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Will Hurricanes star Keionte Scott return for Texas A&M playoff game?

Miami Hurricanes Cornerback Keionte Scott Nearing Return for Playoff Game Against Texas A&M

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal has provided an optimistic update on the status of star defensive back Keionte Scott ahead of Saturday’s playoff matchup against Texas A&M. Throughout the week, Cristobal has indicated that Scott could return to the field, and on Wednesday, the Hurricanes listed him as probable on their initial availability report.

Scott has been actively practicing and making steady progress toward playing on Saturday. “He looks OK, looks like he’s certainly progressing,” Cristobal said on Wednesday. “He’s getting a fair amount of reps. And again, I stated on Sunday, we were hopeful and we still are. We feel confident in his progress and, you know, feel like he’s gaining ground towards being able to play on Saturday.”

Scott had been a standout performer for Miami through the first nine games of the season, accumulating impressive stats including 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one interception. His impact on the field is reflected in his Pro Football Focus (PFF) defensive grade of 90.3, ranking him fourth nationally among cornerbacks with 100 or more snaps.

The talented defensive back missed Miami’s last three regular-season games due to a foot injury. In his absence, freshman Bryce Fitzgerald stepped in and delivered a solid performance. Despite being sidelined, Scott remained actively involved with the defensive backs, offering guidance and support from the sidelines.

“Keionte’s the best teammate that I think I’ve ever had,” said Miami safety Jakobe Thomas. “He’s working absolutely as hard as he possibly can to get back as fast as possible at 100 percent. But day to day, he’s just in the room with us every day, motivating, keeping guys locked in (and) focused, helping us focus on the little minor details and everything.”

In terms of other player availability, the Hurricanes listed Damari Brown as questionable. Brown has been a key contributor at outside cornerback this season, tallying 24 tackles and one pass deflection, along with a solid 75.9 PFF defensive grade. Linebacker Malik Bryant was ruled out, and wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw was listed as doubtful.

Here is Miami’s initial availability report for the game against Texas A&M:

– OUT: LB Malik Bryant
– DOUBTFUL: WR Daylyn Upshaw
– QUESTIONABLE: DB Damari Brown
– PROBABLE: DB Keionte Scott

The Hurricanes will look to lean on returning key contributors like Scott as they prepare for what promises to be a competitive playoff showdown.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/17/will-hurricanes-star-keionte-scott-return-for-texas-am-playoff-game/

Messi’s Inter Miami advances to MLS Cup final with 5-1 win over NYCFC in East final

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi will play for another trophy, proving that longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets aren’t ready to begin their retirements just yet.

Tadeo Allande scored three goals, with Alba and Busquets providing the assists on his first two, as Inter Miami topped New York City FC 5-1 on Saturday night to claim the Eastern Conference title and a berth in the MLS Cup final.

Mateo Silvetti also scored in the 67th minute for Inter Miami, with Messi setting up that goal — the 405th assist of his illustrious career for club and country. This milestone is widely regarded as the most assists in soccer history.

Inter Miami, the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, will host either San Diego or Vancouver for the MLS Cup final on December 6 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. San Diego and Vancouver are set to face off later Saturday night for the Western Conference title.

This marks Inter Miami’s first MLS final appearance. The club had never advanced past the opening postseason round in any of its first five seasons. Interestingly, Messi’s team went 0-2 against Vancouver this season, losing both legs of a semifinal meeting in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by a 5-1 aggregate.

Justin Haak scored in the 37th minute for NYCFC, which finished the season 0-2-1 against Inter Miami.

With this decisive win, Inter Miami moves one step closer to adding another trophy to their collection, following their Leagues Cup victory in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield as MLS’ top regular-season team last year.

Messi, a World Cup champion with Argentina and an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, joined Inter Miami midway through the 2023 season when the team was languishing at the bottom of the MLS standings and enduring an 11-match winless streak.

Since then, the club’s profile has skyrocketed. Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey in the team’s pink kit is now sold worldwide, a new stadium near Miami International Airport is slated to open next season, and Messi is signed through 2028. He is widely favored to win his second consecutive MLS MVP award, as the team stands on the brink of clinching an MLS title.

Stars continue to flock to see Inter Miami play because of Messi’s presence. Tennis great Carlos Alcaraz attended the game Saturday night, along with several members of the U.S. Women’s National Team.

“Everyone in the world knows who Lionel Messi is. I think everyone thought he would come in here and do exactly what he’s done,” said U.S. women’s forward Lindsay Horan, whose fandom of Messi goes back many years.

During the match, Messi took a blow to the left side of his head in the ninth minute and was briefly shaken up. He remained down near the center circle for a few seconds before getting back to his feet. Just two minutes later, he was tripped while Inter Miami was on the attack and took a direct kick from about 30 yards out, sending the ball into the box. However, Silvetti’s header off that play was easily caught by NYCFC goalie Matt Freese.

Inter Miami’s next chance came quickly thereafter. A long pass from Busquets was controlled by Allande, who skillfully beat Freese from about 12 yards out to give Miami a 1-0 lead.

Allande struck again in the 23rd minute, this time heading in a long pass from Alba to extend the lead to 2-0.

After Messi set up Silvetti for the 3-1 goal, Inter Miami essentially began a roughly 25-minute countdown to celebration, cruising toward their historic victory.
https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2025/11/30/messis-inter-miami-advances-to-mls-cup-final-with-5-1-win-over-nycfc-in-east-final/

Yankees AL East Foes Improve As Red Sox, Blue Jays Add Sonny Gray And Dylan Cease

During a roughly 25-minute video conference with the media Monday, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner conceded it would be ideal if the Yankees could find a way to lower their payroll while acknowledging the reduction might not happen. “Would it be ideal if I went down (with our payroll)? Of course,” Steinbrenner said Monday. “But does that mean that’s going to happen? Of course not. We want to field a team we know we believe could win a championship. “It just hasn’t changed which is why payrolls have gone up probably every year. It doesn’t mean they won’t go slightly down one year and then up the year after that. It all depends on what’s out there and what the possibilities are and how much I feel we’re able to or we need to pull the trigger on those possibilities. Those comments quickly made the usual rounds on social media and turned into fodder for sports talk radio shows fatigued from talking about the New York Giants being the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention or seeking a break from dissecting the Mets trading Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien. In the immediate aftermath of Steinbrenner’s comments, the Red Sox and Blue Jays made investments to enhance playoff rosters from last season. In the roughly 50-plus hours since Steinbrenner’s comments, the Red Sox and Blue Jays added payrolls and made moves they hope will bolster their pitching. The Red Sox were first to strike, trading with former executive Chaim Bloom to land Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals to potentially give them the No. 2 starter they clearly lacked after Garrett Crochet. Gray is assured of $40 million in the next two seasons but Boston’s payroll hit will be lessened by the Cardinals assuming $20 million, doing so by sending the Red Sox a payment of $2. 5 million on April 15, May 15, June 15, July 15, August 15 and September 15 before contributing $5 million on Dec. 1, 2026 the day the current collective bargaining agreement expires. The Blue Jays were next with a bigger move by reportedly getting Dylan Cease on a $210 million, seven-year deal. It is the first major free agent pitcher to come off the board and a contract that may set the market for how other free agent starters are paid. The Yankees certainly were not going to engage with trading for Gray. They did that already in 2017 and after he was 15-16 with a 4. 51 ERA in 41 regular-season appearances, GM Brian Cashman was opening admitting Gray was going to get traded, doing so at the annual post-mortem press conference. Since leaving the Yankees, Gray was 23-20 with a 3. 49 ERA for the Reds and 16-13 with a 2. 90 ERA for the Twins. The steadiness of his showings in the two Midwest stops prompted the Cardinals to sign him to a three-year deal that contains a club option. Gray cashed in after being the Cy Young runner-up to Gerrit Cole and with the Cardinals he is among five with at least 200 strikeouts in the previous two seasons. “When you think about what Sonny has been in this league, it’s a guy who’s pitched at the front of rotations,” Boston Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow told reporters. “Those things that we think pitchers carry from year to year are things like strikeout rates and walk rates and ability to just stay off barrels. He excels there.” The Blue Jays will be saying similar things about Cease some point after adding him to a rotation featuring Kevin Gausman entering his free agent year and rookie Trey Yesavage after a dynamic postseason, especially against the Yankees. Cease is getting the largest free agent contract in Toronto’s history with some deferred money according to reports. Although Cease was 8-12 with a 4. 55 ERA last season for San Diego, he also has five straight 200-strikeout seasons and took a no-hitter into the seventh at Yankee Stadium last May and seemed to get better luck last season by allowing a . 260 average on balls in play, two years after that figure was . 330. Striking early to land Cease seems to show Toronto is not playing around with its money after their captivating playoff run resulted in 10 home games. After adding one of the more durable pitchers in recent years, the Blue Jays can shift focus towards retaining Bo Bichette, who some would like on the Yankees as an upgrade to shortstop Anthony Volpe. So far, the Yankees’ big expenditure is seeing Trent Grisham come back on $22 million qualifying offer to the chagrin of many fans after he hit 36 homers while being paid five million. For the Yankees about $78 million of next year’s payroll are being deployed on Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Max Fried. The trio represents the last three major free agents from other teams signed by the Yankees, who ended the regular season with a payroll of $301 million before various bonuses and are hoping to get through April as Cole and Rodon finish their injury recoveries. The quick strikes of the Red Sox and Blue Jays do not mean the Yankees will move quicker but for many fans it creates slightly more angst until their team does something they like.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/yankees-al-east-foes-improve-as-red-sox-blue-jays-add-sonny-gray-and-dylan-cease/

49ers blow out Cardinals, 41-22

During a late Sunday afternoon window featuring three exciting football games, the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals delivered a surprisingly dull matchup. The 49ers jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead within the first five minutes and never looked back, ultimately winning 41-22.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, finally healthy after missing most of the season, put on an impressive performance. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions. Two of those touchdown passes were caught by tight end George Kittle, while running back Christian McCaffrey snagged the other. McCaffrey also contributed heavily on the ground, rushing for 81 yards and scoring two additional touchdowns.

On the other side, Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett set an NFL record with an astonishing 47 completions—the most ever in a regular-season game. His final stat line was 47-for-57 for 452 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. However, much of Brissett’s production came during garbage time after the Cardinals fell behind 35-10 in the third quarter.

With this win, the 49ers improve to 7-4, solidifying their position in the NFC playoff race. Meanwhile, the Cardinals drop to 3-7 and look poised to face more challenging “garbage time” scenarios as the season progresses.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/49ers-blow-out-cardinals-41-22

Kam Williams settling into his role, but Mark Pope wants more

On the same day Kentucky basketball played Tennessee in the Sweet 16 this past March, they landed a commit in the transfer portal in Kam Williams from Tulane. A sharpshooter with the Green Wave last season, Williams initially struggled through the Wildcats’ exhibition games and first couple of regular-season matchups.

However, a five-point performance at Louisville on Tuesday, which included a 3-pointer, may have put him on track to become the player Kentucky fans believe he can be.

Williams spoke after Kentucky’s 99-53 victory over Eastern Illinois on Friday night about the role he envisions for himself this season.

“Make 3s and play defense. If I’m not hitting 3s, do something else,” Williams said. “I can’t really be upset when I’m missing shots, because I can contribute in other ways on defense. I can still bring energy.”

On Friday night, Williams made two 3-pointers while also contributing two rebounds, an assist, and a steal. For the season, he has accumulated 13 points and 12 rebounds. He is shooting 5-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-10 from beyond the arc, but has been hotter recently — going 3-for-5 from deep over his last two games.

Head coach Mark Pope shared that he hoped the team would be further along in terms of defining their identity at this point in the season. Regarding Pope’s comments on players embracing their “special sauce” and unique skill sets to love their game, Williams responded:

“Really just staying in myself, not trying to do anything outside of what I was brought here for,” he said. “Everybody has a role. NBA players have a role. Trying to step out of your role is where mistakes and accidents happen.”

Following Kentucky’s loss to Louisville, Pope expressed pride in Williams’ effort and emphasized his hopes for the sophomore’s continued improvement.

“I have the same conversation with Kam every single day, and that is about him being more aggressive, more assertive, and more physical,” Pope said.

With Jaland Lowe out, Kentucky will undoubtedly need Williams to step up as the season progresses.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/kam-williams-settling-role-mark-110900367.html

Colorado high school football playoffs: Chalk, toss-ups and upset alerts in the second weekend of postseason play

CHSAA State Football Playoffs: Round of 16 Preview

The CHSAA state football playoffs have been whittled down to 16 teams in the top three classifications. Here’s a breakdown of this weekend’s matchups, with coveted quarterfinal spots on the line.

Class 5A

The Chalk

No. 17 Fountain-Fort Carson (8-3) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday: The Trojans were the only road team to win in the first round, but now face a tough trip to Stutler Bowl. Cherry Creek hasn’t lost at home in three years and has allowed just 27 total points over their last six games.

No. 14 Eaglecrest (7-4) at No. 3 Mountain Vista (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Mountain Vista’s junior QB Marquise Reese is on fire, averaging 310.4 yards and 4.4 touchdowns on 67.7% passing over the last five games. Eaglecrest’s defense showed promise limiting Legacy to 10 points, but this game will be a major test.

No. 12 Erie (7-4) at No. 5 Valor Christian (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday: Valor’s sophomore quarterback Titus Huard has been almost flawless since taking over as starter. Their defense has allowed just 20 points in the last four games. Erie has proven it can compete with top 5A teams but faces another stern challenge.

The Toss-Ups

No. 10 Mullen (7-4) at No. 7 Pine Creek (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday: Mullen is riding a six-game winning streak — their longest since 2016, the last time they reached the quarterfinals. Pine Creek leans heavily on 195-pound junior running back Xavier Lukes (231 carries, 1,429 yards). Expect a hard-fought, physical game.

No. 9 Arapahoe (7-4) at No. 8 Fairview (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Fairview’s only loss was by a single point to No. 6 Arvada West. The Knights average 51.5 points per game and stunned No. 2 Mountain Vista last year. Arapahoe has won six of seven games recently and features senior Jayden Tackitt, who gained 330 yards last week. This should be a high-scoring affair.

Upset Watch

Since 2021, only three double-digit seeds have reached the 5A quarterfinals, making these lower-seed matchups potential long shots.

No. 15 Columbine (6-5) at No. 2 Ralston Valley (10-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday: Ralston Valley has dominated all season and welcomes back senior QB Zeke Andrews after injury. But Columbine coach Andy Lowry is known for making every game a battle.

No. 13 Fort Collins (9-2) at No. 4 Legend (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Fort Collins faces Legend’s powerful senior running back Jack McKeon, who rushed for 370 yards and four touchdowns against ThunderRidge recently.

No. 11 Grandview (6-5) at No. 6 Arvada West (9-1), 4 p.m. Friday: Grandview is battle-tested, having faced three of the top four teams. They crushed Chatfield 32-13 in Round 1 — a team Arvada West barely edged on Oct. 24. This promises to be a gritty matchup.

Class 4A

The Chalk

The top three seeds appear dominant in 4A, and they face comparatively weaker opponents this weekend.

No. 16 Golden (8-3) at No. 1 Dakota Ridge (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday: The teams met on Oct. 24, with Dakota Ridge dominating 49-10. Golden faces a steep challenge trying to turn things around in just two weeks.

No. 15 Frederick (8-3) at No. 2 Montrose (10-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: Montrose has a history of playoff success, reaching quarterfinals seven straight years and posting multiple double-digit-win seasons recently. A Western Slope trip will not be easy for Frederick.

No. 14 Mesa Ridge (6-5) at No. 3 Palmer Ridge (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Palmer Ridge, a contender since moving to 4A in 2020, already defeated Mesa Ridge 35-7 earlier this season. But Mesa Ridge has improved since and aims to make this competitive.

The Toss-Ups

No. 9 Northfield (9-2) at No. 8 Pueblo West (7-3), 6 p.m. Friday: Northfield is on an eight-game winning streak but faces a Pueblo West defense allowing just 11.6 points per game. This clash of hot offenses and stingy defenses should be exciting.

No. 10 Riverdale Ridge (11-0) at No. 7 Monarch (8-2), 6 p.m. Friday: Despite an undefeated record, Riverdale Ridge’s low seed is likely due to strength of schedule. Their defense allows just 7.1 points per game but faces a Monarch offense averaging 40.9 points, setting up an intriguing battle.

Upset Watch

No. 13 Ponderosa (7-4) at No. 4 Durango (8-2), Noon Saturday: Durango’s only losses came against top seeds, and they’ve dominated other opponents. Ponderosa has won four of five recently and could challenge Durango in this regional showdown.

No. 12 Grand Junction (9-2) at No. 5 Heritage (7-3), 6 p.m. Friday: Grand Junction boasts a high-powered offense on a six-game winning streak, topping 40 points five times recently. Heritage is strong against lower classifications, so expect a fast-paced, high-scoring game.

No. 11 Vista Ridge (8-3) at No. 6 Broomfield (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday: Broomfield freshman Kashus Clarvoe is one of the state’s best running backs with 1,566 yards and 16 touchdowns. After a strong start, Vista Ridge faces a tough test against a solid Broomfield squad.

Class 3A

The Chalk

The top seeds in 3A are clear favorites though no guarantees exist in this competitive bracket.

No. 16 Severance (4-6) at No. 1 Windsor (10-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: Windsor faces a surprisingly tough first-round opponent. Severance led Windsor 3-0 at halftime when they met earlier this season and could be a dangerous underdog.

No. 15 Coronado (7-3) at No. 2 Pomona (9-1), Noon Saturday: Pomona has lost just two games to 3A competition since moving down classifications. However, Coronado and QB Thomas Buckmiller, fresh off a 70-point, 317-yard performance, are formidable.

No. 13 Lewis-Palmer (6-4) at No. 4 Mead (8-2), 1 p.m. Saturday: Mead aims for a repeat title appearance after thrashing Lewis-Palmer 50-9 earlier this season. Although Lewis-Palmer has improved, this will be a tough road test.

No. 12 Thompson Valley (7-3) at No. 5 Holy Family (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Defending champion Thompson Valley ended the regular season with two losses. They now face a hot Holy Family team that has won six straight and scored 299 points over that stretch.

No. 11 Pueblo County (7-3) at No. 6 Roosevelt (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday: Roosevelt has shown toughness against top teams and opponents from higher classifications, making them a potential dark horse this postseason.

The Toss-Ups

No. 9 Pueblo South (8-2) at No. 8 Conifer (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Conifer’s defense has recorded five shutouts, and their offense averages 43.9 points per game. Senior WR Solomon Washer has been a standout. This game is a strong early test for Conifer.

No. 10 Lutheran (7-3) at No. 7 Eagle Valley (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: After a recent loss and a bye week, Eagle Valley is well-rested but faces the perennial power of Lutheran. If Eagle Valley is to earn its first playoff win in 13 years, the Lions will make them work.

Upset Watch

No. 14 Timnath (6-4) at No. 3 Palisade (8-2), Noon Saturday: Timnath may seem like an underdog but has played at a high level, shutting out the defending champion Thompson Valley and competing against Mead and Windsor. This could be a tough night for Palisade if they aren’t prepared.

Stay tuned this weekend as these thrilling CHSAA playoff games unfold, with quarterfinal berths on the line across Colorado’s top high school football divisions.

https://www.denverpost.com/2025/11/12/colorado-high-school-football-playoffs-second-weekend-2025/

Nick Sirianni moves into fourth place among all NFL coaches in career winning percentage

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni improved his career record to 55-22 on Monday night, placing him in some truly elite company. With a regular-season winning percentage of .714, Sirianni now ranks fourth-best among all NFL coaches in history.

Prior to Monday, Sirianni had held the fifth spot all-time, but he moved ahead of Hall of Fame coach George Allen with this latest win. The all-time winningest coach by percentage is Guy Chamberlin, who served as player/coach for several teams—including the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Bulldogs, Frankford Yellow Jackets, and Chicago Cardinals—from 1922 to 1927. Chamberlin’s record in that early NFL era was 58-16-7. At the time, tie games were not counted in the standings, giving him a winning percentage of .784.

The next-best record belongs to John Madden, the legendary Raiders head coach. Madden, who later became widely known as a broadcaster and lent his name to a popular video game franchise, posted a 103-32-7 regular-season record with the Raiders. His winning percentage was .759.

In third place all-time is Vince Lombardi, who achieved a 96-34-6 record as head coach. His winning percentage stood at .738.

Now, Nick Sirianni, in his fifth season as the Eagles head coach, has matched a level of success that few in NFL history can claim. He has already won a Super Bowl and appeared in another, solidifying his place among the game’s coaching greats with a remarkable career winning percentage.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nick-sirianni-moves-into-fourth-place-among-all-nfl-coaches-in-career-winning-percentage

Cooper Flagg Stats Tonight: Mavericks Rookie Goes Head-To-Head against Kevin Durant In Clash Against Rockets (Nov. 3)

Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks faced off against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in their seventh regular-season game on Monday.

With Anthony Davis absent, Flagg once again led the Mavericks’ starting lineup. The former Duke phenom was joined by Max Christie, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and P. J. Washington.

Flagg overcame the struggles of his previous shooting performance and came out firing on all cylinders against the Rockets. The rookie got off to a strong offensive start, scoring seven quick points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field.

He finished the first quarter with an impressive stat line of nine points, three rebounds, and one assist.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-cooper-flagg-stats-tonight-mavericks-rookie-goes-head-to-head-kevin-durant-in-clash-against-rockets-nov-3

Jalen Duren’s 33 points lead Pistons to victory over Mavericks in Mexico City

**Pistons Rally to Beat Mavericks 122-110 in Mexico City**

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jalen Duren delivered a dominant performance with 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham contributed 21 points and a team-high 18 assists as the Detroit Pistons pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 122-110 on Saturday night.

Duncan Robinson added 18 points and Ausar Thompson contributed 15 for the Pistons, who secured their second consecutive win. Coming off the bench for the Mavericks, D’Angelo Russell scored a game-high 31 points. First overall draft pick Cooper Flagg scored a season-high 16 points, although he struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-14.

Despite trailing 93-87 after three quarters, the Pistons outscored Dallas 35-17 in the final period to seal the victory. The Mavericks played without forward Anthony Davis, who is expected to miss two games due to a left leg injury sustained on Wednesday against Indiana.

This game marked the 15th regular-season NBA game played in Mexico City and the fourth for the Mavericks—more than any other franchise. The Phoenix Suns and the Orlando Magic have both played in Mexico City three times each.

**Up Next:**
– Pistons: at Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night
– Mavericks: at Houston Rockets on Monday night

___
*AP NBA*
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/basketball-game-stories/10134198/jalen-durens-33-points-lead-pistons-to-victory-over-mavericks-in-mexico-city.html

Josh Allen Sends Strong Message to Patrick Mahomes Before Bills-Chiefs

The Buffalo Bills have officially entered Chiefs Week, their now-annual regular-season meeting with Patrick Mahomes and their rivals from the AFC West. The stakes are always high when the Kansas City Chiefs arrive on Buffalo’s schedule, but this year could be even more important as both teams have fallen out of the lead in their respective divisions.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen is ready for the challenge, offering some big praise of his quarterback counterpart this week and receiving some love from Mahomes in return.

### Josh Allen Needs to Raise His Game

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Allen shared praise for Mahomes and said the two-time MVP forces him to up his game. Allen has had plenty of success against Mahomes in the regular season, leading the Bills to wins in each of the last four years. However, the Bills are 0-4 against the Chiefs in the playoffs, including a loss in last year’s AFC Championship.

The Bills come into this year’s game against the Chiefs with a 5-2 record, having recovered from back-to-back losses by blowing out the Carolina Panthers last week. Meanwhile, the Chiefs started the season 0-2 but have since steadied the ship, getting top receiver Rashee Rice back from a six-game suspension and winning five of their last six games.

The importance of this week’s contest is underscored by the fact that the loser could fall out of the playoffs entirely if the Jacksonville Jaguars win their game.

### Patrick Mahomes Returns the Favor

Mahomes also had plenty of good things to say about Allen, telling reporters that the reigning MVP is a nightmare for his team to defend. Mahomes added that he believes Allen is only improving and said the Bills quarterback forces him to be better.

While their rivalry on the field has only grown more heated, Mahomes and Allen have maintained friendly terms off the gridiron. The two recently teamed up for a televised golf match where they faced—and ultimately lost to—fellow star quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

With both quarterbacks pushing each other to new heights, this year’s Bills vs. Chiefs game promises to be a thrilling showdown.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/buffalo-bills/josh-allen-message-patrick-mahomes-chiefs/