Kansas City Chiefs: Four keys to beating the Pittsburgh Steelers

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) gestures at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) gestures at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford (55) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford (55) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Key #4: Get pressure on Ben Roethlisberger

In the Chiefs first meeting with the Steelers this season Ben Roethlisberger was about as comfortable as a quarterback can be as he completed a season best 81.5% of his passes and had another season high with five touchdown passes. I’ll risk sounding like captain obvious when I say that can’t happen again if the Chiefs want to win this game.

Look, it would be great if the Chiefs sacked Big Ben six times but given the fact that he was only sacked 17 times this season that probably isn’t going to happen. The Steelers have a good offensive line and Ben has that uncanny ability to slide out of danger just when it looks like the defense is going to get him.

That having been said, the Chiefs don’t have to sack Big Ben multiple times in order for the pass rush to have a major effect on this game. The Chiefs just need to get enough pressure on him so that he doesn’t have time to pick them apart again. The Chiefs are a good coverage team, especially with the emergence of Terrance Mitchell at the number two corner spot.

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