- Icelanders head to the polls after government collapse
- England strike twice to have New Zealand in trouble in first Test
- Researchers analyse DNA from dung to save Laos elephants
- North Korea's Kim, Russian minister agree to boost military ties
- Brook's 171 gives England commanding 151-run lead over New Zealand
- Kamala's coda: What's next for defeated US VP Harris?
- Chiefs hold off Raiders to clinch NFL playoff berth
- Australia's Hazlewood out of 2nd India Test
- Trudeau in Florida to meet Trump as tariff threats loom
- Trudeau in Florida to meet Trump as tariff threats loom: media
- Hunter shines as Hawks top Cavs again
- Southampton denied shock Brighton win by dubious VAR call
- Alarm over high rate of HIV infections among young women, girls
- Swiss unveil Euro 2025 mascot Maddli
- Bears fire coach Eberflus after latest agonizing NFL defeat
- Rallies mark one month since Spain's catastrophic floods
- Arnault family's Paris FC takeover completed
- 'We're messing up:' Uruguay icon Mujica on strongman rule in Latin America
- Liverpool dealt Konate injury blow
- Van Nistelrooy appointed Leicester manager
- Verstappen brought back to earth in Doha after F1 title party
- Global wine output to hit lowest level since 1961
- Norris boosts McLaren title hopes with sprint pole
- Romania recounts presidential ballots as parliamentary vote looms
- French skipper Dalin leads as Vendee Globe passes Cape of Good Hope
- Chelsea not in Premier League title race, says Maresca
- Brazil's Bolsonaro aims to ride Trump wave back to office: WSJ
- France requests transfer of death row convict held in Indonesia: minister
- 'Mamie Charge': Migrants find safe haven in Frenchwoman's garage
- Iconic Uruguayan ex-leader hails country's swing left as 'farewell gift'
- Shared experiences make Murray 'perfect coach', says Djokovic
- Iran, Europeans to keep talking as tensions ratchet up
- Inflation-wary US consumers flock to 'Black Friday' deals
- France shows off restored Notre Dame after 'impossible' restoration
- South African bowlers strike after Sri Lanka set big target
- Namibia reopens polls after election chaos in ruling party test
- Georgia police arrest dozens in clashes with pro-EU protesters
- Leclerc on top for Ferrari in Qatar GP practice
- Amorim puts faith in Mount to turn around Man Utd career
- Guardiola will not 'run' from Man City rebuild
- Assisted dying campaigners, opponents rally at UK parliament
- Durable prop Healy set to carve name in Irish rugby history
- Macron unveils Notre Dame after 'impossible' restoration
- Traumatised Spain marks one month since catastrophic floods
- Attack-minded Spurs boss Postecoglou says: 'You'll miss me when I'm gone'
- Syria jihadists, allies shell major city Aleppo in shock offensive
- Macron inspects 'sublime' Notre Dame after reconstruction
- Arsenal must be near-perfect to catch Liverpool, says Arteta
- Arrests, intimidation stoke fear in Pakistan's politics
- Showdown looms on plastic treaty days before deadline
Mahomes, Mayfield prepare for duel as Chiefs, Bucs clash
Eight years after matching each other blow-for-blow in one of the highest-scoring US college games in history, Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield are poised for another shoot-out as the Kansas City Chiefs face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL week nine this weekend.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs host the Bucs at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday as the last unbeaten team in the league after moving to 7-0 with a hard-fought divisional win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
They will be facing a Tampa Bay side whose momentum has stalled in recent weeks, with three defeats in their last four games leaving them with a 4-4 record in the NFC South.
The Chiefs, however, will be wary that for all of Tampa Bay's recent struggles, the Bucs offense continues to pose a threat, averaging just under 30 points a game this season.
For the Chiefs' gunslinging quarterback Mahomes and Bucs counterpart Mayfield, it is the latest instalment of a good-natured rivalry that stretches back to their college days.
Mahomes and Mayfield combined in a wild college football showdown in 2016 that saw Mayfield's University of Oklahoma take down Mahomes and Texas Tech University in a clash that finished 66-59 to the Sooners.
Mayfield threw for an incredible seven touchdowns and 545 yards in that victory, while Mahomes, not to be outdone, finished with five touchdowns and 734 passing yards, 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
"We had to score every single drive in the second half to win that game," Mayfield has said.
"It was an unbelievable game and unbelievable atmosphere. Just the back and forth is something that I will not forget."
Mahomes, meanwhile, recalled being told by a team-mate during the game "You have 77 pass attempts right now."
"I was like, 'Man, that's a lot of passes,'" said Mahomes, who would finish with 52 completions from 88 attempts.
- 'I care about wins' -
Mayfield and Mahomes' careers have diverged since entering the professional ranks of the National Football League.
Mahomes has gone on to establish himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, winning three Super Bowls in four appearances, while Mayfield has only reached the postseason twice in seven seasons.
Mayfield was traded by the Cleveland Browns in 2022 after the franchise swooped for Deshaun Watson, and failed to establish himself during stints with Carolina and the Los Angeles Rams, before arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023.
The 29-year-old has flourished in Florida, and leads the NFL this season with 21 touchdown passes. Mayfield though says the only stat that matters is the wins and losses column.
"I care about wins," Mayfield said Thursday. "We've had success in the pass game but we're just trying to find ways to win.
"I think there's a lot of plays that probably some of those stats should be better, but the one stat that should be better is wins and that's what I'm focused on."
In other highlights this weekend, the Detroit Lions (6-1) face an NFC North divisional battle with the Green Bay Packers (6-2) on Sunday while in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens (5-3) host the Denver Broncos, who have an identical 5-3 record after eight games.
The struggling Dallas Cowboys (3-4) meanwhile head to the Atlanta Falcons (5-3) desperate to kickstart their season after an abject defeat to San Francisco last week that has left "America's Team" sliding firmly into full-blown crisis territory.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, who this season has thrown almost as many interceptions (eight) as touchdowns (10), admitted on Thursday that the Falcons game had taken on must-win dimensions if the Cowboys are to make a run for the playoffs.
"Hell, to me every game is (must-win) but obviously 3-4, as I’ve said, a lot of season left," Prescott said.
"But the first start to be able to say that confidently is getting back even, especially having a couple of home ones after that."
A.Magalhes--PC