Weekend In Review – Chiefs And Ravens Secure NFL Playoff Berths, College Football Playoffs And Bowls Set, More

Recapping all the top games and matchups from over the weekend The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West title for the fourth consecutive year with a 23-16 victory...

(Photo Credit: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Recapping all the top games and matchups from over the weekend

The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West title for the fourth consecutive year with a 23-16 victory over the slumping New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens also earned a playoff berth by beating the Buffalo Bills 24-17.

The NFL’s game of the day, however, was the San Francisco 49ers’ 48-46 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Both teams scored in the final minute, with the Niners shaking off an early 13-point deficit and winning as time expired on Robbie Gould’s 30-yard field goal. Saints quarterback Drew Brees passed for five touchdowns and ran for another in an entertaining contest that could be reprised in the playoffs.

Also of note: The Tennessee Titans won for the sixth time in seven games, beating the Oakland Raiders 42-21. At 8-5, they’re tied with the Houston Texans in the AFC South – the Texans fell 38-24 at home to the Denver Broncos.

College Football:
The College Football Playoff committee selected LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and Oklahoma as the contenders for the national title. LSU plays Oklahoma in Atlanta and Ohio State takes on Clemson in Glendale, Arizona, on Dec. 28. The championship game is Jan. 13 in New Orleans. The bowl games are also set.

Florida State named Memphis’ Mike Norvell as its new coach and Ole Miss hired Lane Kiffin away from Florida Atlantic.

College Basketball:
No. 5 Virginia defeated No. 7 North Carolina 56-47 and No. 9 Gonzaga topped No. 22 Washington 83-76 in Sunday’s games. On Saturday, No. 3 Maryland rallied at home from 15 down to beat Illinois 59-58.

Baseball:
The Modern Baseball Era Committee elected the late union leader Marvin Miller and catcher Ted Simmons to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Miller led the drive for free agency during his tenure (1966-82) as the union leader.

MLB’s winter meetings begin on Monday in San Diego.

Elsewhere:
Anthony Joshua won a 12-round decision over a pudgy Andy Ruiz Jr. to regain his heavyweight boxing titles and avenge his earlier loss to Ruiz.

Anthony Davis scored a career-high 50 points as the Los Angeles Lakers scooted past the Minnesota Timberwolves 142-125. LeBron James added 32 and 13 assists. … Stanford’s women’s soccer team won the College Cup with a 5-4 triumph over North Carolina on penalty kicks.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman