It’s Christmas Day! For those who celebrate the holiday, today will be a day of both giving and receiving. That applies to the Kansas City Chiefs as well–Patrick Mahomes and company will be looking to give their opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, a loss and receive a win.
Especially after failing to hit that goal last year against the Las Vegas Raiders on this day.
Kansas City will be tasked with going up against a ferocious defense that excels in key situations. With an allowed first-down percentage of only 35.36% on third, only four defenses league-wide are better on third-down than Pittsburgh. The Chiefs’ impressive defense, in comparison, ranks 20th-highest in this regard.
However, Andy Reid’s squad comes into the week ranked 1-of-32 in third-down conversion percentage, moving the chains 50.95% of the time. Kansas City stands as the only team across the NFL that converts at least 50% of their third-down attempts.
Although these two clubs both rank top-12 in points per outing, Pittsburgh at 12 and Kansas City at 11, the downfall of both offenses is their red zone presence.
When inside the red zone, the Chiefs put up six 51.67% of the time; the seventh-lowest mark league-wide. The Steelers come in with an even worse conversion percentage, ranking third-lowest among all 32 clubs. Pittsburgh crosses the goal line on only 48.00% of red zone trips.
The team that caps off their trips inside their opponents 20 yard-line should have little trouble walking away as the victor on Christmas.
Kansas City Chiefs: Seeking revenge on Christmas Day
“Stopping the magician” was the story of last Christmas in the National Football League.
Prior to last year’s Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders contest, cornerback Jack Jones went into the day unworried about the reigning Super Bowl Champions from Missouri. Jones reasoned if you stop the magician, being two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, the act is over.
And right he was.
The Raiders would go on to score two defensive touchdowns throughout the contest, one by way of a pick-6 from Jones himself in addition to a fumble recovery from Bilal Nichols. Sin City ended the day with a 20-14 victory.
Kansas City would get the last laugh, though. On top of finishing the season as the Super Bowl winners, for the second time in two years, the Chiefs ended their ‘24 campaign sweeping the Raiders.
Patrick Mahomes and company effectively got revenge on Las Vegas this season. Now, they’ll be looking to get revenge on Christmas Day for what transpired one year ago.
Top Photo: Getty Images
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