Texas men’s basketball coach Rodney Terry has apologized for his postgame criticism of several Central Florida players who made ‘Horns Down’ gestures following a game last Wednesday.

‘I had no intention of trying to show up anyone, or offend anyone in terms of what occurred at the end of that game,’ Terry said Saturday after the Longhorns’ 75-73 upset of No. 9 Baylor.

‘We have a lot of passion for who we are and what we are representing. We try to do that in a class manner, at the highest level,’ he added. ‘I apologize to our fan base as well, and understand what it means to be the head coach at the University of Texas and what our brand stands for.’

STAY UP-TO-DATE: Subscribe to our Sports newsletter for exclusive content

Terry told several UCF players, ‘That’s classless’ as they made their way through the handshake line after the Knights’ 77-70 victory at Texas’ Moody Center. He also yelled, ‘Don’t do that,’ multiple times at the players and doubled down on his criticism when he spoke to reporters after the game, calling their display ‘classless.’

Terry led the Longhorns to a Big 12 title and an NCAA Tournament appearance last year in his first season in Austin. Saturday’s upset win over No. 9 Baylor improved the team’s record to 13-5 overall, 2-3 in conference play.

Iowa women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark left it all on the floor in the No. 2 Hawkeyes’ loss to No. 15 Ohio State on Sunday.

After scoring 45 points to go with three rebounds and seven assists in the 100-92 overtime loss, Clark was running off of the court when a court-storming fan collided with her. She spun and fell to the ground as her concerned teammates and coaching staff rushed over to help her.

‘[It was] kind of scary and could’ve caused a pretty serious injury to me and knocked the wind out of me, but luckily my teammates kind of picked me up and got me off the court,’ Clark said in a post-game press conference.

‘Their AD already came and apologized to me, so I really appreciate that.’

Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder said she was disappointed that her players weren’t able to walk off of the floor safely.

Clark could be seen leaving the court with aided by her teammates.

When is Iowa women’s basketball’s next game?

Clark and the Hawkeyes host Nebraska on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

Caitlin Clark is the best scorer in women’s basketball this season. She has moved into fourth place on the all-time women’s scoring list. And soon, Clark might be the best scorer in NCAA basketball history.

Clark, known for her logo 3s, is on pace to top Kelsey Plum’s women’s scoring record (3,527), set in 2017. Perhaps more impressively, she could also top the men’s scoring record, set by Pete Maravich in 1970 (3,667 points), set back before the 3-point line existed. It would be an impressive feat for the senior All-American who led Iowa to the national championship game in April.

Clark started the 2023-24 season with 2,717 career points, and through 20 games she’s averaging 31.7 points per game. Given that she’s never averaged less than 26.6 per season, she’ll likely break Plum’s record toward the end of February (provided she stays healthy). Then again, this is a player who has a history of 40-point performances, so it could happen sooner. 

Should Clark return for a fifth year – because of COVID she has one extra season of eligibility if she wants it – she would undoubtedly shatter both records.

How many points did Caitlin Clark score in Iowa’s last game?

vs. Ohio State, Jan. 21: Clark tallied a season-high 45 points but No. 2-ranked Iowa lost to No. 15 Ohio State 100-92 in overtime, dropping the Hawkeyes’ record to 18-2 overall and 7-1 in Big Ten play. 

How many career points does Caitlin Clark have?

Caitlin Clark has 3,351 career points (and counting!) after scoring 45 against Ohio State.

Points shy of breaking Plum’s record: 177

Points shy of breaking Maravich’s record: 317

When do Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball play again?

Clark and the Hawkeyes will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 27, when they host Nebraska. Tip is set for 2 p.m. ET.

Caitlin Clark game-by-game points in 2023-24

Here’s a breakdown of Clark’s scoring this season for the Hawkeyes:

at Ohio State, 1/21/2024: 45 points (season-high)vs. Wisconsin, 1/16/2024: 32 pointsvs. Indiana, 1/13/2024: 30 pointsat Purdue, 1/10/2024: 26 pointsat Rutgers, 1/5/2024: 29 pointsvs. Michigan State, 1/2/2024: 40 pointsvs. Minnesota, 12/30/2023: 35 pointsvs. Loyola Chicago, 12/21/2023: 35 pointsvs. Cleveland State, 12/16/2023: 38 pointsat Wisconsin, 12/10/2023: 28 pointsvs. Iowa State, 12/6/2023: 35 pointsvs. Bowling Green, 12/2/2023: 24 pointsvs. Kansas State, 11/26/2023: 32 pointsvs. Florida Gulf Coast, 11/25/2023: 21 pointsvs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 11/24/2023: 29 pointsvs. Drake, 11/19/2023: 35 pointsvs. Kansas State, 11/16/2023: 24 pointsat UNI, 11/12/2023: 24 pointsvs. Virginia Tech, 11/9/2023: 44 pointsvs. FDU, 11/6/2023: 28 points

How many points does Caitlin Clark average per game?

Through 19 games in the 2023-24 season, Clark is averaging 31.0 points. Over her career, she’s averaged 27.8 points.

One of the most impressive parts of Clark’s game is that she’s averaged more points each season. Here’s how it breaks down:

Freshman year: 26.6 pointsSophomore year: 27.0 pointsJunior year: 27.8 pointsSenior year: 31.0 points

What is Caitlin Clark’s shooting percentage?

In a word: impressive. Clark is currently connecting on 48.1% of her shots and 40.1% from 3-point range, eye-popping when you consider the attention she demands from defenses. Her ability to score consistently from long-range is especially impressive considering that, according to ESPN, 68% of the 3s she takes are from 25 feet or deeper (the college 3-point line is 22 feet, 1.75 inches).

What is Caitlin Clark’s highest-scoring game?

Clark’s highest-scoring game came in her latest game in the 2023-24 season, when she hung 45 points on Ohio State. Clark shot 12-for-25 that game, including 7-for-18 from 3. She also grabbed three rebounds and handed out seven assists in the 100-92 loss.

How tall is Caitlin Clark?

Clark is 6 feet tall, according to Iowa’s basketball media guide.

Is Caitlin Clark a senior?

Caitlin Clark is indeed a senior — but she has another year of eligibility left if she wants it.

Rory McIlroy defended his title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and made a little history, too.

The 34-year-old Northern Irishman won the event for a fourth time on Sunday at Emirates Golf Club in the UAE, the first to do so in DP World Tour history.

McIlroy was 10 shots back entering Saturday’s third round before a 9-under 63 vaulted him into the final group Sunday. Two shots back to start the final round, the 17-time DP World Tour winner made three birdies on his front nine and held on to win by one shot at 14 under despite just one bogey on the round at the par-5 13th, his lone bogey of the weekend and first since the 11th hole on Friday.

‘It’s a great start to the season,’ said McIlroy who finished runner-up at last week’s Dubai Invitational. ‘I started well last year with the win here. A couple of little things still to work on but these weeks are great. You learn a ton from them and obviously great to get the competition and come out on top as well.”

‘I thought on Friday night, I thought ten under for the weekend, I would have a really good chance to win,” he continued. “I shot (11 under) and ended up winning by one.”

If you’re keeping track at home, that’s now six wins in Dubai for McIlroy, where he’s adored by the fans.

‘I’ve played the game long enough to sort of know how these things are going to go. Thankfully I played the golf I needed to and it’s just incredible to get my fourth win here at the Emirates.”

Adrian Meronk (71) finished runner-up at 13 under, while Cameron Young (74) came in third at 12 under. Pablo Larrazabal shot the low round of the day, a 6-under 66, to finish T-4 at 10 under alongside Aaron Cockerill (68) and Joaquin Niemann (70).

The 38-year Stanford coach and the No. 8 Cardinal defeated unranked Oregon and Oregon State at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion this weekend, moving VanDerveer past Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski and into the top spot on the NCAA wins list.

VanDerveer, 70, now has 1,203 career victories, which gives her one more than Krzyzewski, who retired from Duke after the 2022 season. 

Over 45 years, three schools and one Olympic team, the Massachusetts native has been involved in some of the biggest moments in women’s basketball.

Here’s a timeline of her career:

1975: Starts coaching career

VanDerveer’s first job was coaching her younger sister Marie in JV basketball shortly after Tara graduated from Indiana in 1975. It’s a story she tells best. 

“It was Christmas, I went home, I was hanging around in the basement, sleeping in late,” she said. “My dad was like, ‘You’re going to go coach your sister’s team.’ They had just lost the night before 99-11! And I’m like, ‘No.’ And he said, ‘Yes, you are.’ And I went down and I really loved it. But I’d also come home and my parents would be like ‘Well, how come you didn’t play Marie more? ‘And I was like, ‘Mom, she can’t dribble. She can’t shoot.’ So I understood, right away with coaching — every player is someone’s daughter … that was a good lesson to start out with.” 

1978: Hired at the University of Idaho

At 24, VanDerveer got her first head coaching job when she was tapped by the University of Idaho to lead the Vandals. Never mind that she was only a couple years older than some of her players. She went 42-14 over two seasons 

1980: Hired at Ohio State

In just her second season at Ohio State, VanDerveer had the Buckeyes in the NCAA tournament, where they’d become regulars. VanDerveer compiled a 110-37 record over five seasons

1985: Hired at Stanford

Coaxed by former track coach Brooks Johnson, who VanDerveer considers a mentor of sorts, to move West, the 33-year-old took over one of the worst programs in women’s basketball. By her third season, in 1987-88, Stanford reached the Sweet 16. 

1990: First NCAA title

Just five years after being hired by Stanford, VanDerveer and the Cardinal, led by beloved point guard Jennifer Azzi, bring home title No. 1, beating Auburn 88-81. It was a remarkable turnaround for a program that just five seasons prior, VanDerveer’s first in Palo Alto, won only 13 games. 

1992: Second NCAA title

Behind Final Four Most Outstanding Player Molly Goodenbour and center Val Whiting, Stanford wins its second title in three years (the Cardinal lost in the semifinals in 1991 to eventual champion Tennessee). 

1996: Olympic gold 

Asked by USA Basketball to take the year off from Stanford to devote her time to the Olympic team — an ask that would never be made today — VanDerveer and the Americans spent the season traveling internationally to prep for the Atlanta Games. It paid off when the U.S. beat Brazil 111-87 to win the gold medal. That season, VanDerveer’s longtime assistant, Amy Tucker, coached the Cardinal — and got the wins credited to her name. 

1998: No. 1 Stanford upset by No. 16 Harvard

Everyone remembers when the top-seeded Cardinal, playing at home in Maples Pavilion, was upset by 16-seed Harvard, 71-68. (Until UMBC beat No. 1 Virginia in 2018 in the men’s NCAA tournament, the upset of Stanford marked the only time a 16 had beaten a 1 in either the men’s or women’s tournament.) But what everyone doesn’t remember, or doesn’t know, is that in the days leading up to the tournament, Stanford lost two starters, including All-American Kristin Folkl, to ACL tears. It was wildly bad timing, but there was little sympathy for Stanford.

2009-12: Four straight Final Fours

For four consecutive seasons, the Cardinal ended its season at the Final Four — but it could never bring home its third title, losing in the semifinals in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and falling in the title game in 2010. It was an agonizing stretch for the Cardinal and its star, forward Nneka Ogwumike, a three-time All-American and maybe the best player to ever put on a Stanford uniform. 

2017: Tara 1K

With a 58-42 win over USC, VanDerveer became just the second women’s coach to reach 1,000 victories, joining the late Pat Summitt, a close friend of VanDerveer’s when Summitt was at Tennessee. “In the big scheme of things, it’s not about winning games — it’s about the relationships you have with people and enjoy the day.” 

2021: Third NCAA title 

No crowd, no problem. Despite playing the NCAA tournament in a bubble because of the lingering pandemic, VanDerveer won her third title, putting her in rare company; she is one of only four coaches to win three titles. Also that season, on Dec. 15, 2020, she surpassed Summitt to become the all-time wins leader in women’s college basketball when she earned her 1,099th victory. 

2024: Becomes all-time wins leader

Behind a career game from junior forward Kiki Iriafen, who scored 36 points in 37 minutes, Stanford beat Oregon State 65-56 to give VanDerveer her 1,203rd career win. The victory puts her one win in front of Coach K — with likely many more to come, given the Cardinal’s No. 8 ranking; Stanford is expected to once again make a deep postseason run. And because everyone is probably going to ask: Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, who has led the Huskies to 11 national championships over a similar time period, currently has 1,196 career victories. 

Follow Lindsay Schnell on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

On the day she became the college basketball coach with the most wins in history, Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer didn’t deviate from her regular schedule. She planned to play bridge.

Yes, you read that correctly. A woman who has won three national titles and been to 14 Final Fours, the person widely considered the best strategist to ever coach in the women’s game, someone whose career win-loss record (1,203-267) has no match, plays bridge. Every day, if she can. 

And it might be the secret to her longevity.

VanDerveer, 70, passed Hall of Famer and former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski as the winningest coach in college basketball on Sunday with her 1,203rd victory. No. 8 Stanford defeated Oregon State 65-56 two days after she tied the record on Friday with an 88-63 over Oregon. In between those wins, she had planned to do her best to schedule her daily game of bridge against her mom, 96-year-old Rita VanDerveer. 

“I think bridge is a lot like basketball,” VanDerveer told USA TODAY Sports. “You’ve gotta play the hand you’re dealt. You’ve gotta maximize the cards you have. Sometimes you’ve got a lot of aces, and sometimes you don’t.” 

During the pandemic, when Rita was isolated in Colorado, Tara and her sisters — she’s the oldest of five children — played bridge every day to help their mom fend off loneliness. Tara continues to find time for it now, adding to an already packed schedule that includes practice, staff meetings, walking her dogs and morning workout swims with Katie Ledecky (seriously). 

VanDerveer, now in her 45th year of coaching and 38th at Stanford, has always been good about finding balance. Other interests were necessary, probably because of what her parents told her when she was a kid. Get inside and finish your algebra homework, they’d say, because “basketball won’t take you anywhere.” 

Throughout the years, as she traveled the world coaching games with Stanford and the 1996 Olympic team, VanDerveer sent them postcards from all her international stops, letting them know just where hoops had, in fact, helped her go. 

Coaching for 45 years, Tara VanDerveer says, ‘What’s not to be happy about?’

But for all the accolades and passport stamps Tara has accumulated, Rita is most impressed by this: Her daughter, she told USA TODAY Sports, is a happy person. 

“She’s always had the capacity to enjoy life, enjoy people,” Rita said. “I just think it’s wonderful to be around someone who chooses to be happy.” 

Tara’s take: “I mean, look where I live. I work at Stanford, we’ve got a beautiful campus, I get to swim outside every morning with Olympians. I work with great people, we have a fantastic team. Basketball is an upbeat sport. What’s not to be happy about?”

When was the last time you talked to a college football coach with that perspective? 

In working at one of the most elite academic institutions in America, few would expect VanDerveer to regularly compete for national championships. It’s so tough to get into Stanford, VanDerveer’s recruiting pool is significantly smaller than her peers’. (At the 2022 Final Four, former All-American Diana Taurasi said the school told her she “was not Stanford material.” She played at UConn instead.)

And yet, someone who’s won more than 1,200 games clearly has standards for herself. 

“The idea of pressure, it’s all I know,” VanDerveer said. “I’ve been a head coach since I was 24 … but at the same time, I don’t think I’m defined by just being a basketball coach. I want to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend.” 

Again, not the big-picture take you hear often from people in big-time college sports. 

And yes, women’s basketball is big-time now, something VanDerveer has waited for her whole life. She’s not sure if it’s accurate to label the current explosion in popularity as “a women’s basketball renaissance,” but she knows this much: people are finally paying attention to the game she has loved for more than 50 years. 

“I think that sometimes, the public thinks that women’s basketball just sprouted up out of nowhere,” she said. “But we’ve had great players and a great game for a long time. I dreamed about what I’m seeing now — and isn’t it cool to see your dreams come true?” 

Don’t expect Coach K-type celebration

How much longer VanDerveer will stick around on the sidelines is anyone’s guess. Yes, four-plus decades of coaching have taken a toll on her. (Last week during the Cardinal’s 71-59 loss at No. 3 Colorado, Buffs point guard Jaylyn Sherrod collided with her on the sideline, cracking one of VanDerveer’s ribs). But every time Rita checks in on her oldest daughter after a stinging loss or a tough season, Tara’s answer is the same: “Mother, we just have to regroup, and work hard again.”

When Tara won her 1,000th game in 2017, the Cardinal celebrated with an on-court ceremony where Tara quipped she was “moving on to win 1,001.” Insiders understood the subtext: Can we please stop talking about this already? She probably feels similarly now. And while specials celebrating Coach K’s achievements have aired on ESPN, don’t expect anything similar when Tara hits the milestone. 

Said sister Heidi, the head coach at UC-San Diego and one of Tara’s closest confidants: “If we tried to do something like that for Tara, she wouldn’t come to the gym.” 

Though Tara acknowledged that being the winningest coach in the history of college basketball is noteworthy, she’s not motivated by records. If she were, she wouldn’t have taken the 1995-96 season off to coach the Olympic team; if she’d stayed at Stanford then instead of handing the reins to long-time assistant Amy Tucker, this record would have happened last January. 

What she cares about is helping her players get better. 

“I want to be able to take a player somewhere they can’t get by themselves,” she said. 

So she’s ready to stop all this talk about a record. She needs to watch more film, study a different opponent, talk to another recruit on the phone. And yes, play another bridge game. 

Follow Lindsay Schnell on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

In what has almost inarguably developed into the NFL’s greatest contemporary rivalry, the Kansas City Chiefs ousted the Buffalo Bills 27-24 in the teams’ latest playoff classic Sunday night.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs advance from the divisional round to their sixth consecutive AFC championship game, in which they will face the Ravens in Baltimore next Sunday. (The NFC title game was set earlier in the day, the Detroit Lions moving on to face the San Francisco 49ers.)

Though K.C. QB Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo counterpart Josh Allen had split their first six meetings, the Chiefs have now eliminated the Bills three times in the past four postseasons – most notably a 42-36 Kansas City win in overtime almost exactly two years ago.

And, once again, Mahomes was again a huge component of Buffalo’s misery.

With Taylor Swift in attendance, the two-time league MVP threw a pair of touchdown passes to the mega pop star’s boyfriend, TE Travis Kelce, in what was Mahomes’ first true road game in his playoff career. The Chiefs have played in three Super Bowls since the start of the 2019 season, but those are considered neutral-site contests.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

However a nip-and-tuck affair wasn’t decided until the final two minutes, when it appeared headed to overtime as Buffalo mounted a drive into Kansas City territory. But Bills K Tyler Bass’ 44-yard field-goal attempt with 1:47 remaining was taken wide right by the Western New York winds. All Mahomes and Co. had to do from there was kill the clock, which they easily did.

Mahomes finished with 215 yards through the air. Allen countered with 186 yards and one TD passing with 72 yards and another two scores on the ground. Including postseason, Allen accounted for a league-high 51 TDs this season.

One touchdown that didn’t occur transpired early in the fourth quarter, when Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman fumbled near the pylon and out of the end zone, a touchback by rule that gave Buffalo the ball after the Bills successfully challenged the play. However they couldn’t capitalize on the massive turn of events – the penal touchback rule one that could be reviewed by the competition committee in the near future – trading punts with the Chiefs before Bass’ painful miss, which is sure to stir memories of Scott Norwood’s push in the final seconds of Super Bowl 25 … which Buffalo lost 20-19 to the New York Giants.

And now Bills Mafia will have to wait at least another year for its elusive championship, Buffalo to remain – for now – one of 12 NFL teams that have yet to win a Lombardi Trophy. — Nate Davis

Bills vs. Chiefs score

Chiefs — 27Bills — 24

Chiefs vs. Bills winners, losers

WINNERS

The resilience of the Kansas City Chiefs

Written off late in the regular season, right after a stretch when Kansas City lost five of eight games from Weeks 8 through 16, the Chiefs showed, once again, how gritty they are and how dangerous their championship experience can be.

Kansas City went into a hostile environment and played almost flawless football. The Chiefs had just two penalties enforced for only 15 yards and their lone turnover, a Mecole Hardman fumble into the end zone, was almost devastating. But Kansas City’s defense held and made it irrelevant. Kansas City’s stars showed up, which is what championship teams do. Patrick Mahomes had just six incompletions and threw for 215 yards and two scores. Both those touchdowns went to tight end Travis Kelce, who also poured in a team-high 75 yards. The defense completely clamped down on Buffalo’s receivers and made Stefon Diggs a nonfactor. Turns out the Chiefs can win in the postseason away from Arrowhead, too.

LOSERS

Wide right Pt. II (Tyler Bass)

If there was one thing that Buffalo fans did not want to hear, under any circumstances, it was ‘wide right.’ We are, of course, referring to former Bills kicker Scott Norwood’s failed 47-yarder in Super Bowl 25 that would’ve given the Bills their first-ever Super Bowl title. The kick infamously sailed wide right.

Sunday against the Chiefs, Bills fans were treated to another version, though this one came in a less pressurized situation. Still, kicker Tyler Bass, who had a fairly solid season, will almost certainly carry his missed 44-yard try with 1:47 left to play for the entire offseason — and probably even longer. The field goal would’ve tied the game and Bass is not the sole reason why they lost, but that won’t ease the sting of the miss.

Chaos in the fourth quarter

The Buffalo Bills have arguably the best short-yardage weapon in the NFL in quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills, facing fourth-and-5 from their own 30-yard line, decided to check into a fake punt in which safety Damar Hamlin fielded a direct snap. He was stopped short, giving the Chiefs a short field.

It was about to become a costly error, one that seemingly was going to put Buffalo down two scores, until Bills safety Jordan Poyer jarred the ball loose from receiver Mecole Hardman’s hands, leading to a forward fumble out of the end zone, giving the Bills the ball back. Buffalo would eventually punt the ball once more, but these lapses in concentration are ones teams typically cannot afford late in big games. Both teams got a little lucky. — Lorenzo Reyes

Chiefs vs. Bills highlights

Bills miss game-tying field goal

Wide right!

The Bills had a chance to tie the game, but the kick from Tyler Bass was wide right.

The Chiefs get the ball back with 1:47 left in the game, and Patrick Mahomes jumped up and down on the sideline after seeing the missed kick.

Josh Allen and the Bills offense stalled, and the missed kick was heartbreaking.

Allen missed a deep shot to Stefon Diggs on the first play of the drive, and an open Khalil Shakir in the end zone one play before the missed kick.

The Bills dominated the clock with their possession, and now must defend the Chiefs for any chance to reach the AFC title game. — Safid Deen

Chiefs, Bills exchange punts

After the Bills went three-and-out, the Chiefs could not make the most out of getting the ball back.

In fact, they couldn’t cross midfield.

After five plays, the Chiefs had their first punt of the entire game, with 8:31 left to go. — Safid Deen

Bills failed fake punt didn’t cost them

The Chiefs were in business after running back Isiah Pacheco’s 29-yard run got them to Buffalo’s 1-yard line, but then disaster struck.

Wide receiver Mecole Hardman motioned left and took a short pass from Patrick Mahomes. Hardman tried to extend the football across the plane, but got the football jarred loose by Jordan Poyer and the ball bounced out of the end zone for a touchback.

Bills took over possession. — Tyler Dragon

Bills drive ends with Damar Hamlin turnover

The Bills tried to make a game-changing play. Instead, it altered the game in Kansas City’s favor.

Instead of punting on what was a three-and-out, the Bills ran a fake punt play with Bills cornerback Damar Hamlin carrying the ball on a run. Hamlin gained 2 yards and was tackled short of a first down.

The Chiefs took over at Buffalo’s 30-yard line. — Safid Deen

Chiefs score: Isiah Pacheco 4-yard touchdown run

Back and forth we go in western New York. 

The Chiefs scored 40 seconds into the fourth quarter to retake a 27-24 lead on an Isiah Pacheco 4-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs went 75 yards in eight plays and needed 4:03 to do it. There have been five lead changes. 

Pacheco is up to 59 rushing yards on 11 carries. Earlier in the drive, on second-and-7 near midfield, the Bills blitzed Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs QB stepped up and found Marquez Valdes-Scantling deep down the middle of the field for a 32-yard gain. Pacheco scored three plays later. 

Other than the kneel down to end the first half, the Chiefs have scored on every possession. The last three have ended with touchdowns. 

Bills score: Josh Allen 13-yard touchdown pass to Khalil Shakir

It wasn’t pretty, but the Bills scored a touchdown to take back the lead toward the end of the third quarter.

After reaching Kansas City’s 6-yard line, Ty Johnson was tackled behind the line of scrimmage, Buffalo burned a timeout and Josh Allen was flagged for delay of game.

On third-and-goal from the 13-yard line, Allen scrambled to his left and threw the ball to Khalil Shakir, who hauled it in for the Bills’ first touchdown through the air.

The 15-play, 75-yard drive ate up 8:25 of clock.

With the extra point, the Bills are up 24-20. — Victoria Hernandez

Jason Kelce having the time of his life

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce was shirtless (wearing pants and a beanie hat) and cheering like a mad man as his brother, Travis, scored a touchdown in the second quarter of Sunday’s divisional round playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

Jason Kelce, in the open windows of a luxury box at the Bills’ stadium, screamed to the heavens with his hands in the air (including a can of beer in one hand) as the Chiefs took a 13-10 lead with 3:33 minutes left in the second quarter.

While the CBS broadcast caught Kelce in his glory, fans inside Highmark Stadium saw Kelce jump down from his suite to cheer amongst Bills fans.

Read the full story here.

Chiefs score: Travis Kelce 3-yard touchdown catch from Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs reclaimed the lead on their first drive of the second half.

Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a short 3-yard touchdown reception by tight end Travis Kelce.

Kelce has two touchdowns and 69 receiving yards in the game. He and Mahomes, per NFL research, now have the most combined touchdowns (16) by any QB-receiver duo in NFL postseason history. They passed Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

Kansas City’s touchdown drive was highlighted by wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s 30-yard reception and a 24-yard Mahomes scramble. — Tyler Dragon

Bills leaders at halftime

Passing: Josh Allen 14-19, 111 yardsRushing: Josh Allen: 8 carries, 51 yards, 2 TDsReceiving: Latavius Murray: 3 catches, 27 yardsDefense: A.J. Klein: 6 tackles

Chiefs leaders at halftime

Passing: Patrick Mahomes 9-13, 114 yards, TDRushing: Isiah Pacheco: 5 carries, 29 yardsReceiving: Travis Kelce: 3 catches, 66 yards, TDDefense: Nick Bolton: 8 tackles

Bills vs. Chiefs: Total yards in first half

The Bills have 235 yards of total offense at halftimeThe Chiefs have 167 yards of total offense at halftime

Halftime: Bills 17, Chiefs 13

Josh Allen’s running ability was a big takeaway in the first half.

The Bills quarterback tallied 51 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Buffalo’s offense has 124 rushing yards versus a Kansas City defense that has provided little resistance.

Allen’s 18-yard scramble was the longest play of the first half. 

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs scored on their first three possessions. After connecting on field goals in their first two drives, Mahomes passed to a wide-open Travis Kelce for a 22-yard touchdown that briefly gave Kansas City a 13-10 lead.

Both defenses are having a difficult time. The first half only featured one punt and neither quarterback was sacked.

Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton leads all players with eight tackles. — Tyler Dragon

Bills score: Josh Allen 2-yard touchdown run

The Bills did not trail for long. Three minutes and seven seconds, actually. 

The highlight of the drive came when Josh Allen looked like he was going to run the ball and instead flicked the ball to Latavius Murray for a 15-yard gain down to the Kansas City 30-yard line. Allen then scrambled for 18 yards and 5 yards, respectively, before eventually punching in a 2-yard touchdown that made it 17-13 with 26 seconds before halftime. It was Allen’s second rushing TD of the game. — Chris Bumbaca

Chiefs score: Travis Kelce 22-yard touchdown catch from Patrick Mahomes

Travis Kelce is back in the end zone.

The Chiefs tight end caught his first touchdown since Week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles on a 22-yard strike from Patrick Mahomes with 3:33 left in the first half. It gave Kansas City its first lead of the game at 13-10. The Chiefs went 65 yards in five plays. Kelce is up to three catches for 69 yards.

A shirtless Jason Kelce, sitting a few rows in front of Taylor Swift in a Highmark Stadium suite, celebrated with enthusiasm. — Chris Bumbaca

Bills playoff history  

The Bills are 19-20 all-time in the NFL playoffs. They have played in four Super Bowls, all consecutively from 1990-93, which all resulted in loss.  

This is their fifth consecutive year making the postseason, and fourth-straight time Buffalo will be playing in the divisional round. However, the Bills have advanced past the divisional round only once during the current playoff stretch. They lost to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game during the 2020 season.   

Chiefs playoff history  

The Chiefs are an even 21-21 all-time in the NFL playoffs. The defending Super Bowl champions, Kansas City has won four-straight playoff games, the longest current streak in the league. 

This is the ninth-straight season Kansas City is in the playoffs, with two Super Bowl titles claimed during the run. The Chiefs have also made it past the divisional round in the past five seasons. Sunday will also mark the first road postseason game for the Chiefs since 2015. Excluding the three Super Bowl appearances in that span, Kansas City has played in 14-straight home playoff games.  

Chiefs score: Harrison Butker 29-yard field goal

The Chiefs haven’t punched anything in the end zone just yet.

But they’re keeping within range of the Bills.

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s 29-yard field goal trimmed Buffalo’s deficit to 14-6 with 9:12 left in the first half. Patrick Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce for a 29-yard completion to start the drive, and receiver Rashee Rice for an 8-yard gain down to the 10-yard line before the Chiefs offense stalled. — Safid Deen

Bills score: Josh Allen 5-yard touchdown run

The Bills already have 94 rushing yards, including 55 rushing yards during an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.

The first touchdown of the game came on Josh Allen’s 5-yard run to the left side. Allen’s touchdown gave him 17 total rushing touchdowns in the regular and postseason this year.

The Bills have a 10-3 advantage with 13:32 on the clock in the second quarter. — Tyler Dragon

End of 1st quarter: Bills 3, Chiefs 3

Games between these two teams tend to be tightly contested. The first quarter was no exception. Kansas City and Buffalo traded field goals and sustained drives. The Bills had the ball first, however, were threatening to score and had the ball in the red zone as the second quarter began.

Josh Allen had four rushes for 21 yards and Buffalo had 77 on the ground through the first. Patrick Mahomes was 3-for-4 for 39 passing yards. — Chris Bumbaca

Chiefs score: Harrison Butker’s 47-yard field goal

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs moved the ball well on their opening drive, but stalled just inside the 30-yard line.Mahomes found receiver Rashee Rice for a 25-yard gain and tight end Travis Kelce for a 15-yard completion to spark the offense.But the drive ended with Harrison Butker kicking a 47-yard field goal to tie this game in the first quarter. — Safid Deen

Tony Romo confuses ‘Holy Roller’ with ‘Immaculate Reception’

Somebody give Tony Romo a NFL history lesson.

The CBS analyst compared the first play of the game he was calling Sunday to a momentous moment in the league’s lore. Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid made sure a fumble by wide receiver Stefon Diggs could not be recovered by the Chiefs and knocked the ball out of bounds. Kincaid was flagged for ‘illegal batting.’ And that opened the door for Romo’s innocent gaffe. 

Romo clearly meant to reference the ‘Holy Roller,’ an Oakland Raiders’ classic in which QB Ken Stabler and his team fumbled the ball forward for a go-ahead touchdown. Instead, Romo referenced Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris while discussing the play. Harris was famously a part of the ‘Immaculate Reception,’ which took place six years earlier – and, in Romo’s defense, was against the Raiders. But it doesn’t forgive the obvious confusion. — Chris Bumbaca

Bills score: Tyler Bass 27-yard field goal

The Bills’ eventful opening drive ended with three points.

The Bills were called for illegal batting on the first play of the game. A few plays later, Josh Allen had a controversial lateral that helped Buffalo extend its drive.

Running back James Cook even lost the football but he was ruled down before it was jarred loose.

After Buffalo settled in, they managed to get inside the red zone but were stopped on third-and-8 from Kansas City’s 9-yard line.

The Bills settled for a 27-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Bass to give them a 3-0 lead to start the first quarter. — Tyler Dragon

Bills fans erupt as Chiefs take the field

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense jogged into the field, and the Bills fans erupted.Not to cheer the Chiefs, of course.But to make sure the Chiefs felt their presence in Mahomes’ first playoff game of his career. — Safid Deen

Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes 

Another chapter will be added in the Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes rivalry Sunday, with the divisional matchup being the sixth time the two AFC quarterbacks will face off.

In the regular season, Allen has dominated the series with Buffalo going 3-1 against Kansas City with Mahomes. However, it’s been all Chiefs in the playoffs, with Mahomes 2-0 in the postseason against Allen, including the ’13 second game’ in the 2021 playoffs. Here’s the results of the six meetings between Allen and Mahomes: 

2020 regular season at Buffalo: Chiefs 26, Bills 17 2020 AFC Conference Championship at Kansas City: Chiefs 38, Bills 24 2021 regular season at Kansas City: Bills 38, Chiefs 20 2021 AFC divisional round at Kansas City: Chiefs 42, Bills 36 (OT) 2022 regular season at Kansas City: Bills 24, Chiefs 20 2023 regular season at Kansas City: Bills 20, Chiefs 17 

Bills Mafia boos Taylor Swift as she arrives to support Chiefs

They certainly weren’t chanting “22.” 

Bills Mafia booed Taylor Swift upon the pop star’s arrival at Orchard Park’s Highmark Stadium to watch the AFC divisional tilt against Kansas City. Swift was also in attendance for the Chiefs’ frigid affair against the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round, though that occurred at Arrowhead Stadium.

According to the Rochester Democrat-Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network, Swift responded to the boos by waving and blowing a kiss to the crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of her. Swift’s private jet landed around 4 p.m. ET at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and she received a police escort to the stadium.   

Swift arrived in a white Chevrolet Suburban with Brittany Mahomes, wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Swift has been dating Chiefs Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce for months. 

Kelce’s family, including parents Ed and Donna, brother Jason – the Philadelphia Eagles center has yet to formally announce his reported retirement – and Jason’s wife, Kylie, are also in attendance … though Jason Kelce took some time to intermingle with the Buffalo faithful. – Chris Bumbaca

Bills vs. Chiefs game time

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Bills vs. Chiefs how to watch

The game will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. The game is also available to stream for free on Fubo.

Who is favored Bills or Chiefs?

The top NFL betting apps favor the Bills over the Chiefs in their divisional playoff game.  

Bills vs. Chiefs spread

The Bills are 2.5-point favorites over the Chiefs, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. 

Bills vs. Chiefs over under

The over-under is 45.5, according to BetMGM.

Bills vs. Chiefs moneyline

Buffalo is a -150 favorite on the moneyline. Meanwhile, Kansas City is a +125 underdog, according to BetMGM.

Bills vs. Chiefs weather 

After some suburbs near Buffalo experienced over 2 feet of snow the last 48 hours, Sunday forgivingly offers a change of pace after an average high of 21.9 since Jan. 19.

The current temperature is 25 degrees.

For the second week in a row, the Bills made a callout to fans to help shovel snow at Highmark Stadium. Helpers would be be compensated $20 an hour. — Jon Hoefling, Lorenzo Reyes

Bills vs. Chiefs time lapse snow removal

The Buffalo Bills’ official social media account posted a video showing a time lapse of the snow removal that took place at Highmark Satdium in Orchard Park, New York. 

Last week’s storm led to fans celebrating Bills scores by throwing some of the feet of snow left behind airborne. Another system moved through western New York during the week, and Orchard Park experienced nearly four feet of snow in a matter of days. — Chris Bumbaca

Bills inactives against Chiefs

The Bills’ inactive list includes many contributors, especially as they have won six games in a row. The big loss is linebacker Terrel Bernard. The other inactives are:

WR Gabe Davis S Taylor Rapp LB Baylon Spector CB Christian BenfordOL Alec Anderson DT Poona Ford

Chiefs inactives against Bills

For the Chiefs, wide receiver Kadarius Toney is inactive for the second consecutive week. The other inactives are: 

OL Wanya Morris CB Ekow Boye-DoeDE BJ Thompson DT Derrick Nnadi DT Neil FarrellDE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

The Detroit Lions are headed to San Francisco.

Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 287 yards with two touchdown passes, running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored a touchdown and gained 114 total yards and the Detroit Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 at Ford Field on Sunday.

The Lions advance to the NFC championship game next Sunday, where they will visit the 49ers, who beat the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.

Gibbs scored a 31-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Goff found receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 9-yard touchdown to take a 31-17 lead with 6:22 left in the game. Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes intercepted Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield on Tampa Bay’s final drive of the game to seal it.

Mayfield had three touchdown passes – his first two to tight end Cade Otton and Rachaad White tied the game, but his third to Mike Evans trimmed Tampa Bay’s deficit to 31-23 with 4:37 left in the game. But his second interception of the game ended Tampa Bay’s season.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Detroit advances to a conference championship game for the first time since 1991. It is one of four NFL franchises to never reach a Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay enters the offseason after Mayfield led the Buccaneers to the NFC South title, and their first playoff win since Tom Brady retired in 2021. — Safid Deen

Lions vs. Bucs score

Lions — 31Buccaneers — 23

Lions vs. Bucs winners, losers

WINNERS

Ben Johnson and the Detroit offense didn’t panic

Credit the Lions offense and coordinator Ben Johnson, who appears very likely to end up with a head coaching gig whenever the Detroit offseason arrives, for working through early game adversity. Through their first six offensive possessions (not counting a kneel at the end of the first half), the Lions had recorded three three-and-outs and had crossed midfield just twice.

Then, quarterback Jared Goff started to work the ball down the field. The Lions scored touchdowns on their seventh, eighth and ninth possessions, and averaged 8.3 plays and 76 yards in those. Tampa Bay and coach Todd Bowles did a tremendous job early of shutting down the rush and Detroit’s offense stalled. Johnson didn’t panic and allowed the pass to open up the rush, namely in a beautifully-timed counter that went 31 yards and was a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown early in the fourth that helped Detroit run away with it.

The young Lions weapons

It’s not just that Detroit reached its first NFC title game in 32 seasons, it’s also that they’ve set themselves up for the short-term future, especially on offense. The Lions have a nice trio of emerging stars at running back, receiver and tight end.

Jahmyr Gibbs, 21, is a rookie running back who had 114 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 13 touches. Amon-Ra St. Brown, 24, is already a downfield threat who led the Lions in receiving yards (77) and scored the game-sealing touchdown. Sam LaPorta, 23, is a rookie tight end who paced Detroit in catches with nine and was a steady threat all day long.

LOSERS

Tampa Bay ground game a letdown, again

The Buccaneers and offensive coordinator Dave Canales very clearly tried to create some balance Sunday. The team’s inability to get anything at all going put way too much pressure on quarterback Baker Mayfield, which in turn stressed the Tampa Bay offense beyond repair.

The Buccaneers ranked dead last in the NFL during the regular season in rushing yards per game (88.8) and rushing yards per play (3.44). Against the Lions, Tampa Bay was more or less right on that average, recording 89 rushing yards at a 5.9 yards-per-carry clip. The problem isn’t talent; Rachaad White is a very capable back. The issue is the team often abandons the running game and doesn’t execute it with enough consistency. Against Detroit, the Bucs posted only 15 total carries. — Lorenzo Reyes

Lions-Bucs highlights

Lions interception: Derrick Barnes picks off Baker Mayfield

The Bucs last chance to tie the ballgame ended in a Baker Mayfield interception.

On second-and-5 with 1:59 remaining, Mayfield’s pass over the middle was intercepted by Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes. Barnes’ interception preserved the 31-23 victory for the Lions.

Barnes’ interception was the first of his career and it stamped the Lions’ ticket to the NFC championship game.

Mayfield had two picks in the loss. — Tyler Dragon

Bucs score: Mike Evans 16-yard touchdown catch from Baker Mayfield

On fourth-and-14 with the season on the line, Baker Mayfield passed to star wideout Mike Evans for 24 yards.

Mayfield and Evans weren’t done there.

With their season hanging in the balance, Mayfield tossed to Evans running a skinny post for a 16-yard touchdown to conclude a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. On a two-point conversion attempt, the two tried to hookup again on a fade route but the pass fell incomplete.

The Bucs still trail 31-23 with 4:37 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Evans has seven catches for a game-high 142 yards and a touchdown. He is possibly playing his last game in a Tampa Bay uniform. — Tyler Dragon

Lions score: Amon-Ra St. Brown 9-yard touchdown catch from Jared Goff

Lions QB Jared Goff hit wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown for 16 yards on a critical third-and-15 to extend Detroit’s series. Four plays later, Goff found St. Brown again in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown to extend the Lions’ lead to 31-17 with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter.

The Lions have scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to give themselves some breathing room as they inch closer to earning their spot in the NFC championship game.

St. Brown has seven catches, 62 receiving yards and a touchdown. — Tyler Dragon

After Lions touchdown, Bucs’ drive ends with punt

After Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions took the lead, the Bucs had no answer on their next time on the field offensively.

Rachaad White was tackled short of the first down, and the Bucs punted after a three-and-out.

The Lions will take over inside their own 10-yard line with 12:12 left, hoping to hang onto their 24-17 lead in the fourth quarter. — Safid Deen

Lions score: Jahmyr Gibbs 31-yard touchdown run

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs took the handoff on a zone-read run and the rest was history.

Gibbs saw an opening on the left side, took one cut in the open field and raced to a 31-yard touchdown to cap off Detroit’s five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Gibbs’ touchdown lifted the Lions to a 24-17 lead with 13:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The rookie out of Alabama now has eight carries, 70 rushing yards and a touchdown. — Tyler Dragon

End of 3rd quarter: Lions 17, Bucs 17

This game is coming down to the wire.

The Lions and Buccaneers scored a touchdown in the third quarter to keep the score even at 17.

Craig Reynolds ran in a 1-yard touchdown for Detroit. On fourth down, of course. The drive was boosted by a 29-yard pass from Jared Goff to Brock Wright.

Then, Tampa Bay turned up the heat and went 75 yards in seven plays. The Bucs capped off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown where Rachaad White took a short pass from Baker Mayfield and snuck into the end zone.

Mayfield has gone 19-of-28 for 259 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Goff is 20-of-32 for 168 yards and a score. — Victoria Hernandez

Bucs score: Baker Mayfield 12-yard touchdown pass to Rachaad White

As the third quarter ends, we’ve got a tied game in Detroit.

The Lions sent the blitz, and Baker Mayfield checked down to running back Rachaad White for a 12-yard touchdown to tie this game at 17.

One play earlier, referees ruled Mayfield threw the ball away incomplete when replays showed he was sacked. The call was missed.

Mayfield heated up during the drive, finding tight end Cade Otton for three consecutive completions for 9, 13 and 27 yards to get into the red zone. – Safid Deen

Lions score: Craig Reynolds 1-yard touchdown run

The Lions were in four-down territory, at least by Dan Campbell’s standard.

Quarterback Jared Goff hit tight end Brock Wright for a 29-yard gain into Buccaneers territory. Campbell and the Lions would find themselves in a fourth-down situation later in the drive. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, the Lions handed off to Craig Reynolds. The third-string back gave Detroit a 17-10 lead with 3:48 remaining in the third quarter.

The completion to Wright was the longest play of the game for either team. The third-year tight end out of Notre Dame hadn’t caught a pass in the Lions’ last two games. 

Prior to the scoring drive, the teams were trading punts. After Detroit forced a three-and-out, the Lions went 64 yards in 10 plays (4:23 drive time) to go back into the lead. — Chris Bumbaca

Aidan Hutchinson sack ends Bucs drive

The Buccaneers had a promising opening drive going, but it ended with a punt.

On third-and-4 from Detroit’s 38-yard line, Hutchinson came across the edge unblocked and sacked Baker Mayfield for a nine-yard loss. Hutchinson’s sack knocked the Bucs out of field goal range.

The Lions have three sacks in the game.

Bucs running back Rachaad White had 20 rushing yards during the drive. — Tyler Dragon

Lions’ Jonah Jackson injury

While starting center Frank Ragnow is back in the game for the Lions, starting guard Jonah Jackson was ruled out for the rest of the game due to a knee injury. — Tyler Dragon

Bucs on the road in postseason: A brief history

A win today would put Tampa Bay into the NFC title game for the fifth time in the franchise’s 48-year history. Of course, that first means securing a victory in Detroit. If only Tom Brady was still here …

The Buccaneers are 3-0 all-time on the road in the playoffs – with TB12, who guided the 2020 road warriors all the way to their Super Bowl 55 victory (ironically at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium). Otherwise? The Bucs are 1-6 in postseason roadies, their lone victory coming in the 2002 NFC championship game – when Ronde Barber and Co. upset the Eagles in Philadelphia in what turned out to be the final game played at Philly’s old Veterans Stadium. — Nate Davis

Lions leaders at halftime

Jared Goff: 14-22, 99 passing yards, TDJahmyr Gibbs: 4 carries, 17 rushing yardsSam LaPorta: 5 receptions, 46 receiving yardsIfeatu Melifonwu: 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFLBrian Branch: 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL

Bucs leaders at halftime

Baker Mayfield: 13-18, 181 passing yards, TDRachaad White: 5 carries, 39 rushing yardsMike Evans: 4 receptions, 94 receiving yardsK.J. Britt: 10 tackles, 1 TFLCalijah Kancey: 1 sack

Lions vs. Bucs: Total yards in first half

Tampa Bay has 233 yards of total offense at halftime.Detroit has 134 yards of total offense.

Halftime: Lions 10, Bucs 10

The defenses have held the upper hand for most of the first half, but Tampa Bay showed the biggest offensive spark in the final two minutes to pull into a tie at the break.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield completed 13-of-18 passes for 181 yards – 67 of them coming on the final TD drive of the half to pull his team even.

Mike Evans leads Tampa Bay with four receptions for 97 yards.

It’s been a battle of field position for most of the half. Tampa Bay has 233 yards of total offense, while Detroit has 134.

For the Lions, QB Jared Goff has completed 14-of-22 passes for 99 yards and one score. TE Sam LaPorta has five catches for 46 yards. — Steve Gardner

Bucs score: Baker Mayfield 2-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton

The Buccaneers marched down the field in 73 seconds to score a touchdown before the halftime break.

Baker Mayfield found Mike Evans for back-to-back throws of 27 and 29 yards (where the wide receiver showed his field awareness and veteran expertise) to put Tampa Bay at Detroit’s 2-yard line. 

Mayfield then tossed the ball to tight end Cade Otton in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The referees initially threw a flag for an offensive pass interference, but ruled that Otton made contact within the permitted space.

On the Buccaneers’ first set of downs, Mayfield kept the drive alive by running for 14 yards on third-and-1.

The game is tied 10-10. — Victoria Hernandez

Lions’ Frank Ragnow injury

Detroit has injury concerns upfront.

Lions starting center Frank Ragnow got his leg rolled up on when quarterback Jared Goff fell into him as he was being sacked to the ground by Bucs defensive lineman Calijah Kancey.

Ragnow did return to snap the ball on the final play of the first half, a kneel-down by Goff.

Detroit is already dealing with an injuring to starting guard Jonah Jackson. Jackson is questionable to return after injuring his knee in the first half. — Tyler Dragon

Lions drive before halftime ends in sack

The Lions had a chance to add to their lead before halftime, but their drive stalled right around midfield.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff was sacked by Bucs defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, and to make matters worse: Lions center Frank Ragnow was injured on the play.

The decisive play on the drive was a pass play to Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, which was was ruled short on second-and-6 instead of extending the drive with a first down.

The play and review by referees proved to be costly for Detroit. — Safid Deen

Buccaneers miss field goal

That sound you barely heard over the crowd noise in Detroit? 

DOINK.

Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers wasted a nine-play, 55-yard drive by sending out the field goal unit on fourth-and-5 from the Detroit 32-yard line. Chase McLaughlin’s attempt hit of the left upright and the Buccaneers still trailed 10-3 ahead of the two-minute warning.

Tampa Bay opened the drive with big gain to Mike Evans off play-action. Rachaad White used a nifty first move to pick up a key third-down conversion near midfield. Tight end Cade Otton had a first-down reception, but Baker Mayfield missed Chris Godwin on a third-and-5 throw, and Bowles’ conservative nature cost the Buccaneers a chance at points. — Chris Bumbaca

Lions punt back to Bucs

The Lions were forced to punt on their fourth drive.

Jared Goff and the Lions were able to pick up one first down, but they were ultimately stopped on third-and-10 from their own 44-yard line.

The Lions are currently 4 for 7 on third downs. — Tyler Dragon

Lions vs. Buccaneers: Celebrities in Detroit for playoff game

The biggest star at the Lions divisional round game against the Buccaneers might be one who hasn’t won a Grammy and doesn’t have a bust in Canton.

Among the Detroit diehards is Benjamin Capp, a 66-year season ticket holder who went viral last week during the wild-card win with his distinct glasses and love for his team.

Capp was on the sidelines ahead of the divisional round game against the Buccaneers. He had a chat with Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Lions Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson was also at Ford Field for the big day. Current Detroit players got a few words of motivation from Megatron himself.

Flavor Flav, Taylor Lautner, Bob Seger and Jeff Daniels were also in attendance. — Victoria Hernandez

Ford Field history

The Lions’ wild-card defeat of the Los Angeles Rams last weekend was their first home playoff game at Ford Field since it opened in 2002. (The venue’s only previous playoff utilization occurred in Super Bowl 40, when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Motown native Jerome Bettis vanquished the Seattle Seahawks.)

And while today is obviously the first divisional round game Ford Field has witnessed, it also marks the first time in the Lions’ 94-year history that they’ve had multiple home playoff games in the same season. A win today will qualify Detroit for the NFC championship game for only the second time. — Nate Davis

Is Devin White playing?

The Buccaneers’ defense was without one of its top contributors for the first quarter, as linebacker Devin White did not take a snap over the first 15 minutes. 

The reason for White’s absence was a mystery. His strength as a defender is not against the pass, but the Lions called a balanced first quarter (10 passes, eight runs). White was coming off a two-tackle performance in the Buccaneers’ wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. 

K.J. Britt filled in for White alongside Lavonte David as the Buccaneers’ off-ball linebackers. White did return for the start of the second quarter and was on the field for the Lions’ touchdown. The 2019 No. 5 overall pick is a free agent after the season and finished tied for second on the Bucs with nine quarterback hits during the regular season. — Chris Bumbaca

Bucs punt back to Lions

One yard short.

The Buccaneers are punting on their first possession after the Lions took a 10-3 lead.

Bucs tight end Cade Otton was called for pass interference on a pass play to running back Chase Edmonds, and Baker Mayfield’s pass to Edmonds went for 14 yards on third-and-15.

The Lions have the ball again with a chance to extend their lead in the second quarter. — Safid Deen

Mike Evans contract

Mike Evans and the Buccaneers were unable to agree on a contract extension this past offseason. The Bucs star receiver is in the final year of a five-year, $82.5 million extension that he signed in March of 2018.

Evans has produced franchise records in career receptions (762), receiving yards (11,680) and touchdowns (94) in 10 seasons, all in Tampa Bay. He is the first player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. — Tyler Dragon

Lions score: Jared Goff 9-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds

The Lions converted a pair of third downs on quick passes from QB Jared Goff to star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, marching into Tampa Bay territory as the first quarter concluded.

As the second quarter began, the Lions continued their march downfield with Goff hitting rookie TE Sam LaPorta on consecutive plays for a first down at the Bucs 14.

From there, Goff connected with a wide-open Josh Reynolds in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown and a 10-3 Lions lead. — Steve Gardner

End of 1st quarter: Lions 3, Bucs 3

The Lions converted a pair of third downs on quick passes from QB Jared Goff to star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, marching into Buccaneers territory as the first quarter concluded.

The teams are even on the scoreboard and nearly so on the stat sheet.

Detroit has 62 yards of total offense. Tampa Bay has 67. — Steve Gardner

Bucs score: Chase McLaughlin 43-yard field goal

Tampa Bay tied the proceedings on a Chase McLaughlin 43-yard field goal with 4:19 left in the first quarter. McLaughlin has missed twice all season and has made every extra point attempt. 

Running back Rachaad White sharted the drive with an eight-yard run, but the big plays came from QB Baker Mayfield to his receiving corps. Mike Evans caught a third-down pass for 18 yards, and Trey Palmer – who woke up feeling angry – had a 23-yard gain. — Chris Bumbaca

CJ Gardner-Johnson backs up Baker Mayfield smack talk

While preparing to face the Buccaneers, Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson made headlines for dissing Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The defender backed up his smack talk early in the divisional round game Sunday when he intercepted Mayfield on the Buccaneers’ first drive of the game.

Mayfield and Tampa Bay lost to Detroit 20-6 in a regular season matchup where he didn’t score and threw a pick.

‘He didn’t play our first game so I’m excited to see him,’ Mayfield said of Gardner-Johnson’s criticism. ‘I think he’s a really good player. He has been for a while. He’s been an impactful guy on every team he’s been on. … But yeah, he’s gotta do a little bit more film study.’

Running back Rachaad White also brushed off Gardner-Johnson’s comments and expressed confidence in his quarterback.

“I expect a lot of poise from him, a lot of leadership. What he brings in every week, just a guy that just get us in and out of situations like he normally do,’ White said on ESPN’s NFL Countdown. ‘… That’s the biggest thing I love about Baker and our team loves: When in doubt, he’s gonna leave it all out there on the field. He’s gonna do everything that needs to be done in order to try to get the win.’ — Victoria Hernandez

Lions score: Michael Badgley 25-yard field goal

The Lions are on the board, although they left some points off of it. 

Detroit settled for a field goal after a run by running back Jahmyr Gibbs got them inside the Buccaneers 5-yard line. Jared Goff nearly threw an interception in the end zone, and a run by David Montgomery was stuffed.

Michael Badgley’s kick from 25 yards out was good, giving Detroit a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. — Safid Deen

Lions interception: CJ Gardner-Johnson picks off Baker Mayfield

The homestanding Lions looked to take charge early after winning the coin toss and taking the ball, but the Buccaneers defense held them to a three-and-out.

On their first possession, the Bucs leaned heavily on running back Raschaad White. The second-year back carried the ball twice for 17 yards and caught a pass for 8 more.

But after a sack, QB Baker Mayfield’s pass went off the hands of WR Mike Evans and into the hands of Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson for an interception and the first big break of the game. — Steve Gardner

Lions vs. Buccaneers coin toss

The Lions won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. That means the Buccaneers will get the ball after halftime.

Bucs’ Rachaad White in musical mindset on way to Motown

Ahead of Sunday’s game, Buccaneers RB Rachaad White explained how he’s preparing to face the Lions in the divisional round – embracing the music of the Motor City for his game day playlist.

“I’m with Tee Grizzley, I’m with 42 Dugg,” he said on ESPN’s NFL Countdown. “I’m with a lot of Detroit rappers right now today, which they’re probably against me, but it’s all good.”

Tee Grizzley appeared in a social media video to hype up Lions fans at Ford Field ahead of the 2022 season. 42 Dugg had Detroit safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on stage with him this weekend at his homecoming show. The rapper led the crowd in a “Go Lions” chant. – Victoria Hernandez

Lions vs. Buccaneers game time

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET inside Ford Field in Detroit.

Lions vs. Buccaneers how to watch

The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The game is also available to stream for free on Fubo.

Who is favored Lions or Buccaneers?

The top NFL betting apps favor the Lions over the Buccaneers in their divisional playoff game.  

Lions vs. Buccaneers spread

 The Lions are 6-point favorites over the Buccaneers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. 

Lions vs. Buccaneers over under 

The over-under is 49.5, according to BetMGM.

Lions vs. Buccaneers moneyline

Detroit is a -275 favorite on the moneyline. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is a +220 underdog, according to BetMGM.

Lions vs. Buccaneers predictions

Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 26, Buccaneers 14Tyler Dragon: Lions 26, Buccaneers 21Safid Deen: Lions 30, Buccaneers 20Victoria Hernandez: Lions 26, Buccaneers 17Jordan Mendoza: Lions 23, Buccaneers 20

Click here to see how the USA TODAY Sports staff picked the entire divisional round weekend.

Lions vs. Buccaneers weather

This game is being played at Detroit’s Ford Field, which is a dome.

Lions inactives

CB, Steven GilmoreDL, Charles HarrisQB, Hendon Hooker (emergency QB)LB, James HoustonDL Brodric MartinWR, Kalif RaymondS, Tracy Walker

Buccaneers inactives

T, Silas DzansiWR, Rakim JarrettRB, Patrick LairdLB, J.J. RussellT, Brandon WaltonOLB, Markees WattsQB, John Wolford

Lions vs. Buccaneers history

The Lions and Buccaneers have faced off 61 times in their history, with one of those times coming in the postseason when Tampa Bay won in the 1997 wild-card round. Overall, Detroit leads the series 32-29, and that includes a 20-6 victory in Tampa Bay during the 2023 regular season.

Lions playoff history

The Lions are 8-13 all-time in the NFL playoffs. They have never been to the Super Bowl and the last time they went to the NFC championship game was the 1991 season. Their win against the Rams in last week’s wild-card round was their first playoff victory since that 1991 season.

Buccaneers playoff history

The Buccaneers are 12-11 all-time in the NFL playoffs. They have appeared in two Super Bowls and won them both, the last one coming with Tom Brady leading the way after the 2020 season. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Tampa Bay has reached the postseason and the third time it has won at least one game.

Lions depth chart

Offense

WR: Jameson Williams, Antoine GreenLT: Taylor Decker, Dan SkippersLG: Jonah Jackson, Kayode AwosikaC: Frank RagnowRG: Graham Glasgow, Colby SorsdalRT: Penei SewellTE: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Anthony FirkserFB: Jason CabindaRB: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig ReynoldsQB: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater, Hendon HookerWR: Josh Reynolds, Donovan Peoples-JonesWR: Amon-Ra St. Brown

Defense

DE: Josh Paschal, John CominskyNT: Benito Jones, Tyson AlualuDT: Alim McNeill, Levi OnwuzurikeRUSH: Aidan Hutchinson, Romeo OkwaraWLB: Alex Anzalone, Jalen Reeves-MaybinMLB: Derrick Barnes, Malcolm RodriguezSLB: Jack Campbell, Anthony PittmanLCB: Kindle Vildor, Chase LucasSS: Ifeatu Melifonwu, C.J. Gardner-JohnsonFS: Kerby JosephRCB: Cameron Sutton, Khalil DorseyNB: Brian Branch, Will Harris

Buccaneers depth chart

Offense

LWR: Mike EvansLT: Tristan Wirfs, Justin SkuleLG: Aaron Stinnie, Matt FeilerC: Robert Hainsey, Nick LeverettRG: Cody MauchRT: Luke GoedekeTE: Cade Otton, Ko Kieft, Payne DurhamQB: Baker Mayfield, Kyle TraskRB: Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, Sean TuckerRWR: Chris Godwin, David MooreSWR: Trey Palmer, Deven Thompkins

Defense

LDE: Logan Hall, Williams GholstonNT: Vita Vea, Greg GainesRDE: Calijah Kancey, Patrick O’ConnorLOLB: Shaquil Barrett, Anthony NelsonLILB: Davin White, K.J. BrittRILB: Lavonte David, SirVocea DennisROLB: Yaya Diaby, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Cam GillLCB: Carlton Davis III, Zyon McCollumSS: Ryan Neal, Kaevon MerriweatherFS: Antoine Winfield Jr., Dee DelaneyRCB: Jamel DeanNB: Christian Izien, Josh Hayes