Steelers Survive Wild Finish in Detroit, Win 29-24
The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) maintained their lead in the AFC North after a chaotic 29-24 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. The game was decided on the final play, which initially appeared to be a miraculous comeback for the hosts.
Detroit quarterback Jared Goff completed a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who then lateraled the ball back to Goff for a touchdown as time expired. However, the score was negated by an offensive pass interference penalty against St. Brown, handing the win to Pittsburgh.
Key Performances:
• Jaylen Warren (PIT): The standout performer of the day, Warren ripped off two separate 45-yard touchdown runs, finishing with 143 rushing yards.
• Aaron Rodgers (PIT): The veteran quarterback threw for 266 yards and a touchdown, securing his 200th career victory (including postseason).
• Jared Goff (DET): Despite the loss, Goff threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns, extending his streak of games with a TD pass to 21.
The win puts Mike Tomlin’s side 1.5 games clear at the top of their division, while the Lions (8-7) see their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Titans Snap 11-Game Home Skid, Stun Chiefs 26-9
In Nashville, the Tennessee Titans (3-12) provided their fans with an early Christmas present, ending a franchise-tying 11-game home losing streak with a dominant 26-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs, already reeling from Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending ACL injury, suffered another blow when backup Gardner Minshew was knocked out of the game with a knee injury in the second quarter. Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun struggled to move the ball against a fierce Titans defense led by Jeffery Simmons.
Key Performances:
With the loss, the Chiefs (6-9) are officially guaranteed their first losing season since 2012, marking a significant shift in the AFC landscape.