Even after their embarrassing Week 5 loss to the Jaguars, the Pittsburgh Steelers would shock no one if they handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss.
Whenever someone in Pittsburgh has a bad game, they’re immediately put on the hypothetical bus out of town. No one means it after six days, but following a loss, Steelers fans are some of the toughest critics in football.
This time, everyone has the right to believe there’s a serious problem with Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to perform, and the play calling decisions by the coaching staff. After the worst game Pittsburgh has played in years, it’s understandable to believe there’s reason to worry this season isn’t going to live up to expectations.
There’s no denying the Chiefs are the best team in football. The explosion of Alex Smith combined with rookie sensation, Kareem Hunt, and the already dominant defense of Kansas City, this team has come out of nowhere to completely take over the NFL.
Must Read: Steelers WR retires from NFL
As crazy as it sounds, if you’ve been a Steelers fan for years, you know that Pittsburgh’s best shot to bounce back from a game like Jacksonville is against a team as good as the Chiefs. Even if it’s on the road, the Steelers would rather play the tougher team and have less of a shot to win right after a poor loss.
Everyone might have forgotten for a few hours that this team is one of the best on paper, but it’s true. Even if they haven’t played like it, they certainly can, and games like this is exactly when they tend to celebrate their coming out party.
Ben Roethlisberger isn’t the same as he once was, and maybe Le’Veon Bell still doesn’t have the trust from the coaching staff after missing the entire preseason, but this team can still win big. Their defense is turning into one of the best in the AFC, and despite the poor play last week, this offense can win games on their own.
Kansas City is a game no one would be willing to admit they expect Pittsburgh to win, but definitely one people believe they could. Those fans that watch every Sunday know that in times like these, the Steelers play better than almost anyone in the NFL.
Coming back from a loss in a Pittsburgh specialty. Against a top team is nearly an automatic win sometimes.
Next: Coaching needs to be accountable moving forward
Maybe they aren’t playing like they have in the past, but the Steelers are still the Steelers. Which means Kansas City is a huge favorite on paper and a major underdog on the field.