CHRIS HUBBARD

Marcus Smith II is among several former and active NFL players who are hoping to break the stigma around mental health.

– Patrick Mahomes had enough wits about him after a concussion knocked the star quarterback from the Kansas City Chiefs' divisional-round playoff win over the Cleveland Browns to get a rather clever hashtag trending on Twitter. It was a reference to his backup, Chad Henne, who came on when Mahomes got hurt midway through the third quarter Sunday. Now, the question is whether Mahomes will be cleared to play the Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game next Sunday. He passed all the deals he needed to pass and we'll see where it goes from here,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after the game. 1 seed and first-round bye, so Reid elected to sit Mahomes and most of his starters for the otherwise meaningless game.

While the Chiefs get another week’s rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 file photo, Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (71) takes the field for an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn. Wills had been placed on the COVID list on Thursday, Dec. 24 after being in close contact with someone outside the team who had tested positive. The loss of Wills further depletes Cleveland's offensive line; starting right guard Wyatt Teller will miss his second straight game with a sprained ankle. In addition to Landry, the Browns will be missing receivers Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge and linebacker Jacob Phillips. They were placed on the COVID-19 list on Saturday before the team flew to the New York area.

The Browns will try to earn a playoff spot without four wide receivers, including star Landry, their starting middle linebacker and his replacement due to COVID-19 protocols. But despite the six players being out, an NFL spokesman said Cleveland's game at the New York Jets will be played as scheduled on Sunday, Dec. 27. Cleveland's game against the New York Jets will be played as scheduled, an NFL spokesman said. Per league rules, Goodson will miss Sunday's game and the Jan. 3 matchup against Pittsburgh is also in question. Like numerous NFL teams, the Browns have been dealing with positive cases for most of the season.

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Detroit Lions interim coach Darrell Bevell is the NFL’s first head coach to miss a game because of COVID-19 protocols even though he has not tested positive for the coronavirus. The Lions (5-9) will also be without defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, defensive line coach Bo Davis, defensive backs coach Steve Gregory and linebackers coach Ty McKenzie against Tampa Bay (9-5) on Saturday. Browns first-year coach Kevin Stefanski said “there’s a possibility” when asked if Wills will play this week against the Jets. For the Lions, they will lean on two men to call plays for the first time in an NFL game. I’m calling plays in an NFL game.

They're thinking much bigger than all that after a dominant 20-6 win over the New York Giants on Sunday night. The victory got the Browns closer to clinching their first playoff spot since 2002, the NFL’s longest drought. New York's opening drive stalled at the 8 after McCoy's throw to Evan Engram fell incomplete in the end zone. It could've worked, too: Kicker Graham Gano was wide open in the end zone. The Browns came right back with a scoring drive capped by Mayfield's 2-yard pass to a wide-open Hooper in the back of the end zone early in the second quarter.

Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) plays against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns were forced to place three more players, including starting right tackle Jack Conklin and kicker Cody Parkey, on the COVID-19 list Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, as they prepare for this week's home game against Philadelphia. Garrett was isolated at home because he was “feeling sick,” according to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski said Garrett, who has 9 1/2 sacks and been dominant all season, has not tested positive. On top of that, Browns starting center and NFLPA President JC Tretter missed practice with an excused absence.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The PGA Tour now has three players who have tested positive for the coronavirus during the RSM Classic at Sea Island. That’s the most positive tests on the PGA Tour since late June, when four players tested positive in a span of a week. Cameron Champ, Denny McCarthy and Dylan Frittelli had positive tests in Connecticut, and Harris English tested positive in Detroit. Two caddies also had positive tests that led to the precautionary withdrawal of their players, Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell. That brings to 18 the number of PGA Tour players who have tested positive since golf resumed on June 8.

___GREEN BAY AT TAMPA BAYPackers: RB Tyler Ervin, CB Kevin King, QB Jordan Love. ___NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMIJets: QB James Morgan, QB Sam Darnold, CB Quincy Wilson, LB Jordan Willis, T Mekhi Becton, DL Nathan Shepherd. Dolphins: B/WR Malcolm Perry, RB Salvon Ahmed, RB Jordan Howard, LB Kyle Van Noy, DE Jason Strowbridge. ___HOUSTON AT TENNESSEETexans: WR Keke Coutee, CB Cornell Armstrong, RB Buddy Howell, ILB Peter Kalambayi, OT Charlie Heck, TE Jordan Akins. ___ATLANTA AT MINNESOTAFalcons: CB Jordan Miller, RB Qadree Ollison, S Jaylinn Hawkins, RT John Wetzel, DE Takk McKinley.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins (82) and quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrate after a 15-yard touchdown by Higgins during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)CLEVELAND – Bill Belichick was their coach and Nick Saban on his staff the last time Cleveland Browns were this good this early. Just three years removed from 0-16, the Browns are 4-1 for the first time since ‘94 — Belichick’s fourth season. “We needed a play to be made — and I’m greedy when it comes to that.”On the Colts' next possession, Browns safety Sheldrick Redwine, who came in while Harrison was being evaluated for a concussion, picked off Rivers. Mayfield showed patience on his 2-yard scoring pass to Hunt, which gave the Browns a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.

CLEVELAND – Backup right tackle Chris Hubbard will start over injured Jack Conklin for the Cleveland Browns when they host the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. Conklin, who was the Browns' biggest signing in free agency this winter, injured his ankle and a finger in last week's season-opening, 38-6 loss at Baltimore. He's active to face the Bengals, but the Browns announced before the game that Chris Hubbard is starting. Cleveland starting center JC Tretter (knee) and rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills (knee) are both playing. Starting cornerback Greedy Williams (shoulder) will miss his second straight game andThe Bengals are missing defensive tackles Geno Atkins (shoulder) and Mike Daniels (groin).