Dec 20, 2014 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – After winning their final three road games, the Steelers play their last two games of the regular season at Heinz Field.

They would very much like to play a third home game.

With wins in their final two games, starting today against the Kansas City Chiefs (8-6), the Steelers (9-5) would win the AFC North and be assured of at least one home game in the playoffs.

For a team that hasn’t been in the postseason since 2011 and hasn’t hosted a playoff game since 2010, that’s a pretty big deal.

“We want that home game,” Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “That hasn’t been done here in a while.”

First, the Steelers must take care of business against the Chiefs. A win today will clinch a playoff berth.

“The last couple of games have been playoff games for us,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “We’ve had to take that approach and that mindset because of how important every game was, where we were recordwise, seedwise, whatever you want to call it. We’ve had that mentality for the last couple of weeks, that it’s time to get hot and play our best football.”

Kansas City has given the Steelers fits for years.

In their last meeting, a 16-13 overtime win for the Steelers in Pittsburgh in 2012, Roethlisberger suffered rib and shoulder injuries that forced him to miss three games and derailed the team’s playoff hopes.

In 2011, the Steelers struggled to a 13-9 victory at Kansas City. In 2009, the Chiefs shocked the defending Super Bowl-champion Steelers, 27-24, in overtime at Arrowhead Stadium with Jamaal Charles returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score and later catching the game-tying touchdown pass.

Charles will again be the focal point for the Steelers’ defense. The speedy running back leads the NFL with 14 touchdowns despite getting the football fewer than 17 times per game.

He and backup running back Knile Davis have accounted for 22 touchdowns.

“You know the type of special runner that Charles is,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Davis has proven quickly to be a very resourceful and viable No. 2 option. They create a formidable tandem.”

The Steelers’ running game is all Le’Veon Bell, who leads the AFC in yards from scrimmage with a team-record 2,043. Bell has 100 carries in the Steelers’ last four games, rushing for 531 yards and six touchdowns with another 299 yards and a score on 21 pass receptions.

“Le’Veon and Ben are playing very well,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “It starts with their front. Their front is playing well, so it allows them to have that flexibility.”

The offensive line will need to play well to slow the Chiefs’ pass rush. Kansas City has 38 sacks, led by outside linebacker Justin Houston’s NFL-best 17. He and fellow outside linebacker Tama Hali have combined for 23 sacks.

“Those two guys are the catalysts on the edge,” Beachum said. “They’re a great tandem. We’re going to have a fight on our hands.”

The Steelers will try to establish their running game to slow that pass rush and allow Roethlisberger time to get the ball to Antonio Brown, who leads the NFL in catches and receiving yards.

Pittsburgh has the league’s top-rated offense while Kansas City has the best red zone defense.

While the Steelers need a victory to get into the playoffs, they would still be in contention with a loss. Kansas City cannot say the same thing. A loss ends the Chiefs’ postseason hopes.

“You have been working hard to put yourself in this position,” said Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith, who has 18 touchdown passes, none of which have gone to a wide receiver.

“You want the stages to get bigger and bigger and be more meaningful, and here we are.”

Despite allowing 4.9 yards per carry, Kansas City’s defense has allowed only two rushing touchdowns, the fewest in the league. … Smith has been sacked 39 times. Only two quarterbacks have been sacked more often. … The Steelers lead the NFL with 142 points scored in the fourth quarter. … Brown needs two receiving yards to break his team record of 1,499 that was set last season. … Marcus Gilbert is expected to start at right tackle for the Steelers after missing three games with an ankle injury. … Safety Troy Polamalu (knee) is doubtful. Veteran Will Allen will start in his place.