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The Kansas City Chiefs have won 21 of their last 22 games. They are inevitable.
The two-time defending champions just kept on rolling on Christmas Day, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 while clinching the top seed in the AFC playoffs.
Patrick Mahomes played the role of Santa Claus on Wednesday, distributing targets to eight different receivers while finishing 29-of-38 for 320 yards and three scores. One of his top targets was Xavier Worthy, who continued his impressive rookie season by nabbing eight catches for 79 yards and a score.
Travis Kelce added eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.
The Kansas City defense, meanwhile, forced two turnovers, sacked Russell Wilson five times and stymied the Steelers, in Pittsburgh, despite being without interior menace Chris Jones, who missed the game with a calf injury.
Add it all up, and fans and pundits alike were starting to feel a three-peat after the dominant showing over the playoff-bound Steelers:
Bucky Brooks @BuckyBrooks
What some call luck, others would call “championship” plays. KC seems to make the right plays at the right time each week. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but the <a href=”https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Chiefs</a> are always on the right side of the “lucky” bounce..
Louis Riddick @LRiddickESPN
<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Chiefs</a> just methodically work through things (and have kept winning) that others can’t. Save the scripted/rigged bull 💩. It’s something to learn from. Starts with AR/BV unity, through the Ferrari and CJ, and on down. Model of how it needs to look.
Michael Fabiano @Michael_Fabiano
Everything is lining up for another Chiefs Super Bowl win. They’ll have home field, and the Bills and Ravens would need to play close to perfect games to beat them. The Lions D is shot to hell with injuries, and I don’t see the Eagles, Vikings or Packers beating K.C. <br><br>Prepare…
Yes, other contenders in the NFL can’t be ignored. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills handed Kansas City its only loss this season. The Detroit Lions are dangerous. The Philadelphia Eagles are stacked on both sides of the ball. Don’t forget about Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, who would go atop the AFC North with a win later on Wednesday.
But at this point, is it really wise to bet against Mahomes, Jones, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid in the playoffs? Do you feel brave enough to bet that the champions from three of the past five seasons, who have the best record in football this year, won’t find a way in the playoffs?
Anything can happen in the postseason. What normally happens, however, is Mahomes and the Chiefs raising the Lombardi Trophy.