Chiefs vs. Steelers: Kansas City leads Wild Card round predictions

We’re heading into the first weekend of the NFL postseason which means the games are tougher since there’s much more at stake. For the Kansas City Chiefs, they can only hope that the results of their regular season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers mirror those of the Wild Card round. That’s at least what our writers are predicting here at Arrowhead Addict.

Given that the Chiefs bounced Pittsburgh out of Arrowhead back in Week 16 by a whopping 26 points, it’s hard to find anyone who is not predicting similar results on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Even as the Steelers were able to secure a postseason position to the surprise of many, it wasn’t done in convincing fashion. Instead, it felt like they stumbled into the role.

Can the Steelers apply some lessons learned from Week 16? Can Ben Roethlisberger summon something extra knowing this could be his last gasp in professional football? How will Mike Tomlin have his crew prepared?

Read on for our predictions from our writers at Arrowhead Addict.

Max Cashio

I wish it were more complicated than this. Steelers bad, Chiefs good. The Steelers haven’t shown they can hang with competent teams, and they looked abysmal in their contest against Kansas City earlier in the season. Chiefs 35, Steelers 10

Matt Conner

Even if you cut the deficit of the previous meeting by half, the Chiefs still come out by two touchdowns in this one. The talent differential here is just too great to think Pittsburgh is going to go toe to toe with K.C. for four quarters. Chiefs 27, Steelers 13

Lyle Graversen

The Steelers have nothing to lose so I’m guessing they’ll come out loose and give the Chiefs everything they’ve got. I actually think it will be a much harder game than their first match up. Fortunately for KC, Big Ben doesn’t have any arm left and ultimately won’t be able to keep pace with the Chiefs offense. Chiefs 27, Steelers 17

Sterling Holmes

With the Weekend at Bernies version of Big Ben hardly being able to throw the ball past the line of scrimmage, as long as the Chiefs tackle and contain, they should have no issues moving past the Steelers. Chris Jones should dominate a weak Steelers offensive line and Bolton should have a field day getting downhill and stopping Harris. Offensively, as long as the Chiefs score 17 points, they should come away victorious. Chiefs 31, Steelers 16

Jake Kokoris

The Chiefs defense puts the clamps on the Steelers offense, limiting Big Ben to under 200 yards through the air. The chiefs struggle to contain TJ Watt, but the offense does just enough to keep this game (relatively) straightforward. Chiefs 23, Steelers 13

Scott Loring

It would be nice to think that this game will go exactly the same as the last one did, but the law of averages tells us that Mike Tomlin’s crew is going to make this one more interesting. A healthy TJ Watt makes a big difference for Pittsburgh’s defense, but the Steelers offense won’t be enough to overcome the Chiefs. Chiefs 20, Steelers 17

Ellen Mathis

Chiefs get the Steelers in the first round thanks to a complete collapse by the Colts and I, for one, could not be more thrilled. The Chiefs manhandled the Steelers during the regular season and frankly, I expect something relatively similar. Patrick is so good in the postseason, and despite the fact that he won’t get a bye, the corpse of Ben Roethlisburger can’t compete with him. TJ Watt is a monster, but it just isn’t enough to win this one. Chiefs 27, Steelers 13.

KC Proctor

A lot of folks got worried about a close game in the finale against Denver. Those types of games break out among division rivals all the time, and those who were nervous then need to strap in. Those types of games are even tougher in the playoffs. Vegas is calling for a dominant showing, and Ben is a shell of his former self, but don’t expect the Steelers to just rollover.  Chiefs 24, Steelers 20

Hunter Stanton

The last time the Steelers played in Arrowhead a few weeks ago, they were blown out in an embarrassing 36-10 loss where both the Chiefs offense and defense dominated. With how both the Chiefs and Steelers have been playing through these past few weeks, I still see the Chiefs coming out on top, especially with them playing in Arrowhead again.  Chiefs 34, Steelers 17

Grant Tuttle

The Steelers head back to Kansas City for butt whoopin’ number two. Let’s face it, the Chargers are more deserving than the Steelers. As are the Ravens if they weren’t so beat up. The Steelers don’t belong in the playoffs and the Chiefs are going to remind them of that as they send Ben Roethlisberger into retirement. Chiefs 38 Steelers 14