Patrick Mahomes handed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs clinched the highest seed within the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and have been by no means actually threatened by the Steelers (10-6), who’ve misplaced three straight as their possibilities of clinching the AFC North they suffered one other blow.
Mahomes related on first-half scoring throws to Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson, and Kansas City’s protection did a lot of the relaxation even with perennial All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones sitting whereas nursing a calf harm. The Chiefs sacked Russell Wilson 5 occasions, compelled two turnovers and regarded none too excited as they performed for the third time in 11 days.
Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards to change into the third tight finish in NFL historical past to succeed in 1,000 receptions, becoming a member of Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. Kelce sealed Kansas City’s fifth straight win with a 12-yard landing run early within the fourth quarter.
The 35-year-old celebrated by smashing the ball over the purpose submit, which drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and groans from a capability crowd at Acrisure Stadium that has grown accustomed to seeing Mahomes play for his hometown workforce. Mahomes is now 4-0 in opposition to the Steelers in his profession, with 17 touchdowns in opposition to one interception.
Russell Wilson threw for 205 yards for Pittsburgh. George Pickens completed with three receptions for 50 yards after lacking three video games with a hamstring harm. It wasn’t practically sufficient for the Steelers, who went 0-3 in three brutal video games in opposition to Super Bowl contenders Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City.
Perhaps extra worrying than the defeats is the best way they unfolded. The Steelers misplaced each sport by a minimum of 14 factors and have been capable of start the playoffs on the highway after taking part in at a quick tempo with the two-game lead within the division that they had simply three weeks in the past.
Mahomes, unbothered by the ankle harm he suffered in opposition to Cleveland, led the Chiefs to touchdowns on their first two drives, discovering Worthy within the flat for a 7-yard rating and hitting Watson within the again nook of the top zone for the 13- 0.
A sequence late within the first quarter symbolized a irritating day for Pittsburgh. A holding penalty negated a brief landing run by Jaylen Warren, and Wilson threw into triple protection in the long run zone on the subsequent snap. Kansas City’s Justin Reid had little bother grabbing it to finish the risk.
The Steelers tied the rating twice inside six at 13-7 and 16-10, however by no means had the ball with an opportunity to take the lead within the second half. Instead, the Chiefs – who spent a lot of the first three months of the season screeching most weeks – methodically walked away.
Kareem Hunt went over from 2 yards out on the primary snap of the fourth quarter to make it 22-10. Pat Freiermuth then fumbled on Pittsburgh’s subsequent possession. Kansas City linebacker Nick Bolton fell on it, and Mahomes wanted simply 4 performs to throw a move to a large open Kelce to place him out of attain.
Injuries
Chiefs: RB Isiah Pacheco left within the second half with a rib harm.
Steelers: DT Cam Heyward left briefly within the fourth quarter however was capable of return.
Next
Chiefs: Finish the common season by going to Denver.
Steelers: Host Cincinnati within the common season finale.
Associated Press reporting.
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