NFL

The New England Patriots’ pursuit of another unbeaten regular season ended Sunday night in snowy Denver, where the Broncos rallied behind backup quarterback Brock Osweiler for a 30-24 overtime win.

Down 14-0 early and 21-7 in the second quarter, the Broncos went ahead 24-21 with 1:09 left in regulation, only to see the Patriots (10-1) tie the game on Stephen Gostkowski’s 47-yard field goal on the final play. C.J. Anderson’s 48-yard run in OT won it for the Broncos (9-2). Osweiler has replaced the injured Peyton Manning for the Broncos.

The Houston Texans (6-5) won their fourth consecutive game, handing the reeling New Orleans Saints (4-7) a 24-6 loss, their third straight. The Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) notched their fifth straight win, earning a 30-22 victory over the Buffalo Bills (5-6).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The conference championship games come up on Saturday, which means the teams that are done for the season (except for bowls) are itching to make changes: Georgia parted company with Mark Richt after 15 seasons; Rutgers and Virginia also will have new coaches next season. Louisiana State decided to keep the embattled Les Miles.

NBA

Kobe Bryant, 37, who has spent his entire pro career with the Los Angeles Lakers, announced he will retire at season’s end. Bryant helped the Lakers to five championships and was the NBA’s MVP in 2008. He went into the NBA as a 17-year-old, right out of high school, and he’s the only player to spend 20 consecutive seasons with one team. … The Philadelphia 76ers absorbed a 92-84 loss at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night, tying the NBA record for worst start to a season with 18 consecutive defeats. Dating to last season, they’ve lost 28 in a row.

ELSEWHERE

Boxing has a new heavyweight champion. Tyson Fury, of Manchester, Great Britain, won a unanimous decision over Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf, Germany. Klitschko had not lost a fight since 2004. Klitschko, 39, might accept a rematch, but he is considered likely to retire. … Matt Jones held off a challenge from world No. 1 Jordan Spieth and fellow Australian Adam Scott to win the Australian Open by a shot.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .