Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andy Reid donned a Santa Claus suit in a giddy Kansas City Chiefs locker room on Christmas Day, then handed his team a present it increasingly looks like it deserves: home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

How Reid managed to slide into the costume so quickly after Kansas City's clinical 29-10 victory over the reeling Pittsburgh Steelers to lock up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven years is a mystery (though he hinted there's an elf involved).

How Reid's team manages to pull away from the pack year after year is not.

A lot of Patrick Mahomes. A dash of Travis Kelce. A splash of speed. A defense that quietly goes about its business, even when its leader is standing on the sideline in sweatpants.

Yes, it has been ugly — by Kansas City's lofty standards — at times while the Chiefs have chased a third straight championship. Yet as the playoffs loom, the group that looked so vulnerable for most of the season suddenly seems to be rounding into form.

And the road to the Super Bowl will once again go through Arrowhead Stadium. Just the way the Chiefs like it.

“Getting the No. 1 seed is important,” Mahomes said after throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. “It's like winning a playoff game.”

Even if how the Chiefs locked it up didn't exactly feel like one.

Kansas City (15-1) spent three hours toying with the Steelers (10-6) like a cat batting around shreds of leftover wrapping paper. The Chiefs raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by Pittsburgh, which has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit.

“That sucked, to be blunt,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

It often does when Pittsburgh is on one side of the line of scrimmage and Mahomes is on the other. Mahomes is now 4-0 against the Steelers with 17 touchdowns against just one interception. He connected on first-half scoring tosses to Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson and added a history-making 12-yard touchdown flip to Kelce to seal it in the fourth quarter.

The grab was the 77th scoring reception of Kelce's career, breaking a franchise record set by Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. The 35-year-old Kelce celebrated by dunking the ball over the goal post, a nod to Gonzalez's signature move. The gesture drew a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, though it hardly mattered. Harrison Butker made the longer extra point and the Chiefs were firmly in control.

“It's just showing Tony some love,” Kelce said with a laugh on the day he joined Gonzalez and Jason Witten as the only tight ends to reach 1,000 receptions. Kelce finished with eight catches for 84 yards while playing for an offense that is starting to get its swagger back.

The defense wasn't bad either, even with five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones sidelined by a calf injury. Jones' teammates hardly looked gassed while playing for the third time in 11 days.

“It was tough,” cornerback Trent McDuffie said. “I mean, three games in 11 days is crazy for anybody. But I thought we handled it very well.”

The Steelers did not. Pittsburgh went 0-3 during the span, a brutal stretch against Super Bowl contenders Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City in which the Steelers looked outclassed.

Perhaps more troubling than the losses is the way they played out. Pittsburgh lost each contest by at least 14 points and could find itself starting the postseason on the road after playing fast-and-loose with the two-game division lead it enjoyed just three weeks ago.

“I think that there's highs and lows in every season,” Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson said after throwing for 205 yards with an ill-timed pick in the end zone in the first quarter. “We've got to make sure that we end this last game on the right footing and right belief.”

That hasn't been an issue in years in Kansas City. Not with Mahomes at the controls. He spread his 29 completions to eight different players, including a career-best eight to Worthy and four to Hollywood Brown, whose return from injury has given the Chiefs another playmaker in what is starting to look like another stacked deck.

“We're playing, especially offensively, our best football of the year,” Mahomes said.

Looks like it. The two-time MVP hardly bothered by the ankle injury he suffered against Cleveland, throwing touchdowns to cap Kansas City's first two drives. And while the Steelers drew within 13-7 and 16-10, they never had the ball with a chance to take the lead in the second half.

Instead, the Chiefs — who spent most of the first three months of the season squeaking by most weeks — zoomed away with the No. 1 seed and several weeks to rest before a bid for a three-peat that certainly looks doable.

Chiefs: RB Isiah Pacheco left in the second half with a rib injury.

Steelers: DT Cam Heyward exited briefly in the fourth quarter but managed to return.

Chiefs: finish up the regular season by heading to Denver.

Steelers: host Cincinnati in the regular-season finale.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) embrace after an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) hits Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs from Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Fans cheer for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Fans cheer for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) holds a football after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce speak after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reaches to recover his own fumble against Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (29) celebrates his touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50) tackles Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates his touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) makes a touchdown cacth against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson (84) scores a touchdown against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) celebrates his interception off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers fans cheer during the first half of an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) intercepts the ball intended for Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) celebrates his touchdown with Hollywood Brown (5) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) scores a touchdown against Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates his touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs out of the backfield against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

BOSTON (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid fell to the parquet during warmups before Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics but remained in the starting lineup for the Christmas Day matchup.

Embiid was shooting near the sideline about 45 minutes before tipoff and appeared to get caught up in a security rope separating the players from the fans sitting courtside. The 2023 NBA MVP grabbed his right ankle and remained on the court for a minute before walking off to the locker room.

When the Sixers returned to the court for a separate shooting session a few minutes before the tipoff, Embiid was late to join them. He eventually did come out and warmed up as usual, then was announced as a member of Philadelphia’s starting lineup.

A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid is averaging 20.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season — far below his career averages. He has missed all but nine games due to left knee soreness, a sinus fracture and a three-game suspension for an altercation with a reporter in the locker room.

Embiid wore a mask while playing in just his third game since the sinus fracture. He was ejected from his previous game, on Monday against San Antonio, after picking up his second technical foul in the second quarter for arguing with referee Jenna Schroeder.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid smiles after the 76ers won an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)