The Chiefs throttled the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday 36-10 at Arrowhead. Kansas City became the first AFC team to clinch a playoff berth Sunday. 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.
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 were converted into 13 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 Patrick 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, forcing two first half turnovers that led to 10 Kansas City points.
Mahomes went 23 of 30 for 258 yards before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter.
Next week, the Chiefs will travel to Cincinnati to face the 9-6 Bengals.