The report said Jones could earn up to $5 million.

He played his first four NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him in the second round in 2018.

Jones, 24, rushed for 428 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (three starts) last season.

He gained more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in both 2019 and 2020 and helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV.

Jones has 2,174 rushing yards, 571 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns in 55 career games (25 starts).

The move comes a day after the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to Miami for five draft picks. Valdes-Scantling was reportedly visiting the Chiefs on Wednesday.

Valdes-Scantling, 27, can earn up to $36 million with incentives, per the reports.

Valdes-Scantling played the first four seasons of his career in Green Bay after the Packers selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.

Valdes-Scantling caught 26 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games (seven starts) in 2021. He spent time on injured reserve last season with a hamstring injury.

Valdes-Scantling has 123 catches for 2,153 yards and 13 TDs in 59 career games (39 starts) for the Packers. He played in the shadow of Davante Adams all four years in Green Bay.

The 6-foot-4 Valdes-Scantling ran his 40 at the scouting combine in 4.37 seconds. Hill has 4.29 speed.

After news broke Wednesday morning that Miami was acquiring All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dolphins' odds shortened in several key markets.

The Dolphins did move from +650 to +400 to win the AFC East at BetMGM and from +700 to +440 at BetRivers, where Miami is also now +1700 to win the AFC Championship after beginning the day at +2800.

The biggest impact of the deal was felt by the MVP market.

Tua Tagovailoa entered the offseason uncertain to get a third year to prove he is the long-term answer at quarterback in Miami. With the Dolphins opting not to acquire a veteran signal-caller while adding Hill along with fellow wide receiver Cedrick Wilson plus running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert, Miami has surrounded Tagovailoa with a plethora of playmakers.

The Chiefs agreed to the deal after being unable to agree on a contract extension with Hill. Kansas City will receive a bushel full of five draft picks in return for their dynamic playmaker, but how that might help them stay atop the uber-competitive AFC West won't be known until draft day.

BetMGM said it did not adjust the Chiefs' divisional odds, either, but they did move from +120 to +150 to win the AFC West at BetRivers and from +140 to +160 at WynnBet.

WynnBet also shifted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' MVP odds slightly from +700 to +750.

Hill rejected an extension that would have made him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league, per the report. It's unclear how the offer compared to Davante Adams' new deal ($28.25 million annual average value) in Las Vegas.

The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are at the forefront of teams vying to acquire Hill, per ESPN.

Hill is expected to get a massive extension and the Chiefs a big haul in return if a trade is completed.

Hill, 28, is a three-time All-Pro in his six seasons in Kansas City. He has made the Pro Bowl every year he's been in the league. He has 479 career receptions for 6,630 yards and 56 touchdowns in 91 games (73 starts) for the Chiefs. He has another 719 yards rushing with six TDs.

He earned his sixth Pro Bowl appearance in 2021 after catching 111 passes for 1,239 yards and nine TDs.

The Chiefs selected Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.

Gordon, who turns 31 next month, announced the move in a tweet Tuesday that read, "KC right where I wanna be! Ain't gon lie. I'm hype for 2022 #ChiefsKingdom" -- with NFL Media later reporting and clarifying his return to the Chiefs for the 2022 season.

Gordon joined the Chiefs in September shortly after the NFL reinstated him from an indefinite suspension he had received in December 2019. Gordon had been banned for violating the league's rules on substance abuse and performance-enhancers.

Gordon has been suspended six times in his career.

Originally a second-round pick in the 2012 supplemental draft by the Cleveland Browns, Gordon broke through in his second season when he posted career highs with 87 receptions, an NFL-high 1,646 yards and nine touchdown catches. It marked his lone Pro Bowl selection.

Gordon missed two entire seasons to suspension in 2015 and 2016, returned in 2017 and played in Cleveland until 2018. He then suited up for parts of 2018-19 with the New England Patriots before moving on to Seattle for five games in 2019.

He then missed the 2020 season due to multiple suspensions. After joining Kansas City last season, Gordon had five receptions for 32 yards and a score in 12 games (seven starts).

Gordon has 252 career receptions for 4,284 yards and 21 touchdowns in 75 games (63 starts).

Brown would make approximately $16.5 million on the franchise tag in 2022 if the two sides are unable to work out a long-term deal.

Acquired from the Baltimore Ravens for a first-round pick in the 2021 draft, Brown stabilized the left side of the Kansas City offensive line in a focused overhaul of the Chiefs' front wall last offseason.

A third-round pick of the Ravens who began his career at right tackle, Brown is a three-time Pro Bowl selection who hiked his value by moving to the left side for the Ravens when Ronnie Stanley (ankle) was lost for the 2020 season.

Tagging Brown shifts the attention of general manager Brett Veach to safety Tyrann Mathieu, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next week.

Mathieu turns 30 in May and said he would love to be back in Kansas City. But he's also expected to draw significant interest in free agency.

Signed to a three-year, $42 million deal in 2019, Mathieu was an All-Pro pick in his first two seasons in Kansas City.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Mathieu has 26 career interceptions and 10 sacks in 129 career games. He has played for the Chiefs, Texans and Arizona Cardinals.

Veach said he met with reps for Mathieu in Indianapolis but painted a wait-and-see picture that implied the Chiefs would let Mathieu entertain other offers while keeping the door open for his return.

Contract talks with Mathieu were complicated when the Minnesota Vikings and 32-year-old Harrison Smith signed a four-year deal worth $16 million per season in 2021.

Nagy was the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs before he spent four seasons as head coach of the Bears.

Mike Kafka, the Chiefs' quarterbacks coach last season, was named offensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said when Nagy left Kansas City that he was influential in helping him "play fast, be myself" in the NFL.

The Chiefs signed current offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to a one-year contract this week.

Nagy joined the Chiefs under head coach Andy Reid in 2013 as quarterbacks coach and was elevated to co-offensive coordinator in 2016. He was offensive coordinator in Kansas City in 2017, but Reid remained the primary play-caller.

Bieniemy coached last season on a one-year contract and the two sides have not yet signed a new deal "but belief is it will get done," per the report.

Frequently interviewed for head-coaching jobs around the NFL, Bieniemy, 52, was passed over once more in the 2022 hiring cycle.

The New Orleans Saints interviewed him but chose instead to promote their defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, to replace Sean Payton.

Bieniemy has served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator since 2018 after five years as their running backs coach. In his four seasons as OC -- coinciding with Patrick Mahomes' four seasons as the starting quarterback -- the team has never finished outside the top six in the NFL in either total offense or scoring offense.

Hitchens, 29, recorded 80 tackles -- four for loss -- and an interception in 15 starts last season. He started all 59 games he played over four seasons in Kansas City. He also started all 11 of the Chiefs' postseason games in that span.

"I really enjoyed the opportunity to coach Anthony over the last four years," coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "He's as tough as they come in this league and is a team-first player."

The Chiefs signed Hitchens to a five-year, $45 million contract in March 2018.

Hitchens has 685 career tackles, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and 5.5 sacks in 119 games (107 starts) with the Dallas Cowboys (2014-17) and Chiefs. The Cowboys took Hitchens in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.

The charges are related to the Feb. 5 incident in Las Vegas in which New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara is accused of felony suspicion of battery with substantial bodily harm. Kamara was arrested one day later.

Lammons' attorney told ESPN that his client posted $5,000 bail and will next appear in court on March 8.

The incident occurred while Kamara was in town to play in the Pro Bowl. According to police, a man identified as Darnell Greene was assaulted at a nightclub in the 3500 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard and knocked unconscious and sustained a orbital fracture to his right eye.

Video of the incident displayed Greene was punched eight times by Kamara. After Greene fell, he was stomped on by others in Kamara's group.

The 26-year-old Lammons played in 12 games in 2021 for the Chiefs, mostly on special teams. He was on the field for 13 defensive snaps.

Lammons has 19 defensive tackles and one interception in 26 NFL games with the Miami Dolphins (2019) and Chiefs (2020-21).

Both AFC contenders opened with +750 odds Sunday night, after the Los Angeles Rams capped off the 2021 NFL season by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI.

The Chiefs and Bills, featuring two of the game's best young quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, dueled in an epic overtime game in the AFC divisional round, with the Chiefs winning 42-36. Kansas City won the Super Bowl two years ago and also opened the 2021 season as betting favorites.

The Rams opened with the third-shortest odds, and the shortest in the NFC, at +1100. The Bengals and Dallas Cowboys were tied at +1200.

At DraftKings, the Chiefs and Bills had the same +750 odds Sunday night. The Rams stood at +1000 and three teams were tied at +1400 -- Cincinnati, Dallas and the San Francisco 49ers, who reached the NFC Championship Game and lost to the Rams.

Caesars Sportsbook nudged Kansas City slightly ahead of Buffalo, with the Chiefs at +650 and the Bills at +700. After the Rams (+1000), Bengals (+1200) and 49ers (+1400), the sixth-shortest odds at Caesars belonged to the Packers at +1500. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers earned his fourth NFL MVP award this week, but it is uncertain whether he still desires to leave the team.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and New York Jets tied for the longest odds at BetMGM at +15000. The Jacksonville Jaguars owned the worst record in the NFL in 2021, but they may have gotten a boost from hiring Super Bowl champion coach Doug Pederson this offseason; the Jaguars opened at +10000.

Bieniemy's one-year contract is expiring and he might want to pursue coaching in college, other NFL opportunities or taking the next season off, per the report.

The Chiefs offensive staff already has undergone a change this offseason, with quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka leaving to take the offensive coordinator job with the New York Giants.

Frequently interviewed for head-coaching jobs around the NFL, Bieniemy, 52, was passed over once more in the 2022 hiring cycle. The New Orleans Saints reportedly interviewed him but chose instead to promote their own defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, to replace Sean Payton.

Bieniemy has served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator since 2018 after five years as their running backs coach. In his four seasons as OC -- coinciding with Patrick Mahomes' four seasons as the starting quarterback -- the team has never finished outside the top six in the NFL in either total offense or scoring offense.

Bieniemy still may re-up with the Chiefs with a new contract, but his status means he could choose to pursue offensive coordinator jobs elsewhere as a de facto coaching free agent.

Frequently interviewed for head-coaching jobs around the NFL, Bieniemy was passed over once more in the 2022 hiring cycle. The New Orleans Saints reportedly interviewed Bieniemy for eight hours on Sunday, but they chose instead to promote their own defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, to replace Sean Payton.

Bieniemy has served as Kansas City's offensive coordinator since 2018 after five years as their running backs coach. In his four seasons as OC -- coinciding with Pat Mahomes' four seasons as the starting quarterback -- the Chiefs have never finished outside the top six in the NFL in either total offense or scoring offense.

Coach Andy Reid calls the Chiefs' offensive plays rather than Bieniemy.

NFL teams with offensive coordinator vacancies as of Super Bowl week include the New England Patriots, the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots' Josh McDaniels and the 49ers' Mike McDaniel took head-coaching gigs elsewhere, while the Lions lost OC Anthony Lynn to the 49ers in an assistant coach role. The Los Angeles Rams also will reportedly lose their offensive coordinator, Kevin O'Connell, after Super Bowl LVI to take over the Minnesota Vikings.

Cincinnati, which had the worst record in the NFL two seasons ago, overcame a 21-3 first-half deficit against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City, holding the high-powered Chiefs to three points after halftime.

Joe Burrow threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns and the rookie McPherson went 4-for-4 on field goals for the fourth-seeded Bengals, who will face either the Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 13.

Mahomes passed for 275 yards, three touchdowns and two picks for Kansas City. The second-seeded Chiefs, who got the ball first in overtime last weekend and drove for the winning touchdown against Buffalo, once again won the overtime coin toss Sunday.

However, Mahomes was intercepted on the third play on a deep ball that was broken up by Jessie Bates III and intercepted by Vonn Bell. Burrow and Joe Mixon helped move the ball deep into Kansas City territory, and McPherson drilled his kick to stun the home crowd.

With the game tied 21-21, McPherson snuck a 52-yard field goal inside the left upright with 6:07 to play in the fourth quarter, giving the Bengals their first lead of the game.

That, of course, left more than enough time for Mahomes, who drove the Chiefs inside the Cincinnati 10 with a chance to tie or win the game.

On the next-to-last play of regulation, Mahomes attempted to buy time deep in the pocket before he was stripped by Sam Hubbard. Kansas City recovered, but it forced Harrison Butker to attempt a 44-yard field goal, which he drilled at the buzzer to force overtime.

Trailing 21-3, the Bengals finally generated some momentum in the final 65 seconds of the first half, beginning with Samaje Perine taking a screen pass 41 yards for a touchdown to get the visitors within 21-10. Then after the Chiefs drove to the Cincinnati 1, the Bengals tackled Tyreek Hill inbounds on the final play of the half, causing the typically crisp Kansas City offense to leave points on the board.

Cincinnati's defense opened the second half strong, as well. The Bengals forced punts on the first two Chiefs possessions and then got within 21-13 on a 31-yard McPherson field goal.

Two plays later, 303-pound lineman B.J. Hill tipped a Mahomes pass and intercepted it, leading to Burrow's TD strike to Ja'Marr Chase on third-and-goal from the 2. The ensuing two-point conversion pass to a wide-open Trent Taylor tied the score at 21.

Even after Burrow was intercepted by L'Jarius Sneed, Cincinnati's defense forced another punt, sacking Mahomes on third down for the second consecutive drive.

Mathieu was listed as questionable on Friday, five days after sustaining a concussion in the team's divisional-round victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Mathieu was a full practice participant on Thursday and Friday.

Mathieu, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, had 76 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 16 of the team's 17 regular-season games this season.

The Chiefs also listed running back Darrel Williams (toe) as questionable on Friday. Williams missed the Buffalo game after being hurt the previous week in the wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Williams was a limited practice participant on Friday.

Williams rushed for 558 yards and six touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 452 yards and two scores in 17 regular-season games.

As for the Bengals, defensive tackle Josh Tupou (knee) was listed as questionable on Friday after missing both his team's first two playoff games. He was a limited practice participant for the third straight day.

Receiver Stanley Morgan (hamstring) and defensive end Cam Sample (groin) are both doubtful for the contest. Both players missed practice on Friday.

What makes this an exciting game to bet on is the advantages each offense conceivably has. Neither defense is adept at slowing teams down and with two elite passing attacks, points and yards should be coming.

With that established, this feels like a good game to add up a few options in an expected shootout.

6-Leg SGP (+600 at DraftKings)

--Joe Burrow 275+ passing yards

--Patrick Mahomes 275+ passing yards

--Ja'Marr Chase 75+ receiving yards

--Tyreek Hill 75+ receiving yards

--Joe Mixon 25+ receiving yards

--Over 49.5 total points

There's a solid correlation for this SGP - if Burrow and Mahomes each pass the 275 passing yards threshold, they'll likely have the help of their top receivers. With so many overs, we're rooting for an over, so in this scenario we take a slightly lower alternate total of 49.5 points.

Let's dig into each leg.

Joe Burrow 275+ passing yards:

Burrow has gone over this total in three of his past four games, averaging 390.75 yards per game in that span.

Needless to say, that is far above this total. Burrow and these receivers torched Kansas City in Week 17, throwing for 446 yards and four touchdowns.

We watched Josh Allen carve up this defense last week, and with injuries in the Chiefs secondary, the recipe for a Bengals upset will come in the passing game.

This feels game-script proof. If Cincinnati wins, it's likely due to Burrow moving the ball through the air. If the Bengals are trailing, they'll be forced to throw even more.

This leg feels safe.

Ja'Marr Chase 75+ receiving yards:

Let's stick with the Bengals as we make our way down this SGP. Chase had his best game of the season against the Chiefs a few weeks ago, going for a mammoth 266 receiving yards while breaking off multiple big plays.

Chase should again be able to utilize his big-play ability against a defense letting up the fourth-most 40-yard passes this season.

Chase has hit this total in four of his past five games.

Joe Mixon 25+ receiving yards:

Mixon has become very involved in the passing game lately with 5-plus targets in four consecutive games.

Mixon has 23 combined catches in his past four, averaging 47.5 receiving yards per game in that span.

The Chiefs allow the third-most receiving yards per game to running backs, so Mixon should have opportunities to continue his success in the passing game.

Patrick Mahomes 275+ passing yards:

The Bengals' secondary has struggled slowing down quarterbacks all season, allowing the seventh-most passing yards per game to QBs.

Mahomes should have no issues against this secondary, and has thrown for 404 and 378 yards in his past two games.

I see chunk plays all game for the Chiefs passing attack, which will help Mahomes hit this mark, along with our next leg.

Tyreek Hill 75+ receiving yards:

Hill is Mahomes' most explosive offense, evidenced by his 150 yards last weekend.

There's something about studs in the playoffs that draws me in. The Bengals reasonably stifled Hill last time these teams met, but I don't think they'll be able to repeat that feat.

Hill could realistically cross this threshold with just two catches. We shouldn't need to rely on that though, with WR1 averaging 9.3 targets per game this season.

The Bengals' defense has allowed the third-most 20-yard passes this season, so Hill is going to have chances to rack up yards in a hurry.

Over 49.5 points:

With advantages for both passing games, the over is a logical inclusion in a SGP here. Currently set at 54.5 points we get a slight discount here, but I would feel comfortable adding 54.5.

The last time these two teams met, the Bengals won 34-31. While I think the Chiefs advance to their third straight Super Bowl with a win, I foresee a similar scoring output.

That will do it for this +600 SGP. Touchdown scorers could be a fun addition to juice up the odds and potential payout, so if you agree with the logic here, feel free to add a few.

Enjoy the game!

The former first-round draft pick was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on counts including assault with a deadly weapon, carrying or concealing a gun without a permit, possession of marijuana or cannabis, and possession of a class one- or two-level controlled substance, according to jail records obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The arrest stemmed from a report early Friday evening of a person with a gun at the Park MGM Las Vegas hotel and casino, according to a Metropolitan Police Department spokesman.

Arnette, 25, and another man are being held without bail pending a court appearance on Sunday morning, per the report.

The Raiders released Arnette in November amid two lawsuits and a troubling video posted by the defensive back.

One lawsuit alleges he left the scene of an accident in October 2020 near the team facility when he was running late for a team meeting. A second lawsuit by an employee of the Aria Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas alleges that Arnette berated and spit on a valet employee over a dispute about retrieving his car.

A video also surfaced that shows Arnette repeatedly threatening to kill someone while brandishing what appears to be semi-automatic weapons.

The Raiders selected Arnette with the 19th overall pick out of Ohio State in the 2020 draft. Injuries limited him to 13 games (seven starts) in his one-plus seasons. He didn't record any interceptions and had 29 tackles.

Last week, Arnette signed a reserve/futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. According to NFL Network, the Chiefs immediately released Arnette following news of his arrest.

Mathieu was listed as questionable on Friday, five days after sustaining a concussion in the team's divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills. He is still in the concussion protocol.

Mathieu was a full practice participant for the second straight day and coach Andy Reid indicated a decision on his status could come Saturday.

"Tyrann is still in the protocol, but he did practice," Reid said after Friday's workout. "We think he'll be ready to roll in a day or so."

Mathieu, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, had 76 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 16 of the team's 17 regular-season games this season.

The Chiefs also listed running back Darrel Williams (toe) as questionable. Williams missed the Buffalo game after being hurt the previous week in the wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Williams was a limited practice participant on Friday.

Williams rushed for 558 yards and six touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 452 yards and two scores in 17 regular-season games.

As for the Bengals, defensive tackle Josh Tupou (knee) was listed as questionable after missing both his team's first two playoff games. He was a limited practice participant for the third straight day.

Receiver Stanley Morgan (hamstring) and defensive end Cam Sample (groin) are both doubtful for the contest. Both players missed practice on Friday.

Quarterback Joe Burrow (knee) is good to go and didn't miss any practice time this week.

Burrow, who guided the Bengals to playoff wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans, said the team is ready for the raucous atmosphere at Arrowhead Stadium.

"It's always going to be a topic when you're playing on the road in the playoffs," Burrow told reporters on Friday. "It was loud last week (vs. Tennessee). We handled it OK. We had a couple of mistakes.

"But I think we've had a good week of practice within that noise. I think we're going to be more well prepared for it."

Rising star and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow or Super Bowl LIV champion and MVP Patrick Mahomes -- one of these two quarterbacks will punch a ticket to Super Bowl LVI when they meet face to face in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday. Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals beat the Raiders by a touchdown and the top-seeded Titans by a field goal to get this far, breaking the NFL's longest drought without a playoff win along the way.

The Chiefs, of course, are coming off an instant classic. They beat the Bills 42-36 in overtime, and their fans believe they're going to make their third straight Super Bowl appearance, hoping for a better result than last year's loss to the Buccaneers. Kansas City has won 11 of its last 12 games -- but the only team it's lost to in that span was the Bengals. The storylines are writing themselves this postseason.

Bengals vs. Chiefs predictions

--Chiefs to lead at halftime and win outright @ -160 with BetMGM

--Bengals to score more than 23.5 points @ +100 with BetMGM

--More than 326.5 passing + rushing yards for Patrick Mahomes @ -115 with BetMGM

For KC, two halves make a whole

Cincinnati won the Week 17 regular-season meeting with Kansas City 34-31 despite trailing 28-17 at halftime. It goes to show how neither of these offenses can ever be counted out. Given how the Bengals are playing, we think they'll keep this close. But Mahomes put the Chiefs on his back to deliver Kansas City an incredible victory last week, and it'd be foolhardy to bet against him avenging the loss to the Bengals the way he did the Bills.

The spread of 7.5 points is a bit too wide given the thin margins of many of these teams' recent games, but Kansas City's -350 moneyline isn't that appealing unless you parlay it with something else. That said, BetMGM offers the option to combine who will lead at halftime and who will be ahead after four quarters (excluding overtime). If the Chiefs can take another halftime lead, don't expect them to forfeit it this time.

Our pick: Chiefs to lead at halftime and win outright @ -160 with BetMGM.

Keeping up with the Mahomeses

Few teams can keep up with the Chiefs' offensive prowess right now. The Bills are one, obviously. Last year's version of the Buccaneers did more than keep up when they stuffed Mahomes during Super Bowl LV. But on this short list, the final team might be the Bengals, who ranked seventh in both scoring offense and passing offense in the regular season and went toe to toe with the Chiefs earlier this month.

It's true that Cincinnati has won its two playoff games with defense more than anything. But the Chiefs' defense, which had a dominant stretch during the second half of the regular season, showed its flaws again vs. Buffalo. Burrow and his arsenal of weapons -- Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd -- can pick up big chunk plays against the Kansas City secondary, especially Chase, who racked up 266 yards and three touchdowns in the earlier meeting. It doesn't help that the Chiefs might be without their best safety, Tyrann Mathieu, due to a concussion, leaving the unreliable Daniel Sorensen to take more snaps.

Our pick: Bengals to score more than 23.5 points @ +100 with BetMGM.

Won't stand Pat

The Bengals have an underappreciated pass rush guided by Trey Hendrickson (14.5 sacks), Sam Hubbard (7.5) and Larry Ogunjobi (5.5). They didn't take Mahomes down in Week 17 but they'll be gunning for him in the rematch. As we saw when the Bucs sacked Mahomes three times and landed 10 QB hits on him in Super Bowl LV, it's one of the few known ways to fluster the All-Pro.

But we also know about Mahomes' penchant for escaping the pocket and making off-schedule plays, or simply running for the first down. Lost in last week's thriller against Buffalo was the fact that Mahomes led the Chiefs in rushing, thanks in part to a 34-yard sprint straight up the middle. He has game speed that most quarterbacks would dream of. That's why this over/under for combined passing and rushing yards is doubtlessly in his reach. He could rack up that many yards from passing alone and we wouldn't bat an eye, or he could need to scramble a few times and meet the number that way.

Our pick: More than 326.5 passing + rushing yards for Patrick Mahomes @ -115 with BetMGM.

Although Mathieu remains in concussion protocol, the fact that the three-time Pro Bowl selection returned to practice can be construed as a positive.

"He was out there and did a nice job," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday.

Mathieu was injured after teammate Jarran Reed's knee inadvertently caught him in the head during Sunday's AFC divisional-round clash against the Buffalo Bills.

Without Mathieu, the Chiefs were unable to contain Josh Allen and wide receiver Gabriel Davis, who connected for four touchdowns in the 42-36 overtime shootout.

If Mathieu isn't cleared for the AFC Championship game against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, he would be replaced by backup Daniel Sorensen. Sorensen, however, has one of the lowest ratings in the NFL at the position, according to Pro Football Focus.

Mathieu, 29, recorded 76 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 16 games (all starts) this season.

Mathieu exited the AFC divisional playoff win over the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter on Sunday and remains in concussion protocol.

Head coach Andy Reid said Mathieu could be back Thursday if "everything goes well."

Mathieu left the game following evaluation for a head injury after teammate Jarran Reed's knee inadvertently caught the Pro Bowl safety. Without him, the Chiefs were unable to contain Josh Allen and wide receiver Gabriel Davis, who connected for four touchdowns in the 42-36 overtime shootout.

If Mathieu isn't cleared for the AFC Championship game against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, he would be replaced by backup Daniel Sorensen. Sorensen, however, has one of the lowest ratings in the NFL at the position, according to Pro Football Focus.

The spreads are identical at BetMGM and DraftKings, with Kansas City favored by 7.0 points against visiting Cincinnati in the AFC and San Francisco a 3.5-point underdog at the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC.

However, the action thus far has been noticeably different at the two sportsbooks.

The Bengals and Chiefs will kick off Sunday's festivities at Arrowhead Stadium, where Kansas City survived a dramatic overtime game against the Buffalo Bills to advance. The Chiefs are being backed by 64 percent of the bets and 60 percent of the spread-line money at DraftKings.

The story is dramatically different at BetMGM, where it's the Bengals who have been supported by 62 percent and 60 percent, respectively. And Cincinnati's +260 moneyline has drawn 77 percent and 66 percent of the action.

Kansas City's -300 moneyline at BetMGM has been the least supported ticket (23 percent) in either market at either book. By contrast, the Chiefs' -335 moneyline at DraftKings has been backed by 59 percent of the bets and 61 percent of the money.

SoFi Stadium will be the site of the final two games of the NFL season, as it will also serve as the host stadium for Super Bowl LVI.

The Rams are being backed by 53 percent of the bets but only 44 percent of the spread-line money at BetMGM. Their -190 moneyline has also drawn split action with 36 percent of the bets and 54 percent of the money compared to the 49ers (+160) at 64 percent and 46 percent, respectively.

Los Angeles has been the decidedly more popular pick at DraftKings, where the Rams are being backed by 64 percent of the bets and 60 percent of the spread-line handle. Their -180 moneyline has also drawn 61 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

What the two sportsbooks do have in common is the betting favorite order to win Super Bowl LVI.

The Chiefs are the +120 favorite at both books, followed by the Rams (+200), 49ers (+450) and Bengals (+800).

Kansas City has also already been installed as the +700 favorite to win next year's Super Bowl, followed by the Bills (+800) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1000).

The John R. Oishei Children's Hospital of Buffalo reported Wednesday morning that the Patricia Allen Fund, which benefits the hospital, had taken in $178,000 from more than 9,800 contributors since the first donations were received a day earlier.

The Chiefs beat the Bills in an epic AFC divisional playoff game on Sunday, 42-36 in overtime. The Bills took the lead with 13 seconds left, enough for Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes to get his team into range for a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime.

The fundraising drive gained momentum when fan Brett Fitzpatrick, who runs the Twitter handle Chiefs Kingdom Memes, suggested on social media donating $13 -- for 13 seconds -- to Allen's foundation.

Allen threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns.

"Out of HUGE respect for Josh Allen, I'm donating $13 to his foundation which supports the Children's Hospital of Buffalo," Fitzpatrick wrote. "Hope some of y'all join this too."

Hospital officials appreciated the outpouring of support.

"It's certainly bittersweet with the game," Andrew Bennett, the vice president of the Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, told The Buffalo News. "But the generosity of fans toward Josh is just absolutely remarkable. We're incredibly grateful for this impactful support. It's a great sign of sportsmanship and integrity, watching how fans have reacted to this. It's another huge win for the kids that we're helping out, day in and day out here in Western New York."

"See you in the playoffs."

Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (12-7) hit the road for the AFC Championship game on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium with Mahomes and the Chiefs (14-5) riding high following a 42-36 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional playoffs.

"We play really good on the road," a red-nosed Burrow, replete with stocking cap and sweatshirt, said before Wednesday's frigid practice of the team's 6-3 road record this season. "You want to get out to a strong start. You can't let a team like this get out in front of you. They put a lot of pressure on you on defense."

Cincinnati has the only win over the Chiefs since Oct. 24 and Burrow passed for 446 yards and four scores. He was sacked four times.

"These young quarterbacks are great for this league and he's one of them," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of Burrow. "He's a heckuva football player. He does a nice job. He's a coach's kid that knows the game and kind of gets it."

Perhaps the biggest health concern on either team is Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu. He missed practice Wednesday and remains in concussion protocol, but Reid said there's a chance he'll be on the field Thursday.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said the Bengals plan to spend "a lot of time" working on protection of Burrow. He was hit 13 times at Tennessee and sacked five times in the first half alone. Taylor said noise at Arrowhead comes with the territory, and the peripheral complications -- silent counts, Burrow calling plays due to headset challenges -- aren't easy to replicate in practice.

"Arrowhead is pretty loud," Mahomes said. "I don't think you can get around that. I'm sure it'll be pretty loud this weekend. They're coming in trying to win a big football game. But I'm glad we're at Arrowhead and we're able to use our crowd to our advantage in trying to get a win."

Burrow offers mostly a pained smirk when the prospect of being cast as the underdog bubbles up again for the Bengals. The Jan. 2 win over Kansas City has been a confidence-building rallying cry since the 34-31 win in Ohio. Rookie first-round pick Ja'Marr Chase was fourth in the NFL with 1,455 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Chase set career bests with 11 receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas City in the Week 17 clash.

Chase said he "didn't watch" last week's game to study how the Chiefs handled Gabriel Davis of the Bills, who exploded for 201 yards and four TDs, while Buffalo's No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs had three catches for seven yards plus a two-point conversion pass.

"They're a great defense, they're a great secondary," Chase said Wednesday.

But familiarity is a two-way street. Mahomes gets another look at the Bengals defense, too, playing in his fourth straight conference title game. He's 8-2 in the playoffs with 25 touchdowns and five interceptions.

"It's hard to beat a team twice," Bengals safety Vonn Bell said. "Especially that caliber, those guys are always in the postseason, the Super Bowl. That's what we're trying to do."

A win would put the Bengals in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988 (SB XXIII). Kansas City is the first team to host four consecutive NFL conference championship games. A Chiefs' victory puts the franchise in elite company with three others who have played in three consecutive Super Bowls (Miami Dolphins, 1971-73), Buffalo Bills (1990-93) and New England Patriots (2016-18).

"I've been in some of these situations before, I've been in some big games ... I know what it takes to go out there and find a way to win," Mahomes said. "I think preparation and experience helps me in those situations."

In his playoff career, including LSU, Burrow is 6-0 with a 69.7 completion percentage, 22 touchdowns and two interceptions. He's 2-0 in the NFL playoffs, beating the Raiders and Titans despite being sacked 11 times this postseason. He's the first No. 1 overall draft pick to start in a conference championship game within his first two seasons.

Mathieu suffered a head injury in the first quarter Sunday and was ruled out for the rest of the AFC divisional round victory over the visiting Buffalo Bills.

"He's still in the protocol and going through it, but he feels good. We'll see how that goes moving forward," Reid said.

Mathieu was injured when he took an accidental knee to the head from teammate Jarran Reed. Mathieu played just seven snaps.

Daniel Sorensen took over for Mathieu and had nine tackles in the win over the Bills. He played 92 percent of the Chiefs' defensive snaps.

Mathieu is a three-time Pro Bowler, including in 2021, and a three-time first-team All-Pro selection. He played in 16 games (all starts) in the regular season and grabbed three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, along with three fumble recoveries and 76 tackles.

Kansas City also is releasing receiver Josh Gordon (five catches in 12 games) and hopes to sign him to the practice squad. Reid said the team is activating defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (knee) off injured reserve as his 21-day window expired.

The Chiefs are preparing to host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in the AFC Championship game.

Mahomes completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce on the first possession of overtime, which prevented the Bills from ever getting a chance in the extra session.

Kansas City claimed its 11th win in 12 games but will host the AFC championship game next Sunday against the one opponent that beat the Chiefs during that stretch, the Cincinnati Bengals.

The teams each scored twice inside the final two minutes of regulation, generating 25 points during that span. Kansas City forced overtime on a 49-yard field goal by Harrison Butker as time expired.

Before that, Josh Allen fired touchdown strikes of 27 and 19 yards to Gabriel Davis, the last coming with 13 seconds remaining. Mahomes responded to the first score by hitting Tyreek Hill with a 64-yard TD strike before finding Hill for 19 yards and Kelce for 25 to set up Butker.

Allen played brilliantly, connecting with Davis for four touchdowns, while finishing with 329 yards passing and 68 yards rushing. Davis caught eight passes for 201 yards.

Mahomes finished 33 of 44, with 11 strikes to Hill for 150 yards.

Allen engineered a 75-yard march in 75 seconds, firing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 37 seconds remaining to forge a 14-14 halftime tie. Buffalo also scored on its first drive, converting two fourth downs, including a 1-yard touchdown rush by Devin Singletary.

Mahomes engineered touchdown drives of 11 and 12 plays in the first half. He rushed for 49 yards on the first series, including an 8-yard score, and found Byron Pringle for a 2-yard TD pass with 1:52 remaining in the second quarter.

For the half, Mahomes totaled 163 yards and Allen 158, with no turnovers.

A 50-yard field-goal attempt by Butker in the first half sailed wide right.

Mathieu appeared to collide with the leg of a teammate attempting to make a tackle and was taken to the locker room to be examined by an independent physician. The Chiefs later announced he had entered concussion protocol.

Mathieu is a three-time Pro Bowler, including in 2021, and a three-time first-team All-Pro selection. He played in 16 games (all starts) in the regular season and grabbed three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, along with three fumble recoveries and 76 tackles.

The Bills used two fourth-down conversions to score a touchdown on that first possession before the Chiefs responded with a TD drive for a 7-7 tie after one quarter.

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) was active for Kansas City after missing the final two games of the regular season and last week's wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Williams (toe) missed two practices this week before being a limited participant on Friday. Williams ran for a team-high 558 yards with six touchdowns while playing in all 17 regular-season games.

Edwards-Helaire played in just 10 games but rushed for 517 yards and four touchdowns.

Fenton (back) didn't practice all week. Fenton had 49 tackles in 14 regular-season contests.

Backup running back Matt Breida is one of Buffalo's inactives. He had 125 yards on 26 regular-season carries.

In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, the Bills are back at Arrowhead Stadium, where Buffalo scored a win over the Chiefs earlier this season.

To help with our viewing pleasure, we have a Same Game Parlay for your consideration. This parlay was constructed on DraftKings.

Bills vs Chiefs SGP: +260 on DK

Before we explain the three-leg parlay for Bills-Chiefs, here is an overview of the entire SGP.

The SGP:

Devin Singletary TD

Josh Allen over 34.5 rushing yards

Patrick Mahomes under 329.5 passing yards

--Devin Singletary TD

Singletary scored a touchdown in five straight games, with eight total in that span. That's elite production and consistency for the top back in Buffalo.

Singletary has 22 total red zone looks in just the past three weeks. He's heavily involved when this offense gets near the goal line.

Kansas City's run defense has been reasonably sturdy of late. It remains the weakness of the Chiefs.

Buffalo has been efficient running the football, and should be able to get Singletary in the end zone if they sustain drives.

--Josh Allen over 34.5 rushing yards

I would feel comfortable bumping this as high as 54.5 if you wanted a SGP with higher odds.

Allen has been decimating teams with his legs lately, finishing with 60+ rushing yards in four straight games and five of 6.

At just 34.5 yards, this should be easy for the Bills QB. For context, he had 41 on the first drive of the Patriots game last week.

Allen has gone over this alternate total in seven of the last eight games and each of the last three times he's played Kansas City.

What we have going for us with this leg is flexibility on how it hits. The Bills have shown they aren't shy about designed runs for their quarterback, but Allen is also prone to tuck it and run when pressure pushes him out of the pocket.

The Chiefs have a significant advantage with their star DT Chris Jones rushing up the middle against an average Buffalo interior offensive line.

All that should do is flush Allen out of the pocket and get him running.

--Patrick Mahomes under 329.5 passing yards

It seems crazy to bet a Mahomes under, but there are so many numbers that suggest it's the right play.

We've selected the highest passing yardage total available on DraftKings to give us some breathing room (Mahomes' over is currently set at 284.5).

Mahomes has gone over 329.5 just six times this season, and only twice in the past eight games.

On the year, there isn't a secondary playing better football than Buffalo. Only two quarterbacks have gone over their passing yards against this defense. Mahomes didn't, finishing with 272 when they met earlier this season.

On average, the Bills surrender a measly 163 passing yards per game. It's an elite secondary, and while Mahomes should be able to overcome that to a degree, I don't think he gets 330 or over.

Head coach Andy Reid said Gay took part in practice on Friday and that it was Reid's decision to have him play on Sunday when the Buffalo Bills (12-6) visit the Chiefs (13-5).

"I decided that after just hearing some of the information there," Reid said.

Gay was charged with misdemeanor criminal damage after his arrest Wednesday night in Overland Park, Kan.

According to Johnson County authorities, Gay was charged with one count of criminal damage of less than $1,000 for damage to property that included a vacuum cleaner, a door frame and a wall.

Gay, 23, appeared in court Thursday afternoon and was released from detention on a $1,000 bond.

A representative for Gay told NFL Network that "no one was touched" during an argument between Gay and the mother of his son that resulted in the broken vacuum.

Gay, a second-round pick in 2020, started 11 of his 12 games in 2021 and registered 48 tackles, a half-sack and two interceptions.

Reid also said there's a chance running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire (left collarbone) and Darrel Williams (toe) will be available for Sunday's game.

Both players took part in practice on Friday.

On the season, Williams ran for 558 yards with six touchdowns in 17 games. Edwards-Hilaire played in just 10 games but rushed for 517 yards and four touchdowns.

According to Johnson County authorities, Gay was charged with one count of criminal damage of less than $1,000 for damage to property including a vacuum cleaner, a door frame and a wall.

A representative for Gay told NFL Network that "no one was touched" during an argument that led to the veteran player's arrest.

Gay, 23, has a court appearance scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

The Chiefs said they were aware of the situation but did comment on Gay's status for Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game against the visiting Buffalo Bills.

Gay, a second-round pick in 2020, started 11 of his 12 games in 2021 and registered 48 tackles, a half-sack and two interceptions.

Back in October, Gay missed a practice for personal reasons and posted on social media that he was struggling with his mental health.

"I love you all just know my mental health is F'd up," he wrote on Twitter on Oct. 8.

The Buffalo Bills claimed a convincing 38-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5 and return to the scene Sunday at Kansas City, Mo., where the Chiefs have won five straight postseason games.

Mahomes ascended quickly to elite status by leading the Chiefs into the AFC championship game each of his first three seasons as a starter and split two Super Bowl outcomes the last two years.

His motivation surfaced in the wild-card round last week when Mahomes directed Kansas City on six straight touchdown drives, including five scoring strikes, in toppling Pittsburgh 42-21.

"I really like winning," Mahomes said when asked if he can summon a special gear. "That's the end of it."

His 404-yard passing performance was tops for any NFL quarterback in the wild-card round but now he faces a talented Buffalo back end that features Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.

"They've done everything that we've asked and they've gone above and beyond, really," Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said of his talented safeties.

Allen also fired five scoring strikes and drove Buffalo to touchdowns on all seven of its non-kneeling possessions as it walloped New England 47-17. Yet Allen, despite the victory in Kansas City in Week 5, knows what's at stake in another showdown against Mahomes and the Chiefs.

"They're what we aspire to be," Allen said, mindful the Bills fell to the Chiefs, 38-24, in last year's AFC championship game at Kansas City.

The Kansas City defense Allen opposes has improved dramatically since the Week 5 mismatch, when the Chiefs played without starters Chris Jones and Charvarius Ward and had not nabbed key midseason acquisition Melvin Ingram. Since then, the defense has sparkled.

"I wouldn't say we owe them one," Ingram said. "We're just going to try to win a playoff game and I'm only trying to be a piece to the puzzle."

After an abysmal start that found the Chiefs ranked 30th or worse against the run and pass during a 3-4 start, they transformed to win 10 of their last 11. They have not been as careless with the ball, though they did allow the Steelers a touchdown return last week by fumbling a sloppy handoff.

Allen poses a complete threat whether throwing the football or taking on tacklers, either by design or improvisation. He completed 21 of 25 passes in the rout of the Patriots while adding 66 yards on just six carries. Yet he understands the Chiefs will offer wrinkles different from Week 5.

"They're throwing so many looks at quarterbacks right now and bringing pressure from everywhere imaginable," Allen said.

Allen noted the difficulty in playing on the road before a Kansas City fan base accustomed to postseason success, but the taste of falling short of a Super Bowl bid a year ago remains bitter.

"We don't want to have that feeling that we had there last year," Allen said. "We know our season ended there last year and now we have to do everything in our power to put our foot forward and make sure it doesn't end there this year."

Buffalo finished as the NFL's top-rated pass defense while also securing 30 takeaways. Yet the Bills are without Tre'Davious White, who has been out since Week 12. Mario Addison is dealing with a shoulder strain suffered against the Patriots.

Kansas City continues to assess Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder), though he is practicing. Jerick McKinnon stepped up against Pittsburgh and provided 142 yards on 18 touches. McKinnon's impact could be critical again with Darrel Williams nursing a sore toe.

Edwards-Helaire was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's practice. A shoulder injury has sidelined Edwards-Helaire for the team's final two games of the regular season and last week's wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"He moved around well. We'll see how he does tomorrow as we go forward," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

Edwards-Helaire, 22, rushed for 517 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games this season.

Edwards-Helaire has rushed for 1,320 yards and eight touchdowns in 23 career games. He also has 55 career receptions for 426 yards and three more scores since being selected by the Chiefs with the 32nd overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (heel) and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (knees) were listed as full participants on Wednesday, however running back Darrel Williams (toe) and cornerback Rashad Fenton (back) did not practice.

The loss likely will be the last NFL game for the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, who is expected to announce his retirement. The 39-year-old quarterback started slowly before finishing with 215 yards passing, going 29 of 44 with two touchdowns.

Kansas City, seeded No. 2 after winning nine of its last 10 regular-season games, will play at home again next Sunday in the divisional round, hosting the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo won at Kansas City 38-20 in Week 5.

The Chiefs scored touchdowns on six straight possessions bridging the two halves. A 1-yard lob to tackle-eligible Nick Allegretti and a 31-yard strike to Tyreek Hill boosted the lead to 35-7 before six minutes had elapsed in the second half.

Mahomes, who was intercepted once, went 30 of 39 on the night and reached 400 yards passing before the end of third period.

Jerick McKinnon, who has battled injuries and played sparingly, had 18 touches for 142 yards and a TD reception. Travis Kelce gained 108 yards on five catches and threw a short TD pass, one of two caught by Byron Pringle.

The seventh-seeded Steelers did not crack Kansas City territory until the second half when Roethlisberger connected for scores to Diontae Johnson and James Washington.

The Chiefs gained 302 first-half yards and Mahomes fired three touchdowns, all in the second quarter, including a 45-yarder to Kelce with 13 seconds remaining for a 21-7 halftime margin.

McKinnon and Pringle caught first-half TDs of 4 and 12 yards, though the Chiefs had trouble getting untracked. On their first five possessions, they punted three times, Mahomes threw an interception and Darrel Williams lost a fumble.

T.J. Watt returned the fumble 24 yards to provide a 7-0 lead for the Steelers with 10:41 left in the half. However, Pittsburgh finished the half with just 45 yards, two first downs and punts on each of its seven series.

After all, considerable work remains for the two-time reigning AFC champion before booking a Super Bowl appearance in mid-February. The path begins to unravel Sunday when the Chiefs host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round at Kansas City, Mo.

The Chiefs are easily the biggest favorites of Wildcard Weekend, with the line at 12.5 points at BetMGM and FanDuel. That has led to split action, with Pittsburgh backed by 55 percent of the bets and 50 percent of the spread-line money at BetMGM while Kansas City has been supported by 55 percent of both markets at FanDuel.

"It's in the back of my mind but for the most part it's a new year," Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said about the NFL's ultimate prize. "You've got to focus on things that have happened this year. We're on a goal to prove to ourselves who we think we are, and we know we are, and that's Super Bowl champions."

The Pittsburgh matchup will be a rematch of a Dec. 26 clash Kansas City dominated 36-10 with Kelce sidelined in COVID-19 protocol. The Chiefs went on to go 12-5 while winning nine of their final 10 games and claiming their sixth consecutive AFC West title.

Kansas City has reached the AFC championship game in each of the previous three seasons, primarily engineered by stalwart quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

"When you get to that playoff game day, you have a little bit different intensity knowing that every play is critical and it could really end your season by making a mistake," Mahomes said. "At the same time, you want to be loose, you want to have fun and you want to enjoy it."

Mahomes passed for 258 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting with the Steelers. The Chiefs also forced three turnovers and limited Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to 159 yards passing.

The Chiefs' defensive intensity that day followed a trend that began after acquiring a longtime Steeler, Melvin Ingram. Ingram proved instrumental a week ago when he crashed into the backfield to generate a bone-jarring strip the Chiefs converted into a late touchdown return in a 28-24 win at Denver.

"He's the swag champ," Kelce said, adding that "you saw how much more fun people were having" after Ingram joined the defensive front.

At times, Mahomes has struggled with his accuracy, but he overcame an early-season rash of mistakes to lead the Chiefs to the league's third-best production, 396.8 yards on average.

He passed for 4,839 yards while counting on Kelce and Tyreek Hill as 1,000-yard receivers. The committee approach to the backfield could continue with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) ruled out and Darrel Williams (toe) listed as questionable.

Second-seeded Kansas City, a two-time Super Bowl champion, will make its seventh consecutive postseason appearance and last faced Pittsburgh in the playoffs in 2016. The Steelers won 18-16. Pittsburgh, a six-time Super Bowl champion, reached the playoffs for the second straight season but last won a postseason game in 2016.

Roethlisberger, whose career could end with the Steelers' next loss as he considers retiring from football, lamented the long odds his team faces after going 9-7-1 and drawing the No. 7 seed.

"I would assume, as a group, you understand that we probably aren't supposed to be here," said Roethlisberger, who is dealing with a strained pectoral and shoulder.

"We probably are not a very good football team. Out of 14 teams I think are in, we're probably number 14. We're double-digit underdogs in the playoffs. So, let's just go play, have fun and see what happens."

Tongue in cheek? Probably. A dose of realism? Yes, that too.

Still, Pittsburgh got in by defeating Baltimore in the season finale and getting help from Jacksonville beating Indianapolis and Las Vegas beating the Los Angeles Chargers in overtime.

Running back Najee Harris (elbow) was deemed good to go on Saturday. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster also is expected to be activated from injured reserve, where he's been since sustaining a shoulder injury in October. Cornerback Arthur Maulet (concussion) also has been cleared to play against the Chiefs.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gained some satisfaction getting to restrict the all-out aggression of Harris, a 1,200-yard rusher as a rookie.

"It's a good issue and problem to have," Tomlin said, "when you have a guy that's wired the way that he's wired."