AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:39 a.m. EST

Jags return fumble for TD, beat Titans for AFC South title

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars are AFC South champions for the first time in five years. They secured the title with a 20-16 victory against rival Tennessee on Saturday night in a win-and-in game that turned on Josh Allen’s 37-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 2:51 remaining. Rayshawn Jenkins forced Josh Dobbs’ fumble, and Allen scooped up the bouncing ball and ran, untouched, the other way for a lead that held up against the Titans in the regular-season finale for both. Dobbs fumbled again on the ensuing possession, and the Jaguars started to celebrate their most significant regular-season victory in franchise history.

Mahomes sets record, Chiefs beat Raiders for AFC’s top seed

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes set the NFL record for total yards in a season, and the Kansas City Chiefs rolled to a 31-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders to lock up the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Mahomes passed for 202 yards and rushed for 29 against the Raiders, giving him 5,608 total yards for the season. That surpassed the record of 5,562 yards set by Drew Brees in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints. The Chiefs will get a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Kansas City is 14-3, matching its franchise record for regular-season victories. The Raiders finished 6-11.

NFL playoffs: Packed Week 18 slate will decide playoff field

If you enjoy high stakes professional football combined with scoreboard watching and slightly convoluted tiebreakers, then the NFL’s Week 18 slate of games is a must-watch. It’s been an eventful week for NFL players and fans, who watched in horror Monday night as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and had to be given CPR before leaving the field in an ambulance. A few days later, those same players and fans have watched with joy as Hamlin recovers. That makes it much easier to focus on the NFL’s stacked Week 18, which will determine the playoff fate of numerous teams.

Hamlin, still critical, continues recovery, tweets thanks

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Doctors describe Damar Hamlin’s neurological function as “excellent,” and the Buffalo Bills safety is still making progress in his recovery. He was resuscitated on the field in a game at Cincinnati on Monday. The Bills’ daily update also says Hamlin continues to breathe on his own but remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. There was a tweet on the 24-year-old’s verified Twitter account Saturday evening thanking all who have “reached out and prayed” and saying the response to his injury will make him stronger. Hamlin took a major step forward in his recovery Friday when he was taken off a ventilator and showed an ability to speak.

Pray for Damar: Public prayer blitz follows Hamlin collapse

The intersection of prayer and sports has been especially prominent in the aftermath of Damar Hamlin’s frightening collapse during an NFL game. All 32 NFL teams have included “Pray for Damar” on their Twitter avatars. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky prayed for the Buffalo Bills’ safety on live TV. Countless fans and other concerned observers said on social media they were praying, and dozens linked arms outside his Cincinnati hospital. Experts on religion and sports say prayer is a common response to health scares. It was amplified in this case by social media and the high-profile “Monday Night Football” game.

Shiffrin leads 1st run, set to match Vonn’s World Cup record

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin is leading the first run of a giant slalom and in prime position to match Lindsey Vonn’s women’s World Cup record with her 82nd victory. Shiffrin established an advantage of 0.24 seconds ahead of Federica Brignone of Italy and was 0.39 ahead of Valerie Grenier, the Canadian who won on the same course a day earlier. No other skiers were within seven tenths of a second of Shiffrin. Lower-ranked skiers were still coming down the course.

Stars matter? Georgia, TCU both excel in player development

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Based solely on the recruiting rankings, this national championship game between No. 1 Georgia and No. 3 TCU is the most lopsided in the nine-year history of the College Football Playoff. The defending national champion Bulldogs face the upstart Horned Frogs on Monday night at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The rosters are built differently in recruiting, but both teams pride themselves in player development. Georgia has 15 players who were five-star recruits on its roster and 53 who were four stars. TCU has one five-star and 16 four-stars.

Morikawa pulls away with late run of birdies at Kapalua

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — The back nine at Kapalua is where the Sentry Tournament of Champions comes to life. That’s where Collin Morikawa might have ended it on Saturday. Morikawa ran off four birdies over his last five holes for a 65. That gives him a six-shot lead going into the final round at Kapalua. No one has lost a final-round lead that large since the tournament moved to Maui in 1999. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and J.J. Spaun were six shots behind. It looks hopeless. Morikawa is smooth with putter and always great with the irons.

Davis beats Garcia by TKO, retains WBA lightweight title

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gervonta Davis has retained his WBA lightweight title by beating Hector Luis Garcia by TKO. Davis won after the match was stopped following eight rounds because of injury to Garcia. The Baltimore native improved to 28-0 with 26 knockouts. The match was stopped for more than a minute in the eighth round when there was an altercation in the stands ringside. Davis is next scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a highly anticipated showdown in April. This was the first big boxing event at what’s now known as Capital One Arena in Washington since Mike Tyson’s final fight in 2005.

Team USA beats Italy to win inaugural United Cup

SYDNEY (AP) — The United States has claimed the inaugural United Cup in convincing fashion with an overpowering display over Italy in the final of the mixed teams event. No. 9-ranked Taylor Fritz gave the U.S. an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five matchup when edging former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7). The Indian Wells Masters champion failed to convert nine break points but faced none on his own serve and proved the steadier player in the two tiebreakers. He was mobbed by his teammates at Ken Rosewall Arena after clinching the title for the Americans.