Chiefs Clinch First Seed In AFC With Christmas Win Over Steelers

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 on Christmas Day to clinch the first seed in the playoffs. Head coach Andy Reid made the announcement while dressed as Santa Claus, typical hijinks as Kansas City’s dynasty rolls on to another postseason.

“Merry Christmas! Proud of you, dudes. Proud of you,” Reid said in the locker room. “For the present, you get home field advantage.”

The Chiefs were never challenged in their Week 17 push against the Steelers, taking a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and never looking back. Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson showed flashes of his old style to keep the team in touch in the second quarter, but Kansas City’s defense dominated in the second half and snuffed out any chance of a comeback. 

After spending most of the season grinding out wins in defensive battles, the Chiefs have taken a notable step forward in recent weeks. The Texans and Steelers are both low-level playoff contenders in the AFC, and Kansas City earned commanding victories over both in Weeks 16 and 17. This doesn’t necessarily excuse a handful of lucky breaks earlier in the year, but it has done a lot to legitimize the team’s 15-1 record.

After suffering an ankle sprain in Week 15, many feared the worst for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. If anything, however, the three-time Super Bowl winner has been playing his best football all season since the setback. In the last two weeks, he has thrown for 580 yards and four touchdowns while also adding a score on the ground, a marked uptick in production during a largely slow and deliberate 2024 campaign.

While the defense continues to effectively contain opposing teams, the Chiefs’ offensive players around Mahomes also seem to finally be rounding into form. 

Every conversation about Mahomes’ offensive weapons must begin with tight end Travis Kelce. At age 35, Kelce has been managed by the team on and off all season in an obvious attempt to preserve the star for the postseason. 

When he has been called upon, however, Kelce has excelled in 2024. His target share increased immediately following an injury to wide receiver Rashee Rice earlier this season, and with a chance to clinch against the Steelers, he delivered again with seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. 

Kelce also set two milestones in the game against Pittsburgh, becoming the first Chiefs player to earn 1,000 career receptions while also passing fellow tight end Tony Gonzalez for most Chiefs receiving touchdowns with 77. 

To celebrate his fourth quarter score, Kelce emulated Gonzalez by dunking the ball over the goalpost, incurring a penalty and potential fine. Gonzalez, who said in November that he would pay Kelce’s fine if he used the dunk celebration, congratulated Kelce on social media and received a response.

“You know I had to show love to the greatest of all time!!” Kelce said. “you did mention you’d help me with the fine tho.”

Kelce is still the undisputed focal point of the Chiefs offense, but he’s far from alone. Wide receiver Hollywood Brown has hit the ground running since his return from injury in Week 16, earning 15 targets in two weeks. Rookie wideout Xavier Worthy has not failed to score a touchdown since Week 15, proving to be a consistent threat in the rushing game while expanding his role down the sidelines. DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster have taken a step back for other receivers but are still key threats.

After clinching the AFC’s top seed and a bye in the NFL Playoffs one week ahead of schedule, the Chiefs will likely sit key players in Week 18 and begin early preparations for the postseason. With back-to-back Super Bowl victories in hand, this team has the experience and talent to figure as the favorite to win yet another championship. Everything seems to be going their way.