The Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs met each other at Acrisure Stadium on Christmas Day, which fell on a Wednesday this year, as a part of a double header streamed only on Netflix. The Chiefs needed a win to lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs, while the Steelers needed to win out to win the AFC North and host a playoff game.

Needless to say, there was a lot on the line in this AFC powerhouse matchup. Let’s get to the recap of the game…

1st Quarter

The Chiefs won the opening coin toss and elected to defer their possession to the second half. That meant Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense took the field to start the game. As has become customary for the Steelers, the first drive didn’t last long. In fact, it lasted only three plays before Corliss Waitman was called into action.

A nice return gave the Chiefs their first possession at the Pittsburgh 42, and it didn’t take long for Patrick Mahomes and company to put up their first points of the game. In fact, it took just a few minutes and key conversions for Mahomes to hit Xavier Worthy for the first touchdown of the game.

X MARKS THE SPOT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JAy3uLYgIT

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 25, 2024

However, an unsportsmanlike penalty on Worthy’s celebration pushed back Harrison Butker’s extra point, which sailed wide right. It made the score 6-0 with 9:19 left in the quarter.

The Steelers were at least able to get a first down on their next drive before punting the ball back to Kansas City. On the return the Mark Robinson caused a fumble, but it bounced directly to a Chiefs player for the recovery.

Mahomes and the Chiefs offense continued to carve up the Steelers secondary, but they didn’t dink-and-dunk their way down the field. No, it was Mahomes going up top to Justin Watson for 49-yards to set up the Chiefs in the red-zone again.

Just a couple plays later it was Mahomes hitting Watson again for a touchdown.

CHRISTMAS DAY HOMECOMING FOR J WAT 🤝 pic.twitter.com/xbL8MfaxGt

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 25, 2024

The extra point was good, making the score 13-0 with 4:00 remaining in the first quarter.

Desperately needing a drive, the Steelers turned to their star wide receiver on the first play from scrimmage on their next drive. The moon ball from Wilson to George Pickens was good for 41.

41-yard moon ball to GP 🎯

📺: #KCvsPIT on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/PKgcgn17oZ

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 25, 2024

Two Jaylen Warren runs got the Steelers into the red-zone, and when it looked like Warren got into the end-zone for the Steelers first score, Darnell Washington was called for holding which negated the score. The next play from scrimmage was a Wilson interception to Justin Reid.

REID REELS IT IN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VsFTIaI0NZ

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 25, 2024

The Pittsburgh defense finally got a stop on the Chiefs drive starting at the 20, and it was the first three-and-out for Kansas City.

The Steelers would have the ball at the end of the first quarter.

Score after the 1st Quarter: Chiefs 13, Steelers 0

2nd Quarter

Needing a bounce back drive after the Steelers defense finally got a stop, the Steelers did just that. Huge conversions to Pat Freiermuth, George Pickens and runs by Jaylen Warren set up the offense in a first-and-goal situation. On 2nd down, it was a play action pass which Russell Wilson kept and scrambled into the end-zone for the Steelers first score of the game.

.@DangeRussWilson runs it in for six 💪

📺: #KCvsPIT on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/whzxEpn58a

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 25, 2024

The Chris Boswell extra point was good, making the score 13-7 with 10:28 remaining in the half.

The Chiefs next drive pressed into Pittsburgh territory, and when it looked like the Chiefs were able to convert a 4th and 1 to Travis Kelce, a holding call negated the play and resulted in a punt.

The Steelers got the ball back and were near midfield when a 3rd and 3 draw didn’t move the chains; however, on the punt the Chiefs were called for 12 men on the field and it extended the Steelers drive inside two minutes left in the half. The only thing the Steelers were able to do was burn more time off the clock before sending the ball back to Kansas City.

Mahomes and company got the ball back with 1:01 left and one timeout remaining. They couldn’t gain a first down, and the score would hold heading into halftime.

Score at Halftime: Chiefs 13, Steelers 7

3rd Quarter

The Chiefs got the ball to start the second half, and they were able to start the second half the same way they started the game on offense. Moving the ball in chunks down the field quickly. However, when the field got short in the red-zone, the Steelers defense tightened and on 3rd and 10 they forced a Mahomes incompletion which sent Harrison Butker on the field for his first field goal of the game.

The kick was good, making the score 16-7 with 12:21 left in the quarter.

Pittsburgh’s first drive of the second half was a time-consuming drive of 10+ plays which worked their way into the red-zone with a great mixture of plays. But the biggest plays were a 3rd down conversion to Calvin Austin III, and getting Jaylen Warren the ball in space. However, once in the red-zone the Steelers were forced to kick a field goal.

Chris Boswell was good, making the score 16-10 with 5:45 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Kansas City took their next possession and moved the ball in chunks, even when penalties were going against them. The Kansas City offense had the Steelers defense guessing and on their heels the entire drive. It was a slow, methodical drive which resulted in a 1st and goal at the end of the quarter.

Score after the 3rd Quarter: Chiefs 16, Steelers 10

4th Quarter

The first play of the 4th quarter was a simple inside run by Kareem Hunt for the touchdown.

TRAVIS WITH THE BLOCK, HUNT WITH THE SCORE 💥 pic.twitter.com/NoDbylBLdr

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 25, 2024

The Chiefs went for two, and the play failed, making the score 22-10 with 14:56 remaining in regulation.

The next drive for the Steelers saw the pressure dialed up on Russell Wilson yet again. On 3rd and 15 Wilson passed to Pat Freiermuth short of the sticks, and as the tight end fought for yardage he fumbled the ball. It was recovered by the Chiefs in Pittsburgh territory.

Just a few plays later it was Mahomes to Travis Kelce for the final nail in the coffin.

HOLIDAY TOUCHDOWN FOR TRAVIS‼️ pic.twitter.com/sqgtsd0r1K

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 25, 2024

The extra point was good, making the score 29-10 with 12:38 left in the 4th quarter.

Russell Wilson and the offense went to the hurry-up to try and get back in the game, but a failed 4th and 20 pass turned it over on downs, and giving it back to the red-hot Chiefs offense.

Both teams exchanged possessions, but neither were able to put points on the board before the end of regulation. The score would remain as final.

FINAL SCORE: Chiefs 29, Steelers 10

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.