Steelers fans should temper expectations for Kansas City Chiefs game

The Steelers improbable 2021 season will continue with a wildcard game against the Kansas City Chiefs 

First, let me just say that I, for one, am thrilled that the Steelers will be playing in a wildcard game against the Kansas City Chiefs.  After the way the 2021 regular season unfolded, it was difficult for me to imagine that we would even make the playoffs.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not thrilled about the fact that we are the seventh seed and have to travel back to Kansas City where we lost a mere three weeks ago and, frankly, we did not look too good in the process.  In fact, the game was embarrassing for us.

We are in the tournament, as Mike Tomlin would say, but are we really built to go on a run that would culminate in an opportunity to play for another Lombardi Trophy?  Since that is the goal every season, all I can say is this: Anything is possible, but not many things are probable.

The Steelers look to upset the Chiefs to keep the winning train going

Heading into the game against the Ravens, the Steelers needed a miracle in order to get into the playoffs.  Well, that miracle happened.  The Jaguars beat the Colts, we beat the Ravens, and the Chargers and Raiders did not play to a tie.

My issue is this:  Why did it take all of the aforementioned to transpire for us to be the seventh seed?  If you watched the Steelers play throughout the 2021 season, it is frankly an improbability that we are discussing a playoff game in the first place.

According to ESPN, the Steelers finished with the twenty-third ranked offense and the twenty-fourth ranked defense.  Those two statistics tell you all you need to know about how the 2021 season played out; however, we are in the playoffs and that counts for something.

Look, I think it’s great that Ben Roethlisberger will have another opportunity to play for a Lombardi Trophy and with his veteran leadership, anything is possible.  I just don’t want to get my hopes up to the point where I am expecting us to move on.

What I am expecting is that the Steelers will play markedly better against the Chiefs this time around.  If that happens, we will have a chance to emerge victorious and I think that’s all we can ask for as fans.  Just play well enough to keep the game close and to give someone an opportunity to make the big play that wins the game.

With a clean slate, let’s see how things play out against the Chiefs.  Who knows, maybe we will be talking about another improbable win next week?