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Your guide to NFL playoff picture

The Associated Press It’s Week 18 of the NFL season, which means just one more weekend remains before postseason action begins. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes look like a formidable opponent once again and have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC bracket with a 15-1 record. Over in the NFC, a crucial game awaits when the Minnesota Vikings (14-2) travel to face the Detroit Lions (13-2) on Sunday in a game that will decide the division winner, the No. 1 seed in the conference and home-field advantage until ...

Steelers skidding into the New Year on 3-game slide

PITTSBURGH — Three times in 11 days, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced a team aiming for the Super Bowl, the kind of elite company the Steelers have spent most of the season trying to prove they belong in. And three times in 11 days, Pittsburgh found itself doing all of the little things wrong — and some of the big things too — on its way to a lopsided loss, the latest a 29-10 defeat at the hands of Kansas City on Christmas Day that offered a stark contrast of two teams heading in opposite directions. The Chiefs — who have slogged as much as they have surged while pursuing a ...

KC needs to get past Steelers to stay at home for playoffs

NFL week 17 Christmas Day: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. Records: Chiefs (14-1), Steelers (10-5) TV: Netflix (streaming service) The line: Steelers are 2.5-point underdogs By Will Graves The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin wasn’t in the mood to get into a semantic argument. Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs have played a ton of close games this season. Yet the idea that two-time defending Super Bowl champions are somehow more gettable than they’ve been? That’s a nonstarter for the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach. “I guess I don’t ...

Giving the gift of predictions

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host ...

Pickens may play Wednesday

The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was a full participant in practice on Monday, opening the door for him to return from a three-game absence on Wednesday when Pittsburgh hosts the Kansas City Chiefs. Pickens hasn’t played since tweaking his hamstring earlier this month. The Steelers (10-5) have struggled to generate much in their passing game with their leading receiver watching from the sideline in sweatpants. Though Monday’s practice was a walkthrough, Pickens said he felt good and hopes he’ll be able to face the two-time ...