KC Chiefs’ report card vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mom and Dad will be proud of this one
The Chiefs rule supreme in the AFC West for a sixth straight year after clinching yet another division title.
And they did it in grand style, with a 36-10 late-afternoon blowout over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium. The L.A. Chargers’ loss earlier in the day set up the Chiefs’ clinching scenario.
The Chiefs received stellar performances from the entire team, even replacements thrust into action because several key players — including star tight end Travis Kelce, kicker Harrison Butker and punter Tommy Townsend — were still on the league’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
When the Chiefs are clicking like they were Sunday against the Steelers, they are hard to beat.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
The Chiefs needed someone to step up in the passing game without Kelce available. While nine players caught a pass in the game, wide receiver Byron Pringle took center stage as the Chiefs’ go-to guy.
The former Kansas State star hauled in six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets, averaging 12.5 yards per catch. Pringle could’ve added to his total but dropped a deep pass from Mahomes.
Even without that catch, Pringle was a star on Sunday.
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: A
Mahomes apparently didn’t need Kelce or even wide receiver Tyreek Hill to have a big game. The Pro Bowl quarterback picked apart the Steelers, completing 23 of 30 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns for a 135.1 passer rating, his second-highest rating this season.
Mahomes completed passes to nine fellow Chiefs, finding Mecole Hardman for a touchdown, and had the entire passing attack firing like a well-oiled machine.
During the game, former Chiefs right tackle Mitchell Schwartz quipped in a tweet: “The only logical conclusion we can make is that Travis Kelce has been holding this offense back.”
Rushing offense: B+
Individually, members of the Chiefs’ backfield didn’t light up the box score.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire totaled 27 yards and a touchdown on nine carries before leaving with a collarbone injury; Darrel Williams rushed for a team-high 55 yards on 11 carries; and Derrick Gore produced 43 yards on 12 carries. Fullback Michael Burton had one carry for a 2-yard gain to convert on fourth-and-short.
But as a team, the Chiefs churned out a stout 127 yards on 35 carries.
Passing defense: A
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 23 of 35 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, for a 73.4 passer rating. Mason Rudolph took over in the fourth quarter. Roethlisberger was also sacked twice and lost a fumble against a Chiefs defensive front that seemed to apply the correct amount of pressure at just the right time.
With Roethlisberger unable to build momentum, the Steelers converted just five of 13 third-down attempts (38.5%). They entered the game ranked 14th in the league in passing, averaging 232.9 yards per game.
Rushing defense: B
While the Steelers couldn’t get anything going through the air, they were able to mount some semblance of a running game. Najee Harris totaled 93 yards on 19 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt.
Pittsburgh rushed for 130 yards on 25 carries (5.2 yards per attempt) as a team. If you want a nit to pick, this is the second straight game in which the Chiefs have allowed more than 100 rushing yards.
Special teams: A-
Give replacement kicker Elliott Fry and stand-in punter Johnny Townsend (usual starter Tommy Townsend’s brother) credit for coming through when needed. Fry converted three of four extra point attempts and nailed three field goals. Townsend punted twice for 91 yards, averaging 45.5 yards per attempt.
This story was originally published December 26, 2021 at 8:41 PM.
