The Pittsburgh Steelers faced their third Super Bowl contender in just 11 days on Christmas Day, and for the third time, they fell short, suffering a 29-10 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. This latest loss highlighted the stark contrast between two teams heading in opposite directions.
The Chiefs, who are pursuing their third consecutive championship, took control early, scoring two quick touchdowns and forcing two critical turnovers. They also recorded five sacks, effectively shutting down the Steelers when it mattered most.
The Steelers (10-6) struggled throughout the game, with head coach Mike Tomlin describing the performance as akin to “running on the beach.” Pittsburgh’s defense had difficulty containing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, while the offense, despite the return of wide receiver George Pickens from injury, failed to establish any rhythm. Quarterback Russell Wilson faced relentless pressure and was unable to protect the ball, leading to missed scoring opportunities.
“We just need to continue to find ways to get better,” said Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. “As the season goes on, the margins are smaller.”
Pittsburgh’s recent three-game losing streak has diminished their grip on the AFC North, and against a resurgent Kansas City team, they strayed from the identity they had built during the first half of the season. The NFL’s leader in takeaways, the Steelers failed to force any turnovers, while Wilson’s ill-advised pass into triple coverage ended a promising drive. The defense was unable to bring Mahomes down, allowing him ample time to operate.
“You can’t afford to spot them points and allow them to scramble around in the pocket,” Watt noted. “We didn’t have any success.”
With the playoffs secured weeks ago, the Steelers are running out of time to regain their momentum. Optimism for a playoff run has faded as they have been outscored by an average of 16 points during their current slide.
“The bottom line is the junior varsity is not good enough; we’ve got to own that,” Tomlin stated.
The Steelers will have a brief respite before hosting the Cincinnati Bengals in their regular-season finale. How they respond in the coming days will be crucial.
“Our belief can’t waver,” Wilson emphasized. “If anything, we’ve got to turn it up even more on our belief.”
However, the Steelers must also address the self-inflicted mistakes that have plagued them during this challenging stretch. A pivotal moment came late in the first quarter when a promising drive was thwarted by a holding penalty on tight end Darnell Washington, nullifying an 8-yard touchdown run by Jaylen Warren. On the next play, Wilson’s attempt to connect with tight end Pat Freiermuth was intercepted by Kansas City’s Justin Reid.
“It’s on me,” Wilson admitted. “I was trying to give Pat a chance. They made a good play.”
Despite narrowing the gap to 13-7 at halftime, the Steelers’ defense faltered immediately after the break. The Chiefs scored on their first three possessions of the second half, including two touchdowns in just over two minutes, sealing the game.
As the Chiefs celebrated clinching home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, the Steelers faced a grim reality: their chances of winning the AFC North were dwindling, and their season, once filled with promise, was trending toward a familiar outcome—an early postseason exit.
“The bottom line is we’re just not performing well enough,” Tomlin concluded. “I’m less concerned about the control of the division and more concerned about the quality of our performance at this juncture.”
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