How Can the Heavily Doubted Steelers Upset the Chiefs?

[Steeler Nation]

The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to avoid a Wild Card loss for the second straight year when Mike Tomlin‘s team travels to Arrowhead Stadium to take on Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. This will be no small task as the Steelers are currently listed as a 12.5-point underdog according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That spread is good for the largest in a Wild Card game in NFL history. Essentially, this would be the biggest Wild Card upset in the history of the NFL. This begs the question: how do the Steelers pull this off and prolong Ben Roethlisberger‘s career?

1.) Have Success With Four-Man Pass Rush​

The Steelers blitzed one of every four quarterback drop backs in the regular season. Don’t expect that on Sunday. Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is one of, if not, the best when facing pressure from 5+ defenders. He picks defenses apart when blitzed. We should expect to see a similar approach to the Week 16 matchup from the Steelers this weekend. Mahomes was sacked twice in a 36-10 rout of the Steelers, but T.J. Watt only played 55% of snaps due to injury. Watt will be the most important player on the field for the Steelers. The Chiefs first two options at right tackle, Lucias Niang and Mike Remmers, are both on Injured Reserved. This will leave the duties to Andrew Wylie who we saw struggle significantly in the Super Bowl last season. The front four will need to get to Mahomes to force quick decisions while seven drop back in coverage. The secondary needs all the help it can get with Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill running around.

2.) Control Time of Possession​

Back in Week 16, the Chiefs controlled possession the ball for 34:42. A 50/50 split isn’t even good enough due to the explosiveness of the offense on the other side. The Steelers need to slow this game down and make it the ugliest, vintage version of old school football. The offense averaged 5.2 yards per carry in the first matchup. Najee Harris is a little banged up due to an elbow injury, but he is going to need to get 25+ carries on Sunday night to give the Steelers a chance. The chances of advancing after a shootout victory are slim. The final score is going to need to be in the range of 20-17 in order to move onto Tennessee. This is going to be a challenge when the Chiefs stack eight defenders up near the line of scrimmage and dare Roethlisberger to throw the ball down the field. Establishing the run will be crucial.

3. Win the Turnover Battle… And Then Some​

A key to victory will be to not turn the ball over once while forcing 2+ turnovers on defense. The Chiefs capitalized scoring 17 points off three Steeler turnovers a few weeks ago. Without the turnovers, the score suddenly jumps down to 19-10 and maybe even a closer matchup depending on the results of those drives in which the ball was turned over. Not to mention, a rare missed field goal by Chris Boswell. Winning the turnover battle increases time of possession and momentum. It is extremely hard to beat Mahomes when he doesn’t turn the ball over. He turned the ball over in 4 of 5 losses this season.

4.) No Mistakes on Special Teams​

The Steelers kickoff and punt return average against are both in the bottom half of the NFL. Field position is crucial against the Chiefs as their offense can score rather quickly. Whether it is Pressley Harvin III or Corliss Waitman punting, 30-yard punts are not going to cut it. Additionally, Boswell needs to battle the wind in Kansas City and any and all kickoffs need to go through the back of the end zone. The Chiefs committed 23 special teams penalties (second in the NFL) this season compared to the Steelers 17. Unforced errors are not an option this weekend. Let the Chiefs make mistakes and do just enough offensively to win the game.

5.) Utilize Pat Freiermuth​

Freiermuth did not play in Week 16 and he has proven throughout the season (aside from a key fumble versus the Detroit Lions) that he can be a pivotal part of the offense. The Chiefs defense have yet to see him in action and he will be crucial on third down and in the red zone. The Steelers are 5-2 this season when the rookie tight end has 35 or more receiving yards. A lot of focus will be on Harris and Diontae Johnson. Matt Canada would be a fool to not have several packages and plays designed for Freiermuth in key situations this Sunday.



How do you think the Steelers can pull off a major upset this Sunday night? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation

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[bkwheat28]

Score more points!!!!!!!



In all seriousness….. we CANNOT lose the turnover battle, we have to have a run game to control the clock and limit Mahomes having the ball, and someone has got to make 2-3 big plays down field in the passing game. Easier said than done but also simple, basic football. And if I may channel the wisdom of Dan Fouts, WE CANT HOLD ANYTHING BACK

 

[Punxsutawney]

Watt being healthy is a big deal, compared to last game, no doubt.

They need him and Heyward to have the games of their lives, but the Chiefs line is pretty good and Mahomes is extremely crafty and elusive back there.

 

[Paul G]

matriculate down the field ........baby 50th year Anniversary

better yet metriculate ......... since we employ Coach CANADA ...... metre>yard

 

[Stewey]

If the team plays as if it was Bens last game then we'll win, then it will no longer be Ben's last game. Thats how we upset the Chefs.
It worked in Baltimore.

 

[Drink IRON City]

NORTH & SOUTH

Like Ernie Holme's ARROW on his head, that's the direction you go..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What ever happened to on field personalities such as that ?


Salute the nation

 

[steelcan58]

Basically the same blueprint we used to defeat Indy in 2006.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Brutalize the quarterback!


I don't even know why they're flying out for just a bye week for KC. How nice of the Steelers to tune them up for when the real playoffs start...

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Basically the same blueprint we used to defeat Indy in 2006.

Joey Porter tee'd off on Manning in that game...like brutal.

 

[bkwheat28]

NORTH & SOUTH

Like Ernie Holme's ARROW on his head, that's the direction you go..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What ever happened to on field personalities such as that ?


Salute the nation

good times!

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

FInish with more points. I don't care how.

 

[alancac98]

Do what the Steelers haven't done all season! If it were me. I go 2-TE set, Ben under center and Harris as the back. I make KC match up with a bigger package to stop a run game that could come from it. Then I utilize the hell out of play action! Send the TE's down the seems to keep the safeties honest and sticking to the middle of the field. If you want to take your shots down the sideline, you won't have to worry about safeties coming over unless they guess right - but they better guess right or a TE will be wide *** open. I think Fry Daddy and Gentry could eat up chunks of yards in the middle of the field. At the same time, you can run if they try to back out and adjust that way. Utilize the hell out of the middle of the field with crossing routes as the TE hit the seems and draw safeties back and you can go vice-versa equally as well. Clear the safeties with WR's and bring the TE in behind them toward the sideline. But play action out of the set is a must to keep the D off balance. Never ******* run on second down if they throw an incompletion on first down (they do that every damn time - can you say play action baby!!!) The Steelers always use outside the hashes 90% of the time. They have to reverse that trend and use the middle of the field 90% of the time!

On D, I put Witherspoon on Kelce - his length and speed will be needed to negate him. Witherspoon is an an above average tackler as well (better than I thought he would be), so I have no problem moving him up closer to the line on Kelce to also support the run. If you didn't want Witherspoon, then you have to go with Sutton there! No other CB will cover Kelce and Sutton might be the most physical CB we have. Witherspoon could go to the outside and matchup with Hill. No way can you match up a LB on Kelce - this game will be over by the half! Damn, it would be unbelievable if Tuitt suited up - that would help the run game and be something that KC doesn't expect, plus he would be fresh as hell! (I know wishful thinking). Just a couple of my thoughts!

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Utilize Gentry

 

[TDX27]

KC plays aggressive man-press coverage. If they are doing that, it would be even bigger if JuJu were playing. Breathe on RayRay and he'll fall over. But, they need to be sending someone deep on most plays and throwing to them. Make them respect it. Get a PI or two or three on whoever is covering Claypool. KC is prone to the deep shots in their man coverage. Sure, we want to run the ball but we also MUST try to take advantage of their man coverage.

 

[suncitysteel]

Throw caution to the wind. Go against your tendencies. What'dya have to lose?

Boswell needs to battle the wind in Kansas City and any and all kickoffs need to go through the back of the end zone

That's not Boswell, so that ain't gonna happen.

 

[SteveA]

l’d do something we ain’t never done…I would like them to utilize a 3 TE set.,.Let Najee run wild behind the 3 TE set and sprinkle in some big gains to the TE’s on RPO’s…

Beat their ***** down in the running game with a three tight end set would definitely go along way to fixing up that terrible online

Plus KC wouldn’t have film prepared on it. And you keep Mahomes off the field because you have ball control…

 

[Drink IRON City]

Do what the Steelers haven't done all season! If it were me. I go 2-TE set, Ben under center and Harris as the back. I make KC match up with a bigger package to stop a run game that could come from it. Then I utilize the hell out of play action! Send the TE's down the seems to keep the safeties honest and sticking to the middle of the field. If you want to take your shots down the sideline, you won't have to worry about safeties coming over unless they guess right - but they better guess right or a TE will be wide *** open. I think Fry Daddy and Gentry could eat up chunks of yards in the middle of the field. At the same time, you can run if they try to back out and adjust that way. Utilize the hell out of the middle of the field with crossing routes as the TE hit the seems and draw safeties back and you can go vice-versa equally as well. Clear the safeties with WR's and bring the TE in behind them toward the sideline. But play action out of the set is a must to keep the D off balance. Never ******* run on second down if they throw an incompletion on first down (they do that every damn time - can you say play action baby!!!) The Steelers always use outside the hashes 90% of the time. They have to reverse that trend and use the middle of the field 90% of the time!

On D, I put Witherspoon on Kelce - his length and speed will be needed to negate him. Witherspoon is an an above average tackler as well (better than I thought he would be), so I have no problem moving him up closer to the line on Kelce to also support the run. If you didn't want Witherspoon, then you have to go with Sutton there! No other CB will cover Kelce and Sutton might be the most physical CB we have. Witherspoon could go to the outside and matchup with Hill. No way can you match up a LB on Kelce - this game will be over by the half! Damn, it would be unbelievable if Tuitt suited up - that would help the run game and be something that KC doesn't expect, plus he would be fresh as hell! (I know wishful thinking). Just a couple of my thoughts!

T-H-I-S




Salute the nation

 

[bkwheat28]

T-H-I-S




Salute the nation

Agree. I’ve been impressed with Gentry with his limited opportunities. JuJu might be not up to full speed but he makes them think and have to plan. We might not have a snowballs chance but as the week grows older I’m feeling a little more optimistic of at least making them work for it this time. C’mon football gods….. let’s shock the world!

 

[bermudasteel]

I leaning towards the 'eating the clock' scenarios...

I bring out the wildcat this week and lots of play action plays.

If Juju is back the middle of the field is going to be covered so exploiting the edges w/ come back routes is were I see a weakness (unless they play Cover 2).

Derek Watt and Banner will be the keys to the ground game, Leglue included.

Bama lost but they had a plan that could have worked had they not lost their stud WR - make the defense play sideline to sideline and wear their ***** out early; by the 4th quarter your QB will be having a field day...

 

[Drink IRON City]

Ernie Holmes / ArrowHead stadium........................................................ any questions ?




Salute the nation

 

[steelcan58]

Joey Porter tee'd off on Manning in that game...like brutal.

The best game I recall Porter playing. Unblockable. We need that out of Watt.

We also kept Manning and the offense off the field the first 3 quarters.

 

[Frosty]

FS1’s Nick Wright thinks the Chiefs should rest some starters Sunday. From Benz's column...

“If I were Andy Reid, I would consider resting Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill this week,” he said. “Make sure they’re primed and ready to go for when the playoffs actually begin.”

Ouch.

 

[steelcan58]

FS1’s Nick Wright thinks the Chiefs should rest some starters Sunday. From Benz's column...

“If I were Andy Reid, I would consider resting Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill this week,” he said. “Make sure they’re primed and ready to go for when the playoffs actually begin.”

Ouch.

That's the exact kind of attitude that will help us beat KC. Even if it doesn't come from the Chiefs directly, a lot of times the opinions of outsiders gets reflected in the dressing room.

 

[stuntmanmike]

1) titans were successful with a two stage rush.. 1st wave broke down blocking second wave contained Mahomes hurried him or sacking him… send 3 send 2 send four but in the end you have to “contain” Mahomes he will run he’ll pass he’ll do what ever he wants and that ain’t good. I’d send Bush at him like a cruse missile every single play, Bush would spy him then try to sack him every single snap. Bush ain’t good for much else but Mahomes knowing he has an assassin on his shadow could make him change his game. its strange to me that teams just let a qb like Mahomes just ”roam“ around, trying to contain everyone else, letting the qb just roam around till they make a play… I’d make them bleed. qb like Brady id assign 2 assassins they would know what he was going to do before he did… but whatever the Steelers do they have to beat Mahomes or they won’t win. GO STEELERS!!!

 

[SteelerinMD]

That's the exact kind of attitude that will help us beat KC. Even if it doesn't come from the Chiefs directly, a lot of times the opinions of outsiders gets reflected in the dressing room.

So many talking about the Chiefs 2nd round opponent. Like I also said in another thread, NOBODY outside Steelers Nation gives them any chance.

Resting players, bye week with live walk thru, easy win, game over by halftime. Steelers just lose at every positional matchup. Many think Watt will be contained, Mahomes will pass at will and the run will be there to give receivers a break and the anemic Steelers offense against the now so called vaunted Chiefs d. None of them have the upset as a possibility or that the game could be close, NOPE KC blew out Steelers and they will again. Why play? So many upsets happen. That is why they play the games. I hope the entire KC fan base, media, players and coaches pull the Mediocre Mike and over look the Steelers.


I have to admit, I have gone from glad for Ben and Steelers to make playoffs, to they do have a shot. I like more and more the over looking of the game, Ju Ju back, Watt being dismissed again of the sack record and healthy, Cam all pro, Adams getting more comfy and guys coming back. It is aligning as no body gives them a chance, they can let it loose, have fun and have NO pressure. All the pressure is on KC, a loss would be delicious tears! not to mention more excuses than Tom Brady bullshit roughing the passer