GAME SUMMARY
- Final Score: Kansas City 29, Pittsburgh 10
- Date: December 25, 2024 | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Records: Chiefs 15-1 | Steelers 10-6
- Game MVP: Patrick Mahomes (29/38, 320 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 127.1 rating)
- Turning Point: Russell Wilson red zone interception at 2:16 Q1
- Historic Moment: Travis Kelce’s 77th career TD (breaks Tony Gonzalez franchise record)
What Happened In This Game
Kansas City clinched the AFC’s top seed with this Christmas Day victory, while Pittsburgh’s three-game losing streak exposed fatal flaws in their playoff hopes. The Steelers had held a two-game division lead just three weeks earlier at 10-3. By the time this game ended, they sat at 10-6, having lost three straight to playoff teams by a combined 47 points.
The Chiefs secured their fourth No. 1 seed in seven years with the win. Mike Tomlin’s postgame assessment captured Pittsburgh’s frustration: “That sucked, to be blunt.”
Table of Contents
Five Numbers That Decided This Game
- 8.4 vs 4.4 – Mahomes’ yards per attempt compared to Wilson’s. That 4-yard gap was insurmountable.
- 2.34 seconds – Mahomes’ average release time neutralized Pittsburgh’s pass rush completely.
- 80% vs 25% – Red zone efficiency. Chiefs scored 4 of 5 times, Steelers 1 of 4.
- 2-0 – Turnover margin. Both Pittsburgh turnovers directly led to Kansas City scores.
- 0 – Sacks of Mahomes. The Steelers’ defensive identity became irrelevant.
| Key Metric | Chiefs | Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 389 | 364 |
| Pass Yards | 320 | 162 (after sacks) |
| Rush Yards | 69 | 202 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Red Zone | 4/5 (80%) | 1/4 (25%) |
| 3rd Down | 3/10 | 8/16 |
Pittsburgh moved the ball for 364 yards and held possession for 31:22. They still lost by 19 points. A broken offense that couldn’t finish drives when it mattered.
Scoring Summary
Q1: Kansas City 13, Pittsburgh 0
- 9:19 – Xavier Worthy 7-yard TD catch (XP missed)
- 4:00 – Justin Watson 11-yard TD catch (XP good)
Q2: Kansas City 13, Pittsburgh 7
- 10:28 – Russell Wilson 1-yard TD run (XP good)
Q3: Kansas City 16, Pittsburgh 10
- 12:21 – Harrison Butker 32-yard FG
- 5:45 – Chris Boswell 36-yard FG
Q4: Kansas City 29, Pittsburgh 10
- 14:56 – Kareem Hunt 2-yard TD run (2-pt failed)
- 12:38 – Travis Kelce 12-yard TD catch (XP good)
Kansas City scored on their first two drives and never trailed. Pittsburgh’s only touchdown came on a 1-yard Wilson scramble in the second quarter, cutting it to 13-7. They never threatened to take the lead.
The Quarterback Gap That Decided Everything
Mahomes: 8.4 Yards Per Attempt Beats Any Defense
Patrick Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. His 127.1 passer rating is nice. His 8.4 yards per attempt is what killed Pittsburgh.
| Passing Category | Mahomes Stats |
|---|---|
| Comp/Att | 29/38 (76.3%) |
| Yards | 320 |
| TD/INT | 3/0 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.4 |
| QB Rating | 127.1 |
| Sacks | 0 |
| Time to Throw (Avg) | 2.34 seconds |
That 2.34-second average release time was Mahomes’ fastest of 2024 and second-fastest of his career, according to Chiefs official reports. Andy Reid schemed a quick-passing attack specifically to neutralize Pittsburgh’s pass rush, and it worked perfectly. The Steelers got zero sacks. Zero quarterback hits that mattered. By the time their rushers arrived, the ball was already 15 yards downfield.
Mahomes’ three touchdown passes brought him to 245 career TDs through eight seasons, surpassing Peyton Manning (244) for the most by any quarterback in that span. He did it despite making just one start as a rookie.
The progression matters: After struggling early with 8 interceptions through seven weeks, Mahomes has thrown just 3 picks over the final 10 games. His 8.4 yards per attempt against Pittsburgh came against a defense that entered the game ranked in the top 10 against the pass. Kansas City’s offense found its timing at exactly the right moment.
Wilson: The 4.4 Yards Per Attempt Death Sentence
Russell Wilson went 23 of 37 for 205 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Five sacks cost 43 yards, dropping his net passing to 162. His passer rating of 65.7 tells part of the story. His 4.4 yards per attempt tells all of it.
| Passing Category | Wilson Stats |
|---|---|
| Comp/Att | 23/37 (62.2%) |
| Yards | 205 |
| Net Yards | 162 (after sacks) |
| TD/INT | 0/1 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 4.4 |
| QB Rating | 65.7 |
| Sacks | 5 (43 yards lost) |
You can’t win in 2024 averaging 4.4 yards per pass attempt. Wilson couldn’t attack downfield. His longest completion went 41 yards to George Pickens, but the Steelers averaged just 8.9 yards per reception while Kansas City sat at 11.0.
The disparity tells the story: Mahomes at 8.4 yards per attempt, Wilson at 4.4. That 4-yard gap is the difference between a dominant offense and one that can’t function against playoff-caliber defenses.
Wilson tried to stay optimistic afterward: “I think that there’s highs and lows in every season. We’ve got to make sure that we end this last game on the right footing and right belief.”
Belief won’t fix an offense that can’t throw the ball past the sticks.
Kelce Makes History, Again
Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and one touchdown on 11 targets. In the process, he hit two milestones that cement his Hall of Fame resume.
His eighth reception made him the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 career catches, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. His 12-yard touchdown at 12:38 in the fourth quarter was his 77th career receiving score, breaking Gonzalez’s franchise record of 76.
At 35 years old, Kelce celebrated by dunking the ball over the goalpost, a direct homage to Gonzalez’s signature move. The celebration cost him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, pushing Harrison Butker’s extra point back to the 33. Butker made it anyway.
“It’s just showing Tony some love,” Kelce said with a laugh afterward.
Here’s what matters for Kansas City’s playoff run: Kelce caught 8 of 11 targets for 84 yards in a game where Pittsburgh knew he’d be the primary option. He’s 35 and still unsolvable.
Complete Kansas City Receiving Stats – Week 17 vs Pittsburgh Steelers December 25, 2024
| Player | Pos | Targets | Catches | Yards | YPC | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Kelce | TE | 11 | 8 | 84 | 10.5 | 20 | 1 |
| Xavier Worthy | WR | 9 | 8 | 79 | 9.9 | 21 | 1 |
| Justin Watson | WR | 2 | 2 | 60 | 30.0 | 49 | 1 |
| Hollywood Brown | WR | 7 | 4 | 46 | 11.5 | 17 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | RB | 2 | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 14 | 0 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | 2 | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 13 | 0 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 4 | 0 |
| Noah Gray | TE | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
Xavier Worthy set career highs with eight catches and 79 yards. His 88.9% catch rate (8 of 9 targets) on the day continues a strong December where he’s become a reliable underneath option. His 7-yard touchdown on the opening drive set the tone, though his celebration drew a 15-yard penalty.
Justin Watson caught both his targets for 60 yards, including a 49-yard grab at 5:34 in the first quarter that set up his own 11-yard touchdown two plays later. That deep shot forced Pittsburgh’s safeties to play honest, opening up everything underneath for Kelce and Worthy.
Hollywood Brown’s return from injury gave Kansas City four catches for 46 yards on seven targets. His presence matters less for his production and more for what it forces defenses to account for. Pittsburgh couldn’t stack coverage on Kelce with Brown running downfield routes.
Pittsburgh’s Passing Game: All Volume, Zero Efficiency
| Player | Pos | Targets | Catches | Yards | YPC | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Freiermuth | TE | 8 | 7 | 60 | 8.6 | 15 | 0 |
| George Pickens | WR | 7 | 3 | 50 | 16.7 | 41 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | RB | 6 | 5 | 41 | 8.2 | 21 | 0 |
| Calvin Austin III | WR | 5 | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 14 | 0 |
| Connor Heyward | TE | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 |
| Darnell Washington | TE | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 |
| Najee Harris | RB | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 5 | 0 |
| Mike Williams | WR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Van Jefferson | WR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Pat Freiermuth led Pittsburgh with seven catches for 60 yards, but his 10-yard reception at 14:13 in the fourth quarter turned into a disaster when Trent McDuffie forced a fumble. Nick Bolton recovered at Pittsburgh’s 34, setting up Kelce’s record-breaking touchdown four plays later.
George Pickens caught 3 of 7 targets for 50 yards. Mike Williams and Van Jefferson combined for zero catches on three targets. When your perimeter receivers can’t win, your offense becomes predictable.
The Rushing Paradox: 202 Yards That Meant Nothing
Pittsburgh’s Ground Game
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Najee Harris | 13 | 74 | 5.7 | 20 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | 11 | 71 | 6.5 | 22 | 0 |
| Russell Wilson | 6 | 55 | 9.2 | 15 | 1 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Team Total | 31 | 202 | 6.5 | 22 | 1 |
Pittsburgh rushed for 202 yards at 6.5 per carry. Harris and Warren combined for 145 yards on 24 attempts. Wilson added 55 on scrambles. They scored 10 points.
That’s the problem with one-dimensional offense in today’s NFL. Kansas City knew Pittsburgh couldn’t throw, so they defended the run with seven or eight in the box and dared Wilson to beat them over the top. He couldn’t.
The Steelers averaged 6.5 yards per rush but just 5.0 yards per play overall. When your rushing success gets completely negated by passing inefficiency, you’re not a playoff team.
Kansas City’s Rushing: Didn’t Need It
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kareem Hunt | 9 | 20 | 2.2 | 6 | 1 |
| Isiah Pacheco | 6 | 18 | 3.0 | 8 | 0 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 |
| Xavier Worthy | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 6 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 9 | 0 |
| Team Total | 20 | 69 | 3.5 | 12 | 1 |
The Chiefs rushed for 69 yards on 20 carries. Hunt’s 2-yard touchdown at 14:56 in the fourth quarter made it 22-10. Kansas City tried a two-point conversion (Mahomes pass to Kelce intercepted in the end zone), keeping the score at 22-10.
Pacheco left in the second half with a rib injury after six carries for 18 yards. His absence didn’t matter. When Mahomes is completing 76% of passes at 8.4 yards per attempt, you don’t need to run. You just keep throwing until the defense adjusts. Pittsburgh never did.
The Two Plays That Buried Pittsburgh
First Quarter: The Red Zone Disaster (2:16 Q1)
At 2:21 in the first quarter, Jaylen Warren scored an 8-yard touchdown run. The play would have cut Kansas City’s lead to 13-7 with Pittsburgh grabbing momentum.
Flag. Holding on Darnell Washington. Touchdown erased. Second-and-14 from the 18.
Five seconds later at 2:16, Wilson forced a pass into the end zone toward Freiermuth. Justin Reid intercepted it for a touchback.
That’s a 14-point swing in two plays. Instead of 13-7 with momentum, it stayed 13-0 with Kansas City getting the ball back. The Steelers never recovered from that sequence.
The penalty was undisciplined. The interception was poor decision-making. Both are fixable mistakes that playoff teams don’t make. Pittsburgh made both on consecutive plays.
Fourth Quarter: The Fumble That Ended It (14:13 Q4)
Trailing 22-10 with 14:13 left, Pittsburgh needed a touchdown and a field goal just to tie. Wilson completed a short pass to Freiermuth, who caught it and turned upfield.
McDuffie stripped it. Bolton recovered at Pittsburgh’s 34.
Four plays later at 12:38, Mahomes hit Kelce for the record-breaking 12-yard touchdown. After Kelce’s penalty pushed the extra point back, Butker made it 29-10.
The fumble directly created the touchdown that ended the game. That’s how championship teams operate. They don’t just avoid turnovers. They force them and capitalize immediately.
Defense: Pressure Makes The Difference
Kansas City’s Defense Without Chris Jones
The Chiefs played without All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf injury), and it showed in the run defense (202 yards allowed). But where Kansas City won was getting after the quarterback.
| Defender | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Roland-Wallace | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drue Tranquill | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bolton | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Justin Reid | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mike Danna | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Trent McDuffie | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| George Karlaftis | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Tershawn Wharton | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Team Totals | 76 | 47 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
Nine quarterback hits to Pittsburgh’s two. That’s the entire defensive game plan in one number.
Mike Danna had two sacks and three tackles for loss. George Karlaftis sacked Wilson at 7:22 in the first quarter. Tershawn Wharton’s sack at 6:41 in the third quarter knocked Pittsburgh out of field goal range.
Reid’s end zone interception was the play that saved the game. Pittsburgh threatened to cut it to 13-7 and grab momentum. Reid ended that threat and gave Kansas City the ball back at their 20.
Pittsburgh’s Defense: Zero Pressure, Zero Results
| Defender | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minkah Fitzpatrick | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Queen | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Donte Jackson | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Highsmith | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Heyward | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Totals | 59 | 43 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Zero sacks of Mahomes. Two quarterback hits, both insignificant. When your defensive identity is built around pressuring quarterbacks and you can’t touch the opposing QB, you’ve got nothing.
Fitzpatrick and Queen led in tackles because they spent the entire game chasing receivers 15 yards downfield. The 2.34-second release from Mahomes made Pittsburgh’s front seven irrelevant.
Nick Herbig got one QB hit. Cameron Heyward got one. That’s the complete list.
Team Stats: The Red Zone Gap
| Category | Kansas City | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 389 | 364 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.7 | 5.0 |
| First Downs | 20 | 23 |
| Third Down | 3-10 (30%) | 8-16 (50%) |
| Fourth Down | 1-1 (100%) | 0-1 (0%) |
| Red Zone | 4-5 (80%) | 1-4 (25%) |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Turnover Margin | +2 | -2 |
| Penalties | 9-90 | 4-25 |
| Time of Possession | 28:38 | 31:22 |
Pittsburgh had more first downs (23-20), better third-down conversion (50% vs 30%), and held the ball three minutes longer. They lost by 19.
Red zone efficiency: 80% for Kansas City, 25% for Pittsburgh. That’s where games get decided. The Steelers moved the ball between the 20s. They couldn’t score once they got there.
Combine that with the +2 turnover margin and you’ve got a game that was never competitive despite relatively even yardage totals.
Kansas City committed nine penalties for 90 yards. They won anyway because they executed when it mattered while Pittsburgh self-destructed.
Special Teams Notes
Harrison Butker went 1-for-1 on field goals (32 yards at 12:21 Q3) but missed his first extra point attempt, pushing it wide right after Worthy’s opening touchdown. After Kelce’s goalpost dunk penalty, Butker made the 33-yard extra point attempt to close the scoring.
The failed two-point conversion after Hunt’s touchdown (Mahomes pass intercepted in the end zone) explains the final score of 29 instead of 30 or 31.
Chris Boswell matched Butker’s field goal efficiency at 1-for-1, hitting from 36 yards at 5:45 in the third quarter.
Matt Araiza punted five times for 269 yards (53.8 average), including a 72-yard bomb. He placed two inside the 20 and hit two touchbacks. Corliss Waitman punted four times for Pittsburgh, averaging 44.5 yards with zero inside the 20 and zero touchbacks. Kansas City won the field position battle convincingly.
The Playoff Implications From This Victory
Kansas City finished the 2024 regular season at 15-1 with the AFC’s top seed, earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. This was their fourth No. 1 seed in seven years under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes addressed the achievement postgame: “Getting the No. 1 seed is important. It’s like winning a playoff game.”
The Chiefs entered the playoffs as the Super Bowl favorite after this performance. Mahomes had turned his season around after early struggles, throwing 8 interceptions through seven weeks before tightening up with just 3 picks over the final 10 games. The quick-passing scheme they deployed against Pittsburgh gave them a template for neutralizing aggressive pass rushes in January.
Mahomes owned a 4-0 career record against Pittsburgh with 17 touchdowns and one interception heading into the playoffs. Kansas City had beaten Houston and Cleveland in back-to-back games before this Christmas Day win, going 3-0 in 11 days.
The concern heading into the postseason: Kansas City’s rushing attack managed only 69 yards on 20 carries in this game. Pacheco’s rib injury raised questions about their ability to run when the passing game faced adversity in cold-weather playoff games.
Pittsburgh finished 10-6 and faced an uphill climb in the AFC North race. They’d lost three straight by a combined 47 points, and this Christmas Day defeat exposed critical weaknesses: an offense averaging 4.4 yards per pass attempt, a defense recording zero sacks against elite quarterbacks, and critical mistakes at crucial moments.
The Steelers’ inability to handle Mahomes’ quick release (2.34 seconds average) created a schematic problem they couldn’t solve in three weeks before the playoffs began. Their pass rush became irrelevant when the ball was already downfield before they could generate pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Chiefs vs Steelers on Christmas Day 2024?
Kansas City defeated Pittsburgh 29-10 at Acrisure Stadium, clinching the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
What were Patrick Mahomes stats against Pittsburgh?
Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes for 320 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions (127.1 rating). He was not sacked.
What records did Travis Kelce break?
Kelce broke Tony Gonzalez’s franchise record with his 77th career receiving touchdown and became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions.
How many sacks did Pittsburgh have against Mahomes?
Pittsburgh recorded zero sacks. Mahomes’ 2.34-second average release time neutralized the Steelers’ pass rush.
What was the key play in the game?
Wilson’s red zone interception at 2:16 in the first quarter, thrown immediately after a holding penalty wiped out a Warren touchdown, was the decisive moment.
What is Kansas City’s playoff seeding?
The Chiefs are the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Statistical Breakdown From The Christmas 2024 Matchup
Kansas City’s 29-10 victory over Pittsburgh on December 25, 2024 showed a Chiefs team hitting peak form while the Steelers collapsed under pressure during their late-season slide.
Mahomes delivered an MVP-level performance. Kelce broke Tony Gonzalez’s franchise record at age 35. The defense forced two critical turnovers. Kansas City’s quick-passing attack proved unstoppable against Pittsburgh’s scheme.
The Steelers’ problems were systemic: Wilson couldn’t throw downfield effectively (4.4 YPA), the pass rush couldn’t generate pressure against quick releases (zero sacks), and red zone execution failed repeatedly (25% conversion rate).
Pittsburgh rushed for 202 yards yet lost by 19 points. That disparity captured their entire season: strong ground game, broken passing attack, no ability to finish drives.
This game exposed the schematic mismatch between these teams. Kansas City’s 2.34-second average release neutralized everything Pittsburgh built their defense around. For more historical playoff coverage and championship retrospectives, visit The Sportie for complete postseason analysis.
The final score was closer than the game actually felt. Kansas City dominated from the opening drive, and Pittsburgh never found an answer.
