PITTSBURGH: Andy Reid donned a Santa Claus suit in a giddy Kansas City Chiefs locker room on Christmas Day, then handed his team a present it increasingly looks like it deserves: home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
How Reid managed to slide into the costume so quickly after Kansas City’s clinical 29-10 victory over the reeling Pittsburgh Steelers to lock up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven years is a mystery (though he hinted there’s an elf involved).
How Reid’s team manages to pull away from the pack year after year is not.
A lot of Patrick Mahomes. A dash of Travis Kelce. A splash of speed. A defense that quietly goes about its business, even when its leader is standing on the sideline in sweatpants.
Yes, it has been ugly — by Kansas City’s lofty standards — at times while the Chiefs have chased a third straight championship. Yet as the playoffs loom, the group that looked so vulnerable for most of the season suddenly seems to be rounding into form.
And the road to the Super Bowl will once again go through Arrowhead Stadium. Just the way the Chiefs like it.
“Getting the No. 1 seed is important,” Mahomes said after throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. “It’s like winning a playoff game.”
Even if how the Chiefs locked it up didn’t exactly feel like one.
Kansas City (15-1) spent three hours toying with the Steelers (10-6) like a cat batting around shreds of leftover wrapping paper. The Chiefs raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by Pittsburgh, which has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit.
“That sucked, to be blunt,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
It often does when Pittsburgh is on one side of the line of scrimmage and Mahomes is on the other. Mahomes is now 4-0 against the Steelers with 17 touchdowns against just one interception. He connected on first-half scoring tosses to Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson and added a history-making 12-yard touchdown flip to Kelce to seal it in the fourth quarter.
The grab was the 77th scoring reception of Kelce’s career, breaking a franchise record set by Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. The 35-year-old Kelce celebrated by dunking the ball over the goal post, a nod to Gonzalez’s signature move. The gesture drew a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, though it hardly mattered. Harrison Butker made the longer extra point and the Chiefs were firmly in control.
“It’s just showing Tony some love,” Kelce said with a laugh on the day he joined Gonzalez and Jason Witten as the only tight ends to reach 1,000 receptions. Kelce finished with eight catches for 84 yards while playing for an offense that is starting to get its swagger back.
The defense wasn’t bad either, even with five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones sidelined by a calf injury. Jones’ teammates hardly looked gassed while playing for the third time in 11 days.
“It was tough,” cornerback Trent McDuffie said. “I mean, three games in 11 days is crazy for anybody. But I thought we handled it very well.”
The Steelers did not. Pittsburgh went 0-3 during the span, a brutal stretch against Super Bowl contenders Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City in which the Steelers looked outclassed.
Perhaps more troubling than the losses is the way they played out. Pittsburgh lost each contest by at least 14 points and could find itself starting the postseason on the road after playing fast-and-loose with the two-game division lead it enjoyed just three weeks ago.
“I think that there’s highs and lows in every season,” Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson said after throwing for 205 yards with an ill-timed pick in the end zone in the first quarter. “We’ve got to make sure that we end this last game on the right footing and right belief.”
That hasn’t been an issue in years in Kansas City. Not with Mahomes at the controls. He spread his 29 completions to eight different players, including a career-best eight to Worthy and four to Hollywood Brown, whose return from injury has given the Chiefs another playmaker in what is starting to look like another stacked deck.
“We’re playing, especially offensively, our best football of the year,” Mahomes said.
Looks like it. The two-time MVP hardly bothered by the ankle injury he suffered against Cleveland, throwing touchdowns to cap Kansas City’s first two drives. And while the Steelers drew within 13-7 and 16-10, they never had the ball with a chance to take the lead in the second half.
Instead, the Chiefs — who spent most of the first three months of the season squeaking by most weeks — zoomed away with the No. 1 seed and several weeks to rest before a bid for a three-peat that certainly looks doable.
Injuries
Chiefs: RB Isiah Pacheco left in the second half with a rib injury.
Steelers: DT Cam Heyward exited briefly in the fourth quarter but managed to return.
Up next
Chiefs: finish up the regular season by heading to Denver.
Steelers: host Cincinnati in the regular-season finale.
Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC’s top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10
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Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC’s top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10
- Kansas City (15-1) spent three hours toying with the Steelers (10-6) like a cat batting around shreds of leftover wrapping paper
Esports World Cup launches new social media channel
- EWC_Extra is dedicated to real-time match coverage, community moments and behind-the-scenes content
RIYADH: As the 2025 Esports World Cup continues in Riyadh, the Esports World Cup Foundation has launched EWC_Extra, a dedicated social channel on X and Instagram focused on real-time coverage, community reactions and key moments from inside the arena.
Built for the community across EWC’s 25 tournaments, EWC_Extra features play-by-play content from tournament upsets and Most Valued Player performances to memes, creator posts and behind-the-scenes access.
In tandem with the main EWC channel, it forms a two-part content ecosystem to reflect the scale of the world’s biggest esports event. While the main channel delivers human stories and cultural context, EWC_Extra stays focused on the tournament action itself.
Running until Aug. 24, Esports World Cup 2025 brings together 2,000 players and 200 clubs competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking prize pool of $70+ million prize pool. Backed by football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, it is being broadcast in 140 countries.
Two weeks in, eight champions have been crowned so far.
Gen.G continued their winning streak to take the League of Legends title, Heretics won VALORANT in a dramatic reverse sweep, VK claimed Apex Legends with a final-game victory, and Redline defended their Rennsport title.
GO1 delivered a shock win over favorite Xiao Hai in Fatal Fury, while Team Spirit dropped just one game on their way to the Dota 2 crown. Team Vitality were unbeaten to take the MLBB Women’s Invitational and EVOS Esports triumphed in Free Fire, with 15-year-old wonderkid Rasyah securing the tournament’s MVP award.
Messi and Alba suspended for one match for missing MLS All-Star
- Messi and Alba did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured
- The suspension will see them miss Inter Miami’s match against FC Cincinnati
NEW YORK: Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game after sitting out the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, the league said on Friday.
The Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured, even though they were included in the All-Star roster.
“Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match,” MLS said in a statement.
The suspension will see them miss Inter Miami’s match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Messi has scored 18 goals so far this season.
Messi rested this week, according to Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano.
“Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days,” Mascherano was quoted as saying by ESPN.
‘Incredible’: Ben Sulayem says F1’s future has never looked more exciting
- As 2025 season heads for Belgian Grand Prix, FIA president sees bright new era as today’s stars pave way for next generation
DUBAI: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, believes the future of Formula 1 has never looked more exciting as the 2025 season heads for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
With the current season delivering some of the best action seen in recent years, and with plenty more still to come, Ben Sulayem feels the arrival next year of a new team, a new venue and new regulations will reinforce the championship’s global appeal.
“As we reach the mid-point of the 2025 calendar, we are already looking towards next season with a great deal of excitement and expectation,” the FIA president said in a press release. “Our fans have plenty to look forward to, with Cadillac joining the grid as the 11th team, new FIA regulations to improve racing — bringing lighter, more agile cars and sustainable fuel — and the addition of Madrid as a new racing destination.
“The level of competition this year is incredible, with so much top-level talent on display,” he continued. “And the impact of F1 is also supporting the FIA’s goal to increase global participation in motorsport. Talented young drivers, whatever their background, have a real chance, and the next generation of stars is already coming through.”
Ben Sulayem also addressed the possibility of a first F1 driver from the Middle East.
“Although the Middle East has yet to produce a Formula 1 driver, that may change as more young prospects emerge from a region eager to make a bigger impact in F1 and global motorsport,” he said.
“F1’s popularity has seen remarkable growth across the Arab world, particularly among young people and female fans. In Saudi Arabia, there is a strong focus on engaging youth at every level of the sport — a trend mirrored in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE,” he continued.
“This inclusive momentum is vital to ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of motorsport throughout the region.”
FIA and Formula E agree 10-year extension to electric world championship
- The extension is a pivotal moment for Formula E, which has recorded 20 percent year-on-year growth since its inaugural race in 2014
- The sport now attracts more than 400 million fans worldwide and reaches a global TV audience of about half a billion
LONDON: The FIA and Formula E have agreed a 10-year extension to their partnership, securing the future of the FIA Formula E World Championship until at least 2038.
Announced on Friday, the new multi-year agreement between the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile and Formula E ensures the world’s premier all-electric racing series will continue to operate under the FIA’s governance for another decade beyond the current deal.
The extension is a pivotal moment for Formula E, which has recorded 20 percent year-on-year growth since its inaugural race in 2014.
The sport now attracts more than 400 million fans worldwide and reaches a global TV audience of about half a billion.
Described by the FIA as a milestone for innovation and sustainability in motorsport, the renewed deal will allow Formula E to accelerate its expansion, pursue long-range partnerships and enhance its position as a testbed for electric vehicle technologies that translate to consumer markets.
“The extension of the agreement governing the FIA Formula E World Championship is a fantastic outcome for the sport and a clear reflection of our ongoing strategy at the FIA to foster long-term stability, innovation, and growth across all areas of motorsport,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president at the FIA.
“This milestone reaffirms our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and technological progress, which are all central to the championship’s unique identity and purpose. It also aligns with our broader goal of increasing global participation and driving more accessible motorsport for all. We are delighted to be continuing this journey with Formula E, and I look forward to seeing it grow even further, both on and off the track, in the years to come,” he added.
Formula E’s cutting-edge credentials were further bolstered by the recent launch of the GEN3 Evo race car, which accelerates from 0-60mph in just 1.82 seconds, about 30 percent quicker than a current Formula 1 car.
It has a top speed of 200mph and regenerates nearly half the energy used in a race. Sustainability is a core pillar, with tyres containing 35 percent recycled materials and bodywork incorporating recycled carbon fibre and natural fibres.
Craig Edmondson, chief commercial officer at the FIA, added: “Formula E has not only demonstrated impressive growth since its inception, but has also led the way on sustainable innovation in our industry. This is a landmark agreement for the FIA and Formula E, and we are excited to be working with the championship in the years to come.”
The deal also provides the long-term security required to invest further in vehicle performance, fan engagement, and technological advancement.
Formula E is targeting faster top speeds, enhanced aerodynamics, better tyre performance, and closer racing.
“We’ve believed in Formula E since Day 1, and this extension reaffirms our confidence in where it’s headed. This is the motorsport of the future, a championship that combines the very latest technology, close-combat racing, and a mission that really matters,” said Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global, Formula E’s majority owner.
“With the FIA’s continued backing, we can now take the next big steps — scaling the sport, growing its global fanbase, and continuing to push the boundaries of what electric racing can achieve.
“With this new agreement in place, Formula E is now positioned better than ever to define the future of motorsport — more innovative, more inclusive, more sustainable — and to inspire the next generation of fans, drivers, and partners around the world,” he added.
Formula E’s roster includes major automotive manufacturers such as Porsche, Jaguar, Nissan, Maserati, Stellantis, Mahindra and Lola-Yamaha, with 11 teams and 22 drivers competing in cities including Jeddah, Monaco, Tokyo, London, Miami, and Shanghai.
Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said: “Formula E’s growth since its inception has been nothing short of extraordinary, with hundreds of millions of fans and world-class teams and drivers deciding to choose highly competitive electric racing.
“This long-term extension of the partnership enables us to continue building the brand, investing in the product and delivering some of the most captivating racing that has made us famous.
“With this long-term extension, the opportunity that Formula E now has to impact world motorsport will be truly transformational,” Dodds added.
Formula E has topped global rankings for environmental, social and governance performance in sport for the past three years and continues to reduce freight emissions while delivering positive legacies in its host cities through its Better Future Fund.
With global EV sales forecast to exceed 40 percent of all vehicle sales by 2030 and battery production expected to triple, the series is positioning itself at the forefront of technological and cultural shifts in motorsport and mobility.
Ex-Italy skipper Pirlo appointed boss of Emirati second-tier club
- The ex-AC Milan and Juventus midfielder has signed a two-year deal with the club
- Pirlo, 46, has had spells in charge of Juve, Fatih Karagumruk in Turkiye and most recently Sampdoria
PARIS: Former Italy captain Andrea Pirlo has been appointed as United FC coach, the Emirati second-tier club United FC announced on Friday.
The ex-AC Milan and Juventus midfielder has signed a two-year deal with the club, also known as Dubai United, who play in the UAE First Division League, one tier below the country’s Pro League.
Pirlo, 46, a key player in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph, has had spells in charge of Juve, Fatih Karagumruk in Turkiye and most recently Sampdoria since retiring from playing in 2017.
“We are proud to welcome Andrea to the United FC family,” United FC president Ilie Cebanu said.
“He embodies the values and ambitions of our club, and we believe he will be a key figure in taking us to the next level,” he added.
