Hopes were high as the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, but the holiday cheer quickly evaporated at Heinz Field. In a game that could charitably be described as uncompetitive, the Steelers fell to the Chiefs 29-10, their third consecutive loss. The defeat drops Pittsburgh to 10-6 on the season and drastically alters their postseason outlook.
A Dismal Defensive Display
The once-proud Pittsburgh defense has become a sieve in recent weeks, allowing an average of 30 points per game during their current slide. Against Patrick Mahomes and the high-powered Chiefs offense, the Steelers simply had no answers. Receivers consistently found themselves wide open, gashing the secondary for big plays. As blunt as his defense’s performance, head coach Mike Tomlin did not mince words after the game:
“That sucked, to be blunt. Not the type of ball we want to play and really kind of eerily similar to our last performance in that we’re not doing the fundamental things well enough.”
— Mike Tomlin, Steelers Head Coach
Linebacker Alex Highsmith echoed his coach’s frustration, questioning the team’s desire and challenging them to show more fight as they enter a critical final stretch:
“It’s gotta be a want-to. There’s not enough of that right now. There’s gotta be a want-to. It’s that time of the year where we got two guaranteed games left. We’re gonna find out, find out who wants this.”
— Alex Highsmith, Steelers Linebacker
Defensive Dysfunction
Safety DeShon Elliott was even more pointed in his criticism, calling out the defense’s repeated communication breakdowns and missed assignments:
“Guys can’t be f—ing wide open. Do your job. I feel like we communicated. Guys just weren’t doing their freaking job. Get back to the drawing board. It’s Week [17]. Shouldn’t be having these problems.”
— DeShon Elliott, Steelers Safety
The inability to generate turnovers has compounded the Steelers’ defensive woes. After ranking among the league leaders in takeaways for much of the year, Pittsburgh has forced just 3 turnovers total in their last three games. Without the momentum-shifting plays that had become their calling card, the defense looks ordinary at best, incompetent at worst.
Offensive Ineptitude and Playoff Implications
While the defense deservedly bears the brunt of the blame, the Steelers’ offense did them no favors in this one. Russell Wilson threw a costly red zone interception in the first half, and Pat Freiermuth’s fourth quarter fumble set up an easy Chiefs touchdown to put the game out of reach. After committing just 5 turnovers in their first 13 games, the Steelers have now given it away 5 times in their last three contests.
At 10-6, Pittsburgh still has a chance to make the playoffs, but they no longer control their own destiny in the muddled AFC North. To win the division and secure a home playoff game, they must now beat the Cincinnati Bengals next week and hope the Baltimore Ravens lose to Cleveland. It’s a stunning fall for a team that just three weeks ago had a two-game cushion atop the division.
| AFC North Standings | W | L |
|---|---|---|
| Ravens | 11 | 5 |
| Steelers | 10 | 6 |
| Bengals | 9 | 7 |
| Browns | 5 | 11 |
Bleak Outlook in the Steel City
Veteran defensive end Cameron Heyward was brutally honest in his assessment of the Steelers’ play during this losing skid:
“The last three weeks we played like s—. Simple as that. I own that. Every player’s got [to own that]. Can’t squander opportunities, whether it’s turnovers, whether it’s getting off the field, whether it’s scoring touchdowns, it’s a multitude of things, and it has reared its big head.”
— Cameron Heyward, Steelers Defensive End
While Heyward expressed unwavering confidence in his teammates, he admitted to being dumbfounded by their lack of execution in critical moments. If the Steelers can’t get out of their own way and start capitalizing on opportunities, their season will end in bitter disappointment.
Mike Tomlin faces one of the biggest challenges of his coaching career as he tries to right the ship and salvage a once-promising season. The Steelers’ mettle will be tested like never before in next week’s must-win showdown with the surging Bengals. Fall short there, and an offseason of difficult questions and uncertain answers awaits in the Steel City.
