The Table is Set: The Pittsburgh Steelers Will Face the Kansas City Chiefs

The Table is Set:

The Pittsburgh Steelers Will

Face the Kansas City Chiefs

Jason Seibel

For a team that hasn’t gotten much respect this season, the Kansas City Chiefs could be the most respected team in the National Football League after next Sunday. After thoroughly trouncing the Miami Dolphins by a score of 30-12 earlier this afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers will make the trip west to face the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round of the playoffs.

For those of you keeping score at home, this will be a rematch of the Week 4 matchup, which saw the Steelers completely embarrass the Chiefs on national television, by scoring 21 points in the first quarter and finishing the game 43-14. The 14 the Chiefs scored were garbage time touchdowns. The only highlight there was we saw Tyreek Hill get into the end zone for his first career touchdown.

While the Chiefs path to the AFC Championship game would have been, likely, much easier if the Dolphins had actually showed up and played football yesterday, the fact that the Chiefs are playing the Steelers instead of the Houston Texans isn’t all bad.

First, the Steelers’ defense is extremely suspect. Outside of playmakers Ryan Shazier and James Harrison, the rest are just role players. Compared to the Texans’ No. 1 rated defense–at least in total yardage–the Steelers’ D matches up much better against the Chiefs’ offense. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs defense, could stand to have a good game against Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense.

When this team met the first time, this Chiefs’ defense was still trying to find its way. The secondary was still missing departed cornerback Sean Smith on the opposite side of the field as they were trying out CBs Stephen Nelson and Phillip Gaines. Since that game, Nelson has developed into a decent nickel back and Terrance Mitchell has been one of the best cornerbacks in the entire NFL over the last month of the season.

So how exactly can the Chiefs win their first divisional round game since 1993? Here is what I think the Chiefs will have to do.

First, the Steelers allowed exactly 100 yards per game during the regular season. That bodes well for the Chiefs and the type of game they want to play. If the goal is to keep the Steelers’ offense and the “There B’s”–Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown–off the field, they’ll need to slow the game down by running the ball.

While Spencer Ware has been the Chiefs’ bell cow back this season, finishing with just shy of 1,000 yards, I think a good mix of Charcandrick West added into the mix could do wonders for the Chiefs offense. West showed the past two weeks why he could likely be a starter on many running back-needy teams in the league. He’s quick and a great pass catcher out of the back field. In order to keep the Steelers defense off balance, the Chiefs will need the change of pace to do that. Add in some plays for Hill out of the backfield for good measure, and it could be a huge day for the Chiefs’ running game.

The next thing the Chiefs will have going for them is a fully healthy roster. Last year when the Chiefs faced the New England Patriots in the divisional round, they didn’t have wide receiver Jeremy Maclin at full health and they were missing linebacker Justin Houston as well. While the Chiefs had some significant injuries this season, you go to war with the army you have, and the players who are still playing should be fully healthy by game time on Sunday.

Expected to return are Justin Houston–who has missed the last several weeks with swelling in his surgically repaired knee–as well as Justin March-Lillard, who is expected to replace the irreplaceable Derrick Johnson in the middle of Kansas City’s defense. On the offense side of the ball, Ware–who has been nursing bruised ribs for the past couple of weeks–is also slated to return. Those are just the actual injuries. That’s not to mention the wonders that a week off of football will do to everyone else just nursing nicks, bumps and bruises.

Another thing to take into consideration is how Alex Smith plays in the playoffs. I know Smith takes his criticism and as an admitted Smith-stan, I’ve been more critical of him this year than any year in the past. However, when Smith goes into playoffs mode, he steps up his game. No, he doesn’t miraculously turn into Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. But what he does well, he does even better in the playoffs. In five career playoff games, he is 2-3 and has thrown 11 touchdowns to one interception. He completes over 60 percent of his passes. He is what he is, but if the Chiefs stick to their game, they can beat anyone in the league.

The final point is simple. The Chiefs are playing at home, in the familiar confines of Arrowhead stadium. This is important for several reasons. First, we all know about the noise factor. And I don’t give a damn what former Chiefs’ offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz–and professional Twitter Troll–had to say, Arrowhead is the loudest open air stadium in the world. Period.

The noise affects every offense who comes to Arrowhead. That is why it’s imperative that fans who have the ability and means to attend this divisional round matchup, get their tickets and fill the stadium with red and gold instead of allowing the terrible towels to invade. The Steelers’ fans travel well. Don’t let them get tickets to this game. Ok, enough of that.

The other point about the location of the game is how Roethlisberger plays on the road versus at home. We all know how well Big Ben can sling the ball in the confines of his own stadium. However, when he goes on the road, it’s an entirely different story. In fact, this season, the Steelers offense has been considerably worse than it Pittsburgh. Check out this split:

That’s significant. A 1:1 ratio for touchdowns to interceptions on the road, when you’re facing the best takeaway defensive team in the NFL, doesn’t bode well. That is the Chiefs top key to victory. Big Ben will throw his picks. He’s generally good for a couple without the defense even trying. You add in guys named Marcus Peters and Eric Berry and it could get ugly for the Steelers pretty quickly. Especially if the Chiefs can convert those turnovers into points.

My final point:

At the end of the day, the Chiefs have a challenge in front of them, but it’s not insurmountable. The Chiefs are well coached and the team is finding its stride at the exact right time. They are the better all-around team who are only outmatched in a couple of positions. 

While the national pundits will all likely be picking the Steelers, f the Chiefs play like they are capable, they will be facing the Patriots on January 22 in the AFC title game.