Steelers have enjoyed goin’ to Kansas City
FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, in Kansas City, Mo. The unbeaten Chiefs are eying some revenge when the Steelers roll into town Sunday. It was Pittsburgh that knocked the AFC West champs out of the playoffs last season. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a 6-1 record against Kansas City. The Steelers play the Chiefs today in Arrowhead Stadium.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coming into the season, it was assumed the Steelers and New England Patriots would be the teams to beat in the AFC.
The Kansas City Chiefs have had something to say about that.
The Chiefs knocked off the Patriots, 42-27 in Week 1 and get a chance to beat the Steelers today.
Kansas City (5-0) is the lone unbeaten team in the NFL and has an opportunity to take a definitive lead for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win over the Steelers.
But the Steelers (3-2) won’t be overwhelmed going into Arrowhead Stadium, one of the toughest venues for visiting teams. They went there in the AFC Divisional playoffs last season and beat the Chiefs, 18-16. They also have won four of their past five meetings with Kansas City, including two last year.
“We respect it; we don’t fear it,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said of Kansas City’s hot start. “We also respect the venue. We’ve been there and we understand what that means from a preparation standpoint. We understand what that means from a play standpoint. The venue is going to be a factor in this game. We can have something to say about that if we perform.”
Doing so won’t be easy.
The Chiefs turned the ball over on a fumble by rookie Kareem Hunt on their first offensive play of the season. They have not turned the ball over since then.
Quarterback Alex Smith is completing an NFL-best 76.6 percent of his passes and leads the NFL with a 125.8 passer rating. He has 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in 158 passes.
“Alex Smith is hotter than anything,” said Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt. “They’ve got a hot football team.”
Smith is the best quarterback the Steelers have faced thus far and offers a big challenge for their top-rated pass defense.
“Their pass defense is phenomenal,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of the Steelers. “You better be prepared to fit the ball into some tight windows.”
Slowing the Chiefs won’t be an easy task, especially considering how inconsistent the Steelers have played to this point. They have allowed more than 200 yards rushing in two of their past three games – both losses – and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is coming off a game against Jacksonville in which he threw a career-high five interceptions.
“You play a great team like this – a great defense on the road with the environment that they always have at Arrowhead – you get excited for these matchups,” Roethlisberger said.
In two games against Kansas City last season, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell rushed for 144 and 170 yards, the latter a Pittsburgh playoff record.
Bell had 30 carries in that postseason game, a total he has matched only one time this season. But the Steelers also failed to score a touchdown in that playoff game, settling for six field goals. They also failed to score a touchdown last week against Jacksonville.
“We gotta get the ball in the end zone,” Bell said.
A better game from Roethlisberger would help. Roethlisberger failed to throw a touchdown pass last week in a home game for the first time in more than five seasons.
The Steelers expect Roethlisberger to bounce back. He has a 6-1 record in seven starts against Kansas City.
“I haven’t seen any drop-off in Ben,” said offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “I’ve seen him grow each and every year. Unfortunately, how this year started, none of us have really played up to our potential for a lot of different reasons.”
Kansas City has the league’s highest-scoring offense at 32.8 points per game and averages 414.2 yards per game, second-most in the league. … Bell has 481 yards from scrimmage in his past three games against Kansas City. … In five career games against Kansas City, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown has 449 receiving yards and three touchdowns. … The Steelers are expected to get right tackle Marcus Gilbert back for the game. They have gone 2-4 the past two seasons when Gilbert doesn’t play. Gilbert missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. … Guard Ramon Foster (back) is the only starter unlikely to play for the Steelers. B.J. Finney would start in his place.