Steelers lose first game of their season to Alex Smith and Washington

The Pittsburgh Steelers are no longer undefeated, thanks to former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and the Washington Football Team. Washington defeated the Steelers 23-17 Monday afternoon.

Smith was 31 of 46 for 296 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The win improves Washington to 5-7, in a tie with the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East. But the news for Kansas City is in the Steelers’ loss, which drops them to 11-1 on the season.

The Chiefs and Steelers are tied in record, but for now, the Steelers hold onto first place in the conference. According to the league’s tie-breaking procedures, the first step is head-to-head record, and the Chiefs and Steelers won’t match up this season.

The next qualifier is conference win percentage, and the Steelers still have the edge, as they remain a perfect 8-0 in the conference despite the loss. Kansas City is 9-1 in the conference due to their loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

With seven AFC playoff teams and only one bye team, a rule change for 2020, the remaining schedule of the two teams becomes even more critical after Monday’s result.

Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule: at Buffalo, at Cincinnati, vs. Indianapolis, at Cleveland

Kansas City’s remaining schedule: at Miami, at New Orleans, vs. Atlanta, vs. LA Chargers

Last year — in its Super Bowl season — Kansas City found a hero in Miami’s Ryan Fitzpatrick. Perhaps this year, at least a part of the heroics might have just come from the former starter in Smith.