Chiefs clinch AFC's No. 1 seed by riding defense to victory over ...
Oh, how much has changed in a year.
And oh, how much hasn’t.
A year ago, the Kansas City Chiefs spent their Christmas Day delivering a gift-wrapped win to an interim-coached Las Vegas Raiders team. The Chiefs fell to 9-6 with the loss, their playoff berth still intact but their road to the Super Bowl fully on the road.
A year later?
A Chiefs team that seemed to be playing with fire during narrow early-season wins secured its 15th victory in 16 tries in a resounding 29-10 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kansas City celebrated Christmas this year by locking up the AFC’s top playoff seed, once again earning a bye and home-field advantage through the conference championship on the road to the first Super Bowl three-peat in NFL history.
The Chiefs impressed on offense and defense.
Mahomes used his arms and legs each effectively to lead two first-quarter scoring drives, the Chiefs scoring a season-high 13 points in a first period that featured a trademark Mahomes shovel and well-anticipated deep ball alike.
The Chiefs' defense disrupted Russell Wilson and the Steelers early and often, Wilson taking a season-high five sacks even as a calf injury sidelined Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Safety Justin Reid intercepted Wilson’s double coverage end-zone throw in the first quarter, and cornerback Trent McDuffie stripped Wilson in the fourth quarter as the contest began to slip out of hand.
Mahomes marched the Chiefs down the field for a touchdown to tight end Travis Kelce off the turnover-positioned short field.
The Steelers wouldn’t score in the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh entered the game coming off consecutive losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, but hoped its offense would receive the necessary juice from star receiver George Pickens, who missed three prior games with a hamstring injury.
The Steelers hoped a banged-up secondary could at least take solace in the returns of cornerback Donte Jackson and safety DeShon Elliott.
Instead, the Chiefs showed how much Mahomes could again elevate a cast ranging from rookie receiver to seventh-round running back while Kelce contributed 84 yards and a touchdown in a reminder that his performance routinely improves as the season goes on. Kelce also became the Chiefs' all-time leader in touchdown receptions with his 77th, breaking a tie with Tony Gonzalez.
Kansas City’s defense showed that its mastery of pass rush and coverage does not depend on Jones, even as he will no doubt elevate it into January.
A year after the Chiefs ceded a fumble touchdown and a pick-6 to the Raiders, they were the ones wreaking havoc defensively.
Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns as the Steelers held the Chiefs to 69 rushing yards.
Wilson completed 23 of 37 passes for 205 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for more than double his season high, Wilson’s 55 yards including a rushing touchdown and multiple first downs. His mobility helped on a day when he was under such heavy pressure, but wasn’t enough.
Falling to 10-6, the Steelers lost control of the AFC North ahead of the Baltimore Ravens’ Wednesday afternoon game at the Houston Texans. Expect Pittsburgh’s finale against the Cincinnati Bengals to influence AFC playoff seeding.
The Chiefs close out their season against the Denver Broncos next week in a game without playoff implications for Kansas City.
Much changed between the Chiefs’ Christmases.
Come February, they’ll hope much will be the same.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER37 updates
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:56 PM GMT+1
Final: Chiefs, 29, Steelers 10
So much for close Chiefs wins. This is now three consecutive wins by eight-plus points after a 21-7 defeat of the Browns and a 27-19 victory over the Texans last week. The wins over Houston and Pittsburgh came against fellow playoff teams.
And this one was dominant on both sides of the ball. Patrick Mahomes was in MVP form with 320 yards and three touchdowns. And Kansas City's defense was stout as usual while holding the Steelers to 10 points.
Is anybody still discounting the Chiefs as a Super Bowl favorite?
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:49 PM GMT+1
The Steelers have the ball back after a Chiefs punt, but this one is over. Kansas City leads, 29-10 with 3:31 remaining and is well on its way to a 15-1 start and locking up the AFC's No. 1 seed.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:45 PM GMT+1
Travis Kelce's fourth-quarter touchdown catch was the 77th of his career, breaking Tony Gonzalez's Chiefs record for touchdown catches. Kelce responded by dunking the ball over the goal post, a tribute to Gonzalez's signature celebration.
The celebration drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Here's guessing that Kelce doesn't care.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:39 PM GMT+1
Even a taunting penalty couldn't save the Steelers here. A fourth-and-20 pass from Russell Wilson fell incomplete and Chiefs cornerback Jaden Hicks gave George Pickens a double thumbs down after the pass breakup near the goal line.
The gesture drew a 15-yard taunting penalty of little consequence. The penalty was enforced after Kansas City took over on downs. The Chiefs have the ball and a 29-10 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:33 PM GMT+1
The Chiefs are cruising, but Isiah Pacheco's day might be done. He's questionable to return with a rib injury.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:27 PM GMT+1
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth fumbled, and the Chiefs recovered. Four plays later, Travis Kelce was in the end zone on a pass from Patrick Mahomes for another Chiefs touchdown to extend Kansas City's lead to 29-10. The Steelers are going to need a Christmas miracle to pull this one out in the fourth quarter.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:16 PM GMT+1
The Chiefs extend their lead to 22-10. Kareem Hunt punches it in from 2 yards to cap an 11-play, 77-yard drive with a touchdown. Kansas City failed on a two-point conversion and holds a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:13 PM GMT+1
The Chiefs are up by six entering the fourth quarter, and they're threatening to score again.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:10 PM GMT+1
Travis Kelce has now surpassed 1,000 career receptions with the Chiefs, who are driving once again here in the third.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 9:02 PM GMT+1
The Steelers got a mulligan on their doinked field goal attempt thanks to a KC neutral zone infraction, and this time it goes in to make it a six-point game. Chiefs 16, Steelers 10
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:58 PM GMT+1
The only TD of the day for the Steelers belongs to Russell Wilson, and here his is avoiding a sack and getting a critical first down for Pittsburgh.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:47 PM GMT+1
Despite a roughing the passer call, the Chiefs couldn't get it into the end zone on this possession and settled for a Harrison Butker field goal. Chiefs still lead the Steelers 16-7.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:44 PM GMT+1
We're back! And within a minute of the start of the 3rd quarter, Xavier Worthy is already working, catching a pass from Mahomes to give the Chiefs a first down.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:26 PM GMT+1
The Steelers didn't move the ball on their final possession, and we go into halftime with the Chiefs holding a 13-7 lead.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:24 PM GMT+1
The Steelers now have the ball for the likely last possession of the first half. A 72-yard Chiefs punt results in a touchback, and Pittsburgh has the ball back at its own 20 with 31 seconds left in the half.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:23 PM GMT+1
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:18 PM GMT+1
A deep Russell Wilson pass to Mike Williams fell incomplete on third-and-9, and the Chiefs have the ball back at their own 21 after a Steelers punt. Can they add to their 13-7 lead with 1:01 remaining?
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 8:06 PM GMT+1
The Steelers have forced a second consecutive Chiefs punt and have the ball back at their own 20 with a chance to take the lead after a touchback. Kansas City leads, 13-7 with 6:06 before halftime.
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 7:56 PM GMT+1
We have a game. The Steelers have cut it to one possession. Russell Wilson caps an 11-play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown scramble around the left end. He reaches out for the pylon just before going out of bounds. Chiefs 13, Steelers 7
Wed, December 25, 2024 at 7:45 PM GMT+1
The Chiefs didn't take advantage of the turnover. They punt after a 3-and-out. Pittsburgh has the ball on second-and-6 while facing a 13-0 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
