Chiefs Secure AFC’s Top Seed with Win Over Steelers

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 little brighter. On a crisp Wednesday evening, the Chiefs achieved their final regular-season goal, clinching the AFC’s top playoff seed with a decisive 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. This win not only secures them a first-round playoff bye but also ensures that all their postseason games, leading up to Super Bowl LIX, will be played at the formidable Arrowhead Stadium. With one game still to play against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs are sitting pretty at 15-1.

Our NFL Nation reporters have been on the ground, capturing the essence of the day’s action, and they’re here to answer the burning questions and provide insights into what this means for both teams. Let’s dive into the details.

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 yearning for all season. His 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 longest was a 54-yard air pass to Xavier Worthy in Week 4 against the Chargers.

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 includes players nursing injuries, like Mahomes and Chris Jones, and could also extend to Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. These players will benefit from an extended break, thanks to the 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 are in a slump, having lost their third consecutive game. The lack of complementary football, which was a hallmark of their earlier successes, is glaringly absent. Even the return of key players like George Pickens, Donte Jackson, and DeShon Elliott couldn’t prevent the offensive errors and defensive lapses that led to more wide-open touchdowns.

While the Steelers have already secured a playoff spot, their grip on the division title and a first-round home playoff game is slipping. They no longer control their destiny for the division crown and need at least one loss from Baltimore to have a shot at clinching it.

QB breakdown: Despite facing a defensive front missing a key player in Jones, Wilson struggled with inconsistency. He was sacked five times for 43 yards and had his second red zone turnover in as many games, picked off in the end zone by Justin Reid while attempting to connect with Pat Freiermuth. Ball security was also an issue, as Wilson fumbled while trying to evade pressure on the first series, though he managed to recover it. Despite these issues, Wilson showed flashes of brilliance, including two first-down passes to Freiermuth leading to a scoring drive capped by his 1-yard touchdown run. Wilson finished 23-of-37 for 205 yards.

Describe the game in two words: Revealing loss. With the return of several key players, the Steelers had an opportunity to turn things around against a strong team missing its best defender. Instead, they faltered in a blowout loss, raising doubts about their playoff potential.

Troubling trend: The Steelers have allowed a league-high 13 first-quarter touchdowns, including two to the Chiefs on Wednesday. The Chiefs scored on back-to-back drives in the opening frame, capitalizing on a short field after a subpar punt by Corliss Waitman and a 49-yard pass from Mahomes to Watson, which set up a touchdown three plays later. These early scores 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 dealing with nagging injuries, and for the second consecutive week, he played 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)