NFL-SCHEDULE

It’s Super Bowl Sunday in November

UNDATED (AP) — Week 9 in the NFL features five Super Bowl rematches, two more than any other week in league history.

The first one came Thursday night with the Colts’ 45-30 win over the Jets. That was a rematch of Super Bowl 3, which the Jets won 16-7 after Joe Namath guaranteed an upset.

The others are:

— The Broncos at Cowboys, a repeat of Super Bowl 12, which Dallas won 27-10.

— Patriots at Panthers, a repeat of Super Bowl 38, which the Pats won 32-29.

— Packers at Chiefs. This repeat of the first Super Bowl which Green Bay won 35-10 has lost some luster with Aaron Rodgers’ COVID-19 infection that means Patrick Mahomes will match up against Green Bay backup Jordan Love instead.

— The Titans at Rams Sunday night. That’s a repeat of Super Bowl 34, which the Rams, then based in St. Louis, won 23-16. Von Miller might make his Rams debut if a sore left ankle allows. The Broncos traded him to L.A. for a pair of second-day draft picks earlier in the week.

Elsewhere in the NFL Sunday:

— Mark Ingram can make franchise history for the New Orleans Saints when they host Atlanta. The 2009 Alabama Heisman Trophy winner, drafted 28th overall by New Orleans in 2011, rejoined the Saints on Oct. 29 of this season when he was acquired in a trade with Houston. Ingram now needs 63 yards rushing to eclipse Deuce McAllister’s all-time Saints rushing mark of 6,096 yards that has stood since 2008. The 5-2 Saints are seeking their fourth straight victory, which would move them into a tie atop the NFC South with Tampa Bay. New Orleans is starting Trevor Siemian at quarterback following his solid performance in a victory over Tampa Bay last week after Jameis Winston left in the second quarter with a season-ending knee injury.

— Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Christian McCaffrey are both active for Carolina’s game against the New England Patriots. Darnold has been cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol, but is dealing with a shoulder injury. A team spokesman said coach Matt Rhule was waiting until after the warmup to determine whether or not Darnold or his backup P.J. Walker would start. McCaffrey is expected to start, but will likely see a reduced number of reps after missing the past five weeks with a hamstring injury. The Patriots will be without wide receiver N’Keal Harry.

— A person with knowledge of the situation said the Miami Dolphins planned to start Jacoby Brissett at quarterback against the Houston Texans because Tua Tagovailoa (TOO’-ah tuhng-ah-vy-LOH’-ah) is still dealing with an injured finger on his throwing hand.

— The Chicago Bears are without star linebacker Khalil Mack, who is out for a second consecutive game with a foot injury. The three-time All-Pro was sidelined for the first time since 2018 last week, when the Bears lost 33-22 to San Francisco.

— The Buffalo Bills placed starting offensive lineman Jon Feliciano on injured reserve and backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of their game at Jacksonville. Trubisky became Buffalo’s latest player to land on the COVID-19 list this week, joining quarterback Jake Fromm and receiver Tanner Gentry.

NASCAR-PHOENIX

Phoenix Raceway set for its first complete championship weekend since pandemic

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Phoenix Raceway finally gets to host championship weekend in front of a packed house. Every single allotted space has been sold for Sunday, when the Cup title will be decided in front of about 60,000 spectators.

This Sunday for NASCAR’s championship four is arguably one of the best yet under this winner-take-all format introduced in 2014. Hendrick Motorsports stars Kyle Larson and defending champion Chase Elliott will race for the championship. So will Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and former champion Martin Truex Jr.

Larson won the pole Saturday. His No. 5 Chevrolet failed inspection twice but he easily recovered and went 137.877 mph. Elliott starts second in the No. 9 Chevy. Joe Gibbs Racing championship drivers Denny Hamlin starts sixth and Martin Truex Jr. is 12th.

TENNIS-PARIS MASTERS

Djokovic beats Medvedev for record 37th Masters title

PARIS (AP) — A day after ensuring he finishes No. 1 for a record seventh year, Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) beat No. 2 Daniil Medvedev (DAN’-ihl MEHD’-veh-dehv) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Paris Masters final on Sunday for a record 37th Masters title.

Djokovic moved one clear of fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal for Masters trophies, and nine ahead of Roger Federer, the other tennis great with 20 majors.

It also gave Djokovic a record-extending sixth Paris Masters title and put him 6-4 up overall against the No. 2-ranked Medvedev, who is pushing hard to dethrone him in world tennis.

The veteran Serb had lost to Medvedev in straight sets in the U.S. Open final two months ago and had not played a tournament since.

NYC MARATHON

Comeback story: Korir wins NYC Marathon 2 years after 2nd

NEW YORK (AP) — Albert Korir of Kenya has won the New York City Marathon men’s race, two years after coming in second.

Korir overtook Morocco’s Mohamed El Aaraby and Italy’s Eyob Faniel around the 18th mile and quickly took the drama out of the race’s 50th running. He won in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 22 seconds.

In the women’s race, Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya pulled away at the entrance to Central Park and became the first woman to win a marathon major in the fall after winning an Olympic gold medal.

The second oldest of the world’s marathon majors returned after canceling in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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