ankle, Taylor leave for a concussion check and Barkley play ...Read more

BALTIMORE — In a matchup of star quarterbacks, Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a come-from-behind 23-20 win with a decisive final drive, handing the Ravens another loss after a second straight second-half collapse in Baltimore.

Kicker Tyler Bass’ 21-yard field goal as time expired, the last action of a 12-play, 77-yard drive that ended ...Read more