Kansas City Chiefs Secure AFC’s Top Seed with Commanding Win Over Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s a festive time of year, and for the Kansas City Chiefs, the holiday season just got a whole lot merrier. On a crisp Wednesday evening, the Chiefs achieved their final regular-season goal with a game still left to play. The Chiefs, now boasting a 15-1 record, clinched the AFC’s top playoff seed by decisively defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10. This victory ensures that the Chiefs will enjoy a first-round playoff bye and host all their postseason games at the iconic Arrowhead Stadium, at least until the grand spectacle of Super Bowl LIX.
As the Chiefs prepare to wrap up their regular season with a game against the Denver Broncos in Denver next weekend, our NFL Nation reporters have been busy dissecting the day’s action. They’ve been answering the lingering questions that have emerged from each game and providing all the essential details you need to know about every team. So, let’s dive into the reactions and insights from this pivotal matchup.
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
Most surprising performance: Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna stepped up in a big way, taking advantage of increased playing time due to the absence of Chris Jones. Danna, who entered the game with just 1.5 sacks this season, managed to sack Russell Wilson twice, contributing to the Chiefs’ total of five sacks in the game.
QB breakdown: Patrick Mahomes finally got the deep ball he had been advocating for much of the season. Mahomes’ 49-yard pass to Justin Watson in the first quarter traveled 40 yards in the air, marking it as his second-longest such pass of the season. His touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy in Week 4 against the Chargers went 54 yards in the air.
Prediction for next week: With the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed secured, the Chiefs are likely to rest as many key players as possible in their regular-season finale against the Broncos. This list includes players with injuries, such as Mahomes and Chris Jones, but could also extend to Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. These players will benefit from an extended break, thanks to the Chiefs’ first-round playoff bye. — Adam Teicher
Next game: at Broncos (Jan. 5, TBD)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
What does this loss mean for the Steelers? The only thing worse than getting coal on Christmas morning? A loss on Christmas afternoon. The Steelers continued their late-season slide, dropping their third straight game. For the third consecutive week, the Steelers lacked the complementary football that had been their hallmark earlier in the season. Even the return of George Pickens, Donte Jackson, and DeShon Elliott couldn’t help the Steelers overcome offensive miscues and defensive lapses that led to more wide-open touchdowns.
The Steelers have already secured a playoff spot, but they’re in real danger of losing the division title and a first-round home playoff game. They no longer control their own destiny to win the division and need at least one loss from Baltimore to have a chance to clinch the crown.
QB breakdown: Despite facing a defensive front missing a game-wrecker in Jones, Wilson struggled with an uneven performance. Not only was he sacked five times for 43 yards, but Wilson also had his second red zone turnover in as many games. This time, he was picked off in the end zone by Justin Reid as he tried to force the ball to Pat Freiermuth.
Wilson’s ball security was also an issue for the second week in a row when he dropped the ball trying to elude pressure on the first series (he recovered the fumble). Despite his miscues, Wilson had moments of brilliance, including two first-down passes to Freiermuth en route to a scoring drive capped by Wilson’s 1-yard touchdown run. Wilson finished 23-of-37 for 205 yards.
Describe the game in two words: Revealing loss. With a boost from the return of several key players, the Steelers had a chance to right the ship — or at least start turning it around — against a tough team playing without its best defender. Instead, they took on more water in a blowout loss and don’t appear to be a team capable of making noise in the playoffs.
Troubling trend: The Steelers have allowed a league-high 13 first-quarter touchdowns, including two to the Chiefs on Wednesday. Not only did the Chiefs get on the board twice in the opening frame, but the scores came on back-to-back drives. On the first, the Chiefs scored on a short field after a subpar punt by Corliss Waitman, and on the second, the Steelers’ secondary gave up a 49-yard pass from Mahomes to Watson to set up a touchdown from the pair three plays later. Those touchdowns put the Steelers in a 13-0 hole just 11 minutes into the game.
Promising trend: Jaylen Warren is out-snapping and out-performing Najee Harris. The 2022 undrafted free agent is finally healthy after nagging injuries reduced his role for much of the season, and for the second week in a row, he had a bigger role than former first-round pick Harris. Warren averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had five catches for 41 yards. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. Bengals (Jan. 5, TBD)
Originally Written by: Adam Teicher,Brooke Pryor
