Kansas City Chiefs: Four keys to beating the Pittsburgh Steelers
Key #1: Get the playmakers the ball
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to put up some points in this game. There are a couple of things that KC can do to limit the damage but we’ll get to those in a minute. In order for KC to outscore a high powered offense that features elite offensive weapons like Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown they simply MUST utilize the elite playmakers on their own roster. may seem like another obvious key that would apply to every team but I included it in this post because as well all know, the Chiefs don’t always do this.
The Chiefs have a multitude of weapons that they use that are what I would call “fine.” Running backs Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West are fine. Their third, fourth, and fifth receiving options (Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, and DeAnthony Thomas) are fine.
Their second string tight end Demetrius Harris is fine too. Having and using those players is also “fine” as long as they aren’t the foundation that the offense is built around. You don’t outscore a dangerous offense like Pittsburgh’s with “fine”. You outscore them with elite talent. Period.
The Chiefs have three great weapons on offense and two of them are down right elite. Jeremy Maclin is a true number one receiver and is certainly the kind of player that is capable of having a big game and keeping KC’s offense moving. If the Steelers go out of their way to take away KC’s “big two” then it should mean Maclin sees single coverage and the Chiefs should take advantage of it. However, if KC really wants to keep pace with an elite offense they MUST get the ball to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.
Travis Kelce has been the undisputed best tight end in the NFL since Gronk went down to injury and has proven himself to be one of the best weapons in all the NFL. Kelce finished first among tight ends in receiving yards this season and twelfth in the entire NFL.
He has the size and strength to be a nightmare matchup for defensive backs and is much too fast and athletic for linebackers to cover. If Kelce is in single coverage then Alex Smith should get him the ball. Period. He makes plays almost every time he touches the ball and the only excuse KC should have for not feeding him the ball is if the Steelers have two or three guys assigned to him on every play (in which case SOMEBODY should be wide open).