NFL Wild Card: Chiefs call time on Big Ben's career with big win over Steelers

Kansas City, Missouri - The Kansas City Chiefs sent the Pittsburgh Steelers back home for the offseason in a big blowout on the second night of the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend.

Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle caught two touchdowns on Sunday night.
Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle caught two touchdowns on Sunday night.  © imago/Icon SMI

The Chiefs doubled up the Steelers 42-21 on Sunday night, setting up a highly-anticipated playoff rematch with the Bills next weekend.

This kind of scoreline wasn't on the cards early on, as Kansas City didn't come out firing on all cylinders.

Pittsburgh’s defense was able to keep the Chiefs off the scoreboard, but couldn’t put any points up of their own, as both teams went into the second quarter with a scoreless tie.

The Steelers then caught the lead with a touchdown that was quickly erased after the Chiefs scored three unanswered touchdowns to take a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Kansas City kept up the onslaught with two more touchdowns in the third for a 28-point lead.

Pittsburgh stuck around though and managed to find the end zone again to cut things to 21.

Both teams then traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but Kansas City was too far ahead for it too ultimately matter.

The player spotlight

Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes threw for five touchdowns against the Steelers on Sunday night.
Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes threw for five touchdowns against the Steelers on Sunday night.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes (25) was on fire for another one of this weekend’s amazing performances.

His efforts under center on Sunday night rivaled only Josh Allen’s night against the Patriots on Saturday.

Mahomes’ right arm outgained the entire Steelers’ offense by over 100 yards and scored more touchdowns than they did, too.

He finished the night with 30-for-39 passing, 404 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.

The big picture

Ben Roethlisberger (c.) walking off the field for possibly the last time after the Steelers lost to the Chiefs.
Ben Roethlisberger (c.) walking off the field for possibly the last time after the Steelers lost to the Chiefs.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

While the Chiefs have taken care of the Steelers and advanced, legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger might have played his last career game on Sunday night.

It’s not the best way for one of this era’s best passers to go out, calling it quits.

Football fans have just witnessed a decent but disappointing finish to a hard-nosed, blue-collar, 18-year career, all for one of the league’s best cornerstone franchises.

Roethlisberger completed 29 of 44 pass attempts for 215 yards and two touchdowns, which could’ve been made a difference in other games, but this was against the clearly superior defending AFC champs.

There is no official word from Roethlisberger on if he’s officially retiring, but at 39, it's very much a matter of when, not if.

The Chiefs will play on Sunday in a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills.

Cover photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

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