BRANDON ALLEN

The AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals won’t play quarterback Joe Burrow this week to make sure he is healthy for the first round of the playoffs.

Evan McPherson kicked a 20-yard field goal as time ran out, and the Cincinnati Bengals earned their first AFC North title and postseason appearance in six years with a wild 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Indianapolis Colts activated quarterback Carson Wentz from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday and he should be able to start against Las Vegas on Sunday.

The Indianapolis Cots have placed five players on the COVID-19 list as the virus continues to work its way through NFL locker rooms, even with the vast majority of players in the league vaccinated.

Rookie running back Jaret Patterson did a little bit of everything and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter in Washington’s 17-13 preseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night.

Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the NFL preseason with a 19-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Baltimore Ravens defense celebrates with cornerback Marcus Peters (24) after he intercepted a pass in the end zone intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green during during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cincinnati. After a Dec. 2 loss to Pittsburgh with Jackson on the COVID-19 list, the Ravens rebounded and won the next four. UP NEXTThe Ravens advance to the playoffs for the third straight year, will travel to either Tennessee or Indianapolis next Sunday. The Bengals end another disappointing year and extend their playoff drought to five seasons.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Houston. That preparation paid off on Sunday when Samaje Perine scored a 3-yard touchdown late to give the Bengals their first road win in more than two years with a 37-31 victory over the Houston Texans. It’s the first road win for Taylor, who is in his second season, and the first time the Bengals (4-10-1) won away from Cincinnati since a 37-36 victory at Atlanta on Sept. 30, 2018. Perine put the Bengals up 17-10 when he ran 46 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. The Bengals took an early lead when Allen found Drew Sample wide open for an 8-yard touchdown on their first drive.

First-year Dallas coach Mike McCarthy draws parallels to his debut in Green Bay when the Packers finished a rough year with four straight victories on the way to a strong second season. The first stint was interrupted during the second game when he went out with a concussion that sidelined him the next week. Dallas has been last in the NFL much of the season in that category, but probably won't finish there. The franchise record is 436 from 2010, the last time the Cowboys were caught up in a coaching change. NEXT STEPSWith a Dallas loss or Washington win in any of the three remaining games, the Cowboys can't make the playoffs as NFC East champions.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates a touchdown throw with wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)CINCINNATI – Andy Dalton was good enough in his return to Cincinnati, tossing two touchdown passes and helping lead the Dallas Cowboys to a 30-7 win over the Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals fumbled the ball away on their first three drives, one fumble returned for a touchdown, and leading to 17 first-half points by the Cowboys (4-9). Dalton was serviceable, going 16 for 23 for 185 yards, as the Cowboys stayed in contention in the weak NFC East. Dalton signed with the Cowboys as a backup, and stepped in when Dak Prescott went down.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A week after the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick in the spring, they kicked longtime quarterback Andy Dalton to the curb. Because of an injury to Prescott, Dalton is returning to Cincinnati as the Cowboys' starting quarterback on Sunday against the woeful Bengals (2-9-1). In a twist, Cincinnati lost Burrow to a season-ending knee injury and will start an inexperienced former practice squad player against Dallas. Cincinnati lost a wild-card game every season from 2011-15, and it's been downhill from there for the frustrated organization and fan base.

A Tennessee high school student led the homecoming court, resplendent in a gold gown and heels, after students decided to do away with gender-specific titles. Brandon Allen was crowned Friday night on the football field of White Station High School, where he was named "Homecoming Royalty" instead of king or queen. "Here's the thing: it's Brandon's right to run for homecoming royalty under Title IX. It's the students' choice of who they want to support as homecoming royalty. I'm going to do me.

LAKANA(CNN) - The students at White Station High School in Memphis, Tennessee, decided it was time for change. Typically students vote for who they want for homecoming king and queen, coveted titles in the social hierarchy of high schools all across the country. WSHS senior Brandon Allen was crowned Friday homecoming royalty, donning a gold dress. His high school posted a picture of him in the dress, holding a bouquet of flowers with crown. "It's the students' choice of who they want to support as homecoming royalty," said school principal Carrye Holland.