Sep 30, 2016 4 min read

Notice: Undefined offset: 0 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/strategically_placed_photos_article.php on line 412

Notice: Trying to get property 'term_id' of non-object in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/strategically_placed_photos_article.php on line 412

There’s nothing better to get the bad taste out of your mouth following a poor performance than to play another game.

The Steelers have had all week to stew about what happened last week in Philadelphia and we’ll see how they rebound Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs are coming off a game against the New York Jets in which they forced eight turnovers yet still only scored three touchdowns in a 24-3 win. The Chiefs don’t do much on offense.

Of course, if the Steelers aren’t better tackling catches at the line of scrimmage, it won’t matter.

But that’s a big reason the team is going with Jordan Dangerfield at strong safety instead of Shamarko Thomas. Dangerfield is a hitter. With him and Mike Mitchell at the safety positions, guys are going to get tackled and get tackled hard.

Dangerfield, of course, will start in place of injured Robert Golden. Rookie Sean Davis is injured as well, but I’m not so sure the Steelers wouldn’t have gone with Dangerfield in place of Golden, regardless. Davis has been one of the players struggling with his tackling.

Ryan Shazier also will miss this one and Vince Williams will play in his place. Again, the Steelers are going with a hitter, though Williams had a tough game last week against the Eagles.

At guard, B.J. Finney will make his first career start in place of injured Ramon Foster, while you can expect to see more Darrius Heyward-Bey this week with Eli Rogers out with a toe injury.

In fact, I expect Heyward-Bey to take some snaps away from Sammie Coates – not all, but some – as Heyward-Bey gives the Steelers some flexibility breaking the huddle.

With Hey-Bey, Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton on the field together, the Chiefs won’t know who is lining up in the slot, since all three guys are capable of handling that spot. Add Le’Veon Bell to the equation and the Chiefs will be guessing on every play.

Did I mention Le’Veon Bell?

He’ll make his return this week and the star running back is hungry to put his three-game suspension behind him and show everyone he’s 100 percent healthy as well.

Bell had 121 yards on 17 carries and caught four passes for 16 yards at Kansas City last season with Landry Jones subbing for Ben Roethlisberger.

Kansas City has allowed 123 yards rushing per game this season and 4.2 yards per carry. Those are mediocre numbers and Bell should have a big day.

Weather could be a factor in this game as it’s expected to rain throughout the weekend, but we’ll see about that.

The Chiefs could choose to match opportunistic corner Marcus Peters on Antonio Brown in this one since Phillip Gaines, their other corner, is hobbled with an injury and not all that talented to begin with.

But Brown caught four passes for 99 yards when matched against Peters in the meeting last season, so that might not work out all that well, despite the fact Peters has 13 interceptions in 21 career games, including the playoffs.

The Steelers also are 21-7 in prime time games at Heinz Field since it opened in 2001. I look for them to add to that total.

Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 44 touchdown passes in home games and 17 in road games since the start of the 2014 season. The Chiefs also have just three sacks while giving up nine of their own in three games this season, so look for Pittsburgh to get to Alex Smith some in this contest.

The Steelers are 4 1/2-point favorites and I like them to win, 27-20.