Steelers vs Chiefs: Discussing Wild Card game with Arrowhead Addict

The Pittsburgh Steelers were trounced by the Chiefs the first time they played in 2021. Matt Conner weighs with his thoughts on this Wild Card matchup.

Steelers fans would like to forget about the debacle we saw when these two teams faced each other in Week 16. Though I was cautiously optimistic that Pittsburgh was going to be able to keep this contest within 10 points, Kansas City wiped the floor with us in a 36-10 blowout loss.

Now Mike Tomlin’s team is the underdog once again in Arrowhead Stadium — this time hoping for better results. The Steelers are capable of playing great defense, but their offensive upside is extremely capped with an aging quarterback and a poor offensive line.

Recently, I once again caught up with Arrowhead Addict editor Matt Conner to discuss this all-important Wild Card game. In our Q&A, he shared his thoughts on the Steelers vs Chiefs playoff matchup this Sunday:

Kansas City was on fire in the second half of the season. What has been the biggest factor in going 9-1over the final 10 games of the regular season?

The defense has definitely turned things around, a dozen micro-decisions that redefined the macro narrative around the entire unit. Melvin Ingram was acquired, which pushed Chris Jones inside, who finally healed from an ongoing wrist injury. With the linebackers, Willie Gay got over a toe injury while Nick Bolton gained experience. Dan Sorensen was benched in the secondary and Juan Thornhill has played more, and younger corners have surprisingly developed like L’Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton. It all came together midseason and they haven’t looked back.

The Chiefs ran away with the victory vs the Steelers in their previous matchup. What would Pittsburgh have to do to give themselves a chance in this playoff matchup?

It almost feels like the Chiefs would have to shoot themselves in the foot. I just think the talent differential is too great for the Steelers to step up and punch the Chiefs in the mouth and take it from them. However, it can be done. The Chiefs have looked sloppy at various points and that’s even true of recent games. Poor tackling. Stupid penalties. Giveaways. Mahomes threw two passes straight at a defender in Week 18 and both were dropped. If the Steelers can execute their game plan, play very smart football, and remain opportunistic, any team has a chance against the Chiefs.

This is yet another revenge game for edge defender Melvin Ingram. How has his presence impacted the Chiefs defense this year?

It’s way beyond what you see in the stat sheet, which admittedly isn’t much. The Chiefs don’t have a T.J. Watt who is lighting up the box score, but Chris Jones is the best interior disruptor on this side of Aaron Donald. Ingram’s presence pushed Jones back inside after experimenting with him wide. At the same time, Jarran Reed finally caught onto what Spags has been wanting him to do all year and together they get a very consistent push. Ingram’s presence alone commands respect and reshapes what the entire line can do. Plus his intensity and hustle are good for a couple of key plays every game on his own.

What is one matchup you feel the Chiefs could look to exploit against the Steelers?

It will be interesting to see how Travis Kelce comes out against the Steelers. He hasn’t played them since the 2018 season, but he had 186 yards on 12 catches and 2 touchdowns in his last two games against Pittsburgh. His chemistry with Mahomes is uncanny, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the Steelers have a difficult time handling him this time around.

Which lesser-known player do you think could see a big game this Sunday for Kansas City?

Clyde Edwards-Helaire should be back and ready to play after a shoulder injury, but if he’s not, you could see a big game from running back Derrick Gore. He’s a rookie free agent out of Louisiana-Monroe who originally went to Alabama and he’s got an uncanny vision for where to go with the football. He’s churned out multiple big plays even as a guy buried behind Clyde and Darrel Williams (and even Jerick McKinnon) and the Chiefs coaches are rewarding him with more and more reps. Darrel Williams is injured (toe) and Edwards-Helaire has missed the last two weeks. It could be a coming-out party for Gore in primetime.

What is your game prediction and final score for this contest?

The Chiefs won by 26 last time and now everything’s on the line for both teams. I’d expect a crisp, focused effort and another fairly big win. Chiefs by 14. KC 27, PIT 13