Oh, how much has changed in a year.
And oh, how not.
A year ago, the Kansas City Chiefs spent Christmas Day delivering a gift-wrapped victory to an interim-coached Las Vegas Raiders team. The Chiefs fell to 9-6 with the loss, their playoff spot still intact but their road to the Super Bowl fully underway.
A year later?
A Chiefs team that seemed to be playing with fire in close victories early in the season earned its 15th victory in 16 tries in a resounding 29-10 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kansas City celebrated Christmas this year by locking in the top seed in the AFC playoffs, once again earning a bye and home-field advantage through the conference championship on the way to the Super’s first three-peat. Bowl in NFL History.
The Chiefs impressed on offense and defense.
Mahomes used his arms and legs effectively to lead two scoring drives in the first quarter, with the Chiefs scoring a season-high 13 points during a first half that featured a Mahomes-trademark shovel and a much-anticipated deep ball .
The Chiefs defense disrupted Russell Wilson and the Steelers early and often, with Wilson earning a season-high five sacks, although a calf injury sidelined Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Safety Justin Reid intercepted Wilson’s double throw in the end zone in the first quarter, and cornerback Trent McDuffie stripped Wilson in the fourth quarter as the contest began to spiral out of control.
Mahomes moved the Chiefs down the field for a touchdown to tight end Travis Kelce out of the short field positioned in terms of turnovers.
The Steelers didn’t score in the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh entered the game coming off back-to-back losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, but was hoping its offense would get some needed juice from star wide receiver George Pickens, who missed three previous games due to injury to the hamstrings.
The Steelers hoped a struggling secondary could at least find solace in the returns of cornerback Donte Jackson and safety DeShon Elliott.
Instead, the Chiefs showed how Mahomes could once again elevate a cast from rookie receiver to seventh-round running back while Kelce contributed 84 yards and a touchdown as a reminder that his performance is steadily improving at throughout the season. Kelce also became the Chiefs’ all-time leader in touchdown receptions with his 77th, breaking a tie with Tony Gonzalez.
Kansas City’s defense has shown that its mastery of passing and coverage doesn’t depend on Jones, although he will undoubtedly carry it in January.
A year after the Chiefs gave up a fumble touchdown and a pick-6 to the Raiders, they were the ones wreaking havoc defensively.
Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns as the Steelers held the Chiefs to 69 rushing yards.
Wilson completed 23 of 37 passes for 205 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for more than double his season high, Wilson’s 55 yards, including a rushing touchdown and several first downs. His mobility helped him on a day when he was under such pressure, but it wasn’t enough.
Down to 10-6, the Steelers lost control of the AFC North heading into the Baltimore Ravens’ game Wednesday afternoon against the Houston Texans. Expect Pittsburgh’s finale against the Cincinnati Bengals to influence the AFC playoff seeding.
The Chiefs will close out their season against the Denver Broncos next week in a game with no playoff implications for Kansas City.
A lot has changed between Chiefs Christmases.
Next February, they hope it will be the same.
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