Methodical Chiefs dominate Bears on Sunday Night Football

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score, and the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears 26-3 to stay in contention for a first-round playoff bye.

Kansas City earned its fifth straight win and remained a game behind New England for the AFC's second seed.

The Patriots clinched their 11th consecutive AFC East championship by beating Buffalo on Saturday.

The Chiefs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over New England thanks to a victory two weeks ago that helped secure their fourth division title in a row.

Mahomes, playing his 30th game, became the fastest player to reach the 9,000-yard passing mark.

Kansas City (11-4) wraps up the season next Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. New England (12-3) hosts the Miami Dolphins. Both games are at noon.

4TH QUARTER | Harrison Butker capped a methodical 11-play, 43-yard drive with a 32-yard field goal.

The Kansas City Chiefs lead 26-3 with under two minutes remaining against the Chicago Bears.

With the victory, the Chiefs will improve to 11-4 on the season, while the Bears will slip to 7-8 in the second season under former Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

4TH QUARTER | Approaching the three-minute mark, and with the Kansas City Chiefs milking the game clock with a grinding drive, fans at Soldier Field broke out a Tomahawk Chant.

The Chiefs still led 23-3 as the two-minute warning hit in an inevitable victory against the Chicago Bears.

4TH QUARTER | Spencer Ware, who returned to the Chiefs only three weeks ago, has left the game with a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.

4TH QUARTER | Quarterback Patrick Mahomes made NFL history with a 14-yard touchdownpass to running back Damien Williams.

It was his 75th career touchdown passes in only his 30th career game. That's quicker than any other QB in league history.

The score made it 23-3 after Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's point-after hit both uprights and bounced out, reminiscent of the Chicago Bears' game-losing field-goal miss in last season's NFC Wild Card playoffs.

Mahomes also became the first NFL quarterback to reach 9,000 career passing yards in his first 30 games during tonight's dominant showing in ChiTown.

3RD QUARTER | On the final play of the third quarter, Eddie Pineiro kicked a 46-yard field goal to get the Chicago Bears on the board.

But the Kansas City Chiefs still lead 17-3 with only a quarter remaining on Sunday Night Football.

3RD QUARTER | After forcing the Kansas City Chiefs to punt, the Chicago Bears marched down the field and inside the 5-yard line only to come up empty on a fourth-down fade route.

Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward knocked down a Mitch Trubisky pass intended for Allen Robinson in the corner of the end zone, keeping the defense's shutout intact for the time being.

Kansas City still leads 17-0 late in the third quarter.

3RD QUARTER | The second half is underway with the Kansas City Chiefs looking to build on a 17-0 halftime lead against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.

HALFTIME | Kansas City leads 17-0 against the Chicago Bears, who have yet to show up for Sunday Night Football.

The Chiefs receive the second-half kickoff in the quest for a fifth straight victory.

2ND QUARTER | Chicago's special teams extended a Chiefs drive when Bears linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis ran into punter Dustin Colquitt.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City made it count by finishing the drive with a touchdown to tight end Travis Kelce, who made more NFL history on the drive.

One week after becoming the first tight end in league history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in four consecutive seasons, Kelce became the fastest tight end to reach 500 career receptions.

2ND QUARTER | Harrison Butker blasts through a career-long 56-yard field goal. The Chiefs now lead 10-0 at Chicago.

END 1ST QUARTER | With the Chicago Bears set to punt once again, the first quarter has come to an end with the Kansas City Chiefs leading 7-0 on Sunday Night Football.

1ST QUARTER | Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes escapes pressure and dashes 12 yards for a touchdown on third down.

With the extra point, KC breaks on top 7-0 against the Chicago Bears.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill made history on the opening drive. His 19-yard catch on third-and-18 put him over 4,000 yards for his career in 58 career games, the fastest for any player in franchise history.

1ST QUARTER | After several runs by Chicago quarterback Mitch Trubisky propelled a promising Bears drive, new Chiefs defensive end Terrell Suggs got pressure on third down and Frank Clark finished the play with a sack to force a punt.

Patrick Mahomes and the KC offense will now take the field on Sunday Night Football.

KICKOFF | We're underway on Sunday Night Football on NBC from Soldier Field in Chicago. Tune in to 41 Action News now as the Kansas City Chiefs square off with the Chicago Bears.

The host Bears received the opening kickoff.

PREGAME UPDATE | Final preparations are underway at Soldier Field, where Andy Reid's Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears in less than a half-hour on Sunday Night Football. Tune into your Home of the Chiefs, 41 Action News, for all the action.

As expected, offensive guard Andrew Wylie and cornerback Morris Claiborne have been ruled out for Sunday Night Football at the Chicago Bears.

Running back LeSean McCoy, who did not appear on the injury report this week, also is among the inactives for the Kansas City Chiefs, but new addition Terrell Suggs will suit up for the 7:20 p.m. kickoff on 41 Action News.

It is the second time this season McCoy has been a healthy scratch. Cornerback Rashad Fenton also is an interesting scratch, given that he'd returned to practice and was playing well before an injury cost him the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Bears will be without defensive lineman Akiem Hicks among other inactives.

If you missed the one-hour Chiefs pregame special on 41 Action News, here's a sampling of what you missed.

Our own celebrities made the rounds in Chicago, where 41 Action News Anchor Kevin Holmes grew up. Here's a pregame report Kevin filed with Sports Director Mick Shaffer from Toons Bar and Grill, a Chiefs hangout in the Windy City:

Kansas City Chiefs fans are representing well at Soldier Field in Chicago, where Patrick Mahomes and company play the Bears at 7:20 p.m. for Sunday Night Football on 41 Action News.

Also, if you missed this dose of absolute cuteness, do yourself a favor and block off the next 45 seconds for 4-year-old Patrick Mahomes singing "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

EARLIER | The big news for the Kansas City Chiefs this week was the addition of defensive end Terrell Suggs.

Released last week by the Arizona Cardinals, the Chiefs claimed Suggs off waivers Monday after placing defensive end Alex Okafor on injured with a torn muscle in his chest.

There was some question if he’d report to Kansas City or retire. Suggs not only showed up, but he’s expected to suit up for Sunday Night Football as the Chiefs play the Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who worked with Suggs for two seasons in Baltimore from 2013-14, talked about how he’ll be worked into the Chiefs’ system Thursday during his weekly press conference:

Kansas City put together one of its most complete performances of the season, including a dominant showing by the defense, during a 23-3 drubbing of Denver last Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Now, against a Bears team that has been eliminated from playoff contention, the Chiefs have a chance to make a statement to the rest of the NFL in prime time.

[READ: Nick Jacobs’ keys to a Chiefs victory]

The Chiefs are as healthy as they've been in a while with only two players ruled out, according to Friday's injury report. Guard Andrew Wylie and cornerback Morris Claiborne will not play at Chicago.

Reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes was fantastic against the Broncos and could be motivated to show off a bit against Mitch Trubisky, who was the only QB taken ahead of Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft.

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Mahomes talked about the matchup with Chicago and Trubisky, while Reid addressed the signing of Suggs and facing his former assistant, Bears coach Matt Nagy:

The Chiefs and Bears actually have a lot of ties, including one between a father and son on opposing coaching staffs.

Also this week, six Chiefs players were selected to the Pro Bowl.

Win or lose Sunday, fans needing a jolt to get into the holiday spirit should check out the Masur family’s Christmas light display in Tonganoxie.

For those needing to shed a few holiday pounds, here are some tips for getting in a little exercise during the Chiefs game from the University of Kansas Health System.