Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry carries the football during an NFL game against the Houston Texans on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston.
When the NFL began its 15th Sunday of the 2024 season on Dec. 15, the Pittsburgh Steelers held a two-game advantage over the Baltimore Ravens at the top of the AFC North standings. However, just ten days later, after the NFL’s Christmas doubleheader, the Ravens had taken a one-game lead over the Steelers.
Baltimore defeated the Houston Texans 31-2, while Pittsburgh fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 29-10 on Wednesday. Both teams had already secured spots in the AFC playoffs.
By completing their demanding schedule of three games in 11 days, including a 34-17 win over the Steelers, the Ravens improved to 11-5 with one game left in the regular season. The Steelers, facing the same tough schedule, lost all three games and dropped to 10-6.
As Kansas City had already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and the accompanying first-round bye, the battle for the AFC North title would determine who hosts a playoff game and who travels in the first round.
Kansas City Chiefs 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 10
Kansas City improved to 15-1 with its sixth consecutive victory as it prepares for a postseason push toward a third straight Super Bowl title.
Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and added a third in the fourth, helping the Chiefs extend their lead to six points.
Six players from Alabama high schools and colleges played during the Kansas City-Pittsburgh game:
Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn) recorded one tackle.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) started at safety for the Steelers and tied for the team lead with seven tackles.
Steelers cornerback Zyon Gilbert (Jeff Davis) is on the practice squad and didn’t play.
Najee Harris (Alabama) started at running back for the Steelers, rushing for 74 yards on 13 carries and catching two passes for 7 yards. Harris surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the 2024 season, becoming the 14th player in NFL history to do so in each of his first four seasons.
Steelers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn) is on the practice squad and didn’t play.
Steelers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) recorded one special teams tackle.
Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and didn’t play.
George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens, returning from a three-game injury absence, made three catches for 50 yards.
Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City) is on the practice squad and didn’t play.
Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 44.5 yards on four punts, with a net of 36.0 yards. Waitman had a 40-yard punt returned 25 yards to the Pittsburgh 42-yard line, a 58-yard punt returned 7 yards to the Kansas City 21, a 31-yard punt returned 2 yards to the Kansas City 21, and a 49-yard punt that was fair caught at the Kansas City 29.
Chiefs wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) is on the practice squad and didn’t play.
Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and didn’t play.
Kansas City wraps up its regular-season schedule with a game against the Denver Broncos at noon CST on Jan. 5 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Pittsburgh will play the Cincinnati Bengals at noon on Jan. 5 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Baltimore Ravens 31, Houston Texans 2
After rushing for 162 yards on 24 carries against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries for Baltimore on Wednesday.
The former Alabama All-American opened the scoring against the Texans with a 2-yard run at 10:08 left in the first quarter, totaling 86 rushing yards in the drive. The touchdown marked Henry’s 16th of the season, setting a new Ravens record for most touchdowns in a single season.
Henry also had two receptions for 18 yards.
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 10-of-15 passes for 168 yards and
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