Chiefs vs. Steelers score: Patrick Mahomes, K.C. roll over Pittsburgh to win sixth straight AFC West title

The Chiefs are one step closer to home field advantage through the playoffs

The Chiefs checked two things off of their holiday wish list by virtue of their 36-10 thumping of the visiting Steelers on Sunday. Kansas City became the first AFC team to clinch a playoff berth. They also captured the AFC West division title for a sixth straight year and are one step closer towards having home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

Pittsburgh (7-7-1), who entered the game as the AFC's seventh-ranked team, will likely have to win its last two games if it is going to have a chance at making the playoffs. 

The Chiefs showed early why they were a considerable favorite entering Sunday's home game against the Steelers. The game was never really a contest, as the Chiefs led 23-0 at halftime before their lead swelled to 36-3 less than five minutes into the fourth quarter. Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdown passes, while the Chiefs' defense forced three turnovers that was converted into 17 points. 

With Travis Kelce on the Chiefs' reserve/COVID-19 list, the Chiefs' offense responded by methodically spreading the ball around to the rest of their playmakers. The result was points on each of the Chiefs' first four possessions that included two Mahomes touchdown passes. The Chiefs' first touchdown was scored by Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who left the game early after suffering a collarbone injury. 

The Chiefs' delivered the knockout punch early in the second half, as Tyrann Mathieu's recovery of Diontae Johnson's fumble set up Mahomes' third touchdown pass of the day and second touchdown to receiver Byron Pringle. The Chiefs' defense dominated Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense, which gained just 109 yards in the first half while controlling the ball for less than 10 minutes. 

Here's a closer look at what went down in Kansas City. 

Why the Chiefs won

Mahomes and the Chiefs were able to move the ball at will while not taking too many chances downfield. With Kelce out, Mahomes completed passes to nine different teammates while keeping Pittsburgh's defense on its heels. Mahomes went 23 of 30 for 258 yards before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter. His passing was completed by an effective rushing attack that was led by Darrel Williams, Derrick Gore and Edwards-Helaire. 

Defensively, the Chiefs quickly made the Steelers' offense one-dimensional by shutting down Najee Harris and the running game. They also came up with the game's first turnover on Charvarius Ward's second quarter interception of Roethlisberger that set up Mahomes' 5-yard touchdown pass to Pringle that made it a 14-0 game. 

Why the Steelers lost 

For the first time since 1940, Pittsburgh's offense failed to score a first-half touchdown in five consecutive games after failing to score a point during the first half on Sunday. 

The offensive line again struggled to consistently open up holes for Harris, especially during the start of games. The offense continues to struggle to get into an early rhythm under first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Far too many times on Sunday, the Steelers attempted short passes on third-and-long that failed to come anywhere close to the first down marker. Roethlisberger clearly missed rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth, who was out after sustaining a concussion during last week's win over the Titans. The Steelers' only touchdown was Johnson's 15-yard score on a fourth-down play with 2:59 remaining. The touchdown was the final play of the game for Roethlisberger, who watched Mason Rudolph direct the Steelers' final drive. 

It's hard to blame a defense that was on the field for two-thirds of the first half, but the Steelers' defense nevertheless failed to come up with a big play after forcing four turnovers in last Sunday's win over Tennessee. And Pittsburgh's defense continues to struggle to stop the run, as they allowed the Chiefs to run for 127 yards on 35 carries. 

Turning point 

Down 17-0, the Steelers' offense mounted their best drive of the game to that point near the end of the first half. But the drive stalled in the red zone, and Chris Boswell — who had not missed a field goal under 40 yards this season — missed a 36-yard attempt. The Chiefs' offense proceeded to score on their next possession, and put the game away when Mahomes hit Pringle on a 16-touchdown pass after Johnson's fumble on Pittsburgh's first drive of the second half. 

Play of the game 

The Chiefs' first touchdown epitomized Sunday's game. The Steelers were in position to stuff Edwards-Helaire in the backfield, but the Chiefs' second-year running back broke Robert Spillane's tackle before finding room on the outside for the touchdown. 

Quotable 

"I love that like a big piece of prime rib. That's how we get excited. When everybody is working together, you're tough to stop." — Chiefs coach Andy Reid on Pringle's two touchdown catches 

"This was collective, players and coaches, we own this. Now, we transition and we get singulary focused on our two division games. We can't cry over spilled milk, it is what it is tonight, we understand that. We better center our focus and put together our best efforts in an effort to secure victory next Monday night, and that's what we briefly talked about in the locker room."
-- Steelers coach Mike Tomln on the state of his team following Sunday's loss 

What's next

The Steelers will host the Browns on "Monday Night Football" in what may be Roethlisberger's final game at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh defeated Cleveland (7-8) 15-10 back in Week 8. The Chiefs will travel to Cincinnati to face the 9-6 Bengals, who took command of the AFC North division lead after completing a season sweep of the Ravens on Sunday. 

[Dec 26, 2021 at 7:08 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Nice TD (albeit in garbage time) by Diontae Johnson on fourth and goal. Johnson ran an inside slant and broke a tackle before getting the Steelers' first TD. 

[Dec 26, 2021 at 6:05 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Steelers defense comes up with a nice pass breakup on third down. The big question is whether or not the Steelers' offense can do anything with the ball here. 

[Dec 26, 2021 at 5:48 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Ahkello Witherspoon with a nice breakup to prevent the Chiefs from making it a 30-0 game at halftime. Nevertheless, it's still 23-0 with 30 minutes to play. 

[Dec 26, 2021 at 5:30 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

We've got a repeat of two weeks ago in Minnesota. It's 24-0 Chiefs pending Hardman's TD catch stands. Looks like a TD to me as I don't think there is enough to overturn the call.