Mahomes throws 3 touchdowns as Chiefs claim first place in AFC by overtaking skidding Steelers 29-10 | News, Sports, Jobs

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50) tackles Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andy Reid donned a Santa suit in a dizzying Kansas City Chiefs locker room on Christmas Day, then gave his team a gift it increasingly seems to deserve: home advantage. field throughout the AFC playoffs.

How Reid managed to don the suit so quickly after Kansas City’s clinical 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, to lock down the AFC’s top seed for the fourth time in seven years, is a mystery (although (he implied that an elf was involved). ).

How Reid’s team manages to stand out from the pack year after year is not.

Lots of Patrick Mahomes. A hint of Travis Kelce. A touch of speed. A defense that quietly goes about its business, even when its leader stands on the sidelines in sweatpants.

Yes, it was ugly at times — by Kansas City’s high standards — as the Chiefs chased a third straight championship. Yet, as the playoffs approach, the group that seemed so vulnerable for most of the season suddenly seems to be returning to form.

And the road to the Super Bowl will once again pass through Arrowhead Stadium. Just the way the Chiefs like it.

“It’s important to get the No. 1 seed,” said Mahomes after throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. “It’s like winning a playoff game.”

Although the way the Chiefs locked him down didn’t really seem like it.

Kansas City (15-1) spent three hours playing the Steelers (10-6) like a cat struggling with shreds of wrapping paper. The Chiefs jumped out to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by Pittsburgh, who lost three straight points only to see their chances of capturing the AFC North take another blow.

“It sucked, to be honest,” said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

This is often the case when Pittsburgh is on one side of the line of scrimmage and Mahomes is on the other. Mahomes is now 4-0 against the Steelers with 17 touchdowns against just one interception. He connected on scoring throws in the first half to Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson and added a historic 12-yard touchdown run to Kelce to seal it in the fourth quarter.

It was the 77th scoring reception of Kelce’s career, breaking a franchise record set by Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Kelce, 35, celebrated by dunking the ball over the goal post, a nod to Gonzalez’s signature move. The action resulted in a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, although that hardly mattered. Harrison Butker kicked the longest extra point and the Chiefs were firmly in control.

“It’s just to show Tony some love.” Kelce said with a laugh on the day he joined Gonzalez and Jason Witten as the only tight ends to reach 1,000 receptions. Kelce finished with eight catches for 84 yards as he played for an offense that is starting to find its footing.

The defense wasn’t bad either, even with five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones sidelined with a calf injury. Jones’ teammates barely looked gassed as they played for the third time in 11 days.

“It was hard” cornerback Trent McDuffie said. “I mean, three games in 11 days is crazy for anyone. But I think we handled the situation very well.

The Steelers didn’t. Pittsburgh went 0-3 during that span, a brutal stretch against Super Bowl contenders Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City, in which the Steelers looked outclassed.

Perhaps more troubling than the defeats was how they played out. Pittsburgh has lost every game by at least 14 points and could find itself starting the playoffs on the road after playing fast and loose with the two-game lead it enjoyed just three weeks ago.

“I think there are ups and downs every season. » said Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson after throwing for 205 yards with an ill-timed pick in the end zone in the first quarter. “We need to make sure we finish this last game on a good footing and with good belief.”

This hasn’t been a problem for years in Kansas City. Not with Mahomes in charge. He spread his 29 completions among eight different players, including a career-best eight for Worthy and four for Hollywood Brown, whose return from injury gave the Chiefs another playmaker in what is starting to look like another stacked deck .

“We are playing, especially offensively, our best football of the year” Mahomes said.

It looks like it. The two-time MVP was hardly bothered by the ankle injury he suffered against Cleveland, throwing touchdowns to cap Kansas City’s first two drives. And even though the Steelers tied 13-7 and 16-10, they never had the ball with a chance to take a lead in the second half.

Instead, the Chiefs — who spent most of the first three months of the season squeaking through most weeks — walked away with the No. 1 seed and several weeks to rest before a bid for a triple which certainly seems achievable.

Injuries

Chiefs: RB Isiah Pacheco left in the second half with a rib injury.

Steelers: DT Cam Heyward went out briefly in the fourth quarter but managed to come back.

To be continued

Chiefs: Finish the regular season by traveling to Denver.

Steelers: Host Cincinnati in the regular season finale.

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