EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs shook off a subpar performance during which they blew a 17-point lead, but held on to defeat the New York Jets 23-20. Mahomes was intercepted twice and struggled to get much going after a quick start with pop superstar Taylor Swift watching Travis Kelce and the Chiefs for the second straight game, this time from a suite at MetLife Stadium. Michael Carter II intercepted Mahomes on third-and-20 but it was negated by a holding call on Sauce Gardner. Mahomes ran for 9 yards on third down to the Jets 2 to seal the victory.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — A livid Robert Saleh stormed down the sideline and shouted at an official as several New York Jets players jumped around on the field in disbelief. Frustrated fans booed in disgust, knowing the game just turned on a questionable call. With the Kansas City Chiefs up by three points and looking to put away a win Sunday night, Michael Carter II intercepted Patrick Mahomes’ deep pass intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But Sauce Gardner was called for defensive holding on the play, giving the ball back to Mahomes and the Chiefs and they worked the clock the rest of the way to hold on for a 23-20 victory.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Denver Broncos came in reeling from a 50-point blowout and looked like they were headed toward another lopsided loss. Wilson threw for three touchdowns, Wil Lutz kicked a tiebreaking field goal with just under two minutes remaining and the Broncos bounced back from one of the most lopsided losses in franchise history by rallying to beat the Chicago Bears 31-28 on Sunday. Denver (1-3) was coming off a 70-20 blowout by Miami that was the franchise’s second-worst loss of the Super Bowl era, behind only a 51-0 pounding by the Raiders in 1967. Lutz’s 51-yarder capped a comeback from a 28-7, third-quarter deficit. Kareem Jackson then intercepted Justin Fields with the Bears (0-4) near midfield, and coach Sean Payton picked up his first win with Denver.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — DaRon Bland returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown, Leighton Vander Esch scooped up a fumble for a score and the Dallas Cowboys blew out the New England Patriots 38-3. Mac Jones was responsible for all three turnovers and was pulled in the second half of Bill Belichick's worst loss in 29 seasons as a head coach. The Cowboys spoiled former star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s Dallas homecoming with their 10th consecutive home victory.
UNDATED (AP) — Georgia’s hold on No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll loosened as the Bulldogs received a season-low 35 first-place votes out of possible 62. The Bulldogs needed a late touchdown to escape with a win at Auburn and still extended their streak to 16 appearances at No. 1 in the AP Top 25. No. 2 Michigan got 12 first-place votes and 1,436 points but nearly was passed by No. 3 Texas, which received 10 first-place votes and 1,426 points. No. 4 Ohio State got one first-place vote and No. 5 Florida State received four. The top seven teams were unchanged while Kentucky and Louisville entered the AP Top 25 and Florida and Kansas dropped out.
PHOENIX (AP) — MLB’s postseason bracket is set, with the American League and National League wild-card matchups beginning Tuesday. It’s the second year for the new October format, which includes an opening round, best-of-three series with all of the games at the higher seed’s ballpark. In the AL, the No. 6 seed Toronto Blue Jays will face the No. 3 Minnesota Twins and the No. 5 Texas Rangers travel to the No. 4 Tampa Bay Rays. The NL features the No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks against the No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers and the No. 5 Miami Marlins at the No. 4 Philadelphia Phillies.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Zack Greinke threw four-hit ball into the sixth inning and, backed by a trio of home runs, helped the Royals beat the Yankees 5-2 on Sunday. It was quite possibly the end of the six-time All-Star's career and Greinke left to a standing ovation. He earned only his second win of the season after beating Baltimore in May. Michael King took the loss for New York, allowing a trio of homers among eight hits that yielded four runs in four innings. The Royals went 56-106, matching the franchise record for losses in a season. The Yankees finished 82-80, their worst record since going 76-86 in 1992.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright made one final appearance in his 18-year big league career, striking out as a pinch hitter in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 4-3 season-ending win over the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, playing perhaps his final game with the Reds, struck out in the first inning, then was ejected before the top of the second by plate umpire Shane Livensparger. Wainwright, a 42-year-old right-hander, went 200-128 with a 3.53 ERA in 18 major league seasons, all with the Cardinals. He got his 200th win in in his final pitching appearance against Milwaukee on Sept. 18.
DENVER (AP) — The Minnesota Twins were so ready to turn the page to playoff baseball. Hence, the decision to send an outfielder to the mound in an extra-inning game. Brenton Doyle scored from second base on a wild pitch in the 11th inning by outfielder-turned-pitcher Jordan Luplow, and the Colorado Rockies rallied for a 3-2 win over the playoff-bound Twins on Sunday in the regular-season finale. On deck for the the AL Central champion Twins: a best-of-three playoff series against Toronto starting Tuesday at Target Field.
NEW YORK (AP) — Buck Showalter was fired as New York Mets manager after a disappointing season in which baseball’s highest-spending team tumbled from contention by midsummer. The 67-year-old Showalter said before Sunday’s game against Philadelphia that he will not return next year, and a few minutes later the fourth-place Mets said the team had decided on the change. New York entered 74-86 and 29 1/2 games behind NL East champion Atlanta. The Mets are expected to hire David Stearns as president of baseball operations above general manager Billy Eppler, and Showalter’s departure with a year remaining on his three-year contract clears the way for Stearns to pick the next manager. Showalter’s exit leaves the Mets searching for a new manager for the fifth time in six years.
SUNDAY SCORES
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Jacksonville 23 Atlanta 7
Final Baltimore 28 Cleveland 3
Final Buffalo 48 Miami 20
Final Denver 31 Chicago 28
Final Houston 30 Pittsburgh 6
Final OT L.A. Rams 29 Indianapolis 23
Final Minnesota 21 Carolina 13
Final OT Philadelphia 34 Washington 31
Final Tampa Bay 26 New Orleans 9
Final Tennessee 27 Cincinnati 3
Final L.A. Chargers 24 Las Vegas 17
Final Dallas 38 New England 3
Final San Francisco 35 Arizona 16
Final Kansas City 23 N-Y Jets 20
Mon. Seattle @ New York Giants
INTERLEAGUE
Final Houston 8 Arizona 1
Final Colorado 3 Minnesota 2
Final San Diego 2 Chicago White Sox 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Seattle 1 Texas 0
Final Kansas City 5 N.Y. Yankees 2
Final Detroit 5 Cleveland 2
Final L.A. Angels 7 Oakland 3
Final Boston 6 Baltimore 1
Final Tampa Bay 12 Toronto 8
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 3 Miami 0
Final St. Louis 4 Cincinnati 3
Final Milwaukee 4 Chicago Cubs 0
Final Philadelphia 9 N.Y. Mets 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 5 San Francisco 2