When the NFL began its 15th Sunday of the 2024 season on Dec. 15, the Pittsburgh Steelers held a two-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens at the top of the AFC North standings. Ten days later, the Ravens hold a one-game lead over the Steelers after the NFL’s Christmas doubleheader.

Baltimore defeated the Houston Texans 31-2 and Pittsburgh lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 29-10 on Wednesday. All four teams had already secured a spot in the AFC playoffs.

By completing their three-games-in-11-days schedule, including a 34-17 win over the Steelers, the Ravens improved to 11-5 with one game remaining on their regular season schedule . The Steelers faced the same scheduling challenge and lost all three games by a score of 10-6.

Since Kansas City earned a No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye, the difference between winning the AFC North title and finishing second will be a home game for the winner and an away game for the runner-up in the first round.

Kansas City Chiefs 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 10

Kansas City improved its record to 15-1 with its sixth straight victory, preparing for the postseason with its third straight Super Bowl victory.

Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and added a third in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs extended their lead to six points.

Six players from Alabama high schools and colleges took the field during the Kansas City-Pittsburgh game:

Steelers defensive tackle Montravius ​​Adams (Auburn) made a tackle.

Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) started at safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick tied for the team lead with seven tackles.

Steelers cornerback Zyon Gilbert (Jeff Davis) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.

Najee Harris (Alabama) started as a running back for the Steelers. Harris ran for 74 yards on 13 carries and caught two passes for 7 yards. Harris surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the 2024 season in this game. He became the 14th player in NFL history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first four seasons.

RELATED: NAJEE HARRIS HAS HAD 4 1,000-YARD RUSHING PERFORMANCES IN 4 SEASONS

Steelers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.

Steelers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) made a tackle on special teams.

Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and is not eligible to play.

George Pickens (Hoover) started as a wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens returned from a three-game injury absence with three balls for 50 yards.

Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.

Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 44.5 yards on four punts and 36.0 yards net. Waitman had a 40-yard punt that returned 25 yards to the Pittsburgh 42-yard line, a 58-yarder returned 7 yards to the Kansas City 21, a 31-yarder returned 2 yards to the Kansas City 21 and a 49-yarder for a fair catch at the Kansas City 29

Chiefs wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.

Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.

Kansas City concludes its regular season schedule against the Denver Broncos on January 5 at 12:00 p.m. CST at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.

Pittsburgh plays the Cincinnati Bengals at noon on January 5th at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Baltimore Ravens 31, Houston Texans 2

After running for 162 yards on 24 carries against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Henry ran for 147 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries for Baltimore on Wednesday.

The former Alabama All-American scored first against the Texans on a 2-yard run with 10:08 left in the first quarter as Henry totaled 86 rushing yards. The touchdown was Henry’s 16th of the season, the most for a player in a season in Ravens history.

Henry also had two receptions for 18 yards.

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 87 yards on four carries, including a 48-yard touchdown. During the game, Jackson surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL career leader in rushing yards as a quarterback.

In addition to Henry, ten other players from Alabama high schools and colleges took the field during the Baltimore-Houston game:

Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) started on defense for the Texans. Anderson made three tackles, shared a sack, recorded two tackles for loss, registered two quarterback hits and broke up a pass.

Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armor-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Ala.) was listed as inactive on game day. A hamstring injury kept Armor-Davis off the field.

Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started as a wide receiver for the Texans. Collins had three receptions for 59 yards.

Ravens wide receiver Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.

Ravens guard Darrian Dalcourt (Alabama) is on the practice squad and is not eligible to play.

Texas wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on injured reserve and is not eligible to play.

Christian Harris (Alabama) started at linebacker for the Texans. Harris made five tackles.

Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at left guard for the Texans.

Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama) started at cornerback for the Ravens. Humphrey made seven tackles, recorded one tackle for loss, broke up a pass and forced a fumble (which was recovered by Houston).

Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) started at cornerback for the Texans. Lassiter made six tackles and recorded one tackle for loss. With 10:09 left in the first half, Lassiter tackled Baltimore running back Derrick Henry in the end zone for a safety.

Texas wide receiver John Metchie III (Alabama) had five receptions for 48 yards.

Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce (Daphne, Samford) made two tackles.

Texans tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) did not record any statistics.

Henry To’oTo’o (Alabama) started at linebacker for the Texans. To’oTo’o made five tackles.

Texas safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on injured reserve and is not eligible to play.

Texans offensive tackle Kilian Zierer (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Baltimore concludes its regular season against the Cleveland Browns at noon on Jan. 5 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Houston (9-7) plays the Tennessee Titans at noon on Jan. 5 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him to X @AMarkG1.