In stark contrast to last year’s Christmas Day performance, the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated this holiday season with a commanding 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday afternoon. The win moved them to 15-1 and secured the AFC’s first postseason berth with the coveted first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes believes his teammates showcased their mettle during a brutal schedule – three games in 11 days.

“It showed the strength of this team,” Mahomes told reporters after the game. “I think we got better as the games went on. The boys? They are mentally strong and they are physically strong. We played against some really good football teams. (There were) some hard-fought battles and the boys came away with three wins.

“So again, the No. 1 seed is important. It’s like winning a playoff game. So I was happy to have done it.”

The Chiefs delivered probably their best performance of the season. Mahomes delivered a parade, combining a regular routine with the aggressive highlight plays that made him the best quarterback in the NFL. He finished the game with 320 yards and three touchdowns while distributing the ball to eight different receivers.

It appears that’s how Kansas City’s offense is Once again reached its climax at exactly the right time.

“We feel like we can always get better,” Mahomes noted. “Of course, at the end of the year we are playing our best football – especially offensively. (We) make sure men get healthy – (and) we look forward to it.

“We will continue to work (because) this is not the end. This is just the beginning.”

Head coach Andy Reid believes being able to secure a first round bye before the end of the season is a significant advantage. Although he has not yet determined who will play in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Denver Broncos in Colorado, he understands the importance of giving some players much-needed time to relax from a very demanding schedule recover.

“It will definitely help some guys that are broken,” Reid said. “Just to get the boys back and freshen up a bit. I think that will be positive for us.”

But Reid also wants to maintain his team’s momentum across all three phases. While securing the No. 1 spot is a remarkable accomplishment, the coach wants to remain focused on the team’s ultimate goal: a third straight Super Bowl victory.

“It is important that we continue this,” emphasized Reid. “Then we’ll keep getting better. (We don’t) don’t flatten (or) go backwards. (We) keep climbing it.”