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

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

By completing their three-games-in-11-days schedule, including a 34-17 victory over the Steelers, with three wins, 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 of their games to fall to 10-6.

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

Kansas City Chiefs 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 10

Kansas City ran its record to 15-1 with its sixth straight victory as it preps for a postseason run at a third straight Super Bowl victory.

Patrick Mahomes threw two first-quarter touchdown passes and added a third in the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs expanded a six-point lead.

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

Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn) made one 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 not eligible to play.

Najee Harris (Alabama) started at 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 the game. He became the 14th player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first four seasons.

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

Steelers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

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

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

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

Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 44.5 yards on four punts, with a 36.0-yard net. Waitman had a 40-yard punt that was 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 not eligible to play.

Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Kansas City completes its regular-season schedule against the Denver Broncos at noon CST Jan. 5 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.

Pittsburgh plays the Cincinnati Bengals at noon Jan. 5 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 one touchdown on 27 carries for Baltimore on Wednesday.

The former Alabama All-American opened the scoring against the Texans on a 2-yard run with 10:08 left in the first quarter, when Henry totaled 86 rushing yards. The touchdown was Henry’s 16th of the season, the most for a player in one 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, including a 48-yard touchdown, on four carries. During the game, Jackson surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL’s career leader for rushing yards by a quarterback.

In addition to Henry, 10 other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Baltimore-Houston game:

Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made three tackles, shared one sack, recorded two tackles for loss, registered two quarterback hits and broke up one pass.

Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive. A hamstring injury kept Armour-Davis off the field.

Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at 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 not eligible to play.

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

Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on injured reserve and 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 one pass and forced one 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.

Texans 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 stats.

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

Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on injured reserve and 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 Jan. 5 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

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

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

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