The Buffalo Bills are riding a hot streak at the right time.

After impressive wins in Kansas City and then against Dallas, they found themselves in a dogfight on Saturday night against a rather lowly Los Angeles Chargers team.

L.A. had some motivation with it being their first game since firing Brandon Staley following their 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, and they were mere minutes from what many believed would’ve been an improbable victory.

But Josh Allen is still Josh Allen, and the Bills came away with a 24-22 victory.

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The Chargers struck first, beginning the scoring with a field goal, but they made it a 10-0 game after quarterback Easton Stick, who is starting in place of the injured Justin Herbert, rushed for a touchdown. The Bills answered back with vengeance, as Allen found Gabe Davis for a 57-yard touchdown, and then Allen himself ran in for a score with 38 seconds left in the second quarter. This gave Buffalo a 14-10 lead at the half.

The Chargers kicked a field goal to make it a one-point game midway through the third, but the Bills responded with Allen’s second rushing touchdown of the night to push their lead to 21-13.

Los Angeles settled for two more field goals to trail by two with 7:19 to go in the game. After the Bills’ James Cook fumbled and the Chargers recovered, they were right back in field goal range. Four plays later, kicker Cameron Dicker knocked another one, this one from 53 yards out, to give the Chargers a 22-21 lead with 5:26 to go.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws 57-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Gabe Davis (13) during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.  (Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports)

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The 5-plus minutes proved fruitful for Allen, who put Buffalo inside game-winning field goal range quickly, and in chip-shot range inside the two-minute warning. As the Chargers had no more timeouts, the Bills wasted tons of clock, and Tyler Bass drilled a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds left.

Facing against all the odds, Stick and the Chargers had one more chance. 

Stick was sacked on first down, his second down pass was deflected, and laterals on a final play didn’t work out, giving Buffalo their fourth win in five games.

Allen completed 15 of his 21 passes for 237 yards, with 130 of those going to Davis. Stick completed a pass to nine different targets and finished 22-for-32.

The Bills moved to 9-6 on the season, thus putting themselves in a playoff spot — currently, the sixth seed. Meanwhile, the Chargers are officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Tyler Bass #2 and Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills celebrate after Bass kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 23, 2023 in Inglewood, California.  (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Buffalo now looks likely to make the playoffs, but they first have to host the New England Patriots on New Year’s Eve and then head to Miami in Week 18.

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Some NFL fans weren’t happy they got shut out from watching the Los Angeles Chargers-Buffalo Bills game after the 4:30 p.m. matinee on NBC.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-11, on NBC in a game that kicked off Saturday afternoon. 

Some fans left the network on, figuring the broadcast would transition to SoFi Stadium — until they figured out the Chargers-Bills game was airing exclusively on Peacock.

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Peacock is a subscription-based streaming service that some sports leagues have deals with to broadcast select games, forcing fans to pay monthly subscriptions just to watch maybe one game per season.

Fans weren’t happy about the surprise.

“Imagine making your fans have to pay for NFL Sunday Ticket, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, and now asking them to pay for peacock to watch a game. F— you @nflcommish @NFL @NBCSports,” one user, @AllenRizzard, wrote on X.

“Not a single soul asked for no commercials in the 4th quarter for $5.99” – the broadcast will have no visual ads for the final 15 minutes of the game.

“F— the @NFL Pay for the Sunday ticket. Then pay for prime to watch Thursday games. Then pay for Peacock to watch this dumb a– Saturday game,” another wrote.

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If you want to see more anger from fans, search “Peacock NFL” on X.

It’s the first NFL game to be exclusively shown on the streaming service. The NFL has partnered with Amazon Prime Video since last year for Thursday night games. 

The Bills had won three of four games heading into Saturday’s contest, including wins in Kansas City and a dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15.

SoFi Stadium before a game between the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium Dec. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif.  (Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

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The Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley after a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Trevor Lawrence took a big step in the right direction as he looks to keep his consecutive start streak alive. 

The fourth-year quarterback has suited up 48 straight games, but his streak was in considerable doubt as he entered concussion protocol earlier this week. 

On Saturday, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced the star signal-caller had cleared the protocol and traveled with the team to Tampa Bay.

Lawrence is now expected to be under center Sunday as the Jaguars look to end a three-game losing streak and stay atop the AFC South.

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Lawrence practiced Friday for the first time all week and was later cleared by team doctors and the league’s independent neurological consultant. He is also still dealing with an ankle injury he sustained in Week 13.

The team believes Lawrence suffered the head injury as he scrambled during a play late in a Week 15 loss to the Ravens. Lawrence managed to finish the game, but he failed to complete seven of his final eight passes after the hit. The misfires appeared to raise some concern about the quarterback’s health. He reported concussion-like symptoms after the game.

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This season, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Browns receiver Amari Cooper and Saints wideout Chris Olave all gained clearance before their next games and all played a week after entering the protocol.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence runs with the ball during a game against the Baltimore Ravens Dec. 17, 2023, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Jags already are without left tackle Cam Robinson (knee) and receivers Christian Kirk (groin) and Zay Jones (knee/hamstring). Playing without Lawrence would have been an entirely different obstacle to overcome for a franchise trying to make the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1998-99.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars on a pass play during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium Oct. 15, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

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Lawrence has thrown for 3,525 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. He also has four rushing scores and six fumbles, and he’s been sacked a career high-tying 32 times.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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George Pickens heard the noise and knew he had to change the narrative.

In the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Week 15 game against the Indianapolis Colts, he showed zero effort on a block that could have resulted in a touchdown.

Teammate Jaylen Warren and former Steelers coach Bill Cowher criticized Pickens.

Current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin even seemed to deliver a hard-hitting message earlier this week.

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Pickens rewrote the script quickly, and his Steelers delivered a 34-11 rout of the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals Saturday.

The Steelers got the party started early. On their second play, Pickens caught a slant and took it to the house for an 86-yard touchdown. On their next drive, Calvin Austin punched one in on an end-around, and Najee Harris also found the end zone. 

Pittsburgh intercepted Jake Browning twice, once in the end zone, to take a 24-0 lead into halftime.

But on Cincinnati’s first play of the second half, Tee Higgins ran for 80 yards to get the Bengals on the board. The Bengals converted a two-point conversion to make it a two-possession game. 

But the Steelers answered right back with another long score to Pickens, this one for 66 yards. 

George Pickens of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a deep pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh.  (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Pickens had just four receptions on the day, but half of them were scores, and he racked up 195 yards on those catches.

Mason Rudolph completed 17 of 27 attempts for 290 yards. So, his 13 completions that didn’t go to Pickens went for 95 yards. Harris ran for 78 yards on 19 carries.

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Jake Browning struggled in this one. While his numbers look good (28-for-42, 335 yards), he turned the ball over three times.

It was a must-win game for the Steelers. Entering the contest, they ranked 10th in the AFC. Now, they have the tiebreaker over the Bengals from sweeping the season series after both teams moved to 8-7. 

George Pickens (14) of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a touchdown with teammate Jaylen Warren (30) during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh.  (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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The Steelers moved up just one spot in the playoff picture, and there are three 8-6 teams still ahead of them. Cincy dropped from the sixth seed to 10th with the loss. They had a 37.7% chance to get in the playoffs before this game, but that has now dropped to 15%.

Pittsburgh has a date in Seattle against the Seahawks on New Year’s Eve, while the Bengals will go on the road for a matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Earlier this week, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo had a controversial take when he said Shaquille O’Neal isn’t one of the top five centers in NBA history.

The New York radio legend listed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone and Tim Duncan all ahead of O’Neal.

O’Neal heard the clip on his new podcast when his cohost, Adam Lefkoe, let him know of Russo’s take.

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“Who the f— is that?” O’Neal said.

When Lefkoe described him as a “legendary” host for WFAN, O’Neal said, “He’s legendary to you. He’s not legendary to me.”

Lefkoe then played the duration of the clip in which Russo gives his top five, and O’Neal was blunt.

“Let’s just get it straight: I will smack the s— outta that dude,” O’Neal said. 

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“But let’s get off that. I can’t be on that. I’m corporate,” he quickly added.

O’Neal had no qualms about Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain, but mostly because of their longevity in the game. And, in Chamberlain’s case, only because he scored more points.

When it comes to the prime of players’ careers, though, O’Neal says he was unmatched.

Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal attends the unveiling of the Shaq Courts at the Doolittle Complex donated by Icy Hot and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation in partnership with the city of Las Vegas Oct. 23, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Icy Hot)

“I’m the most dominant center. I don’t ever wanna hear another name again,” he said.

O’Neal said he would put himself at No. 3 among centers all-time.

“LSU: Statue, retired jersey. Orlando Magic: About to be the first retired jersey. L.A.: Retired jersey, statue. I did my thing,” he said.

O’Neal won four NBA titles, three with the Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. 

His No. 32 is retired in Miami. If his No. 32 is retired by the Magic, he would join only Chamberlain as a player whose jersey is retired by three teams.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, left, holds the Larry O’Brian trophy as teammate Shaquille O’Neal holds the MVP trophy after winning the NBA championship against the Indiana Pacers June, 19, 2000. (AFP via Getty Images)

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O’Neal averaged 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds during his Hall of Fame career and was named an All-Star 15 times, including in his rookie year in 1993 and his 17th season in 2009.

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Freshman Michigan State basketball player Jeremy Fears Jr. was shot in the leg while visiting his hometown, the university confirmed.

Born in Joliet, Illinois, the freshman guard’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The shooting happened either late Friday night or early Saturday morning. In a statement released Saturday, MSU coach Tom Izzo said Fears underwent surgery.

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“Jeremy underwent surgery this morning and is resting comfortably,” Izzo said in a statement. “While there is much we still don’t know, my focus is supporting Jeremy on his road to recovery.”

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Fox News Digital contacted the Joliet Police Department but did not immediately hear back.

In a statement obtained by ESPN, police said an 18-year-old male and a 19-year-old woman were both injured in a shooting. Authorities also said the male was wounded in the thigh, while the woman had a wound to the pelvis.

The woman’s injuries were not considered life-threatening either.

Both the man and the woman were inside a home with friends when an unidentified gunman entered and began firing shots, according to police. It remains unclear if either of the victims were the shooter’s intended targets.

Authorities did not release the identity of the victims, but sources told ESPN that the details of the report line up with what they know about the incident involving Fears.

Police continue to search for the suspect, and the investigation is ongoing.

Jeremy Fears Jr. brings the ball up court during the McDonald’s All-American game at Toyota Center March 28, 2023, in Houston, Texas. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Fears had a career-high 10 assists off the bench in Thursday’s game against Stony Brook. The Spartans are off for the next several days until they face Indiana State Dec. 30.

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Fears was a McDonald’s All-American and a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He has appeared in all 12 of MSU’s games this season. The 18-year-old is averaging 3.5 points and 3.3 assists per game.

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Members of the Kansas City Chiefs got together recently, and yes, Taylor Swift was there, too.

The pop star is dating Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce, making them one of the most high-profile celebrity couples in the world.

Rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice was lucky enough to get an invite, giving himself a rare opportunity to hang out with an A-list celebrity.

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It’s hard to imagine being near the superstar artist and not asking for a picture, but Rice says he had to keep his cool.

“I’ve seen her, but I didn’t go up to her like, ‘Can I get a picture’ or nothing like that. Because, you know, those guys like Trav and [Patrick Mahomes], they invite us out, because they know that we are the only guys that see them every day and see them as who they really are. And not ‘Bro, you’re a superstar football player.’ No, it’s just Pat. It’s just Trav,” Rice told former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on his “Airing It Out” podcast.

Rashee Rice (4) of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a third quarter touchdown catch with Travis Kelce (87) against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo.  (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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Plus, it would be a bit awkward for someone to ask for a picture with his friend’s girlfriend.

“And I wouldn’t go up to another dude’s girl and be like, ‘I get a picture with you?’ If my girl was out, I’d be like, ‘Can we get a picture with the girls together,’ but I’ve got nothing to do with that,” he said.

Mahomes recently said Swift was a “part of Chiefs Kingdom now.“

“At first, I feel like everybody kind of stayed away. Just let him do what he was doing. And then he started bringing Taylor around, and you realized how cool of a person she was, and she is,” Mahomes told host Nate Burleson in a preview of the full interview that will air Monday.

“She’s part of the team. It’s cool that she’s embraced [my wife] Brittany, and they’ve built a friendship as well.”

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift arrive at an SNL after-party in New York City Oct. 15, 2023.  (Gotham/GC Images)

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A win over the Las Vegas Raiders Monday would give Kansas City an eighth straight division title, which would be second only to the Patriots’ 11 straight AFC East titles. 

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is having a tremendous season, and he made sure to reward his teammates with a few Christmas gifts on Friday. 

McCaffrey’s offensive teammates received a custom golf bag, a certificate for fitted golf clubs, and a bottle of tequila after practice on Friday, according to The Mercury News. 

One of those offensive teammates, quarterback Brock Purdy, appreciated the gift from someone who is earning a bit more than he at the moment. 

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“Financially, I wouldn’t be able to cover that right now,” Purdy joked with reporters. “Shout-out to him. Everyone loved it. So, thank you, Christian.”

Purdy is still on his rookie deal, a contract that pays him $870,000 in 2023 before jumping to $985,000 in 2024. 

Purdy famously revealed earlier this season that he still splits rent with a roommate in the pricey Bay Area. 

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Quarterback Brock Purdy, #13 of the San Francisco 49ers, runs off the field during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 45-29.  (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“So, I still have a roommate, one of the offensive linemen here. He and I are still splitting rent, and I still drive my Toyota Sequoia. Other than that, it’s pretty simple,” Purdy told “Today” in October. 

Both Purdy and McCaffrey are in the MVP conversation as the 49ers prepare for the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,292) and is third in the league in rushing touchdowns (13), adding seven scores through the air. 

Purdy has the 49ers at 11-3 and leads the league in passer rating (119.0) and touchdown passes (29). 

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Christian McCaffrey, #23, and Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate a touchdown during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022, in Seattle, Washington.  (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

The Christmas night matchup is between the two teams with the best records in the NFL and is a potential Super Bowl preview. 

“They do it all on both sides of the ball,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “They’re tough, they’re physical, they’re disciplined. They play hard. They play winning football. … I have a lot of respect for the coaches and the players. There’s just nothing about how they’re built that you couldn’t respect, so we understand that. What I’m looking to see is how we respond to that challenge.”

The Ravens and 49ers kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday, December 25th. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

An Alabama football player was reportedly arrested for allegedly knowingly spreading an STD.

Elijah Pritchett, an offensive lineman, was put into custody on Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, AL.com says.

Pritchett, 19, was released on a $500 bond after a report had been filed against him on December 13.

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AL.com says a warrant was obtained under state code that reads: “Any person afflicted with a sexually transmitted disease who shall knowingly transmit, or assume the risk of transmitting, or do any act which will probably or likely transmit such disease to another person.”

The charge is a Class C misdemeanor in the state of Alabama – Pritchett could spend three months in jail or pay fines up to $500.

Neither the Tuscaloosa Police Department nor the University of Alabama immediately responded to emails on Saturday afternoon.

He had split time with Kadyn Proctor on the left side earlier in the season, but Proctor wound up garnering more snaps and has been the mainstay in recent weeks. 

Elijah Pritchett was reportedly arrested earlier this week.

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Pritchett did not record an offensive snap in the SEC title game against Georgia, which effectively clinched them a College Football Playoff spot. Roughly two weeks later, Pritchett said he would enter the transfer portal, but he pulled an about-face.

“Transferring is not in my best interest. I apologize for any and all inconveniences. I’m 100% locked in. Roll Tide!” said to On3.

Pritchett returned to Bama practice on December 16 to gear up for their Rose Bowl matchup against No. 1 Michigan in the CFP. The Tide is ranked No. 4.

The Alabama Crimson Tide logo before the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24.  (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

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Pritchett was a five-star recruit and the fifth-ranked offensive lineman for the Class of 2022. He red-shirted after playing in just two games last season.

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