For a while Sunday, the Steelers were in sole possession of the final AFC playoff spot, but then they were throttled by the Kansas City Chiefs, 36-10, and their playoff hopes are just about over.
The Chiefs were dominant offensively and defensively from the opening kickoff, trailing 23-0 at the half and committing mistake after mistake, such as a Diontae Johnson fumble in the open field in the third quarter, a Ray-Ray McCloud taunting penalty after a first down reception later in that quarter, an interception by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger early in the game and a fumble by Big Ben late.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says it was a bad performance.
Roethlisberger says they have two games to figure things out.
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt says they keep having the same problems.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns while Roethlisberger was held to 159 yards passing with a touchdown pass to Johnson and the first-quarter interception.
Watt was ineffective, reportedly playing with cracked ribs suffered last week against Tennessee. However, both he and Tomlin refused to specifically say that was the problem. Center Kendrick Green left the game with a calf injury and guard Trai Turner suffered a knee injury.
Rookie Corliss Waitman punted for Pittsburgh, replacing Percy Harvin III, who missed the game due to the death of his father. Waitman punted twice for an average of 60.5 yards.
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