Whoa, live from New York—wow, what a show! It’s a special, wrapped-up edition of First Things First, and yes, there are gifts today, my friend. Now, I know sometimes the show feels like you and I are combatants—your Super Bowl pick against mine, and old KW’s pick already eliminated last week. Oh, and speaking of Super Bowl picks, are the Dolphins out? Well, your pick, which was Russ as the MVP, might also be out after that performance. Let’s talk about Mahomes, though, and where we stand now.

 

 

Merry Christmas, friend! Patrick Mahomes had an incredible performance, going 29-for-38 with 320 yards and three touchdowns, all while the defense was missing Chris Jones! The Chiefs totally shut down the Steelers, and it’s making us wonder—are the Chiefs back to their full power?

 

Look, we’ve agreed on this before: the Chiefs never really left. They’ve been practicing all year, and now it’s coming together in these final weeks. The best practice of the year was on display here, and even without a fully healthy roster, they’re finding their rhythm. Travis Kelce, playing like he might be nearing the end of his career, stepped up to break some records too. And Mahomes? He’s locked in and playing at an elite level.

 

 

The Chiefs have had a bumpy road without their top wide receivers and running back this year, but now they’re finally getting healthy. The offense is humming again, and it’s almost as if they can do whatever they want. So, is Mahomes officially back? Yes. He’s always been here, and now that his weapons are back, it’s game on.

 

But what’s most important here? The Chiefs are in a great position. They’ve avoided some of the toughest matchups, and it’s looking like they won’t have to face Baltimore or Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs. What’s ahead? The Arrowhead Invitational is back, and it’s going to be fun to see if this Chiefs team can make another run toward the Super Bowl.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Ravens made a statement on Christmas Day with a dominant 29-point victory over the Texans. Lamar Jackson was on fire, breaking records, and leading his team with ease. But even more impressive than Lamar’s record-breaking performance was the defense—something that had been questioned early in the season. The Ravens went into Houston, took control, and never let up. There was no pleasantries here; they made a statement.

 

The Ravens are positioning themselves well, and with the defense firing on all cylinders, this team could make a deep playoff run. They’ve been building momentum over the last few weeks, beating tough teams, and it’s clear—they are a force to be reckoned with in the AFC.

 

 

So what does this mean? The Chiefs and Ravens are setting up for a thrilling playoff showdown. We’ve talked about it all season—the Chiefs might have been underrated, but they’re heating up just in time. Now, Lamar and the Ravens are fully equipped to challenge them, with both teams looking like the top contenders in the AFC. It’s shaping up to be a fun, unpredictable postseason.

 

In the end, it all boils down to this: Patrick Mahomes is back to playing at an MVP level, and with the Chiefs hitting their stride at the perfect time, they might be the team to beat. But the Ravens are lurking, and with Lamar Jackson leading them, don’t count them out. The race for the AFC title is going to be exciting. Stay tuned, because it’s only just beginning!