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TRAVIS KELCE

Suns roll past LeBron-less Lakers for 111-94 win

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul gets fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 21, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX – The LeBron-less Los Angeles Lakers are off to a predictably slow start. Los Angeles played without 17-time All-Star LeBron James for just the second time this season and fell to 0-2 in his absence. Los Angeles is also playing without All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who has missed a big chunk of the season with a right calf strain. TIP-INSLakers: Without James, Los Angeles went with a starting lineup of Wesley Matthews, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Schroder.

AP source: Chiefs' Mahomes to have surgery on toe injury

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) sits on the turf during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have surgery this week on the turf toe injury he suffered in the playoffs, likely sidelining him for the start of the offseason program but ensuring he'll be ready well before training camp. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the plans had not been disclosed publicly. NFL Network was first to report that Mahomes would have surgery on Wednesday. Bieniemy's contract expired after the Super Bowl in part because the Chiefs never thought he would get through another round of coaching hires without landing a head coaching job somewhere else.

Chiefs head into offseason with core intact, plenty of holes

Now, the Chiefs will have to take a much different tact if they want to make their third consecutive Super Bowl. While their core group is signed for the next several years, the Chiefs have a raft of important contributors that are due to hit free agency. Ad“Like all teams, we'll get busy here going down the road,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday. “Every year is different because of your cap situation and what you have and what you need,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said. WELCOME BACKThe Chiefs should get some help from guys that were injured or opted out of this past season.

Buccaneers defense rises to occasion again in Super Bowl win

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams, right, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay’s defense finished its redemption tour with a Super Bowl championship. Brees and the Saints beat Tampa Bay twice during the regular season. By taking down Mahomes in the Super Bowl, the Bucs (15-5) avenged three of their five losses. He also took exception with Tampa Bay having only one Pro Bowl selection on its roster, linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul. “One Pro Bowl player and the team goes on to win the Super Bowl?

3rd down struggles doom Mahomes, Chiefs in Super Bowl

The lack of them doomed Kansas City in the Super Bowl when Mahomes didn’t complete a single third-down pass until late in the fourth quarter of a 31-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night. The Chiefs came into the game having converted 49.5% of their third-down tries this season for the second-best mark in the NFL. AdTwo drives later, the usually reliable Travis Kelce dropped a third-down pass, leading to the Chiefs' third punt in the first four drives. It was tough sledding from there.”Mahomes had to throw a ball away on a third down late in the first half that set up a second field goal. Ad“Those are the two most important parts of the field,” Mahomes said about third downs and the red zone.

Buccaneers batter Mahomes in 31-9 Super Bowl rout of Chiefs

The Buccaneers didn't even give him time to skim their defense in the Super Bowl. He was 26 of 49 for 270 yards and two interceptions in a 31-9 blowout that denied the Chiefs back-to-back titles. “They had a good game plan,” said Mahomes, whose quarterback rating of 52.3 was by far the worst of his career. The first-half numbers were striking: Mahomes was 9 of 19 for 67 yards, while Tampa Bay counterpart Tom Brady had dominated the Chiefs defense for 140 yards passing and three TDs in staking the Buccaneers to a 21-6 lead. “To the last snap,” Reid said, “he was trying to win that football game.”It was just that kind of night for Mahomes.

Brady, improved defense keys to Bucs winning Super Bowl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)TAMPA, Fla. – Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be denied. The 43-year-old six-time Super Bowl champion may no longer be the best quarterback in the NFL, however, he’s shown in his first season with the Bucs that he’s still good enough to lead a team to the NFL title game. You want to make some moves that hopefully get your team into the Super Bowl.

From players to pedigree, Chiefs edge on Bucs in all aspects

Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid and Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) look on during NFL football practice Wednesday February 2, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)KANSAS CITY, Mo. Based on offense alone, the Kansas City Chiefs are head and shoulders better than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If we stay in that mindset, we give ourselves a chance to win any big game.”None is bigger than the Super Bowl.

Reid, Arians bring stellar offensive systems to Super Bowl

In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, left, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians speak during Super Bowl 55 Opening Night, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. Reid and Arians have consistently run prolific offenses that have helped the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers reach the Super Bowl. But Reid and Arians reached title game because both coaches have also shown the ability to adapt. Reid has gradually used more shotgun and spread formations over the years, helping Patrick Mahomes develop into the game’s top QB. Tampa Bay ranked 17th with 1,874 yards after the catch.

Young Bucs secondary braces for another dose of Tyreek Hill

(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)TAMPA, Fla. – Like most NFL cornerbacks, Carlton Davis plays with a short-term memory but never forgets a bad performance. The third-year pro and the rest of Tampa Bay’s young secondary was dominated by Tyreek Hill during the regular season and are eager to redeem themselves against the speedy Kansas City Chiefs receiver in the Super Bowl. Hill had 13 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-24 victory over the Bucs on Nov. 29. “I play defensive back in the NFL, so you’re going to have your share of losses. I’m going to continue to be a dog and go out there and give it my all,” Davis said.

Storylines galore as Brady, Mahomes command Super Bowl stage

(NFL via AP)Someone will make history Sunday in a Super Bowl so filled with storylines it would fill a season of TV programming. Yes, Tampa, Florida, where the Super Bowl is being played this year. Ad“There’s a lot that comes along with the Super Bowl,” says Rob Gronkowski, the three-time champion tight end who came out of retirement to reunite with Brady. Of course, with the week off between the conference title matches and the Super Bowl, each side should be well rested. “You don’t get these opportunities every year in the NFL to be in the Super Bowl and to be in these games,” Mahomes says, thought it sure seems as if Brady has a Super Bowl habit, and Mahomes is developing one.

Check downs? More like checkmate as Chiefs take what's given

Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) between drills during NFL football practice Wednesday February 2, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The casual football fan is likely to describe the Kansas City Chiefs offense this way: a go-for-broke, throw-it-deep highlight reel built around a quarterback with record-setting arm strength and wide receivers boasting Olympic-caliber speed. Some might call all those dink-and-dunk throws “check downs.”AdGiven the Chiefs are playing for a second straight Super Bowl tile Sunday? Ad“That starts with Pat getting the ball out of his hand and allowing us to get upfield and make those moves,” Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins said.

Star-studded Chiefs rely heavily on late-round gems, too

– It was an easy decision for Daniel Sorensen to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. No fewer than 22 players drafted in the third round or later — or not all — are on the Chiefs roster as they finish their prep work for the Super Bowl. The Chiefs have won consistently for the better part of a decade, with a roster dotted by more stars than there are in the nighttime sky. When injuries popped up on the offensive line, the Chiefs plugged a big hole with Nick Allegretti, a seventh-round pick in 2019. “When they're looking for guys to add to our roster,” Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck said, “they're looking for guys that love football, love to compete.

Old (Brady), young (Mahomes), different Super Bowl 55 awaits

(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)For Tom Brady, another trip to the Super Bowl — but this time, in a Tampa Bay uniform. “Whoever would've thought a home Super Bowl for us? It gave New England its third straight trip to the Super Bowl, and Brady's last of nine as a member of the Patriots. He's leading the Buccaneers to only their second Super Bowl; the Bucs won on their first trip, back in 2002. But nobody would mistake Johnson for Brady, who could join Peyton Manning as the only other quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.