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• REWATCH: Chiefs-Steelers on Â鶹¹ú²ú Premium
• READ: Chiefs clinch AFC's No. 1 seed with Christmas win over Steelers
• READ: PIT defenders on third straight loss: ‘Can’t explain it’

Grant Gordon's takeaways:

1. Chiefs celebrate Christmas with vintage victory. The Chiefs weren’t home for the holidays, but they will be for the duration of their upcoming postseason run. For the fourth time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs locked up the AFC’s No. 1 seed and did so with perhaps their most impressive showing of the season. Mahomes marched the team on a methodical eight-play opening scoring drive and later aired it out it a little like his vintage self, particularly on a 49-yarder to Justin Watson on their second drive of the game. Though the run game sputtered (69 yards), it didn’t matter. Mahomes on Christmas kept on giving through the air, finishing 29 of 38 for 320 yards, three touchdowns and zero touchdowns. Rookie Xavier Worthy, Watson and tight end Travis Kelce each caught TDs, with the latter grabbing eight balls for a game-high 84 yards. By virtue of clinching the top seed and the opening-round bye that accompanies it, this could be the last time Chiefs starters play this regular season. If it is, what a way to go into the playoffs, firing in phenomenal form and able to rest up as the quest for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat begins. 
2. It’s worrying season in Pittsburgh. Down 19 points with six minutes to play, the Steelers were facing fourth-and-2 from their 22-yard line. They weren’t waiving any Terrible Towel; they were throwing in the towel when Mike Tomlin opted to punt. Though there’s a playoff ticket already punched, Pittsburgh has now lost three in a row. Wide receiver George Pickens returned after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury and had spots during which he gave the offense some life, but Russell Wilson and Co. scored a season-low 10 points and have failed to eclipse 17 points in each of their last three, while the defense has allowed an average of 30 points in that span. Back when the club was 10-3, optimism was at a high, clinching the AFC North was on the to-do list and going on to win in the playoffs for the first time since 2016 was the mission. At this point, Tomlin’s bunch needs to turn things around in all facets for any hopes of accomplishing such an undertaking. 
3. K.C. pass rush delivers without Jones. Sans star Chris Jones, the Chiefs didn’t slow down when it came to harassing Wilson. Wilson was sacked a season-high five times, with Mike Danna posting two (to go along with three tackles for loss, five tackles and two QB hits). There was stellar production across Kansas City’s defensive front, with six players producing two or more QB pressures, led by Charles Omenihu -- in just his fourth game back from a torn ACL -- and George Karlaftis posting four apiece. With the luxury of sitting their starters for two weeks now, the Chiefs could shelve Jones and let his calf heal -- and they can definitely celebrate his teammates’ performance in his absence.

Next Gen Stats Insight for (via NFL Pro): Patrick Mahomes averaged his quickest time to throw of the season (2.34 seconds) and second-quickest of his career against the Steelers, completing 20 of 24 pass attempts under 2.5 seconds for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

NFL Research: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who caught his 77th touchdown to move into first place in franchise history, became the 15th player to reach 1,000 career receptions and just the third TE. He ended Wednesday with 1,004 career catches, putting him at 14th all time as he surpassed former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward (1,000).

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• READ: Ravens' Jackson breaks Vick's record for career rushing yards by QB
• READ: Stroud, Texans hope loss will 'wake' them up ahead of playoffs

Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry take turns punishing Texans. Baltimore didn’t mind putting its embarrassment of riches on display for a Christmas Day beatdown. Early on, the Ravens used Henry to attack Houston’s normally stout rushing defense, as the four-time Pro Bowler rumbled to 86 yards in the first quarter alone. He hit a momentary lull, including giving up a safety by retreating into the end zone on a failed run, but Jackson was there to pick him up. The quarterback hit massive passes, such as a 67-yarder to Mark Andrews, the tight end’s longest since his rookie year, and riddled the Texans on the ground for 87 rushing yards -- just one more than needed to become the NFL’s all-time leader in the category among QBs, passing Mike Vick. Jackson and Henry were unstoppable, combining to break Houston’s spirit before much of the second half had elapsed. Henry finished with 27 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown, while Jackson required only 15 passing attempts in the blowout, which he finished with two passing scores and a 48-yard TD on the ground. They are the one-two punch that can knock out any opponent come playoff time.
2. Houston looks hapless. If the past two weeks are anything to go by, the Texans will need a miracle to make a deep playoff run. After falling to the No. 1 seed Chiefs on Saturday, C.J. Stroud and the offense simply didn’t show up for a AFC Divisional Round rematch with the Ravens. The unit was shut out, and, short of a failed goal-line possession in the second quarter, never looked particularly threatening while the game was still close. Stroud, especially, struggled in the absence of Tank Dell. He missed high and wide on seemingly throw after throw, and Baltimore wisely prevented Nico Collins (three catches for 59 yards) from doing any game-breaking damage. Meanwhile, the defense played well in spurts, namely when it netted a safety to make it 10-2 and potentially infuse some momentum, but the Texans ultimately looked several levels below the Ravens while allowing 432 total yards. There are excuses there if the Texans want them considering some mounting injuries, but excuses won’t win playoff games.
3. Ravens rolling with division title in sight. Baltimore took care of business while Pittsburgh failed to earlier on Wednesday, putting the Ravens in position to capture the AFC North after appearing like a longshot to do so roughly a month ago. With a victory against the Browns in Week 18, head coach John Harbaugh’s crew will win its second straight division title and guarantee at least one postseason game at M&T Bank Stadium. Better than that, though, is how the Ravens have recently gotten to this point. The offense has and continues to be a powerhouse, but Baltimore’s defense, which was cause for concern earlier this season, seems to finally be arriving. The Ravens smothered the Texans, holding Joe Mixon to just 26 yards rushing and C.J. Stroud to a 59.2 passer rating. The Christmas victory marked the fourth time in the past five games that Baltimore has held its opponent under 300 yards. If the Ravens can maintain this balance on both sides the ball, good luck to the rest of the AFC.

Next Gen Stats Insight from (via NFL Pro): Lamar Jackson recorded his third-longest average time to throw of his career in Week 17 against the Texans (3.67 seconds). He also recorded a season-high 13.5 scramble yards per dropback, his most in a game since Week 17, 2020.

NFL Research: Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy logged a sack for the fourth consecutive game, increasing his career-high sack total to 11.5 on the season.