It’s game day. The high school athlete has her jersey on and prepares to go into action.&nbsp;&nbsp;All eyes are on her as she makes her move. But right now this athlete isn’t using a ball, she’s using a book.&nbsp;

On game days at Frankfort High School, the athletes don’t just perform on the court, they read to younger kids in the classroom. This is small-town athletics at its best.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dean Dalinghaus is principal at Frankfort High School, home of the Wildcats. He went to high school at B&amp;B, graduated from K-State, and has been principal at Frankfort since 2006. He has observed the significance of hometown sports teams in rural communities.&nbsp;

“I think it brings the community together,” he said. “It creates a sense of pride. It’s the joy of seeing the kids put their heart and soul on the line, for the (town) name on the front of the jersey.”&nbsp;

Among the competitive athletes who recently came from his school is Emilee Ebert. In fact, her parents are directly involved with the school. Her father, Brian, is a teacher and was Emilee’s basketball coach at Frankfort. Her mother, Jennifer, is the school librarian.&nbsp;

Emilee Ebert had a standout athletic career at Frankfort. She set the school record with 1,648 career points in basketball. A four-time Kansas Basketball Coaches Association honoree, she earned first-team honors in 2018 and 2019. She completed her basketball career as a four-time All-Twin Valley League First Team recipient and a four-time All-Flint Hills First Team honoree by the&nbsp;Manhattan Mercury.&nbsp;

At the end of her senior season in 2018-19, Emilee was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and garnered top-15 All-Class honors as well as Class 1A All-State First Team honors from multiple sources. Not only was she selected to play in several all-star games, but she was also selected as the most valuable player at two of them.&nbsp;

Ebert was also an outstanding competitor in volleyball and track and field.&nbsp;

Emilee Ebert chose to come to K-State to play basketball for women’s coach Jeff Mittie.&nbsp;&nbsp;By her sophomore season, she was the only Wildcat to start all 27 games. That year, she finished among the Big 12’s best in assists, blocks per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Ebert set the school record for blocks by a guard in a season and was the only player in the Big 12 to appear in the top 15 in assists and blocks.&nbsp;

In her junior year, she played in a career-high 31 games with 24 starts. As this is being written—partway through her senior season—she has helped lead the Cats to a 9-2 record and a top 25 ranking. On Dec. 7, she led K-State in scoring in its win against Kansas City and has been consistently good from the free-throw line.&nbsp;

She is also an excellent example of a student-athlete. Ebert has made the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice, plus the Big 12 All-Rookie Academic Team, and the Academic All-Big 12 Team the following year.&nbsp;

Dalinghaus said he wants his students to appreciate academics as well. Frankfort has a K-12 attendance center, so all grades are in the same building. This creates an opportunity for interaction between older and younger students.&nbsp;

Three years ago, Dalinghaus created an initiative called Wildcat Readers. On game days, the athletes take turns reading a book to the elementary school children while wearing their jerseys or dress clothes, depending on the sport.&nbsp;

“It lets the little kids see the older kids as student-athletes, not just athletes,” Dalinghaus said. By modeling reading and encouraging the kids to read, it is a win-win for academics as well as athletics.&nbsp;

This type of interaction works especially well in a school in a rural community such as Frankfort, population 723 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

All eyes are on the athlete as she makes her move—not to the basket, but to the book.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Dean Dalinghaus for making a difference with this initiative to connect learning and athletics, and we salute Emilee Ebert and all small-town athletes for representing their communities so well.

Ron Wilson is the director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University .

It’s game day. The high school athlete has her jersey on and prepares to go into action.&nbsp;&nbsp;All eyes are on her as she makes her move. But right now this athlete isn’t using a ball, she’s using a book.&nbsp;On game days at Frankfort High School, the athletes don’t just perform on the court, they read to younger kids in the classroom. This is small-town athletics at its best.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dean Dalinghaus is principal at Frankfort High School, home of the Wildcats. He went to high school at B&amp;B, graduated from K-State, and has been principal at Frankfort since 2006. He has observed the significance of hometown sports teams in rural communities.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672283436581.jpeg" alt="Emilee Ebert, K-State basketball. Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Emilee Ebert, K-State basketball. Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>“I think it brings the community together,” he said. “It creates a sense of pride. It’s the joy of seeing the kids put their heart and soul on the line, for the (town) name on the front of the jersey.”&nbsp;Among the competitive athletes who recently came from his school is Emilee Ebert. In fact, her parents are directly involved with the school. Her father, Brian, is a teacher and was Emilee’s basketball coach at Frankfort. Her mother, Jennifer, is the school librarian.&nbsp;Emilee Ebert had a standout athletic career at Frankfort. She set the school record with 1,648 career points in basketball. A four-time Kansas Basketball Coaches Association honoree, she earned first-team honors in 2018 and 2019. She completed her basketball career as a four-time All-Twin Valley League First Team recipient and a four-time All-Flint Hills First Team honoree by the&nbsp;Manhattan Mercury.&nbsp;At the end of her senior season in 2018-19, Emilee was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and garnered top-15 All-Class honors as well as Class 1A All-State First Team honors from multiple sources. Not only was she selected to play in several all-star games, but she was also selected as the most valuable player at two of them.&nbsp;Ebert was also an outstanding competitor in volleyball and track and field.&nbsp;Emilee Ebert chose to come to K-State to play basketball for women’s coach Jeff Mittie.&nbsp;&nbsp;By her sophomore season, she was the only Wildcat to start all 27 games. That year, she finished among the Big 12’s best in assists, blocks per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Ebert set the school record for blocks by a guard in a season and was the only player in the Big 12 to appear in the top 15 in assists and blocks.&nbsp;In her junior year, she played in a career-high 31 games with 24 starts. As this is being written—partway through her senior season—she has helped lead the Cats to a 9-2 record and a top 25 ranking. On Dec. 7, she led K-State in scoring in its win against Kansas City and has been consistently good from the free-throw line.&nbsp;She is also an excellent example of a student-athlete. Ebert has made the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice, plus the Big 12 All-Rookie Academic Team, and the Academic All-Big 12 Team the following year.&nbsp;Dalinghaus said he wants his students to appreciate academics as well. Frankfort has a K-12 attendance center, so all grades are in the same building. This creates an opportunity for interaction between older and younger students.&nbsp;Three years ago, Dalinghaus created an initiative called Wildcat Readers. On game days, the athletes take turns reading a book to the elementary school children while wearing their jerseys or dress clothes, depending on the sport.&nbsp;“It lets the little kids see the older kids as student-athletes, not just athletes,” Dalinghaus said. By modeling reading and encouraging the kids to read, it is a win-win for academics as well as athletics.&nbsp;This type of interaction works especially well in a school in a rural community such as Frankfort, population 723 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;All eyes are on the athlete as she makes her move—not to the basket, but to the book.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Dean Dalinghaus for making a difference with this initiative to connect learning and athletics, and we salute Emilee Ebert and all small-town athletes for representing their communities so well.Ron Wilson is the director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University .

Now That’s Rural: Dalinghaus, Frankfort High, Emilee Ebert, K-State basketball 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — KJ Jefferson passed to Rashod Dubinion for a 2-point conversion in the third overtime and Arkansas held off a furious second-half rally by Kansas for a 55-53 win the Liberty Bowl.

The Jayhawks had rallied from 25 points down in the second half to force overtime, but a failed on a 2-point conversion pass from Jason Bean to Lawrence Arnold to end a four-and-a-half hour bowl marathon.

Jefferson passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and two more scores to lead the Razorbacks. 

Kansas quarterback Daniels passed for 544 yards and five touchdowns. He set Liberty Bowl records for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions (37) and total TDs scored (6).

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — KJ Jefferson passed to Rashod Dubinion for a 2-point conversion in the third overtime and Arkansas held off a furious second-half rally by Kansas for a 55-53 win the Liberty Bowl.The Jayhawks had rallied from 25 points down in the second half to force overtime, but a failed on a 2-point conversion pass from Jason Bean to Lawrence Arnold to end a four-and-a-half hour bowl marathon.Jefferson passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and two more scores to lead the Razorbacks. Kansas quarterback Daniels passed for 544 yards and five touchdowns. He set Liberty Bowl records for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions (37) and total TDs scored (6).

Arkansas withstands furious Kansas rally, wins Liberty Bowl

The <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas</a> Jayhawks see a bright future thanks to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-lance-leipold-jayhawks-a81eea3cb4311c24ddabd543816efab1">coach Lance Leipold's quick turnaround.</a>

The <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a>?

That proud <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">Southeastern Conference</a>
 program goes into the Liberty Bowl on Wednesday hoping quarterback KJ 
Jefferson and running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders can provide enough 
offense to make up for a roster thinned by opt-outs and transfer portal 
departures.

“It’s out of our hands so we just want to be able to control what we can control and do the best we can,” Jefferson said.

A
 winning season is on the line for both Kansas and Arkansas, who are 
6-6, in the first meeting between these neighbors since 1906.

This
 game means a lot to the Jayhawks after going 2-10 last season and 
finishing last in the Big 12. This is the Jayhawks' first bowl since 
2008 and second all-time at the Liberty Bowl, sponsored by AutoZone.

“Now
 the fun starts,” Kansas linebacker Rich Miller said. “This is what 
we’ve worked for all season, and now it’s time to pay off.”

Expect
 lots of scoring. Kansas ranks fifth nationally, averaging 7.01 yards 
per play. That's on target to set a program record, topping the 6.4 
yards averaged per play for the 1950 season. The Jayhawks rank 27th 
nationally scoring with an average of 34.2 points per game, and Arkansas
 puts up 30.7 points a game.

The Jayhawks also have dual-threat 
quarterback Jalon Daniels back after missing four games. He threw for 13
 touchdowns with only two interceptions this season and is a dual threat
 — second on the Jayhawks with 404 yards and six TDs rushing.

Jefferson,
 who missed two games himself, joined Georgia's Stetson Bennett as the 
SEC's only quarterbacks to throw for at least 20 TDs and run for seven 
more. Jefferson threw for 2,361 yards and 22 TDs with only four 
interceptions.

Devin Neal averages 6.2 yards per carry for Kansas and gained 1,061 yards this season. Neal had his best game <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-lawrence-spencer-sanders-6e9da4d46531ffd25d634f91c449abf2">against then-No. 18 Oklahoma State,</a>
 when he ran for 224 yards and had 110 yards more receiving in the win. 
Later, he became the first Power Five running back to follow that up 
with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-tyler-donovan-smith-5401a9ccb7fc54f1ea534560635fd9b4">at least 190 yards against Texas Tech</a>.

Arkansas
 counters with Sanders, who ranked second in the SEC with 1,426 yards 
rushing and an average of 118.8 yards per game. He led the SEC with 
1,687 all-purpose yards as a receiving threat as well.

Arkansas
 leads the SEC and is tied for fifth nationally with 39 sacks, one off 
the school record of 40 set in 1998. Yet the Razorbacks will be without 
their <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-ap-all-america-team-1c0078baac0857cf80a461485108405d">All-American linebacker Drew Sanders,</a> who had a team-high 9 1/2 sacks.

Sanders
 is just one of the Razorbacks who chose to prepare for the NFL draft 
rather than play in the bowl. Center Ricky Stromberg, wide receiver 
Jadon Haselwood and linebacker Bumper Pool, who recently had hip 
surgery, also are focused on the NFL.

Kansas gave up only nine sacks with the same five linemen starting every game, which ranks seventh in the country.

This
 is Kansas’ 13th bowl and first since 2008, when the Jayhawks beat 
Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. This also is their first bowl against an 
SEC team since a 10-0 loss to Mississippi State in the 1981 Hall of Fame
 Bowl. The Jayhawks first played in the Liberty Bowl in 1973, a loss to 
North Carolina State.

Arkansas is heading to its second straight 
bowl and 44th all-time. The Razorbacks, who come in having lost three of
 their last four, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-penn-state-nittany-lions-football-arkansas-razorbacks-football-sean-clifford-0bdf34681205c6b414bccae4b66e194d">beat Penn State in the Outback Bowl</a> to open this calendar year.

Extreme cold has led to lots of burst water pipes in Memphis, prompting <a href="https://twitter.com/AZOLibertyBowl/status/1607528440059641857">bowl officials to go on social media Monday night to make it clear the game will go on as scheduled</a>. By kickoff, temperatures are expected to be in the 50s.

Simmons
 Bank Liberty Stadium was dealing with water pressure issues on Tuesday 
night, and local officials were working to ensure the game is played. 
They are bringing in more than 400 portable toilets and putting hand 
sanitizer pumps near existing restrooms and concession areas.

The Associated Press The <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas</a> Jayhawks see a bright future thanks to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-lance-leipold-jayhawks-a81eea3cb4311c24ddabd543816efab1">coach Lance Leipold's quick turnaround.</a>The <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a>?That proud <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">Southeastern Conference</a>
 program goes into the Liberty Bowl on Wednesday hoping quarterback KJ 
Jefferson and running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders can provide enough 
offense to make up for a roster thinned by opt-outs and transfer portal 
departures.“It’s out of our hands so we just want to be able to control what we can control and do the best we can,” Jefferson said.A
 winning season is on the line for both Kansas and Arkansas, who are 
6-6, in the first meeting between these neighbors since 1906.This
 game means a lot to the Jayhawks after going 2-10 last season and 
finishing last in the Big 12. This is the Jayhawks' first bowl since 
2008 and second all-time at the Liberty Bowl, sponsored by AutoZone.“Now
 the fun starts,” Kansas linebacker Rich Miller said. “This is what 
we’ve worked for all season, and now it’s time to pay off.”<h2>OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS</h2>Expect
 lots of scoring. Kansas ranks fifth nationally, averaging 7.01 yards 
per play. That's on target to set a program record, topping the 6.4 
yards averaged per play for the 1950 season. The Jayhawks rank 27th 
nationally scoring with an average of 34.2 points per game, and Arkansas
 puts up 30.7 points a game.The Jayhawks also have dual-threat 
quarterback Jalon Daniels back after missing four games. He threw for 13
 touchdowns with only two interceptions this season and is a dual threat
 — second on the Jayhawks with 404 yards and six TDs rushing.Jefferson,
 who missed two games himself, joined Georgia's Stetson Bennett as the 
SEC's only quarterbacks to throw for at least 20 TDs and run for seven 
more. Jefferson threw for 2,361 yards and 22 TDs with only four 
interceptions.<h2>SPEEDY BACKS</h2>Devin Neal averages 6.2 yards per carry for Kansas and gained 1,061 yards this season. Neal had his best game <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-lawrence-spencer-sanders-6e9da4d46531ffd25d634f91c449abf2">against then-No. 18 Oklahoma State,</a>
 when he ran for 224 yards and had 110 yards more receiving in the win. 
Later, he became the first Power Five running back to follow that up 
with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-kansas-tyler-donovan-smith-5401a9ccb7fc54f1ea534560635fd9b4">at least 190 yards against Texas Tech</a>.Arkansas
 counters with Sanders, who ranked second in the SEC with 1,426 yards 
rushing and an average of 118.8 yards per game. He led the SEC with 
1,687 all-purpose yards as a receiving threat as well.<h2>PASS PROTECTION</h2>Arkansas
 leads the SEC and is tied for fifth nationally with 39 sacks, one off 
the school record of 40 set in 1998. Yet the Razorbacks will be without 
their <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-ap-all-america-team-1c0078baac0857cf80a461485108405d">All-American linebacker Drew Sanders,</a> who had a team-high 9 1/2 sacks.Sanders
 is just one of the Razorbacks who chose to prepare for the NFL draft 
rather than play in the bowl. Center Ricky Stromberg, wide receiver 
Jadon Haselwood and linebacker Bumper Pool, who recently had hip 
surgery, also are focused on the NFL.Kansas gave up only nine sacks with the same five linemen starting every game, which ranks seventh in the country.<h2>LONG TIME COMING</h2>This
 is Kansas’ 13th bowl and first since 2008, when the Jayhawks beat 
Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. This also is their first bowl against an 
SEC team since a 10-0 loss to Mississippi State in the 1981 Hall of Fame
 Bowl. The Jayhawks first played in the Liberty Bowl in 1973, a loss to 
North Carolina State.Arkansas is heading to its second straight 
bowl and 44th all-time. The Razorbacks, who come in having lost three of
 their last four, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-penn-state-nittany-lions-football-arkansas-razorbacks-football-sean-clifford-0bdf34681205c6b414bccae4b66e194d">beat Penn State in the Outback Bowl</a> to open this calendar year.<h2>WATER ISSUES</h2>Extreme cold has led to lots of burst water pipes in Memphis, prompting <a href="https://twitter.com/AZOLibertyBowl/status/1607528440059641857">bowl officials to go on social media Monday night to make it clear the game will go on as scheduled</a>. By kickoff, temperatures are expected to be in the 50s.Simmons
 Bank Liberty Stadium was dealing with water pressure issues on Tuesday 
night, and local officials were working to ensure the game is played. 
They are bringing in more than 400 portable toilets and putting hand 
sanitizer pumps near existing restrooms and concession areas.

Liberty Bowl pits Kansas vs Arkansas for 1st time since 1906

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — His family bought the Denver Broncos last 
summer but it was on Tuesday that CEO Greg Penner really took ownership 
of the franchise.

Penner made it clear that not only will he lead 
the search for a new head coach but that Nathaniel Hackett's replacement
 will report directly to him and not to general manager George Paton.

“Yes,
 the new head coach will report to me, which is the more typical 
structure in the NFL,” Penner said. “Obviously, the relationship between
 the general manager and the head coach is a critical one and George is 
going to be intimately involved with this process of looking for a new 
head coach and we’ll make sure that there’s a good fit there.”

Penner,
 his wife, Carrie Walton-Penner, and her father, Rob Walton, purchased 
the team for $4.65 billion, a global record for a professional sports 
franchise. Limited partners include former U.S. Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice.

The team has proven to be more of a fixer-upper than the new owners expected.

The
 Broncos have tumbled through a 4-11 season and quarterback Russell 
Wilson has stumbled through the worst season of his career after signing
 a $245 million extension before the opener.

“When we purchased 
this great franchise in August this is not the season we were 
expecting," Penner said, adding, “I want to personally apologize to our 
fans and all of Broncos country. We know that we need to be better and 
we will.”

The Broncos have extended their playoff drought to seven
 years, mostly because of a sputtering offense that averages fewer than 
16 points per game.

Hackett became just the fifth coach in NFL 
history not to make it through his first season. He's being replaced by 
interim coach Jerry Rosburg after Ejiro Evero, a candidate for the 
full-time job, declined the temporary offer, suggesting he'd be more of a
 help these last two weeks just sticking to his role as defensive 
coordinator.

The new head coach will have to find a way to fix Wilson and establish an offensive identity to match the team's stingy defense.

Penner said he wanted to wait until after the season to decide on Hackett's fate, but that all changed when the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-rams-denver-broncos-nfl-sports-69d6d952bd4279972d67867eabf585db">Broncos were blown out</a> 51-14 by the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.

Exacerbating
 the Broncos' embarrassment, guard Dalton Risner, the team's Walter 
Payton Man of the Year honoree, shoved backup QB Brett Rypien on the 
sideline and linebacker Randy Gregory threw a punch at Rams O-lineman 
Oday Aboushi during postgame handshakes, resulting in a one-game 
suspension.

That debacle alone isn't what got Hackett fired with 
three years and more than $12 million left on his contract, but it did 
accelerate the conversations that led to his dismissal.

Penner 
said he "didn’t go into this week thinking this was a time we were going
 to make a change. But after we saw the effort we put forward on Sunday,
 some of the things that were going on off the field, we just felt like 
it was time to make a decision."

Paton said he still thinks Hackett is “a great football coach” but that “it just didn't work out here.”

“And
 that’s on me,” added Paton. “I take full responsibility for where we 
are as a football team. I brought in the head coach; I brought in most 
of the players. Those are my decisions, and there’s no one to blame but 
me.”

So, why, Penner was asked, does he maintain such faith in both his GM and his QB given their dreadful 2022 performances?

“So,
 the decision to have Russ here was a long-term one,” Penner said. “This
 season has not been up to his standards or expectations. We saw some 
glimpses of (vintage Wilson) in the last few weeks. He knows he can play
 better. We know he can play better. And we know he’ll do the right work
 in the offseason to be ready for next year.”

Penner said he and 
his GM have daily conversations "and he acknowledged right up front 
there are a couple of decisions that haven’t worked out as he had 
expected. But I understand his thought process. He understands the work 
that needs to be done this offseason. And I’m going to rely on him 
heavily as we go through and make these changes.”

The Broncos 
aren't limiting their search to experienced NFL coaches even though 
their past three hires have been first-time head coaches who were fired 
before their contracts were up.

“It certainly helps, but it’s not 
necessary,” Paton said of previous NFL head coaching experience. “We’re 
going to keep an open mind through this search."

Paton said he's not necessarily looking for a quarterback whisperer, either.

“That's
 not why we're getting a new coach, to turn around Russ," Paton said. 
"It's about the entire organization, it's about the entire football 
team. It's not one player. It's not whether Russ is fixable or not. We 
do believe he is, we do.”

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — His family bought the Denver Broncos last 
summer but it was on Tuesday that CEO Greg Penner really took ownership 
of the franchise.Penner made it clear that not only will he lead 
the search for a new head coach but that Nathaniel Hackett's replacement
 will report directly to him and not to general manager George Paton.“Yes,
 the new head coach will report to me, which is the more typical 
structure in the NFL,” Penner said. “Obviously, the relationship between
 the general manager and the head coach is a critical one and George is 
going to be intimately involved with this process of looking for a new 
head coach and we’ll make sure that there’s a good fit there.”Penner,
 his wife, Carrie Walton-Penner, and her father, Rob Walton, purchased 
the team for $4.65 billion, a global record for a professional sports 
franchise. Limited partners include former U.S. Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice.The team has proven to be more of a fixer-upper than the new owners expected.The
 Broncos have tumbled through a 4-11 season and quarterback Russell 
Wilson has stumbled through the worst season of his career after signing
 a $245 million extension before the opener.“When we purchased 
this great franchise in August this is not the season we were 
expecting," Penner said, adding, “I want to personally apologize to our 
fans and all of Broncos country. We know that we need to be better and 
we will.”The Broncos have extended their playoff drought to seven
 years, mostly because of a sputtering offense that averages fewer than 
16 points per game.Hackett became just the fifth coach in NFL 
history not to make it through his first season. He's being replaced by 
interim coach Jerry Rosburg after Ejiro Evero, a candidate for the 
full-time job, declined the temporary offer, suggesting he'd be more of a
 help these last two weeks just sticking to his role as defensive 
coordinator.The new head coach will have to find a way to fix Wilson and establish an offensive identity to match the team's stingy defense.Penner said he wanted to wait until after the season to decide on Hackett's fate, but that all changed when the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-rams-denver-broncos-nfl-sports-69d6d952bd4279972d67867eabf585db">Broncos were blown out</a> 51-14 by the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.Exacerbating
 the Broncos' embarrassment, guard Dalton Risner, the team's Walter 
Payton Man of the Year honoree, shoved backup QB Brett Rypien on the 
sideline and linebacker Randy Gregory threw a punch at Rams O-lineman 
Oday Aboushi during postgame handshakes, resulting in a one-game 
suspension.That debacle alone isn't what got Hackett fired with 
three years and more than $12 million left on his contract, but it did 
accelerate the conversations that led to his dismissal.Penner 
said he "didn’t go into this week thinking this was a time we were going
 to make a change. But after we saw the effort we put forward on Sunday,
 some of the things that were going on off the field, we just felt like 
it was time to make a decision."Paton said he still thinks Hackett is “a great football coach” but that “it just didn't work out here.”“And
 that’s on me,” added Paton. “I take full responsibility for where we 
are as a football team. I brought in the head coach; I brought in most 
of the players. Those are my decisions, and there’s no one to blame but 
me.”So, why, Penner was asked, does he maintain such faith in both his GM and his QB given their dreadful 2022 performances?“So,
 the decision to have Russ here was a long-term one,” Penner said. “This
 season has not been up to his standards or expectations. We saw some 
glimpses of (vintage Wilson) in the last few weeks. He knows he can play
 better. We know he can play better. And we know he’ll do the right work
 in the offseason to be ready for next year.”Penner said he and 
his GM have daily conversations "and he acknowledged right up front 
there are a couple of decisions that haven’t worked out as he had 
expected. But I understand his thought process. He understands the work 
that needs to be done this offseason. And I’m going to rely on him 
heavily as we go through and make these changes.”The Broncos 
aren't limiting their search to experienced NFL coaches even though 
their past three hires have been first-time head coaches who were fired 
before their contracts were up.“It certainly helps, but it’s not 
necessary,” Paton said of previous NFL head coaching experience. “We’re 
going to keep an open mind through this search."Paton said he's not necessarily looking for a quarterback whisperer, either.“That's
 not why we're getting a new coach, to turn around Russ," Paton said. 
"It's about the entire organization, it's about the entire football 
team. It's not one player. It's not whether Russ is fixable or not. We 
do believe he is, we do.”

Impatient Penner leads Broncos' wide-open search for coach

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has suspended for one game Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory and Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi for exchanging punches following their game on Sunday.

Gregory and Aboushi exchanged words during the postgame handshake and Gregory threw a punch at Aboushi's helmet. 

Aboushi retaliated before teammates stepped in and separated them.

Gregory had received two 15-yard penalties during the Broncos' 51-14 loss to the Rams.

He threw his helmet on one play and then hit Rams QB Baker Mayfield in the head on the other.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has suspended for one game Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory and Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi for exchanging punches following their game on Sunday.Gregory and Aboushi exchanged words during the postgame handshake and Gregory threw a punch at Aboushi's helmet. Aboushi retaliated before teammates stepped in and separated them.Gregory had received two 15-yard penalties during the Broncos' 51-14 loss to the Rams.He threw his helmet on one play and then hit Rams QB Baker Mayfield in the head on the other.

Randy Gregory, Oday Aboushi suspended 1 game for punches

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday with two games left in the season.

Owner and CEO Greg Penner said he'll lead the search for a new coach with assistance from GM George Paton, in whom he expressed confidence while announcing&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1607432324152426496?s=20&amp;t=ptRR7Kbi9InGOMA4jA3oYw">Hackett's dismissal</a>.

Firing Hackett with two games left in a lost season allows Penner to begin his search for a replacement immediately.

The Broncos scheduled a news conference for Tuesday, when they're expected to name their interim head coach for games at Kansas City next weekend and at home against the Chargers in Week 18.

The Walton-Penner group purchased the Broncos for $4.65 billion last summer, a global record for a professional sports franchise, and Rob Walton said after the league’s approval that he aimed to make the Broncos perennial championship contenders again.

On Sunday, the Broncos (4-11) were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-los-angeles-rams-sean-mcvay-nfl-sports-996b45d21f8886479127cf5af82199b6">blown out by the equally downtrodden Los Angeles Rams 51-14</a>&nbsp;when Russell Wilson threw three interceptions and was sacked six times. The game featured a sideline spat between backup QB Brett Rypien and guard Dalton Risner, and pass rusher Randy Gregory threw a punch at a Rams player after the game.

In a statement Monday, Penner thanked Hackett for his dedication but said that “following extensive conversations with George and our ownership group, we determined a new direction would ultimately be in the best interest of the Broncos. This change was made now out of respect for everyone involved and allows us to immediately begin the search for a new head coach.”

Penner said that “moving forward, we will carefully evaluate every aspect of our football operations and make whatever changes are necessary to restore this franchise’s winning tradition.”

Hackett replaced Vic Fangio last January but hasn’t been able to build an offense suitable to Wilson, who recently turned 34.

Hackett is the third NFL head coach fired during the 2022 season. The Carolina Panthers replaced Matt Rhule with interim head coach Steve Wilks and the Indianapolis Colts fired Frank Reich and replaced him with coaching novice Jeff Saturday.

Many fans thought the Broncos hired Hackett away from the Green Bay Packers, where he was offensive coordinator, to help them land quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Rodgers decided to re-up with the Packers and the Broncos instead traded for Wilson, who was seen as still in his prime.

Wilson, however, has had an awful first season in Denver after the Broncos sent four premium draft picks and three players to Seattle for the nine-time Pro Bowler. Wilson has 12 touchdown passes with nine interceptions and 49 sacks in 13 starts and has been unable to snap out of a season-long funk.

He is 3-10 as Denver's starter and has missed games with a pulled hamstring and a concussion.

He routinely has ignored open receivers underneath to try for deep throws and he has shown a noticeable dip in his ability to escape from pass rushers this season.

The Broncos have missed the playoffs seven straight seasons and extended their string of losing records to six.

They will try to snap a 14-game losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and beat Patrick Mahomes for the first time in 11 tries.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday with two games left in the season.Owner and CEO Greg Penner said he'll lead the search for a new coach with assistance from GM George Paton, in whom he expressed confidence while announcing&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1607432324152426496?s=20&amp;t=ptRR7Kbi9InGOMA4jA3oYw">Hackett's dismissal</a>.Firing Hackett with two games left in a lost season allows Penner to begin his search for a replacement immediately.The Broncos scheduled a news conference for Tuesday, when they're expected to name their interim head coach for games at Kansas City next weekend and at home against the Chargers in Week 18.The Walton-Penner group purchased the Broncos for $4.65 billion last summer, a global record for a professional sports franchise, and Rob Walton said after the league’s approval that he aimed to make the Broncos perennial championship contenders again.On Sunday, the Broncos (4-11) were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-los-angeles-rams-sean-mcvay-nfl-sports-996b45d21f8886479127cf5af82199b6">blown out by the equally downtrodden Los Angeles Rams 51-14</a>&nbsp;when Russell Wilson threw three interceptions and was sacked six times. The game featured a sideline spat between backup QB Brett Rypien and guard Dalton Risner, and pass rusher Randy Gregory threw a punch at a Rams player after the game.In a statement Monday, Penner thanked Hackett for his dedication but said that “following extensive conversations with George and our ownership group, we determined a new direction would ultimately be in the best interest of the Broncos. This change was made now out of respect for everyone involved and allows us to immediately begin the search for a new head coach.”Penner said that “moving forward, we will carefully evaluate every aspect of our football operations and make whatever changes are necessary to restore this franchise’s winning tradition.”Hackett replaced Vic Fangio last January but hasn’t been able to build an offense suitable to Wilson, who recently turned 34.Hackett is the third NFL head coach fired during the 2022 season. The Carolina Panthers replaced Matt Rhule with interim head coach Steve Wilks and the Indianapolis Colts fired Frank Reich and replaced him with coaching novice Jeff Saturday.Many fans thought the Broncos hired Hackett away from the Green Bay Packers, where he was offensive coordinator, to help them land quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Rodgers decided to re-up with the Packers and the Broncos instead traded for Wilson, who was seen as still in his prime.Wilson, however, has had an awful first season in Denver after the Broncos sent four premium draft picks and three players to Seattle for the nine-time Pro Bowler. Wilson has 12 touchdown passes with nine interceptions and 49 sacks in 13 starts and has been unable to snap out of a season-long funk.He is 3-10 as Denver's starter and has missed games with a pulled hamstring and a concussion.He routinely has ignored open receivers underneath to try for deep throws and he has shown a noticeable dip in his ability to escape from pass rushers this season.The Broncos have missed the playoffs seven straight seasons and extended their string of losing records to six.They will try to snap a 14-game losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and beat Patrick Mahomes for the first time in 11 tries.

🏈 Broncos fire rookie head coach Hackett after 4-11 start

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson got back together Sunday, near the end of their first season apart following a decade together. Wagner and his Los Angeles Rams were the only ones who enjoyed the holiday reunion.

Wagner first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/bobby-wagner-finds-russell-wilson-s-pass-for-interception">intercepted a pass</a>&nbsp;by his longtime Seahawks teammate, setting up the Rams' second touchdown drive in their 31-point first half. Wagner also sacked the Broncos quarterback right before halftime, settling a longstanding bet between these good friends.

“I told him that if we ever played against one another, I’d get him,” Wagner said with a grin. “It was cool to do that. It was cool to pick him off as well on Christmas. I appreciate the presents.”

Wagner's holiday cheer was only part of a comprehensive thrashing delivered by the Super Bowl champions who haven't given up on their lost season just yet.

Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/tyler-higbee-gets-his-second-td-on-christmas-day">to Tyler Higbee</a>, Cam Akers rushed for 118 yards and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/cam-akers-best-plays-from-career-high-3-td-game-week-16">a career-high three TDs</a>&nbsp;and the Rams routed the Denver Broncos 51-14 for their second victory since mid-October.

Mayfield went 24 of 28 for 230 yards in another standout performance for his second win in three starts with the Rams (5-10), who produced the best game of their dismal season on Christmas.

“That's what you work toward,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “To see it come to life on a night like this, you're really happy for them. They deserve that.”

Rookie Cobie Durant punctuated the festivities when he&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1607170290626306050">returned his second interception 85 yards for a touchdown</a>, picking off Brett Rypien with 4:08 left to cap the Rams’ first 50-point performance under McVay since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-ap-top-news-super-bowl-sports-north-america-068564c5fefd42dcbe3f90c5fb173355">their famed 54-51 victory over Kansas City</a>&nbsp;in 2018.

For at least one more week, Los Angeles avoided becoming the first defending champion to lose 11 games. Even with the NFL's 32nd-ranked offense coming in, Los Angeles is now the second team to score 50 points this season, joining Dallas earlier this month.

“To play a complete game like this is really special,” Mayfield said. “Everything was there for us today.”

In his Los Angeles debut, Larrell Murchison made 2 1/2 of the Rams’ six sacks of Wilson, who passed for 214 yards with three interceptions for Denver (4-11). The beleaguered Wilson was not sharp in his return from a one-game absence with a concussion, throwing interceptions to end Denver’s first two drives.

“We haven’t really had an experience like that (where) we were trying to catch up like that so far here,” Wilson said. “Just became a snowball effect. … The bottom line is that I let us down. It can’t happen, and it’s been disappointing.”

The Rams improbably racked up 261 of their 388 yards before halftime and eventually scored on their first eight drives against Denver's above-average defense, already matching their full-game season high in points with their 31-6 halftime lead.

Denver trailed 41-6 before Wilson hit&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1607166756447047680">Greg Dulcich for the Broncos' only touchdown</a>&nbsp;with 8:30 left in the latest frustration-building loss in a season full of them under rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett.

“I think that they’re upset for all the losing," Hackett said. “We all are. Every one of us. It’s unacceptable. That’s not what we’re about. That’s not what we were going to do. We went in with the mindset that we were going to be able to win this game, but in the end, we weren’t ready.”

Akers continued his late-season surge by producing the Rams’ first 100-yard rushing game of the season, while Higbee led the passing attack with 94 yards on nine catches for an offense missing its top three wideouts due to injury.

Higbee became the Rams' career franchise leader in scoring catches by a tight end with his TD catch in the first quarter for his 19th career score. Akers then scored two snaps after Wagner made a long return of his interception across the middle.

The Rams’ 17-point first quarter was their highest-scoring opening period since Week 6 of McVay’s first season in 2017. They subsequently scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives for the first time in McVay's tenure.

Los Angeles led 31-3 at halftime, and Ramsey picked off Wilson's long heave to the end zone on Denver's opening drive of the second half. The Rams' pressure on Wilson improbably was led by Murchison, who signed with Los Angeles 13 days ago after Tennessee cut him.

Any Christmas cheer evaporated during postgame handshakes when angry Broncos edge rusher&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelCBS4/status/1607174923717410819">Randy Gregory threw a helmet slap</a>&nbsp;at Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi, who responded with a slap of his own. Tempers eventually cooled on a rough day for Gregory, who got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after LA’s third touchdown and later extended another Rams TD drive with a roughing-the-passer penalty.

“Talked with Randy, talked with all those guys, and we can’t show our frustration,” Hackett said. “We've got to take our frustrations out on the field the right way.”

Murchison left in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. ... Dulcich was ruled out with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson got back together Sunday, near the end of their first season apart following a decade together. Wagner and his Los Angeles Rams were the only ones who enjoyed the holiday reunion.Wagner first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/bobby-wagner-finds-russell-wilson-s-pass-for-interception">intercepted a pass</a>&nbsp;by his longtime Seahawks teammate, setting up the Rams' second touchdown drive in their 31-point first half. Wagner also sacked the Broncos quarterback right before halftime, settling a longstanding bet between these good friends.“I told him that if we ever played against one another, I’d get him,” Wagner said with a grin. “It was cool to do that. It was cool to pick him off as well on Christmas. I appreciate the presents.”Wagner's holiday cheer was only part of a comprehensive thrashing delivered by the Super Bowl champions who haven't given up on their lost season just yet.Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/tyler-higbee-gets-his-second-td-on-christmas-day">to Tyler Higbee</a>, Cam Akers rushed for 118 yards and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/cam-akers-best-plays-from-career-high-3-td-game-week-16">a career-high three TDs</a>&nbsp;and the Rams routed the Denver Broncos 51-14 for their second victory since mid-October.Mayfield went 24 of 28 for 230 yards in another standout performance for his second win in three starts with the Rams (5-10), who produced the best game of their dismal season on Christmas.“That's what you work toward,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “To see it come to life on a night like this, you're really happy for them. They deserve that.”Rookie Cobie Durant punctuated the festivities when he&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1607170290626306050">returned his second interception 85 yards for a touchdown</a>, picking off Brett Rypien with 4:08 left to cap the Rams’ first 50-point performance under McVay since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-ap-top-news-super-bowl-sports-north-america-068564c5fefd42dcbe3f90c5fb173355">their famed 54-51 victory over Kansas City</a>&nbsp;in 2018.For at least one more week, Los Angeles avoided becoming the first defending champion to lose 11 games. Even with the NFL's 32nd-ranked offense coming in, Los Angeles is now the second team to score 50 points this season, joining Dallas earlier this month.“To play a complete game like this is really special,” Mayfield said. “Everything was there for us today.”In his Los Angeles debut, Larrell Murchison made 2 1/2 of the Rams’ six sacks of Wilson, who passed for 214 yards with three interceptions for Denver (4-11). The beleaguered Wilson was not sharp in his return from a one-game absence with a concussion, throwing interceptions to end Denver’s first two drives.“We haven’t really had an experience like that (where) we were trying to catch up like that so far here,” Wilson said. “Just became a snowball effect. … The bottom line is that I let us down. It can’t happen, and it’s been disappointing.”The Rams improbably racked up 261 of their 388 yards before halftime and eventually scored on their first eight drives against Denver's above-average defense, already matching their full-game season high in points with their 31-6 halftime lead.Denver trailed 41-6 before Wilson hit&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1607166756447047680">Greg Dulcich for the Broncos' only touchdown</a>&nbsp;with 8:30 left in the latest frustration-building loss in a season full of them under rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett.“I think that they’re upset for all the losing," Hackett said. “We all are. Every one of us. It’s unacceptable. That’s not what we’re about. That’s not what we were going to do. We went in with the mindset that we were going to be able to win this game, but in the end, we weren’t ready.”Akers continued his late-season surge by producing the Rams’ first 100-yard rushing game of the season, while Higbee led the passing attack with 94 yards on nine catches for an offense missing its top three wideouts due to injury.Higbee became the Rams' career franchise leader in scoring catches by a tight end with his TD catch in the first quarter for his 19th career score. Akers then scored two snaps after Wagner made a long return of his interception across the middle.The Rams’ 17-point first quarter was their highest-scoring opening period since Week 6 of McVay’s first season in 2017. They subsequently scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives for the first time in McVay's tenure.Los Angeles led 31-3 at halftime, and Ramsey picked off Wilson's long heave to the end zone on Denver's opening drive of the second half. The Rams' pressure on Wilson improbably was led by Murchison, who signed with Los Angeles 13 days ago after Tennessee cut him.POSTGAME SCRAPAny Christmas cheer evaporated during postgame handshakes when angry Broncos edge rusher&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelCBS4/status/1607174923717410819">Randy Gregory threw a helmet slap</a>&nbsp;at Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi, who responded with a slap of his own. Tempers eventually cooled on a rough day for Gregory, who got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after LA’s third touchdown and later extended another Rams TD drive with a roughing-the-passer penalty.“Talked with Randy, talked with all those guys, and we can’t show our frustration,” Hackett said. “We've got to take our frustrations out on the field the right way.”INJURIESMurchison left in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. ... Dulcich was ruled out with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter.UP NEXTBroncos: At Chiefs on Sunday.Rams: “At” Chargers on Sunday.

🏈 Mayfield, Akers lead Rams' 51-14 blowout of Wilson's Broncos

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Even as the Kansas City Chiefs squeaked out wins the past few weeks, coach Andy Reid lamented both the state of their inexperienced defense and their inability to put away struggling teams.

They showed massive improvement in both areas against Seattle on Saturday.

That youthful defense shut down Geno Smith and the slumping Seahawks offense, Patrick Mahomes threw two TD passes before running for a clinching score in the fourth quarter, and the Chiefs rolled to a 24-10 win that allowed them to keep pace with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC.

“I mentioned it the other way the last couple of weeks, that they need to get better,” Reid said of his defense, which often has five or more rookies on the field at a time. “They're making progress and I thought they did a nice job today.”

Indeed, the Chiefs stopped the Seahawks (7-8) twice on fourth down, picked off their Pro Bowl quarterback in the end zone and dealt coach Pete Carroll’s team their fifth loss in six games along with a near-knockout blow to their playoff hopes.

Travis Kelce had six catches for 113 yards, and Kadarius Toney and Jerick McKinnon had touchdown catches, as the AFC West champion Chiefs (12-3) remain tied with the Bills — who hold the tiebreaker — with two games to go.

“We’re on a mission here in Kansas City,” Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark said, “and the goal is to finish the season strong. The last few weeks we haven't been getting the job done as far as finishing strong. A lot of tight games."

Kansas City has won 16 consecutive regular-season games against NFC opponents.

Kenneth Walker III was the biggest bright spot for Seattle, running for 107 yards but failing to reach the end zone. But the Chiefs mostly kept DK Metcalf in check, and Seattle didn't reach the end zone until the closing minutes of the game.

“We just couldn't get going and couldn't make first downs,” Carroll said. “We got nothing going at all.”

Much like the rest of the country, the cold weather that flooded the Midwest produced some frigid temperatures — the wind chill was minus-2 at kickoff, and that was an improvement over the previous two days. In fact, it had been so cold the tarp was frozen to the field when workers tried to remove it three hours before kickoff.

That didn't bother a half-dozen Seahawks, including DK Metcalf and his fellow wide receivers, who walked out of the tunnel bare-chested shortly afterward for their pregame warmups on the ice-covered field.

Maybe they weren't cold, but Seattle's offense was downright frigid.

Playing without wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who had surgery on his broken hand this week, Smith and Co. gained just 18 yards on their first 15 plays, and they were forced to punt on their first five possessions.

The Chiefs took advantage of the slow start, too. Mahomes threw a pop pass to Toney to cap a 63-yard TD drive, then a pass to McKinnon out of the backfield a few minutes later for another score. And by the time Harrison Butker drilled a 47-yard field goal late in the half, the Chiefs had jumped out to a 17-0 lead.

Even when Seattle got a field goal before halftime, much of the drive was aided by defensive penalties.

While the Chiefs struggled to extend their lead in the second half, the Seahawks proved incapable of trimming it.

They failed on fourth down at the Kansas City 34 when tight end Colby Parkinson was stood up after a catch; failed on fourth down again when Laquon Treadwell failed to run his route to the first-down marker and came up short; and failed to score at the Kansas City 22 when Smith overthrew Treadwell and was picked off by Juan Thornhill in the end zone.

The Chiefs, who have been maligned for failing to put struggling teams away, finally did it on the ensuing possession, when Mahomes hit Kelce with two long throws before sprinting to the pylon for the clinching touchdown.

“We just have to keep going. We're on a roll,” Toney said. “We have a goal right now and we're just trying to get to it.”

The Seahawks still have not won at Arrowhead Stadium since Nov. 21, 1999. ... The Seahawks were one of three teams Mahomes had yet to beat, along with Indianapolis and Minnesota. ... Mahomes extended his consecutive completions streak to 21 at the start of the game before missing his next throw. ... McKinnon has six TDs in his past four games.

Seahawks: NT Al Woods (Achilles) and SS Ryan Neal (knee) were inactive. ... FS Joey Blount (knee) and RB Travis Homer (ankle) left in the first quarter, and RT Abraham Lucas (thigh) in the third. ... WR Marquise Goodwin also left with a wrist injury, though he was able to return to the game.

Seahawks: host the New York Jets next Sunday.

Chiefs: host the Denver Broncos next Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671919114344.jpeg" alt="Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" />
 <figcaption>Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Even as the Kansas City Chiefs squeaked out wins the past few weeks, coach Andy Reid lamented both the state of their inexperienced defense and their inability to put away struggling teams.They showed massive improvement in both areas against Seattle on Saturday.That youthful defense shut down Geno Smith and the slumping Seahawks offense, Patrick Mahomes threw two TD passes before running for a clinching score in the fourth quarter, and the Chiefs rolled to a 24-10 win that allowed them to keep pace with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC.“I mentioned it the other way the last couple of weeks, that they need to get better,” Reid said of his defense, which often has five or more rookies on the field at a time. “They're making progress and I thought they did a nice job today.”Indeed, the Chiefs stopped the Seahawks (7-8) twice on fourth down, picked off their Pro Bowl quarterback in the end zone and dealt coach Pete Carroll’s team their fifth loss in six games along with a near-knockout blow to their playoff hopes.Travis Kelce had six catches for 113 yards, and Kadarius Toney and Jerick McKinnon had touchdown catches, as the AFC West champion Chiefs (12-3) remain tied with the Bills — who hold the tiebreaker — with two games to go.“We’re on a mission here in Kansas City,” Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark said, “and the goal is to finish the season strong. The last few weeks we haven't been getting the job done as far as finishing strong. A lot of tight games."Kansas City has won 16 consecutive regular-season games against NFC opponents.Kenneth Walker III was the biggest bright spot for Seattle, running for 107 yards but failing to reach the end zone. But the Chiefs mostly kept DK Metcalf in check, and Seattle didn't reach the end zone until the closing minutes of the game.“We just couldn't get going and couldn't make first downs,” Carroll said. “We got nothing going at all.”Much like the rest of the country, the cold weather that flooded the Midwest produced some frigid temperatures — the wind chill was minus-2 at kickoff, and that was an improvement over the previous two days. In fact, it had been so cold the tarp was frozen to the field when workers tried to remove it three hours before kickoff.That didn't bother a half-dozen Seahawks, including DK Metcalf and his fellow wide receivers, who walked out of the tunnel bare-chested shortly afterward for their pregame warmups on the ice-covered field.Maybe they weren't cold, but Seattle's offense was downright frigid.Playing without wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who had surgery on his broken hand this week, Smith and Co. gained just 18 yards on their first 15 plays, and they were forced to punt on their first five possessions.The Chiefs took advantage of the slow start, too. Mahomes threw a pop pass to Toney to cap a 63-yard TD drive, then a pass to McKinnon out of the backfield a few minutes later for another score. And by the time Harrison Butker drilled a 47-yard field goal late in the half, the Chiefs had jumped out to a 17-0 lead.Even when Seattle got a field goal before halftime, much of the drive was aided by defensive penalties.While the Chiefs struggled to extend their lead in the second half, the Seahawks proved incapable of trimming it.They failed on fourth down at the Kansas City 34 when tight end Colby Parkinson was stood up after a catch; failed on fourth down again when Laquon Treadwell failed to run his route to the first-down marker and came up short; and failed to score at the Kansas City 22 when Smith overthrew Treadwell and was picked off by Juan Thornhill in the end zone.The Chiefs, who have been maligned for failing to put struggling teams away, finally did it on the ensuing possession, when Mahomes hit Kelce with two long throws before sprinting to the pylon for the clinching touchdown.“We just have to keep going. We're on a roll,” Toney said. “We have a goal right now and we're just trying to get to it.”STATS AND STREAKSThe Seahawks still have not won at Arrowhead Stadium since Nov. 21, 1999. ... The Seahawks were one of three teams Mahomes had yet to beat, along with Indianapolis and Minnesota. ... Mahomes extended his consecutive completions streak to 21 at the start of the game before missing his next throw. ... McKinnon has six TDs in his past four games.INJURY REPORTSeahawks: NT Al Woods (Achilles) and SS Ryan Neal (knee) were inactive. ... FS Joey Blount (knee) and RB Travis Homer (ankle) left in the first quarter, and RT Abraham Lucas (thigh) in the third. ... WR Marquise Goodwin also left with a wrist injury, though he was able to return to the game.UP NEXTSeahawks: host the New York Jets next Sunday.Chiefs: host the Denver Broncos next Sunday.

🏈 Chiefs dump Seahawks, stay tied for AFC's best record

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus reviews Kansas City's win in Houston and previews their Christmas Eve showdown with Seattle.

The Holthus Hotline airs Saturday morning around 8:00 a.m. on 96.9, KFIX.

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus reviews Kansas City's win in Houston and previews their Christmas Eve showdown with Seattle.The Holthus Hotline airs Saturday morning around 8:00 a.m. on 96.9, KFIX.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1408947904%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-FfjE8JEhN2l&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/holthus-hotline-dec-24-2022/s-FfjE8JEhN2l" title="Holthus Hotline (Dec. 24, 2022)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Holthus Hotline (Dec. 24, 2022)</a></div></div>

🎧 Holthus Hotline with Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jalen Wilson scored 21 points and No. 4 Kansas overcame a frigid performance from 3-point range to beat Harvard 68-54.

Wilson reached the 1,000-point mark in his career in the game.

The Jayhawks (11-1) went 4 for 20 from behind the arc, with no player besides Gradey Dick hitting one until Wilson made one with just over a minute remaining.

Wilson scored 11 points in the final 6:24.

Kevin McCullar added 14 points and Dick had 11, going 3 for 7 behind the arc.

KJ Adams had 10. Chris Ledlum had 17 points for Harvard (8-5). Evan Nelson scored 10.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jalen Wilson scored 21 points and No. 4 Kansas overcame a frigid performance from 3-point range to beat Harvard 68-54.Wilson reached the 1,000-point mark in his career in the game.The Jayhawks (11-1) went 4 for 20 from behind the arc, with no player besides Gradey Dick hitting one until Wilson made one with just over a minute remaining.Wilson scored 11 points in the final 6:24.Kevin McCullar added 14 points and Dick had 11, going 3 for 7 behind the arc.KJ Adams had 10. Chris Ledlum had 17 points for Harvard (8-5). Evan Nelson scored 10.

🏀 Wilson hits 1,000 points as No. 4 Kansas beats Harvard 68-54

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Three months ago, Broncos running back Latavius Murray was at home thinking his career may be done.

The 32-year-old even started coaching at a local high school.

That assignment lasted all of one day before New Orleans brought him in. 

Denver later signed him off the Saints practice squad and he turned into the Broncos leading rusher this season.

He had a 130-yard, one-touchdown performance against Arizona that earned him a game ball in the locker room.

The Broncos play in Los Angeles against the Rams on Christmas Day in a matchup of 4-10 teams.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Three months ago, Broncos running back Latavius Murray was at home thinking his career may be done.The 32-year-old even started coaching at a local high school.That assignment lasted all of one day before New Orleans brought him in. Denver later signed him off the Saints practice squad and he turned into the Broncos leading rusher this season.He had a 130-yard, one-touchdown performance against Arizona that earned him a game ball in the locker room.The Broncos play in Los Angeles against the Rams on Christmas Day in a matchup of 4-10 teams.

At 32, Broncos tailback Latavius Murray still running strong

The Chiefs will try to keep pace with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC when they face the slumping Seahawks on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City already has clinched its seventh consecutive West Division title. 

Seattle is slipping out of playoff contention after losing four of its past five games. 

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is riding a streak of 20 consecutive completions, just five off the NFL record, and is putting together a strong case for his second league MVP award. 

The Seahawks expect to be without injured wide receiver Tyler Lockett on Saturday.

Associated PressThe Chiefs will try to keep pace with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC when they face the slumping Seahawks on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City already has clinched its seventh consecutive West Division title. Seattle is slipping out of playoff contention after losing four of its past five games. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is riding a streak of 20 consecutive completions, just five off the NFL record, and is putting together a strong case for his second league MVP award. The Seahawks expect to be without injured wide receiver Tyler Lockett on Saturday.

Chiefs try to keep pace in AFC as Seattle visits Saturday

AUSTIN, Texas – Fort Hays State sophomore Alex Schremmer
 was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team
 on Tuesday. 

Schremmer was a second-team selection as a 
special teams player after serving as a kick and punt returner in 2022. 
Sports Information and Athletic Communication professionals nationwide 
vote on the Academic All-America Team, which reflects both academic and 
athletic accomplishments of the individuals selected. 
Schremmer has a 3.87 cumulative grade point average as a biology major 
at FHSU. He had earned the MIAA Academic Excellence Award (cumulative 
4.0 GPA) twice prior to this year. 
On the field, Schremmer finished 2022 with 253 total kick return yards 
(197 kickoff and 56 punt). He averaged 21.9 yards on kickoff returns and
 14.0 on punt returns. In the previous season, Schremmer had 162 yards 
as a wide receiver to go along with 217 total return yards. 
Schremmer is the 15th individual in FHSU Football history to 
earn Academic All-America honors from College Sports Communicators 
(formerly known as CoSIDA).

Connor Shedeed was the last Tiger football 
student-athlete to earn the honor, receiving first-team honors as a 
defensive back in 2018.

FHSU had eight individuals considered for 
Academic All-America selection this year at their respective positions 
after receiving All-District honors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671665894886.png" alt="Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AUSTIN, Texas – Fort Hays State sophomore Alex Schremmer
 was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team
 on Tuesday. Schremmer was a second-team selection as a 
special teams player after serving as a kick and punt returner in 2022. 
Sports Information and Athletic Communication professionals nationwide 
vote on the Academic All-America Team, which reflects both academic and 
athletic accomplishments of the individuals selected. 
Schremmer has a 3.87 cumulative grade point average as a biology major 
at FHSU. He had earned the MIAA Academic Excellence Award (cumulative 
4.0 GPA) twice prior to this year. 
On the field, Schremmer finished 2022 with 253 total kick return yards 
(197 kickoff and 56 punt). He averaged 21.9 yards on kickoff returns and
 14.0 on punt returns. In the previous season, Schremmer had 162 yards 
as a wide receiver to go along with 217 total return yards. 
Schremmer is the 15th individual in FHSU Football history to 
earn Academic All-America honors from College Sports Communicators 
(formerly known as CoSIDA).Connor Shedeed was the last Tiger football 
student-athlete to earn the honor, receiving first-team honors as a 
defensive back in 2018.FHSU had eight individuals considered for 
Academic All-America selection this year at their respective positions 
after receiving All-District honors.

Schremmer named to Academic All-America Team

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Keyontae Johnson added 16 points and seven rebounds and Kansas State held off Radford 73-65 for its fifth straight win.

Tomlin scored six points during an 11-0 run as Kansas State took the first double-digit lead of the game at 45-35 with 14:22 remaining.

Johnson’s highlight was an alley-oop dunk, off Markquis Nowell’s lob from midcourt, to made it 69-52.

Kansas State was ahead by 17 points with 4:04 left before Radford scored 13 of the next 15 to get within 71-65.

Johnson sealed it with two free throws at 20.4.

Nowell finished with 10 points and 11 assists and Desi Sills also scored 10 for Kansas State.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Keyontae Johnson added 16 points and seven rebounds and Kansas State held off Radford 73-65 for its fifth straight win.Tomlin scored six points during an 11-0 run as Kansas State took the first double-digit lead of the game at 45-35 with 14:22 remaining.Johnson’s highlight was an alley-oop dunk, off Markquis Nowell’s lob from midcourt, to made it 69-52.Kansas State was ahead by 17 points with 4:04 left before Radford scored 13 of the next 15 to get within 71-65.Johnson sealed it with two free throws at 20.4.Nowell finished with 10 points and 11 assists and Desi Sills also scored 10 for Kansas State.

🏀 Tomlin scores 26; K-State holds off Radford 73-65

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame running back whose heads-up thinking authored “The Immaculate Reception,” considered the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72.

Harris' son Dok told The Associated Press his father passed away overnight. No cause of death was given.

His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Steelers from also-rans into the NFL's elite and three days before Pittsburgh is scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, a dynasty that began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972.

With Pittsburgh trailing 7-6 and facing fourth-and-10 from their own 40 yard line and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw drifted back and threw deep to running back French Fuqua. Fuqua and Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball careening back toward midfield in the direction of Harris.

While nearly everyone else on the field stopped, Harris kept his legs churning, snatching the ball just inches above the Three Rivers Stadium turf near the Oakland 45 then outracing several stunned Raider defenders to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in the franchise's four-decade history.

“That play really represents our teams of the ’70s,” Harris said after the ”Immaculate Reception" was voted the greatest play in NFL history during the league's 100th anniversary season in 2020.

While the Steelers fell the next week to Miami in the AFC Championship, Pittsburgh was on its way to becoming the dominant team of the 1970s, twice winning back-to-back Super Bowls, first after the 1974 and 1975 seasons and again after the 1978 and 1979 seasons.

Harris, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound workhorse from Penn State, found himself in the center of it all. He churned for a then-record 158 yards rushing and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX on his way to winning the game's Most Valuable Player award. He scored at least once in three of the four Super Bowls he played in, and his 354 career yards rushing on the NFL's biggest stage remains a record nearly four decades after his retirement.

Born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 7, 1950, Harris played collegiately at Penn State, where his primary job was to open holes for backfield mate Lydell Mitchell. The Steelers, in the final stages of a rebuild led by Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll, saw enough in Harris to make him the 13th overall pick in the 1972 draft.

“When (Noll) drafted Franco Harris, he gave the offense heart, he gave it discipline, he gave it desire, he gave it the ability to win a championship in Pittsburgh,” Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann said of his frequent roommate on team road trips.

Harris' impact was immediate. He won the NFL's Rookie to the Year award in 1972 after rushing for a then-team-rookie record 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Steelers reached the postseason for just the second time in franchise history.

The city's large Italian-American population embraced Harris immediately, led by two local businessmen who founded what became known as “Franco's Italian Army,” a nod to Harris' roots as the son of an African-American father and an Italian mother.

The “Immaculate Reception” made Harris a star, though he typically preferred to let his play and not his mouth do the talking. On a team that featured big personalities in Bradshaw, defensive tackle Joe Greene, linebacker Jack Lambert among others, the intensely quiet Harris spent 12 seasons as the engine that helped Pittsburgh's offense go.

Eight times he topped 1,000 yards rushing in a season, including five times while playing a 14-game schedule. He piled up another 1,556 yards rushing and 16 rushing touchdowns in the playoffs, both second all-time behind Smith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671623958912.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PITTSBURGH (AP) — Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame running back whose heads-up thinking authored “The Immaculate Reception,” considered the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72.Harris' son Dok told The Associated Press his father passed away overnight. No cause of death was given.His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Steelers from also-rans into the NFL's elite and three days before Pittsburgh is scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders.Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, a dynasty that began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972.With Pittsburgh trailing 7-6 and facing fourth-and-10 from their own 40 yard line and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw drifted back and threw deep to running back French Fuqua. Fuqua and Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball careening back toward midfield in the direction of Harris.While nearly everyone else on the field stopped, Harris kept his legs churning, snatching the ball just inches above the Three Rivers Stadium turf near the Oakland 45 then outracing several stunned Raider defenders to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in the franchise's four-decade history.“That play really represents our teams of the ’70s,” Harris said after the ”Immaculate Reception" was voted the greatest play in NFL history during the league's 100th anniversary season in 2020.While the Steelers fell the next week to Miami in the AFC Championship, Pittsburgh was on its way to becoming the dominant team of the 1970s, twice winning back-to-back Super Bowls, first after the 1974 and 1975 seasons and again after the 1978 and 1979 seasons.Harris, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound workhorse from Penn State, found himself in the center of it all. He churned for a then-record 158 yards rushing and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX on his way to winning the game's Most Valuable Player award. He scored at least once in three of the four Super Bowls he played in, and his 354 career yards rushing on the NFL's biggest stage remains a record nearly four decades after his retirement.Born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 7, 1950, Harris played collegiately at Penn State, where his primary job was to open holes for backfield mate Lydell Mitchell. The Steelers, in the final stages of a rebuild led by Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll, saw enough in Harris to make him the 13th overall pick in the 1972 draft.“When (Noll) drafted Franco Harris, he gave the offense heart, he gave it discipline, he gave it desire, he gave it the ability to win a championship in Pittsburgh,” Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann said of his frequent roommate on team road trips.Harris' impact was immediate. He won the NFL's Rookie to the Year award in 1972 after rushing for a then-team-rookie record 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Steelers reached the postseason for just the second time in franchise history.The city's large Italian-American population embraced Harris immediately, led by two local businessmen who founded what became known as “Franco's Italian Army,” a nod to Harris' roots as the son of an African-American father and an Italian mother.The “Immaculate Reception” made Harris a star, though he typically preferred to let his play and not his mouth do the talking. On a team that featured big personalities in Bradshaw, defensive tackle Joe Greene, linebacker Jack Lambert among others, the intensely quiet Harris spent 12 seasons as the engine that helped Pittsburgh's offense go.Eight times he topped 1,000 yards rushing in a season, including five times while playing a 14-game schedule. He piled up another 1,556 yards rushing and 16 rushing touchdowns in the playoffs, both second all-time behind Smith.Despite his gaudy numbers, Harris stressed he was just one cog in an extraordinary machine that redefined greatness.“You see, during that era, each player brought their own little piece with them to make that wonderful decade happen,” Harris said during his Hall of Fame speech in 1990. “Each player had their strengths and weaknesses, each their own thinking, each their own method, just each, each had their own. But then it was amazing, it all came together, and it stayed together to forge the greatest team of all times.”Harris also made it a habit to stick up for his teammates. When Bradshaw took what Harris felt was an illegal late hit from Dallas linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson in the second half of their meeting in the 1978 Super Bowl, Harris basically demanded Bradshaw give him the ball on the next play. All Harris did was sprint up the middle 22 yards — right by Henderson — for a touchdown that gave the Steelers an 11-point lead they would not relinquish on their way to their third championship in six years.Despite all of his success, his time in Pittsburgh ended acrimoniously when the Steelers cut him after he held out during training camp before the 1984 season. Noll, who leaned on Harris so heavily for so long, famously answered “Franco who?” when asked about Harris' absence from the team's camp at Saint Vincent College.Harris signed with Seattle, running for just 170 yards in eight games before being released in midseason. He retired as the NFL's third all-time leading rusher behind Walter Payton and Jim Brown."I don’t even think about that (anymore),” Harris said in 2006. “I’m still black and gold.”Harris remained in Pittsburgh following his retirement, opening a bakery and becoming heavily involved in several charities, including serving as the chairman of “Pittsburgh Promise," which provides college scholarship opportunities for Pittsburgh Public School students.Harris is survived by his wife Dana Dokmanovich and his son, Dok.