Nik Bonitto batted away Marcus Mariota’s pass in overtime to deny Washington a winning 2-point conversion, and the Denver Broncos held on for their ninth straight victory, a 27-26 thriller over the Commanders.

Dominant defenses still can carry teams in the NFL.

A 10th straight AFC West title is looking out of reach for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Denver Broncos have extended their winning streak to eight games with a 22-19 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver's defense bailed out the Broncos in a 10-7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night.

Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are heading to Green Bay for a playoff rematch on Monday night.

The Colts became mistake-prone.

Bo Nix threw two touchdown passes and Wil Lutz made a 34-yard field goal as time expired and the Denver Broncos rallied to beat the Houston Texans 18-15 Sunday to extend their winning streak to six games.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills own Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season.

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys turned in another up-and-down performance in a 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Jaxson Dart has experienced an epic loss as the Denver Broncos completed a historic comeback against the New York Giants.

Wil Lutz kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired, leading the Denver Broncos to a thrilling 33-32 win over the New York Giants.

Bo Nix threw an early touchdown pass, Wil Lutz kicked a late go-ahead field goal and the Denver Broncos sacked Justin Fields nine times, with the final one sealing an ugly 13-11 victory over the winless New York Jets.

Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl running back Bijan Robinson says he appreciates praise from peers like Saquon Barkley and wants to be the best he can be for his teammates and fans.

A Lions-Chiefs matchup was considered a potential Super Bowl preview when the schedule came out.

A.

Bo Nix threw an 11-yard touchdown pass and J.

Texas’ Arch Manning and Florida’s DJ Lagway opened the season as Heisman Trophy hopefuls.

The Denver Broncos routed the Cincinnati Bengals 28-3 to snap a two-game skid and send Cincy to its second straight blowout loss since losing star quarterback Joe Burrow to a toe surgery.

Four 2024 playoff teams are already facing a must-win in Week 4.

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton sounded content to let others debate Sunday’s leverage call against linebacker Dondrea Tillman.

Spencer Shrader made a 45-yard field goal with no time left after the Broncos were penalized for leverage on his missed 60-yard try, and the Indianapolis Colts beat Denver 29-28 for their first 2-0 start since 2009.

Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson didn’t need to play a snap in the preseason.

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t have to wait long for their Super Bowl rematch after a lopsided loss to the Philadelphia Eagles seven months ago.

Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger won Super Bowls in their second season in the NFL.

Saquon Barkley, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are built for a repeat championship.

The NFL often sees last-place teams bounce back to win their division, with 25 teams achieving this since 2002.

Pittsburgh Steelers executives aren’t the only ones eagerly awaiting a decision from Aaron Rodgers on whether he plans to play football this season.

Spring is the time of optimism in the NFL with most teams hopeful that the moves made this offseason will lead to success in the fall.

Bo Nix has already turned 25.

The NFL's 52-hour legal tampering period arrived with a slew of stars receiving big contracts to either stay put or join a new team retooling its roster.

The Tennessee Titans explored all their options with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Chip Kelly is returning to the NFL as the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday.

Jayden Daniels threw 1,438 passes in 55 college games over five seasons.

Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes, James Cook scored on a 5-yard run and finished with 120 yards rushing, and the Buffalo Bills leaned on a balanced offensive attack in a 31-7 win over the Denver Broncos in a wild-card playoff game.

The NFL’s wild-card weekend features divisional rivals facing off, two NFC rematches from Week 1 and the Harbaugh brothers coaching on the same day.

The impressive feats from the 2024 rookie quarterback class will carry over into the postseason.

The Denver Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC will go through Motown.

Joe Burrow threw his third touchdown pass to Tee Higgins with 1:07 left in overtime, and the Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a wild 30-24 win over the Denver Broncos.

Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17.

Justin Herbert passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 19-yarder to Derius Davis early in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Chargers got closer to wrapping up a playoff spot by rallying past the Denver Broncos 34-27 on Thursday night.

The setup for two Christmas Day games means two games on Saturday in Week 16.

Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception for a game-sealing 44-yard touchdown with 1:48 remaining, and the Denver Broncos spoiled career-best performances by Cleveland quarterback Jameis Winston and receiver Jerry Jeudy, beating the Browns 41-32.

Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal blocked Broncos kicker Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired, and Kansas City escaped with a 16-14 victory over the Broncos that extended the Super Bowl champs’ winning streak to 15 games.

Javonte Williams rushed for two touchdowns and the Denver Broncos triumphed in coach Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans, beating the banged-up and reeling Saints 33-10.

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie was placed on a back board and carted from the sideline before the start of the second quarter against the New York Jets.

From rookies struggling in their first career starts to high-paid quarterbacks not living up to their contracts to rusty veterans coming off injuries, the passing in Week 1 of the NFL season looked to be from a different era.

The days of NFL rookie quarterbacks waiting their turns before taking over teams is long gone.

The NFL season begins this week when the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

Rookie Bo Nix was informed Wednesday that he'd won the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback job.

Bo Nix was the sixth quarterback selected in last month's NFL draft but the first to sign his rookie contract.

Quarterbacks went off the draft board at a record-setting pace.

The Chicago Bears picked USC quarterback Caleb Williams to open the 2024 NFL draft, the first of six QBs in the top 12 picks.

Washington State cornerback Chau Smith-Wade returned an interception 83 yards in the final two minutes to set up a decisive score and secure the National’s 16-7 victory over the American team in the Senior Bowl.

Bo Nix threw for 363 yards and five touchdowns to cap a recording-breaking career, and No. 8 Oregon closed out a season that started with national title expectations by rolling over No. 18 Liberty 45-6 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Oregon's Bo Nix has finished his career as one of the most productive quarterbacks in NCAA history.

College recruiting more than ever never really stops once the players are on campus.

The Heisman Trophy race is looking wide open for 2024.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has won the Heisman Trophy in a decisive victory.

Former Oklahoma and UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel has announced he is transferring to Oregon for a sixth season of college football.

This year’s Heisman Trophy ceremony is an ode to the new era of college sports, transformed by the transfer portal and NIL.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is The Associated Press Pac-12 offensive player of the year and UCLA's Laiatu Latu is the defensive player of the year.

LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., transfer quarterbacks who have all played at least five college seasons, and Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

There’s been a love-hate relationship with conference championship games historically.

No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 Oregon all moved up a spot in The Associated Press college football poll to give the Pac-12 two top-five teams for the first time since the final ranking of the 2016 season.

The back door to the College Football playoff is unlikely to be open for Ohio State or anybody else this championship weekend.

Bo Nix threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, securing No. 6 Oregon a spot in the Pac-12 championship game with a 31-7 victory over No. 15 Oregon State in the final scheduled matchup between the in-state rivals.

Bo Nix threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 8 Oregon to a 35-6 victory over No. 13 Utah, which had an 18-game home winning streak snapped by the loss Saturday.

Michael Penix Jr. threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze with 1:38 remaining after another questionable fourth-down decision by Oregon, and Camden Lewis missed a 43-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game as No. 7 Washington held off No. 8 Oregon 36-33 on Saturday in another wild chapter to their heated rivalry.

The first season of an 18-team, bicoastal Big Ten Conference will include Oregon hosting Ohio State, Penn State at Southern California and Michigan going to Washington.

Bo Nix threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns and No. 10 Oregon took some sheen off of Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ showy start to the season with a 42-6 victory over the No. 19 Buffaloes on Saturday.

Bo Nix threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, Jeffrey Bassa had a 45-yard interception return for a score in the final minute and No. 13 Oregon rallied for a 38-30 victory over Texas Tech. Tyler Shough threw for three TDs and ran for 101 yards and another score against his former team.

Bo Nix threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns before heading for the bench early in the third quarter and No. 15 Oregon built a 43-point halftime lead en route to an 81-7 victory over Portland State on Saturday.

Bo Nix threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Cota on fourth down with 19 seconds left and Camden Lewis’ PAT bounced off the left upright and went through to give No. 15 Oregon a wild 28-27 victory against North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park.

Isaiah Newell ran for the go-ahead touchdown with 8:11 remaining, and No. 22 Oregon State took advantage of critical mistakes in the fourth quarter by No. 10 Oregon to rally for a 38-34 victory.

Oregon’s Bo Nix and Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman became the fourth and fifth Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks to throw for five touchdowns in multiple games this season.

Being a good, but definitely not great, quarterback can be a rough ride in college football, especially when fans see only a ceiling they wish was higher.

Stetson Bennett threw for 368 yards and accounted for three touchdowns and Georgia's revamped defense didn’t miss a beat.

Former Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada is transferring to Auburn.

John Metchie caught a scoring pass from Bryce Young in the fourth overtime to give No. 3 Alabama a 24-22 comeback victory over rival Auburn on Saturday, rescuing the Crimson Tide’s national title hopes.

Micheal Clemons scored the game’s only touchdown on a 24-yard fumble return early in the fourth quarter, and No. 13 Texas A&M beat No. 12 Auburn 20-3.

Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Stetson Bennett passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and led No. 2 Georgia past No. 18 Auburn for the second straight year in a 34-10 victory Saturday.

For about 45 minutes late Saturday afternoon, college football was on overload.

Jaquan Brisker broke up a last pass toward the end zone by Auburn’s Bo Nix as time expired and No. 10 Penn State held on to beat No. 22 Auburn 28-20.

15 Northwestern’s defense made it stand up in a 35-19 victory over Auburn in the Citrus Bowl on Friday. Ramsey, a graduate transfer, totaled 291 yards passing and 50 yards rushing for Northwestern (7-2), which won its fourth straight bowl game. Auburn was led by interim coach Kevin Steele following the Dec. 13 firing of Gus Malzahn and was missing several key players. The Tigers got within 14-13 when Nix hit Elijah Canion for a 57-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. Ramsey put Northwestern ahead 14-0 on first-quarter TD passes of 35 yards to Chiaokhiao-Brown and 6 yards to Raine.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn listens to an official's call during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)Auburn fired football coach Gus Malzahn, ending an eight-year run that began with a trip to the national championship game. The Tigers also were upset by a struggling South Carolina, which wound up firing coach Will Muschamp during the season. “After evaluating the state of the Auburn football program, we’ve decided that it was time to make a change in leadership," Greene said in a statement. Auburn will owe Malzahn a $21.45 million buyout for the remaining four years of a seven-year, $49 million deal.

Kellen Mond passed for two touchdowns and ran for a third and the fifth-ranked Aggies scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of a come-from-behind 31-20 victory over Auburn on Saturday. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher wasn't interested in speculating on how the win might affect his team's playoff chances. He completed 18 of 23 for 196 yards, highlighted by two TDs to Jalen Wydermyer, and ran for 60 yards. The Aggies ran for a season-high 313 yards and held a 16-minute advantage in time of possession. Auburn: Was outgained 168-21 in the fourth quarter.

Auburn wide receivers Anthony Schwartz (1) and Ze'Vian Capers (80) both reach for an errant pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

“Bo (Nix) and Seth (Williams) have a special bond,” Auburn coach GusMalzahn said. “It was down to the end and that’s the way this series hasgone.”Auburn (3-2 Southeastern) rallied from a 28-27 deficit on its finaloffensive series, covering 80 yards in six plays. Nix finished 23 of 30 passing for 238 yards, with thebiggest plays reserved for Williams. Jerrion Ealyhad a 5-yard touchdown run to give Ole Miss a 28-27 lead with 5:43 left,setting up Auburns game-winning drive. Nix directed touchdown drives of 95, 79, 88, 80 and 80 yards and did nothave a turnover after coming off a loss to South Carolina with threeinterceptions.

Smith had eight catches including his score midway through the third quarter that put South Carolina ahead for good, 20-19. Auburn got the ball back once more with 2:15 left and drove to the South Carolina 13. South Carolina had not won back-to-back games since defeating Kentucky and then-No. Morris lost twice at South Carolina while he held the same job at Clemson, then was defeated in this one. South Carolina goes to LSU on Saturday night.

7 Auburn on Saturday night in the first Top 10 matchup of the college football season. The Bulldogs (2-0) buried Auburn with a 24-0 blitz in the first half, extending their domination of the Deep South's oldest rivalry. No matter the time of year, Georgia kept the upper hand with a fourth straight victory over Auburn (1-1). The Auburn running game was no help at all, held to 39 yards and a 1.8-yard average per carry. Georgia: Coach Kirby Smart was willing to play multiple quarterbacks against Auburn, but it wasn't necessary with Bennett's performance.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, left, talks with quarterback Kellen Mond (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

including the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, highlights the fifth week of the college football season. 4 Georgia on Saturday night as the second month of the season starts, but only the second week of SEC play. The first of three games that decide the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy might have sneaked up on college football fans. The Falcons will play six conference games to go along with Navy and Army. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Nix threw for 233 yards and three second-half touchdowns, including a pair to Williams, and No. 8 Auburn scored twice in the fourth quarter to pull away from No. 23 Kentucky for a 29-13 victory Saturday in the season opener. “Bo made a couple of really good throws for touchdowns,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. Auburn: Has to get better on third-down defense, giving up eight first downs on 10 Wildcats attempts in the first half.

Before Miami won easily last year, the ‘Canes and ’Noles played five straight games decided by five points or fewer. A pandemic-altered college football season has helped put FSU-Miami in the spotlight again this weekend. The Big Ten and Pac-12 are still at least a month away, but the college football menu is starting to fill up. 7-6 — Lane Kiffin's record in his one SEC season as coach at Tennessee. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25