Chiefs’ victory at Pittsburgh merits team record and entrance into exclusive club

Since the NFL went to a 16-game regular season in 1978, seven teams had won 15 games.

The Chiefs made it eight with Wednesday’s 29-10 victory at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

Improving to 15-1, the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs also set a franchise record for victories in a season, surpassing the 14 they won in 2020 and 2022.

The Chiefs also clinched the top seed in the AFC playoffs. They’ll open the postseason with the Divisional Round on Jan. 18 or 19 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

They’ll face the worst-seeded remaining team after the playoffs’ opening weekend. Win that game, and the Chiefs will play for the AFC Championship on Jan. 26 at home.

One game remains in the regular season for the Chiefs: Jan. 4 or 5 at the Denver Broncos. The game date and time will be determined on Sunday.

If the Chiefs win that one, they’ll match the 2007 New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady, as the only teams with 16 regular-season victories.

The NFL regular season increased to 17 games in 2021.

Here are the other teams with at least 15 victories in a season:

• 1984 San Francisco 49ers (QB Joe Montana); won Super Bowl

• 1985 Chicago Bears (Jim McMahon); won Super Bowl

• 1998 Minnesota Vikings (Randall Cunningham)

• 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger)

• 2011 Green Bay Packers (Aaron Rodgers)

• 2015 Carolina Panthers (Cam Newton)