Pittsburgh Steelers vs Kansas City Chiefs, Wild Card 2021
Pittsburgh Steelers
Away
21
Kansas City Chiefs
HomeWon, advanced
42
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
PIT 21KC 42 Final
Passing leader
38.1PPR pts
30/39, 404 YDS, 5 TD, 1 INT
Top fantasy scorer
Jerick McKinnon
26.2PPR pts
12 ATT, 61 YDS, 6 REC, 81 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
Steelers leader
Ben Roethlisberger
16.5PPR pts
29/44, 215 YDS, 2 TD
Defensive playmaker
T.J. Watt
1 TD, 1 SACK, 3 TKL
Chiefs 42, Steelers 21: Kansas City wins the 2021 Wild Card
Kansas City led 21–7 at halftime after a 21-point second quarter and outscored Pittsburgh 21–14 after the break to win 42–21. The Chiefs finished with a 478–257 edge in total offense and averaged 7.4 yards per play.
The Steelers went 7-for-16 on third down and committed one turnover.
The Chiefs' run ended in the Conference Championship, a 27–24 loss to the Bengals.
Key advantages
- +3.5 yards/play KC 7.4 · PIT 3.9
- +221 total yards KC 478 · PIT 257
- +23% third-down rate KC 67% · PIT 44%
Game Highlights
Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube
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Why the Chiefs Won
Kansas City won the efficiency and third-down battles.
| Steelers | Stat | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| 3.9 | Yards per play | 7.4 |
| 257 | Total yards | 478 |
| 44% | Third-down conversion | 67% |
| Other team stats | ||
| 66 | Plays | 65 |
| 1 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 30:00 | Time of possession | 30:00 |
Scoring Summary
The Chiefs scored six touchdowns; the Steelers scored three touchdowns.
| Time | Team | Play | PIT | KC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | ||||
| No scoring | ||||
| 2nd quarter | ||||
| 10:41 | PIT | T.J. Watt 26-yard fumble return TD Takes leadChris Boswell XP | 7 | 0 |
| 5:45 | KC | Patrick Mahomes → Jerick McKinnon, 4-yard TD Ties gameHarrison Butker XP | 7 | 7 |
| 1:55 | KC | Patrick Mahomes → Byron Pringle, 12-yard TD Takes leadHarrison Butker XP | 7 | 14 |
| 0:13 | KC | Patrick Mahomes → Travis Kelce, 48-yard TD Extends leadHarrison Butker XP | 7 | 21 |
| 3rd quarter | ||||
| 10:13 | KC | Patrick Mahomes → Nick Allegretti, 1-yard TD Extends leadHarrison Butker XP | 7 | 28 |
| 9:14 | KC | Patrick Mahomes → Tyreek Hill, 31-yard TD Extends leadHarrison Butker XP | 7 | 35 |
| 4:10 | PIT | Ben Roethlisberger → Diontae Johnson, 13-yard TDChris Boswell XP | 14 | 35 |
| 4th quarter | ||||
| 14:13 | KC | Travis Kelce → Byron Pringle, 2-yard TD Extends leadHarrison Butker XP | 14 | 42 |
| 7:36 | PIT | Ben Roethlisberger → James Washington, 15-yard TDChris Boswell XP | 21 | 42 |
Playoff game: these points don't count in most season-long fantasy leagues.
Fantasy Points vs Expected
Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.
- Biggest overperformer+19.0Patrick Mahomes38.1 PTS vs 19.1 xFP
- Biggest underperformer−8.3Najee Harris2.8 PTS vs 11.1 xFP
- Highest expected volume20.6 xFPBen Roethlisberger16.5 PTS scored
| Player | PTS | xFP | vs xFP | Snap% | Usage | Rte% | Pass att | Car | Car% | Tgt | Tgt% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben RoethlisbergerPIT · QB | 16.5 | 20.6 | −4.1 | — | 44 att | — | 44 | 2 | 10% | 0 | 0% |
| Patrick MahomesKC · QB | 38.1 | 19.1 | +19.0 | — | 39 att | — | 39 | 3 | 14% | 0 | 0% |
| Jerick McKinnonKC · RB | 26.2 | 17.8 | +8.4 | — | 55% car | — | 0 | 12 | 55% | 6 | 16% |
| Diontae JohnsonPIT · WR | 14.4 | 16.8 | −2.4 | — | 23% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 10 | 23% |
| JuJu Smith-SchusterPIT · WR | 7.6 | 13.5 | −5.9 | — | 18% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 8 | 18% |
| Travis KelceKC · TE | 25.9 | 12.2 | +13.7 | — | 18% tgt | — | 1 | 0 | 0% | 7 | 18% |
| Byron PringleKC · WR | 20.7 | 11.8 | +8.9 | — | 18% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 7 | 18% |
| Chase ClaypoolPIT · WR | 5.5 | 11.8 | −6.3 | — | 16% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 7 | 16% |
| Najee HarrisPIT · RB | 2.8 | 11.1 | −8.3 | — | 60% car | — | 0 | 12 | 60% | 2 | 5% |
| Demarcus RobinsonKC · WR | 11.6 | 8.4 | +3.2 | — | 13% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 13% |
| Pat FreiermuthPIT · TE | 6.5 | 8.4 | −1.9 | — | 11% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 11% |
| Tyreek HillKC · WR | 16.7 | 8.4 | +8.3 | — | 13% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 13% |
| Mecole Hardman Jr.KC · WR | 8.9 | 8.0 | +0.9 | — | 11% tgt | — | 0 | 2 | 9% | 4 | 11% |
| Zach GentryPIT · TE | 7.3 | 6.7 | +0.6 | — | 9% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 4 | 9% |
| James WashingtonPIT · WR | 11.7 | 5.1 | +6.6 | — | 7% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 3 | 7% |
| Benny Snell Jr.PIT · RB | 5.1 | 4.7 | +0.4 | — | 10% car | — | 0 | 2 | 10% | 2 | 5% |
| Noah GrayKC · TE | 0.0 | 3.4 | −3.4 | — | 5% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 5% |
| Ray-Ray McCloud IIIPIT · WR | 4.0 | 3.4 | +0.6 | — | 5% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 5% |
| Kalen BallagePIT · RB | 1.3 | 2.6 | −1.3 | — | 20% car | — | 0 | 4 | 20% | 0 | 0% |
| Derrick GoreKC · RB | 0.3 | 1.9 | −1.6 | — | 14% car | — | 0 | 3 | 14% | 0 | 0% |
| Blake BellKC · TE | 1.3 | 1.7 | −0.4 | — | 3% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 3% |
| Derek WattPIT · RB | 0.0 | 1.7 | −1.7 | — | 2% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 2% |
| Nick AllegrettiKC · — | 7.1 | 1.7 | +5.4 | — | 3% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 3% |
| Darrel WilliamsKC · RB | -1.6 | 0.6 | −2.2 | — | 5% car | — | 0 | 1 | 5% | 0 | 0% |
| Michael BurtonKC · RB | 0.3 | 0.6 | −0.3 | — | 5% car | — | 0 | 1 | 5% | 0 | 0% |
Team totals: Steelers 44 targets and 20 carries; Chiefs 38 targets and 22 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts aren't available for this game. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2021 season: 1.68 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.64 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.
Fantasy Verdicts
Ben Roethlisberger
29 of 44 passing for 215 yards, 2 touchdowns; 2 carries for -1 yards.
Verdict: The points matched the role, 20.6 expected.
Best score since Week 14.
Patrick Mahomes Ran hot
30 of 39 passing for 404 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception; 3 carries for 29 yards.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 19.1 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Best fantasy game of the season.
Diontae Johnson
10 targets (23% of the team's), 5 catches for 34 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The points matched the role, 16.8 expected.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Unlucky
8 targets (18% of the team's), 5 catches for 26 yards.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 13.5 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Best score since Week 2.
Jerick McKinnon Ran hot
6 targets (16% of the team's), 6 catches for 81 yards and 1 touchdown; 12 carries (55% of the team's) for 61 yards.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 17.8 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Season high in targets (6). Season high in carries (12).
Travis Kelce Ran hot
1 of 1 passing for 2 yards, 1 touchdown; 7 targets (18% of the team's), 5 catches for 108 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 12.2 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
A touchdown in 5 of the last 8 games.
Byron Pringle Ran hot
7 targets (18% of the team's), 5 catches for 37 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 11.8 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Chase Claypool Unlucky
7 targets (16% of the team's), 3 catches for 25 yards.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 11.8 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Fantasy Matchups
Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2021 through Week 18.
| Points allowed to | Steelers D | Chiefs D |
|---|---|---|
| QBs | 17.1 | 20.2 |
| RBs | 25.6 | 23.6 |
| WRs | 30.8 | 31.1 |
| TEs | 10.8 | 12.3 |
Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.
How the Game Swung
Kansas City opened at 81% win probability and passed 98% before halftime on the way to the win.
Chiefs win probability
Key Swings
- −23Watt 26-yd TD77% → 54%Q2 10:41
- +25Mahomes → McKinnon, 4-yd TD51% → 75%Q2 5:45
- +17Mahomes → Pringle, 12-yd TD74% → 91%Q2 1:55
- +7Mahomes → Kelce, 48-yd TD91% → 98%Q2 0:13
- +1Mahomes → Allegretti, 1-yd TD99% → >99%Q3 10:13
Swing in Chiefs win probability, in points
Play Calling and Possessions
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Measure | Kansas City Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Plays | 65 |
| 70% | Pass rate | 66% |
| 4.4 | Yds / dropback | 8.7 |
| 2.8 | Yds / carry | 4.8 |
| 7/16 | Third downs | 8/12 |
Efficiency edge Kansas City ran 1 fewer plays but gained 4.3 more yards per dropback.
- Top targets
- PIT Johnson 23% · Smith-Schuster 18% · Claypool 16%
- KC Pringle 18% · Kelce 18% · McKinnon 16%
Possession Results
| Result | PIT | KC |
|---|---|---|
| Touchdowns | 2 | 6 |
| Field goals | 0 | 0 |
| Punts | 7 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
PIT turnover edge: +1
- The Chiefs opened the scoring on their sixth possession, a 8-play, 76-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
- The Chiefs drained the clock with two second-half drives of four to five minutes.
All 24 possessions, drive by drive
| Team | Start | Plays | Yards | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIT | Q1 15:00 | 3 | 0 | 1:43 | Punt |
| KC | Q1 13:17 | 3 | 2 | 1:20 | Punt |
| PIT | Q1 11:57 | 3 | 2 | 1:06 | Punt |
| KC | Q1 10:51 | 4 | 29 | 2:06 | Punt |
| PIT | Q1 8:45 | 3 | -3 | 2:15 | Punt |
| KC | Q1 6:30 | 1 | 0 | 0:08 | Interception |
| PIT | Q1 6:22 | 5 | 8 | 2:24 | Punt |
| KC | Q1 3:58 | 9 | 29 | 3:58 | Punt |
| PIT | Q2 15:00 | 6 | 20 | 3:47 | Punt |
| KC | Q2 11:13 | 2 | 12 | 0:32 | Fumble |
| KC | Q2 10:41 | 8 | 76 | 4:56 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q2 5:45 | 3 | 8 | 1:07 | Punt |
| KC | Q2 4:38 | 7 | 74 | 2:43 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q2 1:55 | 3 | 5 | 1:03 | Punt |
| KC | Q2 0:52 | 6 | 80 | 0:39 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q2 0:13 | 1 | -1 | 0:13 | End of half |
| KC | Q3 15:00 | 9 | 68 | 4:47 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q3 10:13 | 1 | -1 | 0:17 | Fumble |
| KC | Q3 9:56 | 2 | 29 | 0:42 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q3 9:14 | 10 | 75 | 5:04 | Touchdown |
| KC | Q3 4:10 | 9 | 75 | 4:57 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q4 14:13 | 15 | 75 | 6:37 | Touchdown |
| KC | Q4 7:36 | 5 | 4 | 3:12 | Punt |
| PIT | Q4 4:24 | 13 | 78 | 4:24 | End of game |
About these numbers
The Steelers' fumble touchdown is counted as a Chiefs lost fumble, not as a Steelers possession. Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.
Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.
Steelers vs Chiefs Head-to-Head
The Steelers and Chiefs first met in 1970 and have played 38 times since.
- All-time series
- 23–15Steelers lead, 38 meetings since 1970
- Postseason
- 2–1Chiefs won in 1993 and 2021; Steelers won in 2016
- Largest Steelers win
- 45–01976
- Largest Chiefs win
- 36–102021
Since 2021
3–0 Chiefs lead
3 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.
Oldest to newest. C = Chiefs win, S = Steelers win, outlined = this game.
Recent Meetings
- 2024 Wk 17 Chiefs at Steelers, 2024 Wk 17 recap KC 29 PIT 10 KC W
- 2021 Wild Card Steelers at Chiefs KC 42 PIT 21 KC W
- 2021 Wk 16 Steelers at Chiefs, 2021 Wk 16 recap KC 36 PIT 10 KC W
Season to Date (Through Week 18)
The 2021 regular season, from each game's box score.
| Steelers | Stat | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| 9-7-1 | Record | 12-5 |
| 20.2 | Points per game | 28.2 |
| 315.4 | Yards per game | 396.8 |
| 4.8 | Yards per play | 5.9 |
| 23.4 | Points allowed per game | 21.4 |
| 361.1 | Yards allowed per game | 368.9 |
Steelers vs Chiefs Odds and Results
How this game finished against the betting lines.
- Spread
- KC −12Chiefs covered by 9
- Total
- 46.5Over: 63 points scored (by 16.5)
Expected vs Actual Scoring
| Team | Implied | Actual | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 29.3 | 42 | +12.8 |
| Steelers | 17.3 | 21 | +3.8 |
Both offenses beat the market's expectation, and the Fantasy tab shows who cashed in.
Betting Trends
Last 2 meetings: Chiefs 2–0 ATS, overs 2–0.
Each team's 2021 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Against the spread
- 8–10
- Over/under
- 7–10–1
- ATS as favorite
- 2–5
- ATS as underdog
- 6–5
- ATS on the road
- 4–5
Kansas City Chiefs
- Against the spread
- 9–9
- Over/under
- 11–7
- ATS as favorite
- 9–9
- ATS at home
- 5–5
Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.
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Steelers and Chiefs in Fantasy
The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Steeler or a Chief, these answer the week-to-week question.
- Start/Sit ToolShould your Steelers or Chiefs player start this week? Compare the decision against your other options.
- Fantasy Football ProjectionsSee the latest weekly and rest-of-season projections for Steelers and Chiefs players.
- Fantasy Points Allowed by PositionHow the Steelers and Chiefs defenses have treated QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs.
- Strength of ScheduleWhere each team's remaining games fall in your fantasy playoff run.
- Redraft CommandConnect your league for personalized lineup, trade and roster advice.
Keep Exploring
2021 Game Logs for Players in This Game
Steelers vs Chiefs Game FAQ
Who won the 2021 Steelers vs Chiefs Wild Card game?
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 42–21 in the Wild Card round of the 2021 playoffs. The game was played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO, on January 16, 2022. See the Chiefs' 2021 schedule.
What was the final score of Steelers vs Chiefs?
The final score was Chiefs 42, Steelers 21. The Chiefs led 21–7 at halftime, and the second half went Steelers 14, Chiefs 21.
What happened in the Steelers vs Chiefs game?
Kansas City led 21–7 at halftime after a 21-point second quarter and outscored Pittsburgh 21–14 after the break to win 42–21. The Chiefs finished with a 478–257 edge in total offense and averaged 7.4 yards per play. The Chiefs committed 2 turnovers, the Steelers 1.
How did the Chiefs beat the Steelers?
The Chiefs beat the Steelers 42–21 because they averaged 7.4 yards per play to 3.9 and outgained them 478–257.
Which team won the turnover battle in Steelers vs Chiefs?
The Steelers won the turnover battle 2–1: the Chiefs gave the ball away 2 times and the Steelers 1 time. The Chiefs won the game anyway.
What is the all-time Steelers vs Chiefs record?
The Steelers lead the all-time series 23–15 across 38 meetings since 1970, including a 1–2 record in the postseason.
When did the Steelers and Chiefs last play before this game?
Before the 2021 Wild Card round, they last met in the 2021 season on December 26, 2021, when the Chiefs beat the Steelers 36–10.
Have the Steelers and Chiefs met in the playoffs?
Yes, 3 times, most recently in the 2021 playoffs. The Steelers are 1–2 against the Chiefs in the postseason.
What is the Steelers vs Chiefs record since 2021?
The Chiefs lead 3–0 across 3 meetings since the 2021 season, including this game.
What was the closing spread for Steelers vs Chiefs?
The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Chiefs −12, making the Kansas City Chiefs 12-point favorites, with a closing total of 46.5. That implied about 29.3 points for the Chiefs and 17.3 for the Steelers.
Did Steelers vs Chiefs go over or under the total?
The game went over. The consensus closing total was 46.5, and the teams combined for 63 points, 16.5 over the number.
Who covered the spread in Steelers vs Chiefs?
The Chiefs covered by 9 against the closing line of Chiefs −12. The final margin was 21 points.