NFL:
In the NFL on Sunday, the Jets topped New England in overtime 26-20 putting the Jets in position to make the playoffs, Buffalo won against Dallas 16-6, and Minnesota clinched a playoff spot by beating the Giants 49-17. Elsewhere Atlanta beat Carolina 20-13 to end the last unbeaten streak in the NFL, Kansas City topped Cleveland 17-13, Chicago won against Tampa Bay 26-21, Houston bested Tennessee 34-6, Indianapolis defeated Miami 18-12, Baltimore trumped Pittsburgh 20-17, Detroit beat San Francisco 32-17, Arizona blasted Green Bay 38-8, and it was St. Louis over Seattle 23-17.
On Monday Night Football, Cincinnati is in Denver at 8:30 p.m.
Denver quarterback Peyton Manning is angrily denying a report by Al Jazeera that suggests he used human growth hormone while recovering from neck surgery in 2011. Manning told ESPN the report was "completely fabricated, complete trash."
Patriots coach Bill Belichick says there was "no confusion" on the call to kick to the Jets after winning the overtime coin toss. He'd done it once before in 2013, but a hefty wind was involved against the Denver Broncos that day and the decision worked then.
An 8-year-old Maine girl battling leukemia has gotten her Christmas wish to meet New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The Lewiston Sun Journal says Bethel resident Hailey Steward received a video invitation from Brady on Christmas Day and visited him Saturday at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The injuries keep coming for the Patriots. Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer left in the first quarter of yesterday's game against the Jets with a leg injury. Offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle went out in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. Defensive back Justin Coleman left in the fourth with a head injury.
NBA:
In the NBA, Boston beat New York 100-91, Memphis won against the Lakers 112-96, Oklahoma City defeated Denver 122-112, and it was Portland over Sacramento 98-94.
NHL:
In the NHL, Ottawa bested Boston 3-1, Toronto topped the Islanders 3-1, Florida skated by Columbus 3-2, Dallas blanked St. Louis 3-0, Carolina beat Chicago 2-1, Arizona edged Colorado in overtime 2-1, Anaheim doubled up Philadelphia 4-2, Winnipeg shut out Pittsburgh 1-0, and it was Calgary over Edmonton 5-3.
The Buffalo Sabres say forward Evander Kane is the subject of a sex offense investigation by police.
They say they're taking the allegation made yesterday against Kane "very seriously." They also say they are gathering facts and have been in touch with the NHL and Kane's representatives. Police confirm there's an investigation but won't discuss it.
Kane's agent hasn't returned messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment. His attorney has declined to comment. The 24-year-old Kane had a goal Saturday night in the Sabres' 6-3 victory in Boston. He has eight goals and five assists in 25 games this season.
NCAA:
An investigation by The Associated Press finds that at least one-third of the Power Five conference schools are not punishing athletes as harshly as they were 10 years ago for using marijuana and other so-called recreational drugs.
The AP analyzed policies for 57 of the 65 schools in the Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences, plus Notre Dame.
Of the 57 schools, 23 since 2005 have either reduced penalties or allowed an athlete to test positive more times before being suspended or dismissed. Ten schools have separate, less stringent policies addressing only marijuana infractions.
In the Pac-12, five schools do not suspend athletes for as long as they once did.
Northwestern, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Southern California, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest did not provide copies of their drug policies despite repeated requests, citing privacy laws. Stanford does not test its athletes.
Meanwhile Arizona receiver Cayleb Jones has announced via Twitter that he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Jones caught 73 passes for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore and had 55 catches for 904 yards and five touchdowns last season.
MLB:
Former major league outfielder Dave Henderson has died at 57 after suffering a massive heart attack.
Henderson was best known for his home run in the 1986 AL Championship Series for Boston. With the Red Sox one strike from elimination in Game 5, Henderson hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth against the California Angels to send the series back to Boston. The Red Sox won Games 6 and 7 to advance to the World Series.
He also hit a tiebreaking, solo home run in the 10th inning of Game 6 of the '86 World Series, but the Red Sox blew a 5-3 lead and a chance to win their first championship in 68 years, a drought that would continue another 18 years.
Henderson played in 575 regular-season games during that span, hitting .275 with 84 homers, 123 doubles and 322 RBIs. Henderson was an All-Star in 1991.
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