Chiefs win fifth straight, lock down Bears

(AP) Patrick Mahomes threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score, and the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears 26-3 to stay in contention for a first-round playoff bye.

Kansas City earned its fifth straight win and remained a game behind New England for the AFC’s second seed. The Patriots clinched their 11th consecutive AFC East championship by beating Buffalo on Saturday. The Chiefs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over New England thanks to a victory two weeks ago that helped secure their fourth division title in a row.

Mahomes, playing his 30th game, became the fastest player to reach the 9,000-yard passing mark.