🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS …

Santa positive appears to be like quite a bit like Andy Reid, and he completely delivered on Christmas. The Chiefs clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a 29-10 blowout of the Steelers. It is the fourth time in seven seasons with Patrick Mahomes as starter that Kansas Metropolis has earned the No. 1 seed.

• Mahomes threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, one every to Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson.
• Kelce moved forward of Tony Gonzalez to develop into the franchise’s profession landing receptions chief with No. 77 and went over 1,000 profession catches. He is one among 15 gamers in league historical past with no less than 1,000 receptions.
• And, sure, that was Reid in a Santa outfit delivering the excellent news of the No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field benefit to his group postgame. Mahomes was particularly excited contemplating his spouse is anticipated to provide start “any day now.”

Do not look now, however the Chiefs’ offense is hitting on all cylinders because the postseason nears, Jared Dubin writes.

• Dubin: “Similar to final 12 months, they’ve a rookie extensive receiver (Worthy) coming into his personal and turning into a significant a part of the offense as we head into the stretch run of the season. Similar to final 12 months, Kelce isn’t exhibiting any indicators of slowing down any time quickly. … Will probably be 24 days till they play one other significant sport, in order that they’ll have loads of time to get Kelce and Mahomes and Chris Jones, amongst others, wholesome … That could be very unhealthy information for anyone else hoping to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.”

It is also unhealthy information for the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals, who may have Kansas Metropolis — probably sans Mahomes and lots of different starters — to beat Denver in Week 18.

… AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO THE BALTIMORE RAVENS

For the second a part of the NFL’s Christmas doubleheader, the Ravens have been virtually pretty much as good as Beyoncé’s halftime present, and meaning glorious. Baltimore thumped Houston 31-2 to take the AFC North lead over Pittsburgh.

• Lamar Jackson was excellent, dashing for 87 yards, which included a 48-yard landing, and he handed Michael Vick to take the league’s profession quarterback dashing report with 6,110 yards. He additionally threw touchdowns to Isaiah Possible and Mark Andrews.
• Derrick Henry added 148 yards dashing and a landing. Total, Baltimore ran for 251 yards, 141 of which got here earlier than contact, an overwhelming efficiency.
• Kyle Hamilton picked off C.J. Stroud, who was additionally sacked 5 instances. Baltimore’s protection has been a lot improved of late.

The Jackson-vs.-Josh Allen MVP debate is an interesting one.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such an excellent morning for …

THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Over the previous couple of weeks, the Steelers haven’t solely fallen out of first within the AFC North. They’ve fallen out of true Tremendous Bowl contender standing — in the event that they have been ever there within the first place. Wednesday’s loss wasn’t simply the Steelers’ third straight defeat, however their third straight blowout loss to groups their report suggests they need to no less than be aggressive towards.

I very a lot consider that there aren’t any unhealthy wins. However I additionally consider you may study issues way more significant than simply the outcome. Here is what we have discovered in regards to the Steelers: They want splash performs on each side of the ball to succeed. Meaning explosive performs on offense and tackles for loss and turnovers compelled on protection.

Since Russell Wilson took over for Justin Fields in Week 7, the Steelers have the sixth-most splash performs. However additionally they rank twenty sixth in offensive success price (one spot forward of the Giants) and 18th in defensive success price (one spot forward of the Bengals) over that span. It is actually laborious to beat good groups relying so closely on splash performs. Here is how Pittsburgh’s fared with Wilson towards groups presently in playoff positions.

• Week 10: Beat Commanders by 1
• Week 11: Beat Ravens by 2 (regardless of scoring zero touchdowns, and Justin Tucker lacking two area targets)
• Week 15: Misplaced to Eagles by 14
• Week 16: Misplaced to Ravens by 17
• Week 17: Misplaced to Chiefs by 19

I perceive there are accidents, however everybody has accidents. The Chiefs had ordinary left guard Joe Thuney making his third profession begin at left deal with and have been additionally with out All-Professional defensive deal with Chris Jones. But Kansas Metropolis racked up 5 sacks and allowed zero.

Lengthy story quick, the Steelers have gone from 10-3 to 10-6 in 11 days, and not one of the three losses have been shut. Mike Tomlin at all times has high-floor groups. He is by no means had a shedding season. However in some unspecified time in the future, the ceiling has to rise — Pittsburgh’s final playoff win was within the 2016 season — and I can not see this group being an element deep into the postseason.

I haven’t got a lot to say in regards to the Texans. Stroud’s regression is regarding — he referred to as this “one of many worst video games of my entire profession” — and Houston additionally would not look lengthy for postseason play.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏀 NBA on Christmas Day: Austin Reaves lifts Lakers to win

The NFL could have joined the Christmas celebration, however NBA motion on the vacation is at all times a pleasure, and this 12 months was no exception. 4 of the 5 video games went right down to the wire, none tighter than Lakers-Warriors. After two Stephen Curry 3-pointers within the remaining seconds tied issues up, Austin Reaves blew previous Andrew Wiggins and completed the layup with one second left for a 115-113 win.

Curry and LeBron James have had loads of memorable duels and loads of huge Christmas performances, and this one was each. Curry completed with 38 factors and eight 3-pointers, most ever on a Christmas Day sport; James had 31 factors and 10 rebounds.

But it surely was Reaves who stole the present with 26 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, simply the third triple-double of his profession. With Anthony Davis leaving early with an ankle harm, Los Angeles wanted somebody to step up alongside James, and Reaves greater than answered the bell.

Right here was the remainder of the motion:

• The Knicks beat the Spurs, 117-114, with Mikal Bridges (41 factors) and Victor Wembanyama (42 factors, 18 rebounds) staging an epic duel. New York obtained an “A” in James Herbert’s grades.
• The Timberwolves blew almost all of a 28-point lead earlier than holding on for a 105-99 win over the Mavericks. Anthony Edwards got here up enormous late and completed with 26 factors. Dallas, in the meantime, is fearful Luka Doncic may miss important time with a calf pressure.
• The 76ers earned their finest win of the season, a 118-114 overcome the Celtics in Boston. Tyrese Maxey (33 factors, 12 assists) was magnificent, and Joel Embiid (27 factors) performed effectively, too. Caleb Martin (23 factors) was enormous off the bench, making a career-high seven 3s. Philadelphia has gained eight of its final 11.
• Surviving the non-Nikola Jokic (25 factors, 15 rebounds) minutes is unquestionably a factor with Denver, however it’s additionally a factor that did not occur for the Nuggets of their 110-100 loss to the Suns. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal every scored 27 and host Phoenix racked up 30 assists towards solely 9 turnovers.

🏈 Naughty and good lists for remaining School Soccer Playoff groups

We’re simply over per week away from the School Soccer Playoff quarterfinals, and within the Christmas spirit, Tom Fornelli assessed the naughty and good of the eight groups remaining.

Ohio State stole many of the highlight within the first spherical, however Texas was a lot spectacular in dispatching Clemson, 38-24. The Longhorns’ run sport led the way in which, however do not sleep on the opposite facet, Tom writes.

• Fornelli: “Good: Line of defense — Texas is the brand new Georgia on the subject of defensive linemen. Final 12 months’s Longhorns line featured Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat …This 12 months’s line is perhaps higher. Vernon Broughton and Alfred Collins have been phenomenal on the inside, whereas Trey Moore and Barryn Sorrell have dealt with the sting. Sprinkle in some Colin Simmons, Jermayne Lole, Ethan Burke and Invoice Norton … It is an elite protection, and all of it begins up entrance for the Longhorns.”

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

🏈 GameAbove Sports activities Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Toledo, 2 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Price Bowl: Rutgers vs. Kansas State, 5:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Thunder at Pacers, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
🏈 Seahawks at Bears, 8:15 p.m. on Amazon Prime
🏈 68 Ventures Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Bowling Inexperienced, 9 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Jazz at Path Blazers, 10 p.m. on NBA TV