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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs are sending eight players to the Pro Bowl after going from 2-14 last year to 11-5 this year and the No. 5 seed in the playoffs heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale in San Diego.

The NFL announced the rosters Friday night for the Jan. 26 game at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii.

Kansas City will be represented by running back Jamaal Charles, left tackle Branden Albert, safety Eric Berry, cornerback Brandon Flowers, defensive tackle Dontari Poe, linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, and punt returner Dexter McCluster.

That’s the highest number of Chiefs going to the Pro Bowl since the 2003 season, when they had nine. The Chiefs started 9-0 that year, just as they did this season, and lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to Indianapolis.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs are paying Chase Daniel more than $4 million in salary and bonuses this season, yet the backup quarterback has not taken a meaningful snap in a game. There’s an argument to be made that fact won’t change Sunday, when the Chiefs head to San Diego to play a game that can’t affect their playoff situation. Kansas City is already locked into the No. 5 seed and is merely waiting to find out who it will face the following weekend.

But there’s also an argument to be made that every snap Daniel takes — and it stands to reason there will be many — is very important. After winning their first nine games, the Chiefs have lost four of their last six. And any positive vibes that came with back-to-back wins over Washington and Oakland may have evaporated in a 23-7 rout last weekend by the Colts, a potential first-round playoff opponent.

So while most of the starters will likely sit out the majority of this one, it could be up to Daniel and a slew of backups to give Kansas City some momentum headed into the postseason.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hawkeyes women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder has agreed to a one-year contract extension. University of Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta’s announcement Thursday means Bluder will be head coach of the women’s basketball program through the 2019 season.

The school says Bluder is one of 13 active Division One coaches with 600 or more wins. She has coached the Hawkeyes to the NCAA tournament in each of the last six seasons. Bluder is in her 14th season as Iowa’s head coach and her 30th year overall. She said in a statement Thursday that she was honored by the extension.

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SAN DIEGO (AP) – Chargers rookie coach Mike McCoy says he expects running back Ryan Mathews to play against the Kansas City Chiefs despite missing practice Wednesday because of an injured left ankle. Mathews wore a walking boot to protect his ankle. He has played in all 15 games despite leaving one game with a concussion and two others with a hamstring injury.

Says Mathews: “There’s a big difference between being injured and being hurt. I’m just trying to work hard and be there for my teammates, and that’s all that matters.”  For Mathews, drafted 12th overall in 2010, it would be his first season without missing a game. He has rushed for a career-high 1,111 yards in helping the Chargers (8-7) stay in playoff contention.

HONOLULU (AP) — DeAndre Kane scored 23 points and No. 14 Iowa State overcame its worst half of the season to beat Boise State 70-66 on Wednesday in the Diamond Head Classic championship game. Kane hit a 3-pointer with less than 2 minutes left to help seal the win for the Cyclones (11-0). Boise State’s Derrick Marks had a chance to tie with less than 30 seconds left, but missed a 15-foot jumper. Melvin Ejim had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The win gives Iowa State its best start to a season in school history. Derrick Marks had 23 points for Boise State (10-3). Iowa State came back after making less than a third of its shots in the first half. Ward earned tournament MVP honors for his three-game performance.

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The Iowa DNR reminds hunters that the late muzzleloader deer season began Dec. 23, which is the final season that any-deer licenses are available. Nearly 30,000 hunters participated in the late muzzleloader season in 2012 and the DNR expects similar numbers again this year. Archery season also re-opens on Dec. 23 so bow hunters with unfilled tags will likely be heading back to their tree stands as well.

Hunters are required to wear blaze orange during the late muzzleloader season, but unlike the shotgun seasons, party hunting is not allowed.  If hunters are seeing fewer deer where they hunt they may want to refrain from harvesting extra does. Hunters should check with landowners to see if deer numbers are at an acceptable level and tailor their harvest accordingly.

Hunters are reminded to report their harvest within 24 hours of recovering their deer. The DNR says that information is an important part of the data needed to manage Iowa’s deer herd.