The Pittsburgh Steelers fell short on Christmas Day, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 29-10 at Acrisure Stadium in Week 17. This marks Pittsburgh’s third consecutive loss and their second home defeat of the season.
Following Wednesday’s loss, the Steelers dropped to 10-6 and appeared out of sync for the third week in a row. While the offense, led by first-year coordinator Arthur Smith and veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, has performed well overall this season, it has struggled recently with maintaining drives and avoiding turnovers. On the defensive side, Teryl Austin’s unit has been underwhelming, failing to stop the run and allowing over 27 points in each of the last three games.
This Week 17 loss to Kansas City could have significant implications, as it complicates the Steelers’ pursuit of the AFC North title. With the Baltimore Ravens defeating the Houston Texans on Wednesday, they now lead the division with an 11-5 record heading into Week 18.
AFC North standings:
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
AFC North clinching scenarios:
The Ravens secure the division if they win next week or if the Steelers lose.
Conversely, if the Ravens lose and the Steelers win, Pittsburgh will claim the AFC North title.
In summary, despite the setback against Kansas City, the Steelers remain in contention for the AFC North crown. However, the path to victory has become more challenging for Mike Tomlin’s team.
