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By MITCH STACY, AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — Patrick Mahomes had a message for young Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase when the two met on the field after Cincinnati's dramatic 34-31 win over Kansas City to clinch the AFC North title. “Keep going — we'll see you in the playoffs,” the Chiefs quarterback told Chase. The Bengals (10-6) are finally back in the postseason, thanks to Chase and quarterback Joe Burrow, who both shattered team records on Sunday. Chase's 266 receiving yards was more than Mahomes had passing (259) in the game. Kansas City (11-5) had its eight-game winning streak snapped San Francisco 49ers Jersey and fell out of the top seed in the AFC, ceding that spot to Tennessee. The last Cincinnati playoff appearance was 2015 when the team...

When their teacher asked them to design images that symbolized where they came from – and where they hoped to go – to paint on shoes, many of the Jemtegaard Middle School students in art teacher Dani Allen’s class struggled with the assignment. Allen admits her assignment, which she called the “Roots and Wings” project, was not easy. “Many of the first sketches were not even close to the ‘roots and wings’ theme. Students drew their favorite anime, or a sunset, or fire on both shoes,” Allen said. “I’d ask how this fit the theme, and they got frustrated that they could not do their original idea and were not sure how to do what we asked. They said it was too difficult.” But Allen didn’t give up. And neither did her students. “It was like, out of the blue, they just got it,” Allen...

TAMPA, Fla. – Sophomores Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith understand that it’s their responsibility to fill the void left by Jahan Dotson, who opted out of the Outback Bow to prepare for the NFL draft. “When we came in, he (Dotson) was leading us,” Lambert-Smith said. “It’s just a matter of taking what he was doing. I’m pretty sure we’re prepared to lead the young guys coming in and lead the guys in our room already.” Washington and Lambert-Smith will be central figures for Penn State (7-5) against Arkansas (8-4) in the Outback Bowl Saturday at noon (TV-ESPN2; WPHT-1210AM) and in 2022. The 5-10, 207-pound Washington is the second-leading Skechers Womens Outlet receiver for the Nittany Lions with 57 receptions for 722 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-1, 184-pound Lambert...

2021 is nearly up, and we’ve pumped out all of our lists about the best sneakers of the year. We’ve ranked the best sneakers, the best Air Jordans, and the best new designs. But here’s where the real fun starts: Where we each editor gets to discuss their personal top five sneakers from the past 12 months. There’s usually consensus picks for the top shoes of the year. If you were to create a time capsule that would be opened in 100 years, there are things you’d want the list to contain. But the top 10 best shoes of the year might not always be someone’s personal favorites. And we know that an obscure model isn’t the best representation when ranking the best sneakers. Hoka Shoes ,This is the chance to include shoes that impacted all eight of us in 2021. Nike SB Dunks, Air Jordans, Virgil ...

As the new year rapidly approaches, running-shoe companies are dropping hints about the technologies and designs they plan to roll out in 2022. Based on what we’ve seen, it promises to be a banner year for running footwear, with refined tech pushing the limits at the top end and trickle-down innovations appearing across categories and price points. Here are a few models that we’re most excited about training and racing in. Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite ($220) Puma FAST-R Nitro Elite (Photo: 101 Degrees West) Evolving the Super Shoe Easily the most eye-catching shoe promised in the new year, the Puma Fast-R is a novel evolution of the Deviate Nitro Elite marathon racer that Molly Seidel wore to a bronze-medal finish in this year’s Olympic marathon. The Fast-R features all the familiar ingredi...