Chiefs seize AFC’s high seed as Steelers lose third straight

PITTSBURGH — The Kansas City Chiefs achieved the final of their common season targets on Wednesday and achieved it with one recreation remaining.

The 15-1 Chiefs clinched the AFC’s high playoff seed by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10. They will get a first-round playoff bye and play all of their postseason video games earlier than Super Bowl LIX at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs will end the common season subsequent weekend with a recreation in opposition to the Broncos in Denver.

Most stunning efficiency: Chiefs defensive finish Mike Danna took benefit of expanded taking part in time within the absence of Chris Jones to have an enormous go dashing recreation. Danna, who entered the sport with 1.5 sacks this season, had two sacks of Russell Wilson. The Chiefs sacked Wilson 5 instances.

QB breakdown: Patrick Mahomes lastly obtained the deep ball for which he had been advocating a lot of the season. Mahomes’ 49-yard go to Justin Watson within the first quarter traveled 40 yards within the air, making it his second-longest such go of the season. His TD to Xavier Worthy in Week 4 in opposition to the Chargers went 54 yards within the air.

Prediction for subsequent week: Now that they’ve locked up the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, the Chiefs will sit as lots of their key gamers as they fairly can in subsequent week’s regular-season finale in opposition to the Broncos. The checklist contains gamers with accidents, like Mahomes and Chris Jones, however may embody others, like Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. These gamers can have an prolonged break as a result of the Chiefs may even get a first-round playoff bye. — Adam Teicher

Next recreation: at Broncos (Jan. 5, TBD)

The solely factor worse than getting coal on Christmas morning? A loss on Christmas afternoon.

The Steelers continued their late-season slide, dropping their third straight. For the third week in a row, the Steelers lacked the type of complementary soccer that helped them win earlier within the season. Even the return of George Pickens, Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott could not make sufficient of a distinction for the Steelers to beat offensive miscues and defensive lapses that led to extra huge open touchdowns.

The Steelers have already got a playoff spot locked up, however they’re in actual hazard of dropping the division title and a first-round dwelling playoff recreation. They not management their very own future to win the division and wish no less than one loss from Baltimore to have an opportunity to clinch the crown.

QB breakdown: Though he was going through a defensive entrance lacking a game-wrecker in Jones, Wilson nonetheless struggled in an uneven efficiency. Not solely was he sacked 5 instances for 43 yards, however Wilson additionally had his second purple zone turnover in as many video games. This time, he was picked off ultimately zone by Justin Reid as he tried to drive the ball to Pat Freiermuth.

Wilson’s ball safety was additionally a difficulty for the second week in a row when he dropped the ball attempting to elude stress on the primary sequence. He recovered the fumble, but it surely was practically an much more disastrous begin for the Steelers. Despite his miscues, although, Wilson had moments of brilliance, together with two first-down passes to Freiermuth en path to a scoring drive capped with Wilson’s one-yard landing run. Wilson completed 23 of 37 for 205 yards.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Revealing loss. With a lift from the return of a number of key gamers, the Steelers had an opportunity to proper the ship — or no less than begin turning it round — in opposition to a troublesome staff taking part in with out its finest defender. Instead, they took on extra water in a blowout loss and do not seem like a staff able to making noise within the playoffs.

Troubling development: The Steelers have allowed a league-high 13 first-quarter touchdowns, together with two to the Chiefs on Wednesday. Not solely did the Chiefs get on the board twice within the opening body, however the scores got here on back-to-back drives. On the primary, the Chiefs scored on a brief discipline after a sub-par punt by Corliss Waitman, and on the second, the Steelers’ secondary gave up a 49-yard go from Mahomes to Watson to arrange a landing from the pair three performs later. Those touchdowns put the Steelers in a 13-0 gap simply 11 minutes into the sport.

Promising development: Jaylen Warren is out-snapping and out-performing Najee Harris. The one-time undrafted free agent is lastly wholesome after nagging accidents lowered his position for a lot of the season, and for the second week in a row, he had a much bigger position than former first-round decide Harris. Warren averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had 5 catches for 41 yards. — Brooke Pryor

Next recreation: vs. Bengals (Jan. 5, TBD)