CLEVELAND (AP) — The only thing the Chiefs had to worry about in the final minutes Sunday was Patrick Mahomes’ ankle.
Mahomes threw two touchdown passes before limping off with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter, Xavier Worthy ran for a score and Kansas City finally had a relatively easy win, 21-7 over the mistake-prone Cleveland Browns.
Mahomes connected for TDs in the first half with Juju Smith-Schuster and Noah Gray as the Chiefs (13-1) built a 21-0 lead and then slogged their way through an ugly second half.
The defending Super Bowl champions have 10 wins by seven points or less, with six coming on the game’s final play.
Mahomes didn’t finish the game, leaving when he got his ankle rolled up on while being tackled by Dalvin Tomlinson on a fourth-down incompletion. Carson Wentz replaced him for the final 5:23. Mahomes finished 19 of 38 for 159 yards.
After the game, Mahomes said X-rays were negative. He said he would have lobbied harder to stay in if the Browns had gotten within one score.
“We’ll get into the rehab part, the treatment part and try to get back on a short week,” said Mahomes, noting the Chiefs will play again Saturday — the second of three games in 11 days. “With all the adrenaline from the game, it’s hard to tell now (if he can play). Usually, it’s the day after when you get a good sense of it.”
Before Wentz went in, Mahomes had his left ankle re-taped while on the bench. He walked gingerly off the field but didn’t favor it while in the locker room or going to his postgame news conference. He was driven to the Chiefs’ buses on a cart.
Coach Andy Reid was relieved Mahomes was not more seriously hurt.
“It’s not broken, that’s all I can tell you,” Reid said. “We’ll have to see how it goes down the road.”
The Browns (3-11) tried to put up a fight, but had six turnovers. Other than a 62-yard TD run from Jerome Ford, Cleveland had few offensive highlights and too many self-inflicted miscues.
Jameis Winston threw more three interceptions — two in the end zone to give him eight in his last three games — and the Browns had two fumbles. The five turnovers made things much easier on Mahomes and the Chiefs, not that they needed a lot of help.
Cleveland running back Nick Chubb suffered a broken foot. It’s another setback for the star, who had a devastating knee injury last season.
Winston was pulled after his third pick and replaced by second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who also was intercepted. Coach Kevin Stefanski would not commit to a starter for next week.
“You can not turn the ball over six times and expect to win,” Stefanski said. “At any level.”
Cleveland’s Jerry Jeudy had 11 catches for 108 yards and went over 1,000 for the season.
The Chiefs’ second TD — Mahomes’ 6-yard pass to Gray with 4:46 left in the first half — came on the same play Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett left the field in extreme pain with an apparent eye injury.
Garrett was rushing Mahomes and being blocked by Chiefs left tackle Joe Thuney when he suddenly stopped. The league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year immediately grabbed his face mask and pulled off his helmet, flinging it away before dropping to the turf.
He was face down for several minutes before being helped off. As Garrett walked toward the locker room holding a towel to his face, Thuney came over and patted him on the back. Garrett was only gone for a short period before he ran back on to the field and finished the game.
“Thank God, he’s OK,” Stefanski said.
The Chiefs took a 21-0 lead early in the third, capitalizing on a pick by Winston that went off Chubb’s hands. Four plays later, Worthy took a deep pitch from Mahomes, turned the corner and scored.
Kansas City’s first score was set up by Cleveland’s first turnover.
After the Browns forced a three-and-out on Kansas City’s first possession, Cleveland’s James Proche II fumbled during a punt return and the Chiefs recovered at the 21.
Mahomes then connected with Schuster for a 7-yard TD with 12:12 left in the first quarter.
Notable no-show
Taylor Swift ended her world tour. She decided not to hit the road in the NFL just yet.
The pop superstar had been expected to attend the game to cheer on boyfriend Travis Kelce, the Chiefs tight end who grew up in Cleveland. But Swift, who turned 35 on Friday, wasn’t on hand despite rumors she would make an appearance.
Taylor has been at several Chiefs games in Kansas City the past two seasons since she began dating Kelce.
Injuries
Chiefs: S Chamarri Conner suffered a concussion while making a tackle in the second quarter. … Kelce came up limping after an early play, but walked it off and stayed in. He left the locker room before reporters had access.
Browns: CB Martin Emerson Jr. went to the locker room in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. He did not return. … DT Shelby Harris (elbow) went out in the second quarter.
Up next
Chiefs: Host Houston on Dec. 21 before visiting Pittsburgh on Christmas Day.
Browns: At Cincinnati on Sunday.
COWBOYS 30, PANTHERS 14
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — CeeDee Lamb heard about oddsmakers listing the Carolina Panthers as a favorite for the first time in nearly two full years entering Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
But Lamb and the Cowboys wound up getting the last laugh.
“It was brought up,” Lamb said with a wide smile. “You’re not oblivious to what is being said about your team. … Shoutout to whoever thought the Panthers were going to win, but they got this one wrong.”
Did they ever.
Cooper Rush threw for 214 yards and a career-high three touchdown passes, Dallas forced four Bryce Young turnovers and sacked the second-year quarterback six times as the Cowboys drubbed the Panthers 30-14 for their third win in the past four games.
Lamb battled through shoulder soreness and had nine catches for 116 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown reception and Rico Dowdle ran for a career high 149 yards on 25 carries to become the first undrafted running back to surpass 100 yards rushing in three straight games since Houston’s Arian Foster.
The Cowboys outgained the Panthers 410-235.
Young, who had shown improvement in recent weeks, finished 19 of 28 for 219 yards with a career-long 83-yard touchdown toss to rookie Jalen Coker and also ran for a score. But the second-year quarterback fumbled twice and threw two interceptions to fall to 4-21 as an NFL starter.
The Cowboys, despite losing cornerback Trevon Diggs to a season-ending knee injury this past week and coming off a heartbreaking loss on Monday night to the Cincinnati Bengals, played inspired on defense, holding the Panthers to 1 yard in the third quarter.
“It says that we are not going to give up,” said edge rusher Micah Parsons, who had two sacks. “As long as I’m a part of this unit and we believe in each other. We are fighting for each other at this point. The record is the record, but it’s a special feeling when you can fight for each other.”
Parsons said the game plan coming in was to shut down Chuba Hubbard, and the Cowboys did just that — holding Carolina’s 1,000-yard rusher to 32 yards on 10 carries.
The six sacks were the most allowed by the Panthers this season.
“When they put us in this mode where we have to play behind, where we have to throw the ball and flip the field to score some points, we were playing into their hands,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “Certainly put us in a brand of football that we don’t really want to play.”
Dallas’ offense continues to show signs of improvement under Rush, who was forced into action when Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending hamstring injury.
After punting on their first two possessions, the Cowboys went on to score on six of their next eight possessions with the only exceptions being Rush’s turnover deep in Carolina territory and a missed 70-yard field-goal attempt by Brandon Aubrey at the end of the first half.
Lamb had eight receptions for 104 yards in the first half as Dallas took a 10-0 lead.
The Cowboys appeared ready to add to the lead late in the second quarter, but Rush mishandled a snap and fumbled at the Carolina 17. On the next play from scrimmage, Young found Coker along the right sideline for an 83-yard touchdown pass, the longest of his career to pull the Panthers (3-11) within three with 31 seconds left.
But that was as close as the Panthers would get.
The third quarter was all Dallas, with Osa Odighizuwa stripping Young of the football on Carolina’s first possession of the second half and the Cowboys cashing in on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rush to Jalen Tolbert, who got free across the back of the end zone for a 17-7 lead.
Rush later added a 17-yard TD pass to Jalen Brooks, the first of his career.
“Cooper, I thought his touchdown throws were huge,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “He extended the one play and hit JT in the corner of the end zone and that was a huge, huge play.”
Canales said Young will remain Carolina’s starting quarterback next week, saying he didn’t see his young QB’s confidence waiver.
“He had a good look in his eyes,” Canales said. “I was looking forward to continue being aggressive and find those opportunities down the field.”
Injuries
Cowboys: OT Chuma Edoga injured his ankle in the second quarter and guard T.J. Bass left in the fourth quarter with a lower leg injury.
Panthers: WR Xavier Legette left the game in the third quarter with a groin injury.
Up next
Cowboys: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday.
Panthers: Host Arizona next Sunday in their final home game of the season.
TEXANS 20, DOLPHINS 12
HOUSTON (AP) — Tasked with shadowing Miami’s star receiver Tyreek Hill for most of Sunday’s game, Houston cornerback Derek Stingley shined.
Houston’s defense forced four turnovers, highlighted by two fourth-quarter interceptions by Stingley, to help the Texans to a 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
“Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said.
Stingley was asked about his performance against Hill, who had just two receptions for 36 yards.
“It’s a good opportunity going against somebody that’s the face of the NFL,” he said. “So anytime you get to go out there on the field, it’s just a good time, just time to have fun.”
Nico Collins had two TD receptions as the Texans (9-5) got a second straight victory. They can clinch the AFC South title for a second consecutive season with a loss by the Colts later Sunday.
Collins had a 6-yard TD reception in the second quarter and his second 6-yard scoring grab made it 20-6 in the third. That score was set up by a 35-yard run by Dare Ogunbowale on a fake punt.
Tua Tagovailoa threw a 7-yard TD pass to Jonnu Smith with about 4½ minutes left in the third quarter, but the kick failed to cut the lead to 20-12.
The Dolphins were driving again with about 10½ minutes left when Stingley hopped in front of Hill to grab an interception at the Houston 20.
The Texans had two drives after that, but had to punt both times to give the Dolphins a last chance. Stingley came through again, intercepting another pass intended for Hill to recure the win.
“Defensively our guys stepped up and did a really good job of closing out the game the way we needed to,” Ryans said.
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud is so impressed with Stingley’s skill set that he’s been campaigning to get him on his side of the ball.
“He’s one of a kind,” Stroud said. “Trying to get him a play on offense one of these days. I think he’s that good with the ball in his hands.”
Stroud threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns for Houston on a day Joe Mixon managed just 23 yards rushing on 12 carries after being shaken up by a hard hit early.
Tagovailoa lost a fumble and threw three interceptions for Miami (6-8) on a day he played without starting tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm. Tagovailoa threw for 196 yards.
“Plain and simple, my fault,” he said. “I’ve got to protect the ball. I’ve got to play better ball for our guys, especially in the situation where the team is counting on me to drive our offense down to potentially tie the game up. That is not what I did.”
There was a scary scene in the third quarter when Miami receiver Grant DuBose was taken off the field on a stretcher after a helmet-to-helmet hit. The team said he is in stable condition and being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.
“There’s been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “He will stay here overnight, and we’ll find out more by (Monday).”
DuBose tried to make a catch in the third quarter, but was hit in the head by rookie Calen Bullock before his head violently hit the turf. Bullock was given a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver on the play.
DuBose remained on the field for more than 10 minutes as he was tended to by emergency medical personnel. His jersey was cut off him and a neck brace was put on him while players from both teams watched with concern.
DuBose was eventually put on a spine board where his arms and legs were strapped down and he was taken off the field. A tube of some kind was in his mouth and no movement could be seen as he was taken off the field.
The Texans got a 44-yard field goal on their first possession and the Dolphins tied it with a 55-yard field goal early in the second.
Will Anderson Jr. sacked Tagovailoa from his blind side, causing a fumble which Tim Settle recovered on the Miami 28. Stroud put the Texans on top when he scrambled away from pressure and found Collins in the end zone for his first TD about seven minutes before halftime.
Miami cut the lead to 10-6 on a 36-yard field goal with about two minutes left in the second quarter.
Stroud wasn’t ready for a snap on Houston’s next drive and it bounced off his chest for a fumble which the Dolphins recovered.
But they came away empty when Tagovailoa was intercepted by Bullock four plays later. Bullock returned it 68 yards to the Miami 5 and the Texans added a field goal at the end of the half to extend the lead to 13-6.
Injuries
Miami WR Jaylen Waddle sustained a knee injury in the second quarter and didn’t return. …Houston TE Cade Stover missed the game after having an emergency appendectomy Saturday night. … DT Foley Fatukasi injured an ankle in the second quarter and didn’t return.
Up next
Dolphins: host San Francisco next Sunday.
Texans: visit Kansas City on Saturday.
