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Roy Keane slammed Trent Alexander-Arnold's defensive efforts in Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Sunday.
United took a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute Anfield after Lisandro Martínez breezed past Alexander-Arnold to fire a shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
Before the goal, United legend Keane had fired a warning shot to the right-back -- who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer -- at halftime.
"We talk about how brilliant Trent is going forward, but Trent's defending today, my goodness, it's like schoolboy stuff," Keane said on Sky Sports.
"They talk about him going to Real Madrid, the way he's defending, he's going to Tranmere Rovers after this, he's got to do better."
Liverpool equalised at Anfield through Cody Gakpo, before taking the lead thanks to a penalty from Mohamed Salah.
However, Amad drew United level in the 80th minute as the sides had to settle for a point each.
Alexander-Arnold was replaced by Conor Bradley in the 86th minute.
A source told ESPN last month that Liverpool had rejected an offer from Madrid to sign Alexander-Arnold in the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old's contract runs out in June, with teammates Salah and Virgil van Dijk also out of contract in the summer.
Slot: United quality, not Madrid links affected TAA
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot disagreed with the idea that Trent Alexander-Arnold's lacklustre display in his team's 2-2 draw with Manchester United came as a result of speculation linking the full-back with a move to Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold, alongside teammates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, is out of contract at the end of the season and sources have told ESPN he is Madrid's top defensive target following a long-term injury to right-back Dani Carvajal.
The Spanish club approached Liverpool about signing the 26-year-old in the January window earlier this week, but sources told ESPN Madrid's advances were swiftly rebuffed by the Premier League leaders.
Slot insisted ahead of Sunday's clash with United that Alexander-Arnold remains "fully-committed" to Liverpool, however the defender struggled against a spirited United side at Anfield, with both of the visitors' two goals coming down his flank.
Liverpool's manager, though, was quick to shut down claims that Alexander-Arnold has let the noise surrounding his future affect him, and said it was United's quality that made it a difficult afternoon for the right-back.
"I don't believe in those things," Slot said in his post-match news conference. "I think nine out of 10 people will tell you that it affected him, but I'm one of the 10 that tells you I don't think that affected him.
"What I think affected him was that he had to play Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot who are two starters for Portugal, great, great players. We have a fantastic player here in Diogo Jota and he's not even playing for Portugal, so that tells you how much quality United have. And if these players set themselves to a game, and that is what United once in a while does, then it's very difficult to play against them.
"I think it is more difficult for Trent to play against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot than it is the rumours that were there in the week. That's my opinion, but everyone will probably tell you it's to do with the rumours."
He added: "It was clear Trent had some difficult moments as we as a team had but that is also for Trent not the first time. I think the majority of games he has played for this club he was very, very good but I can't believe if people tell me he's never played a bad game for this club, so that's probably happened before and mostly against quality players like United have."
Sunday's draw means Liverpool go six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with a game in hand. Asked whether the result felt like two points dropped, Slot said: "Of course, it feels for us like two points dropped. I think for many people what stays in their head is what happens at the end and that was a big chance for [Harry] Maguire, but I think what people forget is that two minutes before Virgil has maybe just as big a chance to make it 3-2.
"In the end, it was a difficult game -- a bit similar maybe to the Nottingham Forest game where the playing style of both teams is about defending in a low block with a lot of bodies. That is not always easy to play against that style of football."
Man United's well-earned draw at Liverpool gives Amorim hope
LIVERPOOL, England -- Amad scored a late equaliser to end Manchester United's three-game losing streak and seal a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday that put the brakes on Liverpool's procession towards the Premier League title.
Having taken the lead through Lisandro Martínez early in the second half, a Cody Gakpo equaliser and Mohamed Salah penalty turned the game in Liverpool's favour as Arne Slot's side looked set to deepen the gloom for United coach Ruben Amorim, but winger Amad earned United a point when he scored in the 80th minute after converting Alejandro Garnacho's cross from ten yards.
In a game that was almost postponed due to heavy snow in the north of England -- it required two safety meetings on Sunday for the game to be cleared to play -- United came close to snatching a late win when Harry Maguire shot over the crossbar from close range in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Despite the late drama, though, Liverpool held on to claim a point that moves them six clear of Arsenal at the top of the table. -- Mark Ogden
United's best showing under Amorim offers hope for future
Manchester United were a Maguire shin away from sealing a dramatic 3-2 win against Liverpool at Anfield, but despite the disappointment of failing to snatch victory against the league leaders, this was a win in every aspect for Amorim. Had Maguire scored from Joshua Zirkzee's 97th-minute pass six yards from goal, this would have been a famous victory for United and their first at Anfield since 2016, but in the end, they claimed a draw on which Amorim can now build upon.
United went into this game with Amorim, hired from Sporting CP in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag, claiming that his players were "afraid" to have the ball and even said the club could be in a relegation battle after five defeats in their last six league games.
However, United were outstanding against the best team in the country, and although there are still clear issues to address -- a lack of firepower being an obvious one -- Amorim will have been boosted by the performance of his back three and the developing partnership in midfield of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte. Out wide, wing-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui were both outstanding and crucial to the final result, and overall, the unity and spirit shown by his players will have been a huge positive for the manager.
Having taken the lead and then lost it, United then showed real fighting spirit to claim a draw and almost snatch a win. This result could be a line in the sand for the new United under Amorim because his players set a benchmark performance to measure themselves against going forward. -- Ogden
Liverpool's lack of control cause for concern?
One of the hallmarks of this Liverpool team under Slot has been its hunger for control. Whereas former manager Jürgen Klopp was a major proponent of "heavy-metal football," his successor prefers to keep things more low-key, often passing teams into submission rather than getting embroiled in wild, end-to-end contests.
Slot, then, likely will have been unimpressed with the frequency with which his side ceded control against United, often giving the ball away and allowing their opponents to create high-value chances.
Ahead of the clash, much of the talk was about the potential for another Liverpool demolition job, with Amorim's side having lost each of their previous three Premier League games before Sunday's showdown at Anfield. Just as they did on Merseyside last season, though, United managed to frustrate their hosts while also carrying a threat at the other end of the pitch.
At no point in the game did Liverpool really have their proverbial boots on United's throats for a sustained spell. The hosts' periods of dominance proved fleeting.
For the neutral, it made for a highly entertaining match, but Slot will be worried about how often United were able to sow the seeds of disarray among his players. Andy Robertson's heavy pass for Ryan Gravenberch, which trickled straight out of play when Liverpool were chasing a winner in the 95th minute, typified the hosts' slightly erratic display. -- Beth Lindop
Alexander-Arnold becoming Liverpool's weak link
For all the noise surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool future and a possible summer move to Real Madrid, this game highlighted the reality that the defender is becoming a weak link in Slot's team.
The 26-year-old is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and now free to speak to non-English teams over a free transfer in the summer. Alexander-Arnold's contract situation prompted Real to approach Liverpool last week over a possible January move for the player -- an approach that was rejected.
While Alexander-Arnold's attacking qualities remain a big asset and a genuine part of Liverpool's armoury, Slot should be growing increasingly concerned by his right-back's defensive performances. Quite simply, he was woeful against United.
On two occasions in the first half, Dalot beat Alexander-Arnold in a foot race after easily taking the ball past him. It was the same story in the second half, and both United's goals came from attacks down their left by attacking the hapless Alexander-Arnold's position.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk angrily shouted at Alexander-Arnold for his lapses of concentration, but United continued to attack down his flank.
Alexander-Arnold's performance was so bad that, with Conor Bradley now fit and available after a recent injury, Slot may be tempted to make a change ahead of the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. Bradley replaced Alexander-Arnold as a late substitute; he may soon find himself in that position permanently, and Liverpool might be tempted to cash in should Real come calling again. -- Ogden
Gakpo becoming man for the big occasion
When Klopp's Quadruple-chasing side travelled to Manchester United in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup last March -- a game that ultimately ended in a 4-3 win for the hosts at Old Trafford -- former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher scathingly remarked that Gakpo "plays like the game is in slow motion."
The comment seemed to sum up the kind of form Gakpo found himself in at the end of last term and where he ranked within the Reds' attacking pecking order. Despite making 53 appearances in all competitions, the Netherlands international struggled to hit the heights in his first full campaign at Anfield and became something of a utility player, often deployed through the middle and sometimes in midfield.
But Slot's arrival in the summer has sparked a revival for the forward, who now has registered 12 goals and four assists in all competitions. While his raw numbers are impressive, so too is the nature of his goals.
This season, the 25-year-old has found the back of the net against Real Madrid, Manchester City and now United, and is fast becoming Liverpool's man for the big occasion. Having rarely been given a starting berth in his favoured left-wing position under Klopp, he has played there almost exclusively under Slot, often with Luis Díaz playing in the false nine role beside him.
It is a tactical switch that has reaped major rewards, both for Gakpo and for Liverpool. -- Lindop
Højlund's quality doesn't match his work rate
Rasmus Højlund has scored just two Premier League goals all season for Manchester United, but he really should have scored his third when clean through in the first half against Liverpool. Having been released by Martínez's pinpoint pass -- made easier by Højlund's clever arcing run -- Højlund took a touch to control and then sent his left-foot shot directly at Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Gab Marcotti defends Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance in Liverpool's 2-2 draw vs. Manchester United.
Højlund's finish, using his sidefoot rather than striking through the ball, belied the lack of confidence of a striker in search of goals. It also highlighted the lack of killer instinct in United's team.
United simply don't have a proven goal scorer in their team, and it means that Højlund, Zirkzee and Amad must shoulder the heavy burden of scoring. It's a lot of responsibility for three players aged 23 or under.
Bruno Fernandes and the out-of-favour Marcus Rashford, who was absent due to illness at Anfield, remain United's leading scorers in the Premier League with just four goals apiece. That is well below the tally expected of a striker at a top club.
Højlund is still only 21 years old, so hardly the finished article, but the concern at United should be whether he can ever develop into a 20-goal-a-season striker. The same applies to Zirkzee.
After being thrown on as a late substitute, Zirkzee should have shot at goal rather than pass for Maguire to miss the chance. Like Højlund's first-half miss, it showcased a striker low on confidence and who isn't quite good enough at this level.
United have too many of those and need a striker who will put those chances in the back of the net. -- Ogden
Ismat and Rashid put Afghanistan in sight of victory
Zimbabwe 243 and 205 for 8 (Ervine 53*, Rashid 6-66, Zia 2-44) need 73 runs to beat Afghanistan 157 and 363 (Rahmat 139, Ismat 101, Muzarabani 6-95)
Ismat, who had come into the Test with a first-class average of 92 and had converted all four of his fifties at the level into centuries, also converted his maiden Test fifty into a century to help Afghanistan finish on 363, setting Zimbabwe 278 to win.
Zimbabwe had a bright start in their chase of 278. Ben Curran hit two late cuts as Zimbabwe took 12 runs off Fareed Ahmad's first over. Seven runs came off the next over before the Afghanistan bowlers found more discipline and started to dry out the runs. While there was some movement on offer with the new ball, the fast bowlers could not really threaten the Zimbabwe openers.
From there on in, it was the Rashid show for Afghanistan. He first got one to spin in from the rough outside off to knock Curran over. In the next 37 balls, Zimbabwe managed just 14 runs and Takudzwanashe Kaitano released the pressure by authoritatively pulling Fareed for a six over backward square leg.
Rashid then changed ends and drew the top edge from Kaitano as he went for a sweep. Abdul Malik ran across from slip to take the catch down the leg side, giving Zimbabwe another breakthrough just before tea.
In the third over of the final session, Dion Myers slashed at a wide delivery from Rashid and got a thick edge for four, but Rashid hit back by trapping him in front with a wrong'un, for his 400th international wicket.
At 99 for 4, Zimbabwe were in trouble but the senior pair of Raza and Ervine combined to frustrate Afghanistan with a 58-run stand. They were watchful and kept the runs ticking with plenty of singles in the absence of close-in fielders. They hit just the one boundary in a partnership that lasted 19 overs.
Rashid finally broke through, although it had little to do with his bowling. Raza, ever so watchful until then, was tempted into a drive as Rashid threw down a half-volley outside off, but he couldn't get it over the cover fielder, much to his frustration.
Sean Williams, nursing a back injury from the first day of the Test, was next on Rashid's radar, as he got another one to spin in from the rough outside off to crash into off stump with Williams missing a sweep. That completed Rashid's fifth Test five-for in just eight games. One ball later, he darted in a quick, flat legbreak that spun past the outside edge to crash into Brian Bennett's off stump.
In the next over, Zia trapped Newman Nyamhuri, as Zimbabwe lost three wickets in seven deliveries, still 100 runs away from their target.
Ervine fought on for Zimbabwe, hitting Rashid for two boundaries either side of the wicket in the next over before depositing Zia over midwicket. He took Zimbabwe past 200 with a cover drive and hit another boundary down the ground - a misfield at long-on that helped him to a second half-century in the match.
Soon after, Zimbabwe's No. 10 Richard Ngarava pulled up holding his calf, and with lights fading, it brought on stumps with Zimbabwe still needing 73 and Afghanistan two wickets from victory.
Ismat carried on, hitting three fours in four overs after Rashid's dismissal, and went past Ibrahim Zadran's 87 in 2019 for the highest score by an Afghanistan batter on Test debut. With Zimbabwe spreading the field, he was forced to slow down but with Yamin Ahmadzai for company, he brought up his century and celebrated with a series of fist pumps. The celebrations were worth it after he had fallen for a two-ball duck in his maiden international innings.
He fell on 101, miscuing a pull off Muzarabani, after which Afghanistan added just seven runs.
Abhimanyu Bose is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo
Babar, Masood fight for Pakistan after South Africa enforce follow-on
Pakistan 194 (Babar 58, Rabada 3-55, Maharaj 2-14) and 213 for 1 (f/o) (Masood 102*, Babar 81) trail South Africa 615 by 208 runs
South Africa's five frontline bowlers were made to toil on a surface that remains good for batting despite showing signs of turn. They also bowled 23 no-balls across the two innings so far - 10 in the ongoing second innings alone - and will be disappointed with their ill-discipline. Their only second innings success came late in the day when Babar chased a full, wide ball from Marco Jansen and edged to slip. Nightwatcher Khurram Shahzad accompanied Masood to the end of the day.
After dismissing Pakistan for 194 midway through the afternoon session, South Africa enforced the follow-on with an eye on wrapping things up early. But Kagiso Rabada and Jansen both erred on the side of too full and only created one chance between them. Rabada found Masood's edge, with the Pakistan captain on 18 but the ball flew through the vacant third slip region, leaving Rabada on his haunches.
The change bowlers, Wiaan Mulder and Kwena Maphaka, barely threatened and Pakistan went to tea on 80 without loss. Rabada and Keshav Maharaj resumed for the evening session and while Rabada tried a short-ball tactic, Maharaj found turn but Pakistan played them both well. Masood's fifty came when he pulled Rabada through mid-wicket and Babar's came up with a drive off Jansen. It was the second time in the day that Babar raised his bat to a half-century after also getting to the milestone in the first innings, and his third successive fifty on this tour.
As both settled in, South Africa's frustration boiled over and Mulder flung the ball back at Babar as he stepped out of his crease to defend. He hit Babar on the shin and words were exchanged before Umpire Dharmasena stepped in to cool things down. The only other bit of drama came when Rabada was convinced he had Masood lbw when he hit him on the knee roll and South Africa were considering a review but Rabada had overstepped.
Masood got to his century with a flick off Jansen and celebrated with a glance skywards. Babar seemed set to follow him but slashed at a slower Jansen ball and edged to Bedingham at slip, to give him his fifth catch of the day. Though Babar fell short of a century, he scored 108 runs in the day - 27 overnight and 81 in the second innings.
Pakistan resumed 64 for 3 under some cloud and found the early exchanges challenged. Rabada beat the beat, Jansen found extra bounce and though both made things difficult for Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, they were unable to remove them. Jansen hit Rizwan on the collar bone in the first 45 minutes as Rizwan attempted a one-armed pull but he recovered to hit Jansen for four and six in the same over.
Babar brought up the Pakistan hundred with an edge through the slips and his fifty off the next ball when he chopped Rabada over point. But when debutant Kwena Maphaka angled one down leg, Babar followed it in an attempt to flick it off his hips and edged to Kyle Verreynne. A joyous Maphaka took off Imran Tahir-style to deep third with his team-mates following in celebration. This was the third time since 2022 that Babar has been strangled down leg, the joint-most by a Pakistan batter in that time.
The Babar-Rizwan partnership was broken on 98, with responsibility falling to Rizwan to keep chipping away. Against the run of play, Rizwan advanced on Mulder and tried to smash him down the ground to reach his fifty, but under-edged onto his stumps. And then Salman Agha, who had lamented the lack of turn when he was bowling, was drawn forward by a Maharaj delivery that turned past the outside edge and was stumped.
Pakistan lost 6 for 76 either side of lunch, most of them to loose shots. Aamer Jamal was bounced out by Rabada when he could not resist a swivel pull and Khurram Shahzad could not keep a square drive down. It may not be up to those two to have done the work but, after the way Pakistan batted in the second innings, they may look back at their shot selection in the first with some regret, especially on this surface.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's correspondent for South Africa and women's cricket
Botha backs SA bowlers to attack in search of series glory
But Botha cautioned that they also have to be more careful with their disciplines, which went awry on Sunday afternoon, and were magnified by the number of no-balls. In total, South Africa have bowled 23 in this match and ten of those in the second innings. Only one, a Kagiso Rabada ball that hit Masood on the knee roll looked like a wicket-taking ball but South Africa do not want to take the chance that there may be more, and the bowler has overstepped.
"It's disappointing," Botha said. "It's something that creeps into the game every now and then. We probably started a little bit with that problem in Bangladesh and sorted it out. Now it's crept back in."
But Botha is only partially correct. Across two Tests in Bangladesh, South Africa bowled 25 no-balls but they then delivered 28 against Sri Lanka and ten at SuperSport Park. Including this Test, that equates to 86 no-balls in six matches. Of those Rabada had bowled 44, and Wiaan Mulder 11. Botha had an explanation for at least one of those. "With Wiaan, what we're really trying to do is to get him to run in a little bit harder because he wants to be a bowler that has a fourth seamer in attack and be a little bit quicker," he said. "One of the aspects we worked on is for him to run in a little bit harder and that brought its own issues. We worked on it this morning a bit, and it seemed to work for a while. For others it may be different on different days."
A variety of other reasons were spitballed to explain the rest. "Sometimes it's the ground, sometimes it's the wind, sometimes it's fatigue, sometimes it's the slope," Botha said. "But it's obviously something we have to pay attention to again and make sure we fix it."
"Once you get frustrated or start searching a bit too much like we might have done in the second innings, you're going at fours and fives (runs an over). That's what you don't want to do."
Piet Botha, South Africa's Test bowling coach
And that will be his second message to the attack in the morning: stay patient. "We have a very good couple of Tests where we've knocked teams over but these things we always talk about: discipline and patience," Botha said. "Once you get frustrated or start searching a bit too much like we might have done in the second innings, you're going at fours and fives (runs an over). That's what you don't want to do. Let's go back to try and see if we can go at threes and a false shot will come,"
In this case, they understand that by enforcing the follow-on, they gave Pakistan some of the best batting conditions of the match but after bowling them out for 194 and with a 421-run lead, felt there was enough cushioning to put them again. The surface has yet to show any real signs of deterioration but it is taking a turn and historically tends to become more difficult from the fourth day. "There were a couple of slow motion videos with the dust and you expect day four and five to be the days where the spinner comes into play. Already a couple have turned and also bounced," Botha said. "The signs are there that after lunch tomorrow, Kesh[av] Maharaj will come more and more into the game."
Maharaj has already found the turn that Pakistan's part-time spinner Salman Agha did not but even if he doesn't, South Africa are willing to bide their time. "We talk about it all the time because you expect these days. That's Test cricket," Botha said.
Christian comes out of retirement to help injury-hit Thunder
The 41-year-old allrounder last played professionally for Sydney Sixers two summers ago and has since served as an assistant coach at Thunder.
Christian has not played a professional match of cricket since Sixers' BBL12 semi-final loss to the Brisbane Heat but has been keeping fit with UNSW in the NSW Premier Cricket competition.
He will join an elite club of players to feature in the BBL in their 40s that includes Brad Hodge, Peter Siddle, Fawad Ahmed and the late Shane Warne - the oldest player in league history at 43.
Christian is available for the remainder of the tournament, which has already featured big improvements from reigning wooden spooners Thunder.
Sams (concussion) and Bancroft (fractured shoulderblade, broken nose, concussion) joined a mounting injury toll that has also sidelined Jason Sangha, Nic Maddinson and Tanveer Sangha.
"I made the decision during the off season that a return to the BBL or any other T20 leagues was never entirely off the table for me," Christian said. "The body feels great, and I wanted to ensure I was prepared if an opportunity arose.
"The incident with Cam Bancroft and Dan Sams was extremely unfortunate, but I'm really grateful for the opportunity it's presented. I wish them all the best with their recoveries and hope they'll be back on the park soon."
In addition, Thunder could lose Sam Konstas to Test duties later in the tournament and expect to farewell internationals Sherfane Rutherford and Lockie Ferguson as they head to the ILT20.
"We're very fortunate to have Dan already within the club," said Thunder general manager Trent Copeland. "He's a legend of the BBL and we've got no doubt he's still up to the level. We can't wait to see him jump back into this environment and make an impact."
Christian is considered a T20 specialist, having played 409 games for 18 different teams in six different countries across a globetrotting career.
He represented Australia 43 times in white-ball cricket and has won three BBL titles - one each with \Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades and Sixers.
Frustration for Babar after late dismissal despite return to form
Babar admitted the dismissals meant it was disappointment rather than relief that dominated his emotions. "I'm very disappointed with both innings. I started well, but didn't finish well," he said. "If you settle, you must go much bigger. That is why I was a bit upset. There were just 15 minutes left."
"The conditions here are different from Centurion," Babar said. "When you come to South Africa, you don't expect that [the pitch will be so flat]. With the new ball, it was a bit challenging, but once you settled down and built a partnership, it became easier. But there are some rough patches; you saw a couple of overs from Maharaj to Shan which got some turn and bounce. So the spinner is a bit of a challenge for the batter. But against the fast bowler, if you're settled, just play your normal game."
There was, however, some relief for Babar. After about two years without a Test fifty, he had scored three on the trot, a run stretching back to the second innings in Centurion. However, all three dismissals were down to poor shot selection rather than bowlers working him out.
"I should have capitalised during our partnership, but unfortunately it didn't happen," he said. "In the second innings, my partnership with Shan has helped us come back into the game a little. Tomorrow, we have to try and build a partnership, and the longer those partnerships are the more pressure there'll be on South Africa."
But there is a bigger picture, one that his continued struggle of late has put him in a better position to appreciate. He is the highest run-scorer for Pakistan this series, and now has something every batter values: competitive time at the crease under his belt.
"Things change in life all the time," he said. "I learned a lot during this time [of poor form] when what I wanted to do I wasn't able to do, and when I couldn't do the things that people expected of me. I just kept telling myself to stay calm, and believe that my ability and hard work would be vindicated, and to try and enjoy myself. But what was really important was to spend some time on the pitch, and thankfully [that has happened this series]."
Nix, Broncos wallop Chiefs to clinch playoff berth
DENVER -- Rookie Bo Nix set a franchise record by completing his first 18 passes, and the Denver Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought Sunday with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs' bevy of backups.
The Broncos (10-7) snapped a two-game skid and buried nearly a decade's worth of futility and frustrations by returning to the postseason party for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.
They'll visit Buffalo (13-4) in the wild-card round next weekend after handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (15-2) their first shutout since Dec. 16, 2012, at Oakland.
Having already secured the AFC's No. 1 seed and sole first-round bye in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat, Chiefs coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a host of other starters.
Carson Wentz got the start at quarterback and fizzled in his first extended action since Week 18 with the Rams last season. He was 10 of 17 for 98 yards and was sacked four times by the league's best pass rush (62 sacks).
Nix threw for four touchdowns, giving him 29 for the season, second-most by a rookie in NFL history, behind only Justin Herbert's 31 in 2020.
He finished 26 of 29 for 321 yards, and his 18 consecutive completions also were the most ever by a Broncos QB. Nix hit Marvin Mims twice, Courtland Sutton (five times for 98 yards) and Devaughn Vele for scores.
Vele's TD was intended for Adam Trautman but ricocheted off cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson (twice) and Keith Taylor before Vele cradled the catch just before tumbling out of the back of the end zone, giving Nix 17 consecutive completions at that point and extending Denver's lead to 21-0.
That wild conclusion capped an 18-play, 89-yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes, keeping Wentz cooling his cleats on the sideline next to Mahomes, who was decked out in a white hoodie.
After Harrison Butker was wide left on a 51-yard field goal -- his first miss in 18 tries at Empower Field at Mile High -- Wil Lutz gave Denver a 24-0 halftime lead by nailing a 33-yarder with 3 seconds left.
The Broncos made it 31-0 on Mims' second TD catch late in the third quarter and Audric Estime punched it in from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs won't play again until Jan. 18 or 19, meaning Mahomes, who last played on Christmas Day, and other stars who sat this one out will have at least 24 days between games.
The Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. That's the longest playoff drought for a team after raising the Lombardi Trophy.
The Broncos' clincher came 3,255 days after Von Miller led them to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7, 2016, and their reward as the AFC's seventh and final seed is a trip to Buffalo next weekend to face Miller in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bills were the only other team to beat Kansas City this season, 30-21 in Week 11.
The Chiefs' loss ended their six-game win streak but eliminated the prospect of them having to possibly face Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow at some point in the playoffs. The Bengals, who won their fifth consecutive game Saturday night at Pittsburgh, needed Denver to lose to have a chance to sneak into the playoffs at 9-8.
The Chiefs, who had won 17 of their previous 18 games against the Broncos, were planning on staying in Denver for the night because of a winter storm that also delayed their flight into Colorado for several hours Saturday.
Bucs clinch South, help Evans reach 1K yards late
TAMPA, Fla. -- Baker Mayfield used his legs and arm to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch their fourth straight NFC South title while putting Mike Evans over 1,000 yards receiving yet again.
Mayfield fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan for the go-ahead score and then scrambled 28 yards for a crucial first down on the next drive, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Evans caught a 9-yard pass on the final play of the game to surpass 1,000 yards for the 11th straight season, tying Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, after Mayfield's long scramble on third-and-14 from the Tampa Bay 12, the Buccaneers drove to the Saints' 11. Mayfield looked for Evans but then flipped the ball backward to Bucky Irving, who ran 11 yards for the TD that made it 27-19.
The Saints turned the ball over on downs and the Buccaneers got one more chance to help Evans to the milestone. Mayfield tossed a short pass to Evans, who ran upfield for a 9-yard gain. He got up, spiked the ball and was mobbed by teammates in a wild celebration.
Evans received a $3 million escalator for reaching 1,000 yards again.
"No turnovers and get the ball to 13," Mayfield said on the Fox telecast of the final play to Evans. "Get him his record because he deserves that.
"The most important thing is winning, but for that guy, it's important for everybody, not just for me. We love him, we're lucky to have him, and I can't say how proud I am of him."
The Buccaneers will be the NFC's No. 3 seed in the playoffs and will host the Commanders in the opening round.
Mayfield threw for 212 yards and two TDs and had a career-high 68 yards rushing as the Buccaneers (10-7) rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit and made sure they didn't need Atlanta to lose to Carolina to win the division.
Tampa Bay became the first team to overcome a double-digit deficit in its final game to clinch a playoff spot since 2013, when the Chargers trailed by 10 before beating the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rookie Spencer Rattler had 240 yards passing and one TD for the Saints (5-12).
The Buccaneers trailed most of the game and were down 16-6 at halftime. They went ahead when Mayfield connected with McMillan for a score in the fourth quarter. McMillan was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after making a 33-yard catch that extended the drive on fourth-and-8. The rookie receiver signaled first down in a gesture that was interpreted as mimicking shooting a gun. That pushed the Buccaneers back from the 9 to the 24.
But McMillan made up for it with a toe-tapping catch in the end zone for his seventh TD in the past five games.
The Saints scored on their first four possessions, including Rattler's 5-yard touchdown pass to Dante Pettis.
Facing a depleted secondary missing three starters, Rattler carved up Tampa Bay's defense in the first half. He completed 21 of 28 passes for 151 yards while building a 10-point lead.
Evans caught two passes on third-and-long to extend a Tampa Bay drive that stopped at the 7, forcing the Buccaneers to settle for Chase McLaughlin's 25-yard field goal that cut the deficit to 13-6.
But Rattler quickly moved the Saints into scoring position, completing seven straight passes, and Blake Grupe's 39-yard field goal made it 16-6 at halftime.
With Tom Brady watching from the television booth, the Buccaneers secured their fifth straight playoff appearance. The streak began in 2020, when Brady left the Patriots to join Tampa Bay and led the Buccaneers that season to the franchise's second Super Bowl title.
After Brady retired, Mayfield stepped in last season, reviving his career and helping the Buccaneers advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.
Mayfield had a career year this season, throwing 41 touchdown passes.
The Saints finished a disappointing season that began with plenty of promise. New Orleans opened 2-0, outscoring the Panthers and Cowboys 91-29. But the Saints fell apart, coach Dennis Allen lost his job and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi took over on an interim basis.
The Buccaneers had been 0-6 this season when they didn't score first. Grupe kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the Saints a 3-0 lead on the opening drive.
McLaughlin answered with a 52-yard field goal after a running-into-the-kicker penalty on a punt allowed Tampa Bay to move up 5 yards.
Grupe made a 39-yarder for a 6-3 lead on New Orleans' ensuing drive.
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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