AFC stock reports: Texans look sloppy, Steelers hit the wall

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to build momentum before the playoffs remaining the third seed in the AFC with a win against the Chicago Bears.

Following the Week 16 games, five AFC teams have clinched their playoff berth. The Houston Texans and New England Patriots clinched their divisions with victories while the Buffalo Bills clinched the 5th seed in the AFC playoff picture. The Ravens and Chiefs are the others with tickets punched.

The Chiefs dominated the Chicago Bears on Sunday night football 26-3. It was clear early in the game that the Bears were in way over their heads. Chicago waited to score their only points of the entire game during the final seconds of the third quarter.

Kansas City’s defense continued to play well, holding Chicago to four yards per play. Mitchell Trubisky was held to 18 of 34 for 157 yards and a fumble averaging a mere 3.6 yards per pass as the Bears were booed by fans late in the game. The entire Bears offense was held to 234 total yards. Only reaching the red zone once, the Bears elected to go for it on fourth down in which Charvarius Ward batted the ball away.

Chicago played primarily in two high safety coverages to limit the big plays by the Chiefs offense. Patrick Mahomes took what the defense gave him picking apart the defense with the death of a thousand cuts. It began on the Chiefs first drive going 15 plays for 82 yards ending with Mahomes running it in for the touchdown. Their second drive was a 95-yard version that took almost seven minutes from the clock. Teams are always trying to keep the offense off of the field, but the offense played smart, time-consuming trips while putting points on the board.

Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill were the focal points of the offense. While Sammy Watkins was targeted five times, he only came away with two catches. Damien Williams returned from injury carrying the ball for 65 yards and gaining another 27 yards and a touchdown through the air.

Kansas City has won their last five games while also limiting their opponents to 17 or fewer points in those games tied for the longest active streak in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes also improved to 5-0 in his career against top-5 scoring defenses. He’s also the first player in the Super Bowl era with 75 plus passing touchdowns and 9,000 plus passing yards in his first 30 games. Mahomes ended the night against the Bears throwing 23 of 33 for 251 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In back to back weeks, the Chiefs defense has looked better moving the ball down the field. Kansas City has struggled recently in the red zone, which has led to field goals, but that was not the case in Week 16. Converting three of four red-zone appearances is something this team needed.