10 months after Super Bowl, Mahomes and Hurts struggle in historic week of turnovers

The least productive start of Patrick Mahomes' career ended Kansas City's nine-year run of division titles and put another remarkable streak in jeopardy.

Jalen Hurts was even worse a night later for the Philadelphia Eagles, as the two starting quarterbacks from last season's Super Bowl combined for a week that had never before been seen in the NFL.

Mahomes threw three interceptions and no touchdowns in the Chiefs' 20-10 loss to Houston that dealt a major blow to their playoff hopes. Hurts threw four interceptions, lost a fumble and had no TDs in a 22-19 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

It marked the first time that the two starting QBs from the previous season's Super Bowl each threw at least three interceptions and had no TD passes in the same week.

The 19.8 passer rating for Mahomes and 31.3 for Hurts are the two lowest this season among quarterbacks with at least 25 attempts in a game as neither looked close to the level they reached last season on their runs to the Super Bowl.

Mahomes' rating was the lowest for any Chiefs QB with at least 20 attempts since Matt Cassel had a 19.1 in the 2010 season finale against the Raiders. The 10 points were the fewest ever scored by Kansas City in a game started by Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium.

The loss eliminated Kansas City from contention in the AFC West after nine straight titles and put their run of seven straight appearances in the AFC title game in jeopardy. The Patriots are the only other team with longer streaks, having won 11 straight division titles from 2009-19 and made eight straight AFC title games from 2011-18 with Tom Brady.

It also dropped Kansas City's chances of making the playoffs to 11%, according to the NFL NextGen Stats model. Barring a shocking turn of events, this could set up the first AFC championship game without either Mahomes or Brady at quarterback since the 2010 season.

Hurts' performance wasn't nearly as damaging to Philadelphia's playoff hopes as the Eagles still hold a 1 1/2-game lead over Dallas in the NFC East but provided a moment that had never before been seen in the modern NFL.

It happened when Hurts threw his second interception of the game in the second quarter. Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand caught it and started his return. He then fumbled when he was hit by the Eagles’ Will Shipley. Hurts recovered, but immediately fumbled right back after getting hit by Los Angeles' Jamaree Caldwell. Troy Dye recovered for the Chargers, giving Hurts both an interception and a lost fumble on the same play.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hurts was the first player to commit two turnovers on the same play as far as records go back to 1978.

He threw two more interceptions, including a game-ending one in overtime to become the first Philadelphia player with five turnovers in a game since Donovan McNabb did it in 1999 as a rookie against Indianapolis.

While Shedeur Sanders was named the starter for the rest of the season in Cleveland, some of the other franchises might be looking for new starters.

The New York Jets could be forced to use a new starter with Tyrod Taylor dealing with a groin injury and Justin Fields slowed by a knee injury. Rookie Brady Cook made his NFL debut in relief of Taylor on Sunday and could be in line for a start this week against Jacksonville that would make him the team's 41st starting QB since Joe Namath's last start in 1976 and the 46th since the merger.

The Browns have used the most starting quarterbacks since the merger with 60, with the only other teams using more than the Jets being Chicago (54), the Rams and Cardinals (49 each) and Washington (47).

Indianapolis could use its 44th starting QB since the merger after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles — or do something even more surprising. The Colts signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers to the practice squad this week even though he last played in the 2020 season. Riley Leonard and Brett Rypien are the options if Rivers isn't ready to go.

The Colts have lost four out of five games to go from 7-1 and the top spot in the conference to in danger of missing the playoffs. Only five of the 127 teams that started a season 7-1 or better since the merger missed the playoffs with it last happening with Chicago in 2012. Washington missed out in 1996, New Orleans in 1988, San Diego in the strike-impacted 1987 season and Miami in 1975.

Seattle rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori and Buffalo cornerback Christian Benford put together some performances for the record book on Sunday.

Emmanwori had a sack, an interception and blocked a field goal in the Seahawks' 37-9 win at Atlanta. Only three other players since at least 2000 had a sack, interception and blocked kick in the same game with Emmanwori's teammate Leonard Williams the last to do it in 2024 for Seattle against the New York Jets.

Arizona's Adrian Wilson did it in the 2010 season opener against the Rams and Hall of Famer Julius Peppers did it in Week 12 of the 2004 season against Tampa Bay.

Benford had a game-changing pick-6 in the Bills' win over Cincinnati a week after returning a fumble for a touchdown against Pittsburgh. He is the first Bills player ever to score a defensive TD in back-to-back games and the first on any team to do it since Nik Bonitto did it for Denver last December.

Benford's 63-yard return on Sunday when Cincinnati was in Bills territory with a 28-25 lead with less than 6 minutes remaining gave Buffalo the lead and completely changed the game. According to the NFL's NextGen Stats, the play increased Buffalo's win probability from 16.2% to 77% — with the 60.8 percentage point increase in win probability the largest of any play outside of the last 2 minutes in 10 seasons of NextGen Stats data.

The Minnesota Vikings pulled off a feat that hadn't been done in more than three decades.

One week after losing 26-0 at Seattle, the Vikings turned the tables on Washington and beat the Commanders 31-0 at home in a turnaround last accomplished by the 1992 Denver Broncos.

Minnesota was the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to shut out an opponent after getting blanked the previous game. John Elway's Broncos were the last to do it in 1992 when they followed up a 30-0 loss to Philadelphia in Week 3 with a 12-0 win at Cleveland the next week.

While that kind of turnaround is rare in the modern game it wasn't uncommon in the early days of the NFL when shutouts were far more common and there were 73 scoreless draws in the league's first quarter century. According to Sportradar, there were 160 instances in the pre-Super Bowl era when a team followed a shutout loss with a shutout win.

Inside the Numbers dives into NFL statistics, streaks and trends each week. For more Inside the Numbers, head here.

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FILE - Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)

Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) celebrates his interception against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) celebrates sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with teammate cornerback Jordan Hancock (37) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) slides under Los Angeles Chargers free safety Derwin James (3) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive tackle Tommy Togiai during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has proposed negotiations after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic as an ongoing crackdown on demonstrators has led to hundreds of deaths.

Trump said late Sunday that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports mount of increasing deaths and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night.

Iran did not acknowledge Trump’s comments immediately. It has previously warned the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has accurately reported on past unrest in Iran, gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran cross checking information. It said at least 544 people have been killed so far, including 496 protesters and 48 people from the security forces. It said more than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

The Latest:

A witness told the AP that the streets of Tehran empty at the sunset call to prayers each night.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, addressed “Dear parents,” which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

—- By Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Iran drew tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators to the streets Monday in a show of power after nationwide protests challenging the country’s theocracy.

Iranian state television showed images of demonstrators thronging Tehran toward Enghelab Square in the capital.

It called the demonstration an “Iranian uprising against American-Zionist terrorism,” without addressing the underlying anger in the country over the nation’s ailing economy. That sparked the protests over two weeks ago.

State television aired images of such demonstrations around the country, trying to signal it had overcome the protests, as claimed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier in the day.

China says it opposes the use of force in international relations and expressed hope the Iranian government and people are “able to overcome the current difficulties and maintain national stability.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday that Beijing “always opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs, maintains that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law, and opposes the use or threat of use of force in international relations.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned “in the strongest terms the violence that the leadership in Iran is directing against its own people.”

He said it was a sign of weakness rather than strength, adding that “this violence must end.”

Merz said during a visit to India that the demonstrators deserve “the greatest respect” for the courage with which “they are resisting the disproportional, brutal violence of Iranian security forces.”

He said: “I call on the Iranian leadership to protect its population rather than threatening it.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday suggested that a channel remained open with the United States.

Esmail Baghaei made the comment during a news conference in Tehran.

“It is open and whenever needed, through that channel, the necessary messages are exchanged,” he said.

However, Baghaei said such talks needed to be “based on the acceptance of mutual interests and concerns, not a negotiation that is one-sided, unilateral and based on dictation.”

The semiofficial Fars news agency in Iran, which is close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, on Monday began calling out Iranian celebrities and leaders on social media who have expressed support for the protests over the past two weeks, especially before the internet was shut down.

The threat comes as writers and other cultural leaders were targeted even before protests. The news agency highlighted specific celebrities who posted in solidarity with the protesters and scolded them for not condemning vandalism and destruction to public property or the deaths of security forces killed during clashes. The news agency accused those celebrities and leaders of inciting riots by expressing their support.

Canada said it “stands with the brave people of Iran” in a statement on social media that strongly condemned the killing of protesters during widespread protests that have rocked the country over the past two weeks.

“The Iranian regime must halt its horrific repression and intimidation and respect the human rights of its citizens,” Canada’s government said on Monday.

Iran’s foreign minister claimed Monday that “the situation has come under total control” after a bloody crackdown on nationwide protests in the country.

Abbas Araghchi offered no evidence for his claim.

Araghchi spoke to foreign diplomats in Tehran. The Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network, which has been allowed to work despite the internet being cut off in the country, carried his remarks.

Iran’s foreign minister alleged Monday that nationwide protests in his nation “turned violent and bloody to give an excuse” for U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene.

Abbas Araghchi offered no evidence for his claim, which comes after over 500 have been reported killed by activists -- the vast majority coming from demonstrators.

Araghchi spoke to foreign diplomats in Tehran. The Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network, which has been allowed to work despite the internet being cut off in the country, carried his remarks.

Iran has summoned the British ambassador over protesters twice taking down the Iranian flag at their embassy in London.

Iranian state television also said Monday that it complained about “certain terrorist organization that, under the guise of media, spread lies and promote violence and terrorism.” The United Kingdom is home to offices of the BBC’s Persian service and Iran International, both which long have been targeted by Iran.

A huge crowd of demonstrators, some waving the flag of Iran, gathered Sunday afternoon along Veteran Avenue in LA’s Westwood neighborhood to protest against the Iranian government. Police eventually issued a dispersal order, and by early evening only about a hundred protesters were still in the area, ABC7 reported.

Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran.

Los Angeles police responded Sunday after somebody drove a U-Haul box truck down a street crowded with the the demonstrators, causing protesters to scramble out of the way and then run after the speeding vehicle to try to attack the driver. A police statement said one person was hit by the truck but nobody was seriously hurt.

The driver, a man who was not identified, was detained “pending further investigation,” police said in a statement Sunday evening.

Shiite Muslims hold placards and chant slogans during a protest against the U.S. and show solidarity with Iran in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Activists carrying a photograph of Reza Pahlavi take part in a rally supporting protesters in Iran at Lafayette Park, across from the White House, in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Activists take part in a rally supporting protesters in Iran at Lafayette Park, across from the White House in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Protesters burn the Iranian national flag during a rally in support of the nationwide mass demonstrations in Iran against the government in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)