Three losses in 11 days. Woof. The Steelers put the finishing touches on a brutal stretch of play in December with arguably their worst performance of the season, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs by 19 points. As always, there are plenty of takeaways to be had:

1. Russell Wilson keeps falling short

First things first: The Steelers offensive line fell well short of the mark on Christmas. The Chiefs have some of the nastiest blitz packages in football, but without Chris Jones, Kansas City didn’t have the motor of its pass-rush. However, the Steelers’ offensive tackles made George Karlaftis look like T.J. Watt, allowing five sacks in total in a generally horrible day for pass protection.

That is to say, Russell Wilson didn’t have much help up front; he still played horribly on Wednesday.

Watching Patrick Mahomes on the other side of the ball really hammered home just how poor Wilson was in the pocket. Mahomes didn’t have great line play in front of him either, with T.J. Watt giving Jawaan Taylor fits on the right side all game. However, his awareness, whether it was reading coverages or moving up in the pocket, was leagues above what Wilson was doing in the same game.

Comparing a 36-year-old Wilson to one of the greatest football players to ever do it might be an unfair standard, but the chasm between both quarterbacks was just too large to ignore. Wilson didn’t see wide-open receivers in many instances throughout the game and held onto the ball for too long. The Steelers needed a smart, veteran presence in the pocket versus Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, and Wilson was unable to rise to the occasion.

His brutal interception read in the red zone — even though George Pickens did mess up on his route — really drove the point home.

With or without injuries, the Steelers cannot win big games with this version of Russell Wilson. His regression over the last two weeks has been perhaps the most frustrating trend of the Steelers’ losing streak. More likely than not, Wilson will be the starter at quarterback next season. He has to be able to step up.

2. Secondary troubles continue

The Steelers’ secondary problems last week were ugly, but at least they could be explained. Down both starting corners and one starting safety, it’s not surprising that there were problems on the back end of the defense.

Against the Chiefs, the Steelers were still down CB1 Joey Porter Jr., but the rest of the defensive backfield was healthy. Sure, on the other side of the ball was an all-time great at quarterback, but the Steelers gave up two touchdowns on coverage busts and looked as discombobulated as ever. The fix isn’t as simple as getting Porter Jr. back in the lineup.

The Steelers’ coaches and defensive backs just didn’t have an answer to the Chiefs’ quick passing game. It was a brutal performance across the board, with Mahomes passing 29/38 for 320 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

The Steelers get a bit more rest heading into their regular season finale, but it’s (gulp) Joe Burrow next on the schedule. It’s hard to be optimistic about this once highly-touted defense heading into the end of the season.

3. Jaylen Warren deserves his RB1 reps

Jaylen Warren has been the Steelers’ top running backs in terms of snaps the last several games, and since getting healthy, he’s slowly overtaken Najee Harris in touches over the last two weeks.

The argument that Warren gets better yards per carry due to situational football is still true to a certain extent, but it’s easy to see that Harris, despite his size, isn’t moving the pile much more than Warren when runs are stuffed at the line of scrimmage. And when there’s space, Warren’s explosiveness is clearly a tier above what Harris brings to the table. In an offense as stagnant as Pittsburgh’s, the Steelers need as much spark as possible.

Warren as a dump-off option has also impressed over Harris, with 10 catches for 85 yards over the last two games.

That isn’t to say that Harris is a bad running back. The Steelers sticking to a somewhat even distribution of carries between the two backs is perfectly reasonable, but Warren clearly deserves the greater share of snaps right now. He was the one consistent playmaker in the Steelers’ offense on Wednesday. It’s good to see him playing like his old self once again.

4. The same problems as always

The Steelers’ Christmas Day loss was their most infuriating of the season. Despite the score being somewhat close for the first three quarters, it didn’t feel like Pittsburgh had a chance as soon as the Chiefs jumped to a 13-0 lead in the first.

The same problems the Steelers have dealt with over recent weeks reared their ugly heads once again: secondary issues, the pass-rush not getting home, sluggish offensive starts, red zone woes on both sides of the ball, and poor offensive line play — and the list goes on. Even with a slew of starters back from injuries, the Steelers looked like the exact same team, if not worse, than they did in the losses to the Ravens and Eagles. Frustration in the locker room continues to build.

Then come the historical trends: This is the second straight year the Steelers have lost three consecutive games in December, and for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, the late-season disappointments feel all too familiar.

Recent circumstances have been unusually difficult, with the Steelers playing three of the NFL’s top Super Bowl contenders in 11 days and dealing with key injuries. Plus, it appears Mike Tomlin’s squad was punching above its weight class for most of the season. The Steelers have a way to go before contender status and it’s hard to be too shocked by that news.

Still, this is a team that had high hopes and still has all the pieces to win a playoff game. Instead, they’ve suffered a demoralizing collapse over the last three weeks; Pittsburgh hasn’t just lost to good teams — they’ve also done plenty to beat themselves over those last three matchups.

Mercifully, the Steelers don’t see the field again until Jan. 5. There’s time to rest up and regather before playing a dangerous but much less elite roster in the Cincinnati Bengals in a game that will set the tone for Pittsburgh’s playoff entrance. I think it’s pretty clear this Steelers team won’t be playing in the Super Bowl, but a playoff win is still a reasonable expectation and an opportunity for growth for a team that’s stumbled in the postseason for the last several years.

The Steelers’ next game, and the lead up to it, could not be more crucial for turning things around. There’s an opportunity to reset and fix the countless reoccurring problems plaguing the team, but I’m not sure if the confidence is there. Pittsburgh has to take advantage of that and cannot come out flat against the Bengals.

5. Don’t forget, it’s the holiday season

So yeah, I just wrote well over a thousand words about a Steelers loss on Christmas afternoon. It’s my job and I wrote it faster than I thought I would, so don’t feel bad for me. But don’t bother doing the same.

The Steelers may have fallen behind in their chances at winning the AFC North, but their playoff berth is still guaranteed. Don’t let this loss ruin your holiday season. I won’t — in a few minutes I’ll be shutting my computer and enjoying some scalloped potatoes and prime rib with my family.

Football and the Steelers have given me so many great opportunities and memories over the years, and that shared passion is the lifeblood of BTSC. But this time of year, there are things that matter so much more. Forget “on to Cincinnati” — let’s be on to dinner.

6. Odds and ends

The Netflix broadcast was surprisingly solid. Now I also have Netflix for the month, but no clue what to watch next. I’m open to recommendations in the comments.
One positive of Russell Wilson’s game this season has been his willingness to scramble for first downs. He recorded six rushes for 55 yards against Kansas City, scoring a touchdown on one and first downs on the rest. No fumble this time, either.
I’m not sure why the Steelers punted on fourth and two with six or so minutes left in the game. They were on the wrong side of the 50 and down 19 points, but it felt a little early to completely give up — and they only needed two yards. Then, Mike Tomlin proceeded to keep his starters on the field despite giving up the game on the prior play. Another week with some questionable management from the Steelers’ head coach.
Corliss Waitman has had two straight weeks with some below-the-line punts. A somewhat worrying trend to keep an eye on.
The Steelers had another week with turnover opportunities that didn't go their way, with a forced fumble on a kickoff that was recovered by the Chiefs, and a batted pass that went right through Patrick Queen’s hands. The Steelers’ turnover culture has been a big part of the team’s success this season, but it’s also an unsustainable way to win.
It’s hard to tell from the broadcast angle, but it looked like Cory Trice Jr. held up much better in coverage than James Pierre after taking over as a boundary starter. It would be huge for the Steelers if Trice can turn into a reliable backup.
Mike Williams fell victim to the George Pickens rule of one foot twice not equalling two feet on a catch, but he recorded quite the circus grab regardless. I will not be gaslit into believing Van Jefferson offers more as a receiver than Williams. No. 18 needs more playing time.

What are your takeaways from Steelers vs. Chiefs? Agree/disagree with the ones above?Join our Behind The Steel Curtain community and let us know in the comments!