Chiefs and Steelers games always get fans talking. Both teams have big stars, loud fans, and a long history. So when people search for the Kansas City Chiefs vs Steelers match player stats, they usually want a clear answer to one simple question: who played best?
In this article, we look at the most searched game between these two teams. It was played on December 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh, and the Chiefs won 29-10. We go through the passing, running, catching, and defense numbers. We also look at team stats, key moments, and two older games that fans still remember. Everything is written in plain English, so you can follow along even if you are new to football.
The Game at a Glance
Here are the basic facts about the game.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 25, 2024 |
| Place | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Final score | Chiefs 29, Steelers 10 |
| Big result | The Chiefs clinched the top seed in the AFC |
This game mattered a lot for the Chiefs. The win gave them the best seed in the AFC, which is a big help in the playoffs. For the Steelers, it was another hard night. According to The Sportie, they had been 10-3 just three weeks earlier, but this loss was their third in a row.
The Chiefs also played without star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who had a calf injury. Even so, their defense had a great night. That is an important part of the story, and we will come back to it below.
Quarterback Stats: Mahomes vs Wilson
The biggest gap in this game was at quarterback. Patrick Mahomes played for the Chiefs, and Russell Wilson played for the Steelers.
| Stat | Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) | Russell Wilson (Steelers) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions / attempts | 29 / 38 | 23 / 37 |
| Passing yards | 320 | 205 |
| Touchdown passes | 3 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Yards per attempt | 8.4 | 4.4 |
| Times sacked | 0 | 5 |
Mahomes had a very clean game. He completed about 76 percent of his passes, threw three touchdowns, and did not throw an interception. His passer rating was 127.1, which is very high. He was also not sacked once, so he always had time to find open receivers. One report said he took about 2.34 seconds to throw on average, which is quick.
Wilson had a harder night. He was sacked five times, which was a season high for him. Those sacks cost the Steelers 43 yards, so his net passing total dropped to just 162 yards. He did not throw a touchdown, and he threw one interception. He did score on a running play, which cut the lead to 13-7 at that moment. After that, though, the Chiefs took control again.
If you only look at one stat to explain the game, yards per attempt is a good choice. Mahomes gained 8.4 yards every time he threw. Wilson gained 4.4. Over 37 or 38 throws, that adds up fast.
Running Game Stats
Neither team had a huge day on the ground in terms of star players, but the numbers still tell a useful story.
Chiefs rushing
- Kareem Hunt: 9 carries, 20 yards, 1 touchdown
- Isiah Pacheco: 6 carries, 18 yards
- Patrick Mahomes: 1 carry, 12 yards
- Xavier Worthy: 2 carries, 10 yards
- Samaje Perine: 2 carries, 9 yards
As a team, the Chiefs ran 20 times for 69 yards and one touchdown. They did not need more. Mahomes was doing the heavy work through the air.
Steelers rushing
- Najee Harris was the leading rusher with 13 carries for 74 yards.
- As a team, the Steelers ran 31 times for 202 yards and one touchdown.
This is a surprising number. The Steelers actually ran the ball better than the Chiefs. They just could not turn that success into points. When a team falls behind, it also has to pass more, and that is hard against a defense that is getting sacks.
Receiving Stats
Mahomes spread the ball around. Seven Chiefs players caught at least two passes, and three of them scored or made a big play.
| Player | Catches | Yards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Kelce (Chiefs) | 8 | 84 | 1 touchdown, 11 targets |
| Xavier Worthy (Chiefs) | 8 | 79 | 1 touchdown, 9 targets |
| Justin Watson (Chiefs) | 2 | 60 | 1 touchdown, longest catch 49 yards |
| Hollywood Brown (Chiefs) | 4 | 46 | 7 targets |
| Samaje Perine (Chiefs) | 2 | 20 | |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster (Chiefs) | 2 | 18 | |
| DeAndre Hopkins (Chiefs) | 2 | 7 | 4 targets |
| Pat Freiermuth (Steelers) | 7 | 60 | Top Steelers receiver by yards |
| George Pickens (Steelers) | 3 | 50 | Played 91 percent of snaps |
Travis Kelce led everyone with 84 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Xavier Worthy was close behind with 79 yards and a touchdown of his own. Justin Watson did not catch many passes, but his 60 yards came from just two catches. One of them went for 49 yards, which was the kind of big play the Steelers did not have.
For Pittsburgh, tight end Pat Freiermuth had seven catches for 60 yards. George Pickens had only three catches for 50 yards. Pickens was on the field for most of the game, so this was a quiet night for a player who is known for big plays. Freiermuth also lost a fumble that the Chiefs recovered, which hurt the Steelers at a bad time.
Defense and Special Moments
The Chiefs defense was the quiet hero of this game. Even without Chris Jones, it kept Wilson under pressure all night.
- Mike Danna led the way with 2 sacks.
- Christian Roland-Wallace had 10 tackles, 6 of them solo.
- Drue Tranquill added 9 tackles.
- Jaden Hicks broke up a fourth-and-20 pass that was meant for George Pickens near the goal line. The Steelers turned the ball over on downs.
On the Steelers side, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick had 7 tackles. Pittsburgh did not record a sack, and that made it much easier for Mahomes to stay calm.
Overall, the Chiefs did not turn the ball over, and the Steelers did twice. Wilson threw one interception, and the team also lost a fumble. The Chiefs had one fumble but did not lose it.
Team Stats That Explain the Score
Now let us look at the numbers for the whole team. Some of them may surprise you.
| Team stat | Chiefs | Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 389 | 364 |
| First downs | 20 | 23 |
| Third-down conversions | 3 of 10 | 8 of 16 |
| Fourth-down conversions | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Times sacked | 0 | 5 |
| Penalties | 9 for 90 yards | 4 for 25 yards |
| Time of possession | 28:38 | 31:22 |
Look at those numbers for a moment. The Steelers had more first downs. They held the ball longer. They were much better on third down, with 8 conversions against only 3 for the Chiefs. They even had fewer penalties.
So why did they lose by 19 points? There are three main reasons.
- Turnovers. The Steelers gave the ball away twice. The Chiefs gave it away zero times. Each turnover took away a chance to score.
- Sacks. Five sacks ended many drives and lost 43 yards. The Chiefs allowed none.
- Big plays. The Chiefs got more yards from fewer plays. Their 8.4 yards per pass attempt gave them quick scores, even with less time on the field.
This is a good lesson for reading box scores. Possession time and first downs are useful, but they do not always tell you who really controlled the game. Points come from smart plays, safe ball handling, and big gains.
Key Moments in the Game
A few plays stood out.
- Early start. The Chiefs started fast. Their defense stopped the Steelers on the first drive, and Mahomes answered with a touchdown drive.
- Wilson’s run. Russell Wilson scored on a scramble to get the Steelers on the board, making it 13-7. It was one of the few bright moments for Pittsburgh.
- The fumble. Pat Freiermuth fumbled, and the Chiefs recovered. After that, Kansas City took full control.
- Fourth-and-20. Late in the game, Wilson’s long pass to Pickens fell incomplete after Jaden Hicks broke it up. That play ended the Steelers’ last real chance.
- A Pacheco scare. Running back Isiah Pacheco appeared to leave the game late, which worried Chiefs fans, but the team was already far ahead by then.
A Look at Older Chiefs vs Steelers Games
If you like player stats, two older games are worth knowing about.
September 16, 2018: Chiefs 42, Steelers 37
This was a shootout in Pittsburgh. Patrick Mahomes was a young quarterback then, and he had a huge day. He threw for 326 yards and 6 touchdowns on 23 completions in 28 attempts. Ben Roethlisberger answered with 452 yards and 3 touchdowns, but he needed 60 attempts to do it.
Travis Kelce caught 7 passes for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tyreek Hill added 5 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, and Sammy Watkins had 6 catches for 100 yards. Kareem Hunt ran for 75 yards on 18 carries. Kelce and Hunt are both still part of the Chiefs story in the 2024 game, which shows how long some of these players have been together.
January 16, 2022: Chiefs 42, Steelers 21
This was a playoff game. Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passes for 404 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Roethlisberger completed 29 of 44 for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was Roethlisberger’s final game as a Steelers player, and the Chiefs pulled away to win by 21 points.
The all-time record
According to FootballDB, these two teams have met 38 times, including 3 playoff games. The Steelers have won 23 of those games, and the Chiefs have won 15. The Steelers have the edge in history. But in recent years, the Chiefs have had the upper hand with Mahomes at quarterback.
How the Defenses Compared Over the Season
To get a wider view, FantasyPros has a side-by-side comparison for the 2024 season. It shows the Steelers with 40 sacks and the Chiefs with 39. The Steelers also had more interceptions, 17 to 13, and more recovered fumbles, 16 to 7. So on paper, Pittsburgh had a very strong defense that year. That is why the Chiefs’ clean game on December 25 stands out. They protected the ball against a defense that was good at taking it away.
So, Who Played Best?
Here is our simple answer.
- Best player overall: Patrick Mahomes. He had 320 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions, and no sacks. That is hard to beat.
- Best receiver: Travis Kelce, with 8 catches, 84 yards, and a touchdown. Xavier Worthy was very close.
- Best defender: Mike Danna, who had 2 sacks. Christian Roland-Wallace gets a mention for his 10 tackles.
- Best Steelers player: Pat Freiermuth had the best receiving numbers on the team, and Najee Harris ran well with 74 yards.
The Chiefs won because they made fewer mistakes and made bigger plays. The Steelers moved the ball at times, but they could not stay out of trouble.
Final Thoughts
The Kansas City Chiefs vs Steelers match player stats from December 25, 2024, tell a clear story. Mahomes was sharp, the Chiefs defense got to the quarterback, and the Steelers hurt themselves with turnovers. The Steelers had more first downs and more time with the ball, but football is not decided by those numbers alone. Safe passes, sacks, and big plays decide the winner.
Next time you read a box score, try to look beyond the top numbers. Check the turnovers, the sacks, and the yards per attempt. They often explain a game better than any single stat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Patrick Mahomes’ stats against the Steelers on December 25, 2024?
Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns. He did not throw an interception and was not sacked. His passer rating was 127.1. He also ran once for 12 yards.
Who had the most receiving yards in the Chiefs vs Steelers game?
Travis Kelce led all players with 84 yards on 8 catches, and he scored a touchdown. Xavier Worthy had 79 yards on 8 catches, also with a touchdown. For the Steelers, Pat Freiermuth was the top receiver with 60 yards on 7 catches.
Which team has won more games between the Chiefs and Steelers?
The Steelers lead the all-time series. FootballDB lists 38 games in total, with 23 wins for Pittsburgh and 15 for Kansas City. The Chiefs won all three games we covered in this article: the 2018 game, the 2022 playoff game, and the 29-10 win on December 25, 2024. These numbers can change if the teams play again.
