AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:18 p.m. EST

Deshaun Watson returns from ban with some support, many boos

HOUSTON (AP) — Deshaun Watson signed autographs for Texans and Browns fans and posed for selfies before a winning debut with Cleveland in his first game since an 11-game suspension for sexual misconduct. During the game, it was overwhelming boos for Watson. Watson heard jeers before taking each snap throughout the afternoon for his first action in 700 days in a familiar place. He struggled facing Houston, where he was a three-time Pro Bowl pick in four seasons. Still, the Browns beat the Texans 27-14 thanks to two defensive touchdowns and a special teams score. Watson finished 12-of-22 passing for 131 yards and one interception. He posted the worst passer rating of his NFL career at 53.4.

CFP: Georgia vs Ohio St in Peach; Michigan vs TCU in Fiesta

Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State have made the College Football Playoff, giving the Big Ten multiple programs in the four-team field for the first time. The defending national champion and top-ranked Bulldogs and fourth-seeded Buckeyes will meet Dec. 31 at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The second-seeded Wolverines and third-ranked Horned Frogs will play at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, the same day. The national championship game is scheduled for Jan. 9 at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Georgia and Michigan have both opened as the favorites to win their semifinals and reach the title game.

Georgia returns to home away from home to face Ohio State

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia will be heading back to its home away from home for the College Football Playoff. The No. 1 Bulldogs received the top seed from the selection committee, earning a spot to in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The reigning national champions will be in a familiar spot for their semifinal game against No. 4 Ohio State. Georgia will be making its third appearance of the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Bulldogs opened with a 49-3 demolition of Oregon. On Saturday, they claimed their first Southeastern Conference title since 2017 with a 50-30 rout of LSU.

No. 3 TCU earns spot in Fiesta Bowl against No. 2 Michigan

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — TCU has reached the College Football Playoff for the first time. The rapid rise under first-year coach Sonny Dykes means the Horned Frogs will play Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. There will be a spot in the CFP title game on the line. Michigan left no doubt about its spot in the CFP, beating Purdue 43-22 to win consecutive Big Ten titles for the first time since 2003-04. College football’s winningest program now has its first 13-win season, finishing No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and CFP standings. Up next is a TCU team that is 12-1.

Ravens hopeful on Lamar Jackson injury, confident in Huntley

BALTIMORE (AP) — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is not expected to miss significant time after injuring his knee in a 10-9 win over Denver. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said Jackson may not return in time for next week’s game against Pittsburgh, but he shouldn’t be far off. Backup Tyler Huntley appears far more comfortable in his role as stand-in for the 2019 NFL MVP after guiding Baltimore to a win against the Broncos. Jackson missed the final four games of the 2021 season with an ankle injury, and Baltimore lost every one of them.

Brady: Season goals still within reach for struggling Bucs

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady only knows one way the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can pull out of a season-long funk on offense and realize their potential. Brady enters Week 13 ranked fourth in the NFL in passing with 3,051 yards. Still, the 45-year-old quarterback and a group of talented offensive playmakers around him have not performed with anywhere near the consistency of the past two seasons when the Bucs were one of the NFL’s highest-scoring teams. Tampa Bay takes a 5-6 record into Monday night’s home game against the New Orleans Saints, a NFC South rival that’s given Brady fits since he moved from New England to Tampa Bay in 2020. Brady says “hope is not a strategy” ans the only way the Bucs can realize their potential is play better and earn it.

England reaches World Cup quarterfinals, beats Senegal 3-0

AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — England captain Harry Kane scored his first goal of this year’s World Cup to help his team beat Senegal 3-0 and set up a match against France in the quarterfinals. Kane scored for the 52nd time for his country to move within one of Wayne Rooney’s England record. He also overtook Gary Lineker as his country’s leading scorer in major tournaments with 11 goals. Jordan Henderson and Bukayo Saka also scored at Al Bayt Stadium while Jude Bellingham played a key role in the opening two goals. England will face defending champion France at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday.

World Cup Viewer’s Guide: Neymar expected to play for Brazil

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Neymar is expected to play in Monday’s round of 16 match against South Korea. He had missed two games of group stage play after injuring his right ankle in the opening game against Serbia. But he trained with Brazil two days in a row before the game and coach Tite said Neymar will start if he plays. Japan and Croatia meet for the first time in the knockout round of the World Cup. Japan is in the knockout round for back-to-back tournaments for the first time in team history and seeking its first trip to the quarterfinals in four tries.

Hovland hangs on to become repeat winner of World Challenge

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Viktor Hovland has joined Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners of the Hero World Challenge. The wins were nothing alike. A year ago, Hovland rallied from six behind. On Sunday in the Bahamas, he had a four-shot lead at the turn and had to make a 20-foot bogey putt on the last hole to hold off Scottie Scheffler. Hovland shot a 69. Scheffler fell five behind after a double bogey on the 18th hole and was happy to at least have a chance on the 18th hole. Scheffler needed a win to return to No. 1 in the world. Woods won in 2006 and 2007.

American soccer success in men’s World Cup remains a dream

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — American men’s soccer success on the world stage remains a dream. The U.S. men’s team looked better in this year’s World Cup, but the results were the same as in 2010 and 2014 _ elimination in the round of 16 following a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands. Draws against Wales and England were followed by a 1-0 win over Iran that assured a spot in the knockout rounds, and the U.S. achieved the minimum to avoid being branded a failure. Going home after the group stage would have been a disappointment given the expectations for the team coach Gregg Berhalter rebuilt.