AP Sports SummaryBrief at 2:25 p.m. EST

Hamlin in mind, Bills return to action with first-play TD

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills scored a touchdown on their very first play since safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game in Cincinnati on Monday. Return man Nyheim Hines ran the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown against the New England Patriots on Sunday. The uplifting score was an early highlight to a cathartic day in Buffalo. A weeklong outpouring of support continued as the Bills returned to the field for the first time since Hamlin had to be resuscitated after making a tackle during the first quarter at Cincinnati. Hamlin has since made what doctors call a remarkable recovery.

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.

Bucs’ Brady breaks own NFL mark for completions in a season

ATLANTA (AP) — Tom Brady has broken his own NFL record for most completions in a season. Brady quickly gained the needed nine connections in the first half of Tampa Bay’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Brady had a record 485 completions with the Buccaneers in 2021. The 45-year-old Brady entered the game against the Falcons with 477 completions, leaving him only nine away from a new record. Brady set the mark on a 5-yard completion to Russell Gage early in the second quarter. Brady had 13 completions, giving him 490 for the season. He left the game late in the first half.

Shiffrin shows her emotions after matching Vonn’s record

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has matched Lindsey Vonn’s women’s World Cup skiing record with her 82nd win. Shiffrin led from start to finish to win a giant slalom and can now break Vonn’s mark in a night slalom scheduled for Flachau, Austria, on Tuesday. Already with eight wins this season, Shiffrin is also quickly approaching Ingemar Stenmark’s overall record between men and women of 86 victories. Vonn retired four years ago when injuries ended her pursuit of Stenmark.

Shiffrin vs Vonn: Different strengths but similar approach

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin is the perfect technical skier. Lindsey Vonn was the ultimate speed demon. Shiffrin is rarely slowed by physical ailments. Vonn was constantly hurtling herself into the safety nets and breaking bones. Shiffrin is introverted and sometimes doesn’t even display a fist pump when she wins. Vonn is outgoing and relished celebrating her many victories. The Americans who now share the record of 82 World Cup wins couldn’t be more different in many ways. But they are remarkably similar in others. Both excelled in every discipline of Alpine skiing over various points of their careers and both spent parts of their childhoods in Colorado.

Lindsey Vonn: Shiffrin’s record-breaking is sign of progress

Lindsey Vonn was keeping track from afar when Mikaela Shiffrin matched her women’s World Cup record with 82 wins. Shiffrin drew even with Vonn by winning a giant slalom on Sunday in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. While Vonn retired four years ago when injuries cut her career short, the 27-year-old Shiffrin is still going strong. Vonn says in an AP diary that “if anyone is to break my record, I’m really happy that it’s an American.” She adds that “I knew from the very beginning that she would be the one to break all the records. But to be able to do it at such a young age is really impressive.”

Surging Northwestern upends No. 15 Indiana, 84-83

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Boo Buie scored 26 points and Northwestern beat No. 15 Indiana 84-83 for its second road victory against a ranked opponent this season. The Wildcats knocked off then-No. 20 Michigan State 70-63 on Dec. 4 and have won seven of eight games. The Hoosiers have lost four of six. Chase Audige had 19 points and eight assists for the Wildcats and Robbie Beran and Ty Berry each added 13 points. Freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino led the Hoosiers with a career-best 33 points including five 3s. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 18 points, a career-high 24 rebounds and eight assists.

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.

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.