Steelers’ unbeaten run is over

The Pittsburgh Steelers spent three months flirting with perfection, insisting all the time they were far from flawless. They weren’t wrong. Pittsburgh’s bid for an unbeaten season is over. Washington’s bid for an unlikely division title may just be beginning.

Alex Smith threw for

296 yards and a touchdown, Dustin Hopkins kicked a tiebreaking 45-yard field goal with

2:04 remaining, and Washington beat the host Steelers 23-17 on Monday night.

Pittsburgh (11-1) missed a chance to clinch a playoff berth and dropped into a tie with defending Super Bowl champion Kansas

City for the top spot in the AFC with four games remaining. Washington (5-7) kept pace by rallying from 14 points down to win in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1991.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 305 yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off by Jon Bostic — a former Steeler — with 1:59 remaining. Hopkins added another 45-yard field goal to help close it out. Pittsburgh reached midfield on its final possession but time ran out.

LATE SUNDAY

Chiefs 22, Broncos

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16: Patrick Mahomes threw for 318 yards and a score, Harrison Butker was perfect on five field-goal attempts, and the underrated Kansas City Chiefs’ defense bailed out an offense that struggled once again in the red zone — and made two big mistakes that cost them touchdowns — in a win over visiting Denver. Travis Kelce had eight receptions for 136 yards along with the go-ahead TD grab late in the third quarter, and Tyrann Mathieu twice picked off Broncos quarterback Drew Lock — the second with 24 seconds left to seal the win — as the Chiefs clinched a playoff berth by improving to 11-1 for the second time in franchise history.

ELSEWHERE

Chargers: Los Angeles intends to finish the season with Anthony Lynn as head coach before making any decisions regarding 2021. Lynn’s job status has become a source of speculation as the team has slid to a 3-9 record.

Cowboys: Six-time Pro Bowler Zack Martin, who played all but two games from 2014 to 2019, is likely out for the season. Dallas placed the offensive guard on injured reserve Monday with a calf injury.

Jets: A stunning loss left still-winless New York disappointed and frustrated. It also cost defensive coordinator Gregg Williams his job. The Jets were leading 28-24 at home in the closing seconds Sunday. But Williams inexplicably called for an all-out blitz against Las Vegas, and Derek Carr connected with Henry Ruggs III for what became a winning 46-yard touchdown pass with 5 seconds left. Coach Adam Gase was furious at Williams’ play call and decided — with the blessing of CEO Christopher Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas and team president Hymie Elhai — to fire the defensive coordinator Monday morning. “I just felt like that was the best thing for our team moving forward,” Gase said.

Ravens: QB Lamar

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Jackson and FB Patrick Ricard were among four players activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.