5 Chiefs Who Will Play Shockingly Well Against Pittsburgh

Dec 14, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid stands on the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

HC Andy Reid

Reid has long been suspected of holding back plays to use at specific times throughout the season and playoffs. I thought that was quite evident in both of the Raiders games (to the team’s detriment in the first meeting).

Well, on Sunday, the playbook will be fully open and I expect to see some fireworks. A conspiracy theorist might also find that the gameplan against the Raiders last week was a shot across the bow to the Steelers. By leaning heavily on QB Alex Smith’s arm (and to great effect), Reid no doubt knows that he is producing tape on the Chiefs that will have the Steelers concerned about covering up their greatest weakness – their pass defense.

If nothing else, I think part of the plan last week was to build confidence in the Chiefs themselves that they could win by passing the ball.

Now, I expect to see a highly varied gameplan to squelch the last of the anti-Reid hysteria generated by the earlier three-game skid.

This is the same team that beat the national champs a month ago and there’s no point in holding back now.