The Kansas City Chiefs were able to secure a record 6th straight AFC West title with a 36-10 win against the Steelers. Employing a full team effort once again, the Chiefs jumped out to a 23-0 halftime lead. Despite Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce’s being unavailable, others stepped up. One of the major contributions came from wide receiver Byron Pringle. Pringle had season highs in catches (6) yards (75) and touchdowns (2). Turnovers were also key to the Chiefs picking their 8th straight victory. The Chiefs forced 3 turnovers and did not turn the ball over once. The Chiefs’ defense was also boosted by the return of three defensive starters. Chris Jones, L’Jarius Sneed, and Willie Gay Jr. all returned to action and played major roles in the Chiefs’ win.
Grading the Offense
Grade: A-
Just about anything the Chiefs wanted on offense Sunday, they got. Patrick Mahomes threw for over 200 yards and had 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. This is a feat that Mahomes had not accomplished all year until Sunday against the Steelers. A rare occurrence also happened on Sunday, the Chiefs ran the ball more than they threw it. Although only averaging 3.6 yards per carry on the day, running the ball 35 times helped the Chiefs control the clock. A dominant offensive performance in the first half helped propel the Chiefs to a 23-0 halftime lead. Tyreek Hill played in a limited capacity after that as the Chiefs utilized multiple weapons. While the offense only produced 13 second-half points, it was more than enough for a win. A balanced attack helped keep the massive absence of Travis Kelce to a minimum.
Grading the Defense
Grade: B+
Through the first half of the season Chiefs’ fans would be thrilled with the defense allowing only 10 points. But this has become the new standard. After allowing a league-worst 32.6 points per game through the first 5 games, the Chiefs defense has become one of the league’s best defenses. While once viewed as a weakness, the defense has been one of the major factors in the Chiefs’ 6th straight AFC West title. The Chiefs’ defense found a way to create multiple turnovers again, forcing three on the day. The defense was able to hold the Steelers out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter.
Grading the Special Teams
Grade: C-
The Chiefs were without kicker Harrison Butker and punter Tommy Townsend on Sunday. Kicker Elliott Fry was able to step in and go 3/4 from both field goals and extra points. Tommy Townsend’s brother Johnny was able to perform fairly well too, averaging 45.5 yards per punt. While the special team’s units were not spectacular, considering the circumstances their play was acceptable. One of the bright spots was Mecole Hardman’s 18-yard punt return. The defense was able to hold the Steelers out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter.
Crowned Again
Sunday marked the sixth straight year that the Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West. While several teams in division history have won 5 straight, no team has ever won 6 straight until now. With Sunday’s win, the Chiefs were also the first AFC team to lock up a playoff spot. At a record of 11-4, the Chiefs remain as the #1 seed in the AFC. With only the Tennessee Titans within one game of the Chiefs, Kansas City controls its own destiny as the best team in the AFC.
Looking Ahead
The Kansas City Chiefs will have yet another tough test next Sunday. The Chiefs will travel to Cincinnati to play the 9-6 Bengals. Behind second-year pro Joe Burrow, the Bengals offense has shown the ability to be explosive. Burrow set the Bengal’s single-game passing yard record against the Ravens on December 26 and will look to shine again against an improved Chiefs’ defense.
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