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Chiefs put end to Steelers’ season

Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti scores on a 1-yard touchdown reception during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Kansas City. / The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season is over.

Kansas City pummeled the Steelers on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium, blowing out Pittsburgh, 42-21, on wild-card weekend.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Steelers took a 7-0 lead when T.J. Watt returned a fumble by KC’s Darrell Williams 20 yards for a touchdown.

However, Pittsburgh’s offense mustered nothing in the first half with seven straight punts and wound up trailing at halftime 21-7.

When the Chiefs scored on their first possession of the third quarter, the rout was on.

After Kansas City extended its lead to 42-7, the Steelers punched in a pair of late touchdowns.

KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for five touchdowns in a 30-for-39, 404-yard passing performance. Mahomes’ touchdowns went to five receivers and came on five straight possessions in the second and third quarters. The Chiefs got a sixth touchdown pass — thrown by tight end Travis Kelce on a fourth-quarter gadget play.

The loss signaled the likely end to the 18-year career of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has indicated he probably will retire after this season and was honored in the team’s final home game on Jan. 3.

The second-seeded Chiefs advanced to the AFC semifinals and will meet Buffalo next Sunday night. Cincinnati, which advanced with a win over Las Vegas in Saturday’s wild-card game, will play at top-seeded Tennessee next Saturday.

Because of the snowstorm in Central Pennsylvania on Sunday, the Mirror went to press early Sunday. More coverage of the Steelers can be found in Tuesday’s print edition.

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