The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their third consecutive loss on Christmas Day, losing 29-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs. With the defeat, the Steelers saw their playoff seeding take a hit, now trailing the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. While Pittsburgh has already clinched a playoff spot, their hopes of a division title are dashed, and they would settle for a wild-card berth if the postseason started today.
Kansas City came out strong, taking a 13-0 lead after their first two possessions. Pittsburgh fought back to make it 13-7 at halftime and was still in striking distance at 16-10 late in the third quarter. The Chiefs proved too much to handle, scoring two more touchdowns, including one off a Steelers turnover, with Mahomes’ third touchdown pass to Travis Kelce essentially sealing the game. Kelce’s touchdown also marked a historic moment, passing Tony Gonzalez for the most touchdown receptions in franchise history.
Chiefs once again lucky. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/ixEzhTt6hb
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) December 25, 2024
Despite a solid performance on the ground, rushing for 202 yards and controlling the clock for over 17 minutes in the first half, Pittsburgh’s offense struggled. QB Russell Wilson didn’t get much help from an offensive line that couldn’t keep him upright, as he was sacked five times and forced into an interception by safety Justin Reid. The Steelers also failed to give Wilson a reliable second option in the passing game, a glaring weakness that became more evident as the game went on. With top cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sidelined, the defense looked disjointed, especially in the secondary, where they couldn’t contain Mahomes or his playmakers.
Chiefs didn't "run" for a lot of yards but used the RPO/quick game as extension. High-percentage completions that negated Steelers rush.
Pittsburgh had no answer. Cut-up below. No big gains but kept offense moving and on schedule. Chiefs out-schemed Steelers. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/NADRanuHor
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) December 26, 2024
Despite Najee Harris rushing for 74 yards, becoming the first player in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons, the Steelers couldn’t find the balance they needed to stay in the game. With the Steelers now in a tight race for a wild-card spot, every game counts. Pittsburgh will face the Bengals in Week 18, hoping to bounce back and solidify their playoff position.
