For a team known for waving yellow towels, a white towel should have been waved tonight.
From start to finish, the Pittsburgh Steelers stood little chance against the electric Kansas City offense, and ultimately fell to the Chiefs 42-21 in the Wild Card round at Arrowhead Stadium,
Early on, it was a defensive battle back and forth as both teams were shut down on offense, and turnovers kept momentums in check. Sure-to-be Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt swatted a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and it was eventually intercepted; it was the first interception of Mahomes’s career in 7 home playoff starts and his first in 3 career starts against the Steelers; he entered the night with 15 pass TD and 0 INT in home playoff games.
After Pittsburgh took a 7-0 lead, the Chiefs proceeded to score 28 unanswered points, including a Mahomes touchdown pass to Travis Kelce on 3rd & 20 with just 22 seconds left before halftime.
Kelce would later throw a touchdown pass of his own to wide receiver Byron Pringle.
But there was also a lot of emotion in this game, as it is most likely the final game of future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger, playing in his 18th season with the Steelers, had himself a solid outing, throwing for over 40 times for less than 175 yards, but did throw two touchdown passes.
Meanwhile Sunday’s AFC Divisional showdown between Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes will be the first playoff game in NFL history between QBs who each threw 5+ TD in their previous playoff game.
It will truly be a game for the ages.