patrick-mahomes-ben-roethlisberger.jpg

It's safe to say that the Pittsburgh Steelers would like to do a better job containing Patrick Mahomes than they did when they met him for the first time back in Week 2 of the 2018 season. Making just his second career start, Mahomes threw six touchdowns in leading the Chiefs to a 42-37 win in Pittsburgh. Mahomes' performance offset a 452-yard, three touchdown performance from Ben Roethlisberger, who on Sunday will likely be making his final trip to Arrowhead Stadium as the Steelers quarterback.

A win would help both teams as they look to strengthen their playoff positioning. Kansas City (10-4) is holding on to the No. 1 seed in the AFC with three weeks left in the regular season. Pittsburgh (7-6-1) likely needs to win two of its last three games in order to possibly earn the seventh and final playoff seed. The Steelers are also in position to capture the AFC North if they can jump Cincinnati (8-6) and Baltimore (8-6) during the season's final three weeks. 

We'll preview the game along with giving our prediction for Sunday's outcome. Here's how you can follow the action in real time. 

How to watch 

Date: Sunday, Dec. 26 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App 
Odds: Chiefs -8.5, O/U 45

When the Steelers have the ball 

Pittsburgh's offense gained just 168 yards in last Sunday's 19-13 win over the Titans. They unit ran for a season-low 35 yards that included just 18 yards on 12 carries from Najee Harris. With Le'Veon Bell in the backfield, the Steelers leaned on their running game to defeat the Chiefs the last two times Pittsburgh has come to Kansas City, and they'll need some semblance of a running game on Sunday if they're going to pull off an upset. The Chiefs enter Sunday's game ranked 29th in the NFL in yards-per-carry allowed (4.7 yards). 

Roethlisberger will surely look to attack a secondary that has given up the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL. With rookie phenom Pat Freiermuth in the concussion protocol, Big Ben will likely lean more on Diontae Johnson, who will be playing with a chip on his shoulder after being snubbed from the Pro Bowl. The Chiefs' defense will also be motivated after allowing 28 points in last Thursday's overtime win in Los Angeles. Roethlisberger will have to constantly be aware of Tyrann Mathieu, aka the Honey Badger, who on Wednesday was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. 

When the Chiefs have the ball

Receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce were on the Chiefs' reserve/COVID-19 list as of Thursday night. Regardless of their statuses for Sunday, expect the Chiefs to go after a Pittsburgh run defense that is 31st in rushing yards allowed and 32nd in yards per carry allowed (4.9 yards). The Steelers' defense, led by defensive linemen T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward and defensive backs Joe Haden and Minkah Fitzpatrick, will be focused on forcing turnovers after recording four of them during last week's win over the Titans. That could certainly happen, as Mahomes has thrown an interception in three of his last four games. 

Prediction

Pittsburgh's run defense is subpar, but its pass rush and opportunistic secondary is more than capable of holding Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense at bay, especially if Hill and Kelce are unable to play. The Steelers also have the advantage on special teams, as the Chiefs will be without kicker Harrison Butker after he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. The big question is the Steelers' offense and whether or not Pittsburgh's offensive line can get anything going against the Chiefs' stout defense.

The Steelers will keep it close, and could possibly pull off an upset if enough things go in their favor. But I'll go with the favored Chiefs to win a tight game while keeping their lead in the AFC standings. 

Score: Chiefs 24, Steelers 20