KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford was ruled out of the AFC title game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night with a concussion.
Benford was carted from the field after a helmet-to-helmet hit with teammate Damar Hamlin while trying to make a tackle in the first quarter.
Benford, who spent the week in the concussion protocol before getting cleared in time for the game, was ruled out just moments after he was driven up the tunnel in the corner of Arrowhead Stadium.
Benford was chasing Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy near the Bills sideline when he clashed helmets with Hamlin, who wears a Guardian Cap on his own. Benford was shaky while standing up and tried to return to the field, but Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas stopped him in his tracks and made sure Buffalo trainers checked on him.
The loss was a big one for Buffalo, which was counting on Benford to help cover the Chiefs' fleet of wide receivers. He made a nice play earlier in the game to break up a pass deep downfield intended for Marquise Brown.
The Bills already were thin in the secondary without safety Taylor Rapp, who was inactive with back and hip injuries. He would have played a significant role in covering Chiefs tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford is assisted after being injured during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) leaves the field after injury against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) works for a catch against Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Pontus Holmberg scored with 7.3 seconds left in the first period to put Tampa Bay on top for good, Nikita Kucherov scored twice and the Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 4-2 in another penalty-filled matchup between the Sunshine State rivals.
Jake Guentzel also scored for Tampa Bay, which has won three straight. Kucherov sealed it with an empty-netter with 56 seconds left.
Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen scored for the Panthers, who lost for just the second time in their last seven games. Florida was 1 for 11 on the power play.
Both teams set season-highs for penalty minutes — by far. Tampa Bay finished with 87, Florida finished with 49. The Lightning had 33 on Nov. 16 against Vancouver; the Panthers had 20 on Nov. 22 against Edmonton.
And there were reminders that these teams, as has been the case forever, simply do not like one another.
Tampa Bay's Scott Sabourin — who had a starring role in the preseason game that featured more than 300 penalty minutes — drew two minors and a misconduct early in the third period for roughing and slashing the Panthers' Niko Mikkola. Sabourin was called up earlier in the day, and three of his nine games with the Lightning this season have been against Florida.
Those penalties against Sabourin came after play was stopped for about eight minutes late in the second period while referees sorted out 13 roughing penalties — seven against Tampa Bay, six against Florida. At one point during a stoppage, there were six players in the Lightning's penalty box.
Sabourin was given another misconduct with 33 seconds remaining, part of a 26-penalty night for Tampa Bay.
Lightning: Host Montreal on Sunday.
Panthers: Host Washington on Monday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy allows a goal by the Florida Panthers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) defend the goal against Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) defend the goal against Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) celebrates with teammates after his goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal with teammates in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
