The Dallas Cowboys threw a wrench into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South division title hopes on Sunday thanks to clutch plays from the defense when it mattered the most.

Crucial Buccaneers drives were stopped dead in its tracks. In the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield was intercepted in the end zone by Jourdan Lewis. Then, as the Buccaneers tried to final some last-minute gusto, saw running back Rachaad White get stripped by DaRon Bland.

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The two fourth quarter turnovers helped Dallas solidify a 26-24 win.

Cooper Rush was 26-of-35 with 292 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. CeeDee Lamb had seven catches for 105 yards. But the story of the game was the defense.

Mayfield was sacked four times to go along with the interception and White’s fumble. He had 304 passing yards and two touchdown passes but struggled to find a consistent rhythm.

SAM DARNOLD'S REMARKABLE TD PASS TO JUSTIN JEFFERSON HELPS VIKINGS EDGE SEAHAWKS

Chauncey Golston, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson and Linval Joseph each had a sack.

The Cowboys were only held to three points in the second half but did enough to crush Tampa Bay’s hopes when it mattered the most.

Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention before the game started but they were determined enough to make it more difficult for Tampa Bay to win the NFC South.

The Buccaneers fell to 8-7 and are behind the Falcons despite having the same record. Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay twice this season.

With two games left in the regular season, the Buccaneers have the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints left on the schedule.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was able to do enough to help the team eke out a victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, 27-24.

It was a game both teams needed to win to keep pace in their respective division title races. Minnesota needed to match the Detroit Lions after they won earlier in the day and Seattle needed to win to match the Los Angeles Rams after they also won earlier in the day.

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It was the Vikings’ game.

Seahawks veteran quarterback Geno Smith found A.J. Barner for a 4-yard touchdown pass to take the lead with 4:21 left. It was an 11-play drive that lasted more than six minutes.

Darnold responded. In just four plays, Darnold somehow found Justin Jefferson with two Seahawks defenders around him and snuck the ball through the tightest of windows. Jefferson caught it and ran into the end zone for a touchdown.

The 39-yard touchdown pass put the Vikings back up three points.

BENGALS FAN WINS ENTIRE STADIUM FREE PIZZA AS CINCINNATI KEEPS PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE WITH WIN OVER BROWNS

Seattle had a chance to tie the game. Jason Myers received an opportunity to give Seattle three points late with a 60-yard field goal try. But he was just a few yards short of making it and the Seahawks lost.

Darnold was 22-of-35 with 246 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Jefferson had two of those three touchdown passes and Jordan Addison had the other. Jefferson finished with 10 catches for 144 yards and Addison had five catches for 35 yards.

Smith was as remarkable as he could be. He finished 31-of-43 passing for 314 yards and three touchdown passes. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf had the other touchdown passes.

Minnesota improved to 13-2 on the season. Seattle fell to 8-7.

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson had one last parting gift for Washington Commanders fans at Northwest Stadium on Sunday: two middle fingers.

Gardner-Johnson received a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second half and was kicked out of the game. He appeared to get into a scuffle with Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown and was pushed in the helmet. Gardner-Johnson still received the penalty.

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He responded to the incident on X.

"Respectfully got kicked out for nothing, I play with passion and fire!! Guys was chirping all day what u expect !!" he wrote.

The safety had three interceptions, a forced fumble and 57 total tackles for the Eagles this season coming into the game against the Commanders. 

He added another interception to his total against Washington.

MICHAEL PENIX JR PICKS UP FIRST CAREER VICTORY AS STARTER AS FALCONS TROUNCE GIANTS

Losing Gardner-Johnson may have been as detrimental to the Eagles’ defense as losing Jalen Hurts was to the offense. Philadelphia led by 10 points when Gardner-Johnson was ejected and scored another three when they got the ball back after a fumble.

Jayden Daniels threw three of his five touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. The Commanders scored 22 points in the final frame and stunned the Eagles, 36-33.

"We didn't do enough," Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said. "We left a lot of plays out there, including myself."

The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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One Cincinnati Bengals left Sunday’s game a hero. 

A fan wearing an Evan McPherson jersey won everyone in Paycor Stadium a free pizza after kicking a 40-yard field goal. 

The man, who hasn’t been identified, was taking part in the Bengals’ "Slice the Uprights" field goal challenge that gives fans the chance to win free pizza. A successful attempt from the 10-yard line gives the kicker free pizza for a year, and a successful attempt from the 30-yard line gives the entire stadium a free slice. 

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But fans on Sunday had more than just pizza to celebrate about. 

Joe Burrow went 23-of-30 for 252 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Cleveland Browns, 24-6, and keep their playoff hopes alive. Ja'Marr Chase had six catches for 97 yards and one touchdown to bring his total yardage to 1,510 this season, breaking the franchise record of 1,455 he set in 2021.

COWBOYS CHEERLEADER DATING BENGALS KICKER CADE YORK HAS SWEET REACTION AFTER SUCCESSFUL EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT

Kicker Cade York, who took the place of an injured McPherson this month, also set a record with his second-quarter 59-yard field goal. He tied the franchise record McPherson set in 2022. 

The Bengals improved to 7-8 and move on to host the Denver Broncos next. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Washington Commanders never lost hope and were able to dig out from five turnovers to turn around and stun the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, 36-33.

Jayden Daniels had five touchdown passes in the game, three of which came in the fourth quarter. The Commanders were down 27-14 as the final quarter started. He threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus to inch the team closer.

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The Commanders forced the Eagles to punt on their next drive. Daniels then found Zaccheaus for a 49-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. For another six minutes, Washington was in control but back-to-back field goals from Eagles kicker Jake Elliott gave Philadelphia a lead with under two minutes to go.

Daniels then led Washington down the field on nine plays and found wide receiver Jamison Crowder with enough space in the end zone to make the go-ahead grab with six seconds left in the game. The Commanders took the three-point lead and they won the game.

Daniels was 24-of-39 with 258 passing yards. Along with his five touchdown passes, he also threw two interceptions.

TEXANS’ CJ STROUD TURNS TO FAITH FOLLOWING TANK DELL’S DEVASTATING LEG INJURY: ‘ALL YOU CAN DO IS REALLY PRAY’

Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. had two fumbles lost and wide receiver Dyami Brown had one, contributing to the large turnover number.

But Washington ultimately benefited from Philadelphia losing quarterback Jalen Hurts in the first quarter due to a concussion. Kenny Pickett subbed in for him and had 143 passing yards, a touchdown pass, an interception and three sacks.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns. But the Eagles’ offense looked a bit anemic after scoring 21 points in the first quarter.

A.J. Brown led the team with eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Washington improved to 10-5. It’s their first 10-win season since 2012. The Eagles fell to 12-3.

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Welcome to the NFL, Michael Penix Jr.

The rookie quarterback was thrust into the Atlanta Falcons’ starting role earlier this week as Kirk Cousins’ struggles became too much for the team to bear. Penix got his first start against the New York Giants and picked up a win even as he battled through some rookie troubles.

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Penix was 18-of-27 with 207 passing yards and one interception, but he wasn’t sacked. 

Atlanta defeated New York, 34-7.

The Falcons got on the board with a field goal following an eight-play, 36-yard drive in the second quarter. Falcons safety Jessie Bates III returned a Drew Lock interception for a touchdown to take the lead. Atlanta didn’t look back from there.

Penix’s 19-yard pass to Darnell Mooney helped setup Bijan Robinson for the first of his two rushing touchdowns. The Falcons took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.

RAVENS COACH JOHN HARBAUGH SHARES POWERFUL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE AFTER CLINCHING PLAYOFF BERTH

Robinson scored again in the third quarter. He finished with 94 rushing yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. Mooney led the way with five catches for 82 yards.

It was the Falcons’ second straight win. They defeated the Las Vegas Raiders last week following a four-game losing streak. The Falcons are now 8-7 on the season.

For the Giants, the lowly season continued. 

Lock was 22-of-39 with 210 passing yards, a touchdown pass and two interceptions. But the lethargic offense was only able to have one drive out of 11 turn into points.

The defense didn’t help matters either. The Falcons had nine drives and 22 first downs. New York only had 14 first downs on 11 drives.

It was a good win to get for the rookie quarterback who will need to establish confidence fast if the Falcons are to win the NFC South and make the playoffs this season.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders with a concussion after appearing to hit his head on the ground in the first quarter. 

Hurts was scrambling on second-and-20 when he was tackled by Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of his 13-yard run. The contact forced Hurts’ head to bounce off the ground. 

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He was evaluated on the sideline before entering the medical tent. Hurts was then taken to the locker room and officially ruled out with a concussion. 

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was traded to the Eagles in March, replaced Hurts and completed the drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to receiver A.J. Brown. 

JASON KELCE EXPRESSES 'CONCERN' ABOUT DRONE SIGHTINGS, HOPES TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE 'SOMEDAY'

Hurts completed just one pass for 11 yards and ran for 41 before exiting Sunday’s contest. 

The Eagles entered the second half with a 21-14 lead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff berth with their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, but head coach John Harbaugh had an important message to share before he addressed the team’s success on the field. 

Speaking to reporters after the 34-17 victory, Harbaugh began with something he said was "important" to him and many people around the world. And that was to acknowledge the spirit of Christmas.

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"I read this to the team in our postgame prayer and it's this – this is Mary. Mary, the mother of God, said this when she was with Elizabeth. She said this, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.’ So, I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, happy holiday season, and rejoice," he said. 

"Rejoice. Rejoice in life. Rejoice in your circumstances. Rejoice in the tough games. Rejoice in the losses. Rejoice in the wins like we’re blessed to do today as a football team, and just rejoice in the people that you love, the people that are close to you. Rejoice. We aren’t here on this Earth to worry about every little thing and spar with one another. We’re here to rejoice in one another and with one another and love one another. Let’s try to remember that this week. This is a big football week – it’s also a big life week. It’s a big spiritual week."  

The Ravens will return on a short week to play the Houston Texans on Christmas Day.

RAVENS TAKE DOWN STEELERS TO KEEP AFC NORTH RACE OPEN

The game comes after a big win over division rival Pittsburgh in what could’ve meant the Steelers clinching the division title with a win. Instead, the Steelers and Ravens are now deadlocked. 

"I feel like we've been busting our behind all season long, had ups and downs throughout this whole season, but to clinch a playoff against a great team like that, that's great," quarterback Lamar Jackson said. "That means we're moving in the right direction."

Jackson improved to 2-4 against the Steelers as a starter and recorded his NFL-leading 37th touchdown. 

The Steelers will also play Christmas day against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was distraught after witnessing teammate and friend Tank Dell suffer a gruesome leg injury during the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday afternoon. 

The injury, which is expected to be season-ending, had a visible impact on the team and Stroud. 

The second-year quarterback was brought to tears and had to be consoled by his other teammates. 

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When asked after the game how he was able to recover from the heartbreaking scene, Stroud spoke about his faith. 

"All you can do is really pray. At the end of the day, God still gets the glory. Always, no matter what happens to me, I always know that I’m even up here because of the grace of Jesus and the grace of who He is in my life and Tank’s life. For anything how it goes, left or right or up or down, I always have to praise my Lord and Savior."

"It’s not easy to move on and just keep playing, but I tried to do as best as I could," he continued.

TEXANS' TANK DELL SUSTAINS GRUESOME LEG INJURY, LEAVING TEAMMATES IN TEARS

The Texans gathered around Dell and prayed before he was taken off the field in a covered medical cart. Stroud revealed what they prayed for.  

"Jesus," he said simply. "Just finding him in this moment – it’s not easy to. He’s the Prince of Peace so I just prayed His peace over Tank’s head and his mental, his physical. We serve a miraculous God and I believe in healing and I pray that the Lord can heal him." 

Saturday’s injury marks what will likely be the second season-ending injury for Dell. His rookie campaign was cut short when he fractured a fibula in a Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos last season. 

Dell was injured while hauling in a 30-yard touchdown pass at the start of the second half. He was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where the team said he would remain overnight. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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You may not like Dan Campbell's coaching style, but he has his Detroit Lions completely bought in.

Campbell is certainly a risk-taker, which bit him in last year's NFC title game against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Lions went for it on a couple of late fourth downs, but did not convert. San Fran took full advantage to head back to the Super Bowl.

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Even this year, Campbell is doing the same old. It's seldom talked about when it works, but when it doesn't, it's a never-ending conversation.

But despite what you might think about Campbell's coaching, Lions lineman Josh Paschal says the team has zero issue with it.

"Honestly, we all love it. We love playing for him. When people think that somebody's not doing something great, I just feel like if you change it up, then you’re going out of your identity," Paschal said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "What I love about him so much is he sticks to his identity, he knows who he is as a coach, as a man, and it’s not gonna change."

DEION SANDERS SAYS HE'LL 'MAKE SURE' TRAVIS HUNTER PLAYS OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN NFL

One thing that's for certain about Campbell, though, is he is a leader, and the Lions would run through a wall for him.

"I promise you, it would be a Monday at 8 a.m. hearing a speech, and you are ready to rumble right there," Paschal joked. "If anybody needs to get motivated, just a regular 9-5 type of person and get motivated for a workout, wake up in the morning and watch one of his speeches."

The Lions sit at 12-2 atop the NFC North, so it's hard to do much complaining about Campbell, who has turned the organization around completely. 

This may just be the best Lions team of all time, as their offense is one of the best in the league. But they do face a challenge with their second outdoor game of the season in a frigid Chicago on Sunday.

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The Cleveland Browns have three games remaining before they officially bring another disappointing season to a close.

Star pass rusher Myles Garrett appears open to continuing his career in Cleveland, albeit his time with the franchise could come to an abrupt end if the front office decides that taking a rebuilding approach is what's best for the team.

The Browns enter Week 16 with just three wins and are in last place in the AFC North division. Cleveland had to deal with uneven play from quarterback Deshaun Watson before he sustained a season-ending injury in October. The lack of production from the quarterback position appeared to directly impact the Browns' hopes of having a winning season.

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The ruptured right Achilles marked the second consecutive year that Watson's season was cut short due to injury. The three-time Pro Bowler injured his shoulder last season in a Week 10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

RAVENS TAKE DOWN STEELERS TO KEEP AFC NORTH RACE OPEN

The Browns enter Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals knowing they will not make it to the playoffs. Being out of contention for the postseason is not something Garrett is particularly thrilled about. The defensive lineman also made it clear that he was not interested in being part of a rebuild at this point in his career.

"Well, for me, I mean first of all I want to win. I want the Browns to be able to put me and us in position to win," Garrett told reporters. "I'm not trying to rebuild. I'm trying to win right now. I want that to be apparent, when the season's over and we have those discussions, I want them to be able to illuminate that for me, illustrate that for me, so that can be something that I can see in the near future. Because that's all we want to do."

Garrett was also asked if he would consider playing for another NFL franchise if the Browns' approach in the near future does not align with his.

"I mean, it's a possibility, but I want to be a Cleveland Brown," he said. "I want to play here, play my career here. But if we choose to do a rebuild and it's two, three, four years out, I want to be able to compete and play at a high level, play meaningful games and be playing past January."

Garrett does have two more seasons remaining on his contract with the Browns, but he could decide to seek a trade at some point during or before the 2026 season. Garrett was the top pick of the 2017 NFL Draft and has gone up to rack up an impressive 99.5 sacks so far during his standout career.

If the Browns want to improve their odds of winning in 2025 and beyond, the team's decision makers will have to find a solution at the quarterback position.

After Sunday's matchup with the Bengals, the Browns close out the regular season with games against the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.

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The status of Patrick Mahomes' ankle was widely discussed leading up to Saturday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.

While there was some doubt during the week whether the star quarterback would play against the Texans, he was able to fully get through the Chiefs' practice Thursday. 

Mahomes was cleared to play and finished Saturday's 27-19 victory over Houston with 260 passing yards.

But the three-time Super Bowl winner turned some heads when he managed to stay on his feet after nearly being tripped and sprinted into the end zone for the first score of the game.

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Mahomes was sidelined in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs' Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz stepped in for Mahomes and finished the 21-7 win over the Browns with 20 passing yards.

DEION SANDERS SAYS HE'LL 'MAKE SURE' TRAVIS HUNTER PLAYS OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN NFL

Mahomes' 15-yard scramble Saturday marked the longest rushing touchdown of his career. Moments after Mahomes crossed the goal line, broadcaster Noah Eagle wondered, "What bum ankle?"

This was not the first time Mahomes dealt with an ankle injury. 

During the 2022 NFL postseason, Mahomes sustained what appeared to be a high ankle sprain in a divisional round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The win over the Texans improved the Chiefs' record to 14-1. Kansas City had already clinched a playoff berth after winning the AFC West a ninth straight year.

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The Baltimore Ravens punched their ticket to the postseason and kept their hopes for a division title alive Saturday. 

With a 34-17 win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore could reclaim first place in the final two weeks. 

Pittsburgh (10-5) would have clinched the division with a victory, but now the teams are deadlocked after the Ravens (10-5) won for just the second time in the last 10 games of the series. Baltimore clinched a playoff berth with the win. 

The Steelers had already clinched a playoff spot.

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Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes, the second of which tied the game at 17 with 5:14 left in the third quarter. Jackson answered with a 7-yard scoring strike to Mark Andrews.

After Pittsburgh turned the ball over on downs, a 44-yard run by Derrick Henry put the Ravens in the red zone.

LIONS' JOSH PASCHAL DISCUSSES WHY HE FEELS LIKE IT'S DESTINY TO BE PLAYING IN DETROIT

That drive ended when Jackson was intercepted for just the fourth time this season, but Marlon Humphrey picked off Wilson and ran 37 yards to the end zone to give Baltimore a cushion in a series that’s been tight of late. The previous nine games between the Steelers and Ravens were decided by seven points or fewer.

Jackson improved to 2-4 against Pittsburgh as a starter. Saturday's game marked his first time facing the Steelers at home since 2020.

Henry rushed for 162 yards.

Pittsburgh entered the game with a plus-18 turnover margin, but the Ravens had the edge in that department Saturday. Baltimore recovered three of its own fumbles and had two big takeaways.

Now the Steelers will have to deal with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day before finishing the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens will travel to Houston to play the Texans on Christmas Day before finishing the season at home against the Cleveland Browns. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Travis Hunter wants to become the NFL’s Shohei Ohtani, and, if it's up to his head coach, he just may become that player.

The two-way Colorado star parlayed his offensive and defensive skills into becoming the Heisman Trophy winner, playing well over 1,000 snaps this season.

He also won both the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver and the Bednarik Award as the defensive player of the year.

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Experts have him playing cornerback in the NFL. But after Hunter caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and scored 14 touchdowns on offense, Deion Sanders says whoever drafts him better let him put his abilities to full use.

"He’s gonna do that, or they shouldn’t draft him. Don’t do that," Sanders told "The Rich Eisen Show" this week.

"And I’m gonna make sure of that. Don’t draft him if you’re not gonna give him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball."

CHIEFS ARE MOTIVATED BY DOUBTERS WHO SAY RECORD IS A FLUKE, STAR SAYS: 'WE'LL JUST KEEP SHOWING UP'

Sanders said a team could be "creative" with Hunter.

"He don’t have to do what we did with him here and play every snap," Sanders added.

Hunter played 670 snaps on offense and 686 snaps on defense while also playing 24 special teams snaps. As a corner, Hunter had 31 tackles, 11 pass deflections and four interceptions, anchoring Colorado’s defense.

Despite projecting as a cornerback in the NFL, he might have actually been better on offense this year.

Hunter is expected to be an early selection in April's NFL Draft, and there's a chance his quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, Deion's son, could be the top pick.

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Patrick Mahomes remains undefeated against ankle injuries.

The Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback took the field on Saturday, battling through an ankle sprain to deliver a 27-19 win over the Houston Texans. Mahomes passed for 260 yards with one touchdown pass and one touchdown run. 

Mahomes was never a guarantee to play after leaving last Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns with the sprain. But it didn't even stop him from missing any practice this week, as Mahomes went through his typical routine despite the injury. 

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It was familiar territory for the three-time Super Bowl champion. Mahomes has played through an ankle sprain in the 2022 playoffs, when he returned in the AFC championship after suffering the injury to beat the Cincinnati Bengals and then played two weeks later to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. 

Mahomes' most recent ankle sprain was said to be mild, which typically still takes two to four weeks to fully heal. However, Mahomes has proven to be a player who returns from injury more quickly than expected. 

BRETT FAVRE BACKS PATRICK MAHOMES ON PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT STANCE AMID TRUMP VS. TAYLOR SWIFT CONTROVERSY

The last time Mahomes missed a game due to an injury was 2019 when he missed just two games after suffering a dislocated patella against the Denver Broncos.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters during the week that he was "amazed" by his quarterback's ability to return from injury so quickly. 

"I've been through it with him before, and he amazes me every time he does it," Reid said. "He's so mentally tough. It's a mindset he has going into it. Where he was a few days ago, I'd probably say it was a longshot. He's done well with it."

Mahomes, meanwhile, under-promised and over-delivered on his availability this week. He suggested to reporters on Tuesday that he wouldn't play unless he felt he wouldn't "limit the game plan" with his injury. 

"I don't want to limit the game plan," Mahomes said. "That's another thing for me. I want to be able to still be able to move around the pocket so we're not just sitting in one spot the whole entire game and leading the D-line to get after it. So, it's about me finding that balance and seeing where I'm at and, like I said, I won't know until closer to the end of this week."

But with the win, Mahomes and the Chiefs close in closer on history. For vanity's sake, they have won their 16th straight game by one possession, breaking a tie with the 2004 New England Patriots. 

More importantly, they are now just one win away from securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That would grant the Chiefs a first-round bye and home-field advantage en-route to the Super Bowl. 

Mahomes and company are looking to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls. Their road to achieving that just got shorter with Mahomes' latest heroics. 

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Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was taken off the field on a stretcher during Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs after sustaining a gruesome leg injury while scoring a touchdown in the second half. 

Dell was injured a little over three minutes into the second half when quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Dell in the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown pass. 

Almost immediately after making the catch, the second-year receiver remained down in obvious pain. He appeared to have sustained a serious knee injury while getting caught up with teammate Jared Wayne and a Chiefs defender.

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Texans players gathered around Dell and prayed over him. Stroud was brought to tears by Dell’s injury. 

PATRICK MAHOMES, PREVIOUSLY CRITICAL OF CHIEFS' TIGHT SCHEDULE, WILL PLAY DESPITE ANKLE INJURY

According to ESPN, Dell's left leg was mobilized in a brace. He was placed on a stretcher and taken off the field in a covered medical cart. He was reportedly taken to an area hospital by ambulance. 

After the game, head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters that Dell would be staying at a local hospital overnight with the "significant" injury - reports say Dell dislocated his knee cap.

Dell also suffered a season-ending knee injury last year.

His rookie campaign was cut short when he fractured a fibula in a Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos last season. 

Dell entered Saturday’s game with 45 receptions for 569 yards and two touchdowns. 

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Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who drew criticism during the offseason after speaking publicly about his faith and values, praised President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican in a post on social media on Friday. 

Trump announced earlier that Brian Burch, the president of CatholicVote, would serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the Holy See under his administration. 

"Brian is a devout Catholic, a father of nine, and President of CatholicVote. He has received numerous awards, and demonstrated exceptional leadership, helping build one of the largest Catholic advocacy groups in the Country," Trump’s announcement read in part. 

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"He represented me well during the last Election, having garnered more Catholic votes than any Presidential Candidate in History! Brian loves his Church and the United States - He will make us all proud."

Butker, who has publicly supported other conservatives during the election, including his endorsement of U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, shared his approval of Trump’s pick on social media. 

"Very happy to hear that [Brian Burch] has been selected to be the next Ambassador to the Vatican," his post on X read. "Brian has been a leading voice in the Catholic community here in America through his organization [CatholicVote] and now in his new role, he can take those gifts to Rome. Pray for him and his family as they embark on this new journey." 

PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP APPOINTS OUTSPOKEN CONSERVATIVE AS VATICAN AMBASSADOR: ‘BLESSINGS AND RESPONSIBILITIES’

Butker faced backlash from some back in May for his commencement address at Benedictine College where called on female graduates to embrace their "vocation" as a "homemaker." 

"For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives," he said in part at the time  "I want to speak directly to you briefly, because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

"I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother," he continued. "I’m on this stage today and able to be the man that I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker."

He also spoke out against the current administration and abortion. 

Butker returned for the Chiefs’ Week 15 matchup against the Cleveland Browns after being sidelined for four games after having surgery on his left, non-kicking knee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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It's been rather commonplace to say that the 13-1 Kansas City Chiefs should not be what their record is – but that's just fuel to the fire for the back-to-back champions.

Sure, the Chiefs have won multiple games on their last possession, and the ball has bounced their way plenty of times – literally and figuratively.

But Chiefs safety Justin Reid, quite literally, is thanking those who doubt what the Chiefs can do in the playoffs.

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"Thanks for the motivation. We appreciate the motivation that people give us," Reid told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "Despite winning two championships in a row, despite everything that they said last year, they still don’t believe. And we appreciate it. That fires us up when we hear it. I like the extra motivation. It gets me fired up, and it gets me to go out there to prove a point.

"They don’t ever have to [learn]. We’ll just keep showing up."

Reid has won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs, but his ring back in February wasn't the only championship he won this year. He also took home Chess.com's BlitzChamps title. 

Reid was always intrigued with chess but took it more seriously when he got into the NFL – and now, it's become somewhat of a staple in the locker room.

"We have a tradition where we play every night before the game. Right when we finish team meetings, I have a chess board sitting at my locker, guys come, and we play quick five-minute games. Guys from the front office come down, players play, and if you win, you stay, you lose, you get back in line," Reid said.

'JEOPARDY!' CONTESTANTS BEFUDDLED BY FINAL CLUE RIPPING JETS' SUPER BOWL DROUGHT

The safety added it's become a combination of both superstition and firing up the brain before a game.

"You can’t always be too deep in anything. It’s nice to get your mind off one subject and do something else. I think it's fun for that and it has become a bit of a tradition that we just always do that now," he says.

NFL Films will be releasing a documentary about Reid's chess title and how other NFL stars have gotten involved. The title also gave Reid the ability to raise money for his own charity.

"Everyone uses the same ‘it’s a game of chess’ whether it’s football or business or whatever’s going on," Reid said, adding it's a good way for people to connect. "It’s a way of using tactics and being three steps ahead of your opponent. It's fun they're promoting it. I think that it's good, and I think it's a fun game for anyone to play."

Reid faces his former Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon as the Chiefs are in the final homestretch. And considering he's a back-to-back reigning champ, he knows exactly what it takes to bring home another Lombardi Trophy.

"You want to be playing your best football going into the playoffs, and we don’t feel like we’ve played our best football yes, which is great," said Reid. "There’s still ways to build, still things to do to keep getting better. It’s just about not being satisfied and the preparation each week. The physical side will take care of itself, but whoever’s mentally prepared and doesn’t make those mental mistakes when the pressure’s on is going to be the difference. We’ve been here before, we’ll just keep continuing to do it." 

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When he was in college, Josh Paschal's football career took a big hit – he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in his left foot.

"Of course, it's going to bring you down when you first hear it. I'd be lying if I said it was easy at first," the now Detroit Lions linebacker said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

But he returned and played himself into becoming a second-round pick in 2022, which he feels is destiny.

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"It's just amazing to be around such great leadership. Our front office, our head coach, it’s the best team I’ve ever been around…. This is an amazing experience. This is the closest group I’ve had since I played football. This group, this team just loves each other. We’ve been through adversity, but it just embraces this city and the culture of grit, of pushing through obstacles and adversity. That’s the identity of this team," Paschal said.

That last sentence fits Paschal to a T – as he put his cancer diagnosis, "it's honestly the worst thing that can happen to you in life." 

But his head coach, Dan Campbell, puts it all into perspective.

"Coach Campbell says this all the time, he says everybody in this room is here for a reason.’ And I feel like the reason I’m here, I’ve been through adversity. I've seen it right in the eyes. It's honestly the worst thing that can happen to you in life, and I'm thankful that the Lord guided me through that whole situation," Paschal said. "But I feel like everybody in this room, everybody in our team room when we have team meetings, or no matter if it's coaches or if his players, they've been through the adversity, they know how to get through it, and they are high character."

'JEOPARDY!' CONTESTANTS BEFUDDLED BY FINAL CLUE RIPPING JETS' SUPER BOWL DROUGHT

Earlier this year, Paschal represented the Jimmy V Foundation as part of the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" campaign. He became more familiar with the foundation last year and wanted to be a part of the team.

"It’s something that brother put on my radar. And I did some research about it, and then I saw his famous quote, "Don’t ever give up" in his ESPY speech. I was extremely motivated and moved by that, and that pushed me toward wanting to work with them," said Paschal.

After feeling down about his football fate following the diagnosis, he said his family, friends, and faith "slapped me out of it."

"And that was the opportunity for me to use the mantra that Jimmy V did of "don't ever give up." That just allowed me to keep fighting, because I feel like that mindset, it carries over to everything in life, but it also correlates directly to when you're fighting that cancer."

Now, Paschal could be less than two months away from bringing the Lions their first ever Super Bowl.

"I just feel like as a better, just keep getting better. You want to play your best football going into January. So we will just be able to keep growing each and every week, keep performing. Both sides are playing great – we let up way too many points this past game, so we gotta bounce back. But all that matters with a team like us is how we bounce back."

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An ugly marriage between the Baltimore Ravens and Diontae Johnson is over.

The Ravens acquired Johnson in October in hopes of jolting their already stout offense.

Johnson did anything but, and he was waived by the team Friday.

The trade was a disaster from the start. In his first game with the team, Johnson had just one catch for six yards. That turned out to be the only catch he had with the team.

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The Ravens suspended Johnson earlier this month, saying he refused to play against the Philadelphia Eagles. Earlier this week, the Ravens excused him from practice.

Surely, Johnson had to be relieved to be traded by the lowly Carolina Panthers to a team that is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Now, he appears to be on the hunt for his third team in as many months.

'JEOPARDY!' CONTESTANTS BEFUDDLED BY FINAL CLUE RIPPING JETS' SUPER BOWL DROUGHT

Johnson played in just four games for the Ravens.

The Ravens will host the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday, so it speaks volumes the Ravens gave up on him roughly 24 hours before an AFC North rivalry game that could determine playoff seeding.

Baltimore didn't lose that much in the initial trade, giving up a fifth-round pick.

Johnson's role in Todd Monken's offense was questioned before the loss to the Eagles and again after he didn't enter a game when Rashod Bateman went down with a knee injury. 

In 39 snaps with the Ravens, Johnson had just one catch for six yards despite being the Panthers' leading receiver through the first seven games of the season. 

Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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