PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to find their footing against the Kansas City Chiefs, suffering a significant defeat with the final score of 29-10 during their Week 17 matchup on Christmas Day.
With the playoffs just around the corner, both teams entered the field at Acrisure Stadium with everything to prove. The Steelers faced additional pressure as they were without several key players. Defensive back Joey Porter Jr. was ruled out due to injury, contributing to their defensive challenges against the Chiefs' formidable offense.
Adding to the Chiefs' struggles, defensive tackle Chris Jones was also sidelined due to a calf injury he sustained the previous week. Despite this, Kansas City's defense managed to tightly contain the Steelers' offensive efforts, responding expertly to the challenges posed by Pittsburgh's lineup.
From the very start, it was evident the Steelers were caught off guard. They managed only one offensive yard within the first eleven minutes of play, illustrating their early struggles. It was reported by SI.com, "The Steelers were never really able to get things going early, with one offensive yard in the first eleven minutes of gametime." This slow start would set the tone for the entire game.
The Steelers' quarterback, Russell Wilson, struggled significantly, showcasing his inability to make timely and effective decisions. His struggles culminated early on when he threw an interception in the red zone, directly handing the momentum to Kansas City. SI.com noted, "The overarching theme offensively was Russell Wilson's inability to make the correct reads, as he threw an interception in the red zone early on." This interception allowed the Chiefs to capitalize early, with scoring drives off the turnover.
Kansas City quickly established themselves as the dominant force. Patrick Mahomes, playing to his MVP-caliber potential, exploited the Steelers’ shaky defense, throwing for over 300 yards, including three touchdowns without any interceptions—a significant accomplishment under the circumstances. Notably, tight end Travis Kelce caught one of those touchdown passes, widening the score gap and demoralizing the Steelers. SI.com reported, "Travis Kelce scored a touchdown with 12 minutes to go in the game which put the game on ice."
The bright spot for the Steelers came courtesy of running back Jaylen Warren, who was able to find some success on the ground, rushing for his season-high. Yet, his efforts were mostly overshadowed by Wilson’s inconsistent performance and the resulting offensive breakdown following turnovers, which turned relatively straightforward plays and opportunities for the Steelers, and resulted instead in lost scoring chances.
It was clear the Steelers faced problems tackling effectively and frequently left Kansas City players with open lanes. Following what was supposed to be a momentum-building drive, resulted instead in yet another error when tight end Pat Freiermuth mishandled the ball on fourth down, leading to another scoring opportunity for the Chiefs.
The game's end left the Steelers with more questions than answers, as they could only manage to put together two scoring drives against Kansas City's resolute defense. New kicker Chris Boswell managed to put some points on the board with his field goal, known as SI.com noted, receiving some help: "the referees provided assistance on what should have been impacted by the kick, making it, instead, 36 yards."
After starting the season strong, the loss to the Chiefs pushed the Steelers to 10-6, complicate their prospects as they head toward the playoffs. With their divisional race still tight, the Steelers understand the urgency of next week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. SI.com stated, "The Steelers will finish their season against the Cincinnati Bengals in a game with massive seeding implications for the playoffs." This upcoming match holds more importance than usual as they attempt to regain momentum.
Overall, as the Chiefs continue to solidify their status as one of the NFL's top contenders, the Steelers find themselves grappling with their identity and performance issues at the worst possible time. If they hope to build back the momentum before the playoffs, adjustments will need to be made immediately.
