Kansas City Chiefs vs Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Analysis
Here’s the fruits of Antonio’s amazing catch yesterday versus the Chiefs
Photo via Getty
Final Score:
Chiefs 13 – Steelers 19
Passing Stats:
Ben Roethlisberger
| Quarterback | Completions | Attempts | Yards | QBRating |
| Ben Roethlisberger | 17 | 25 | 252 | 97.4 |
| Alex Smith | 19 | 34 | 246 | 88.6 |
Steelers Receiving Stats:
Antonio Brown: 8 receptions for 155 yards – 1 touchdown
Juju Smith-Schuster: 3 receptions for 32 yards
Martavis Bryant: 2 receptions for 27 yards
Vance McDonald: 1 receptions for 26 yards
Le ?Veon Bell: 3 receptions for 12 yards
Rushing Stats:
Le ?Veon Bell: 32 rushes for 179 yards, Avg: 5.6 yards – 1 touchdown
James Conner: 2 rushes for 14 yards, Avg: 7.0 yards
Terrell Watson: 1 rush for 3 yards, Avg: 3.0 yards
Kicking Stats:
Chris Boswell ? 1 for 1, PCT: 100%, XPM – 2, PTS: 5
Game Summary:
In a game which came down to the wire, the Pittsburgh Steelers redeemed themselves fully, following one of their worst performances in recent memory, with a hard-fought 19 – 13 victory over the previously-undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers improved their record to 4-2 and sit atop the AFC North.
The story of this game featured the Steeler’s ‘Killer Bs’, whose performance reminded Steelers fans of the high-level potential of their offense. Coming off the worst performance of his career, Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made the completions when it counted and finished the game with 252 passing yards and a touchdown.
All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell, who was on record this week stating that the Steelers should focus more on the run, was a workhorse from the opening whistle; by the end of the 1st quarter, he had already amassed 72 rushing yards. He finished the game with 179 rushing yards on 32 carries.
Perhaps the player that left the biggest imprint on this day was All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown. Brown accounted for yet another big game with 155 receiving yards and most notably made a key catch late in the game on 3rd and 2 (worthy of play of year consideration) and scoring the game clinching touchdown for the Steelers. Coming into today’s game, Brown had more receiving yards than every NFL receiver this season; today’s performance solidified his spot at #1.
On the other side of the ball, the Steelers’ defense stated their claim as arguably the best unit in the NFL with their performance. They held the Chiefs’ offense to 13 points for the entire game. Coming into this game, the much maligned rush defense had a tough task against the league’s top running back, rookie Kareem Hunt. They responded by confining Hunt to only 21 yards rushing. As a unit, the Steelers’ defense rose to the occasion in a tense situation. Notably, second year safety Sean Davis made a key stop on 4th and 2 early in the last quarter, which could have changed the outcome in the Chiefs favor.
Other great individual performances included Steelers’ linebacker Vince Williams, who left the game early in the 4th quarter with a hip injury, but finished the day with 5 tackles and a team high 2 sacks. Safety Sean Davis accounted for 8 tackles (6 solo), and a pass deflection; lastly, veteran outside linebacker James Harrison, activated for the first time this season, came up big with a sack at the end to help clinch the game and supplied 3 tackles.
Post Game Commentary:
The true measure of a team is how it responds after being embarrassed in the fashion this team was last week. Collectively, this team came together and made this victory possible, against arguably the best team in the NFL. Offensively speaking, although this was not the greatest showing, it was the type of game that can carry over into big things in future games. What was encouraging to see was both Ben and Antonio on the same page, something that the collective fanbase was waiting to see.
Lastly about Antonio Brown — Brown is the type of athlete that comes once in a generation, that influences others to strive for the same greatness. The spectacular catch he made today was not just a reflection of his God-given talent, but also a reflection of the work ethic that he has instilled since he was drafted back in 2010. There should be no question in anyone’s mind that Brown is the best wide receiver in the NFL, but after such a catch, it may not be so far-fetched to think that the is the best player in the NFL.
Steelers Play of the game:
There not much more to say about this play, it is all Antonio Brown.
Kelly Anozie
Born and raised Ottawa, Ontario Canada, Kelly is a Steelers contributor to The Point of Pittsburgh. Formerly a contributor for SBNation's 'Behind the Steel Curtain'. Kelly can be reached via the Twitter handle @kanozie80
I am not one that likes end zone celebrations very much. But, does anyone else think the one called on Bell was kind of wishy washy? I thought the rule on celebrations was going to be relaxed this year.
Neil, my understanding is that anything involving just your person or the ball is okay, but any other prop (goalposts included, apparently) is off limits.
Otherwise, I agree. It was a lot less stupid than some other post-TD celebrations.
My favorite part of those “plays” however is how the official just runs up, stands there and watches the celebration like he’s ready to critique it afterwards, and then throws the flag at the end, even though the celebration was clearly a violation the moment he started at the goalposts. I’m guessing the league has told the refs to just let the celebration play out before throwing any flag. At least let the guy have his fun before you penalize him. It’s just a funny picture.
Thanks, Patrick. I wasn’t aware of the goal post as prop rule. I assume Bell also was unaware. He should have been, though. But, hey, using the goal post padding as a punching bag is better than what AB did to the goal post a few years ago, if you remember that. He also got penalized and he did deserve that one.
I hope the Steelers silenced their critics, at least for this week, with that performance yesterday. It was far from perfect but showed what the team is capable of doing. They clearly remain the best team in the AFC Central, which almost guarantees them a playoff berth and once there anything can happen ? particularly since the Patriots seem eminently beatable.
Could not help but notice the criticism of Haley yesterday. I trust everyone knows there are countless ways the best-devised and most-opportune plays can go wrong and almost all of those don ?t involved the offensive coordinator.
The game left me with this question: For what were the Steelers saving James Harrison?
Couldn’t agree more about Harrison. He was coming off the edge like a madman. Why has not been on the field?
Agree Bob
Huge road win
Love the 180 rushing yards
I feel the same way about Harrison. I think if spotted correctly he could do some serious damage.
I checked out the game recap on the PPG last night. There were a lot of angry fans over there. I hadn’t done that before, but I should have known it would be as bad as the so-called fans of the Pirates. Some people love to hate, even on a team with the third best record in the league who just beat an undefeated team. I wonder if it’s just the kids who are like that?
Acquit in themselves fully might be a little more praise than I’m willing to give, but they certainly displayed why this team can be considered among the top in the AFC.
A couple points that hold me back from gushing praise…
1. Anytime you dominate another team as thoroughly and completely as the Steelers did the Chiefs in the 1st half and you only come away with what was barely a 2 possession lead, you’ve done something wrong. The botched free kick, some missed passes, lack of a killer instinct, those things the team got away with yesterday but they need to be better.
2. Brown was dominant yesterday as usual, but he made that bone headed mistake on the free kick and ran that odd hook route when he clearly should have been on a slant which led to that terrible interception. Even great players make mistakes so I’m not trying to berate the oh guy (we don’t win without him) but this were uncharacteristically bad plays and on the interception showed that this offense still has a lot of work to do on getting those timing routes down.
3. With 3:30 left in the game and the ball in KC’s hands, the Chiefs looked to be capable of taking control of the game. Again, if this game had been more hard fought from the beginning, not a problem. Kansas City is a great team so you might expect a game to play out that way. But the Steelers were so superior offensively that for the game to even reach that point was a little disapointing.
Again, a good win for the Black and Gold, but it’s a long season left and they clearly have more to work on.
Good question Bob, you think they are trying to pace him due to his age?
At the rate of snaps he’s getting, if they are pacing him due to his age they must think he’s 90.
The Steelers played a great game and should have won by more. There were a few issues IMO though. The free kick disaster was huge. Brown stopping short led to the INT. Todd Haley is a bit of a problem as well.
The defense was great all game, until they switched to a zone and started sending 3 or 4. The defense needs to stay aggressive. They played very well that way.
Harrison needs to be spotted more. He can get to the QB still. He should be on the field for 10 or so plays a game.
Andy Reid proved once again that he simply isn’t a good coach. He absolutely should have taken the FG.
`Todd Haley is a bit of a problem as well”
The Steelers averaged 7 yards a play and the play-calling get criticized. That’s rich. (Todd Haley is a bit of a problem …”)
There are so many variables involved in play-calling, which most of us have no insight on, that to be critical of it under any circumstance is a stretch, but do so with an offense that move the ball so well is a bit of lunacy.
Bob you make some valid points about The play calling. That’s why I said a bit of a problem not a big problem. I’ve always defended him as a coach. There are a lot of moving parts in an offense. It would stand to reason that an offense that moved the ball so well would have scored more points. It would also stand to reason that the OC would at least play a bit part in that problem.
The lunacy is in criticizing a perfectly logical statement. Good grief!
Yes, I think it is lunacy to criticize — in any manner — an offensive coordinator whose calls are yielding 6.9 yards per play.
You do understand that the goal of the offense is to score points not gain yards? It’s lunacy to point to yards per play over points! Wow just wow
Great game yesterday by the Steelers. They seemed focused on stopping the run game and executed it as well. Ben made some good clutch throws getting them out of some holes but still not a break out game….it will come.
I don’t understand your comment about Ben and Antonio being on the same page….I’m assuming you meant the whole game. It was clear they were not on the same page which cost Ben is only interception.
Ben also probably should not have made the throw to AB on the fluke TD play. 3rd and a few yards and I think Ben predetermined he was going to AB when he was well covered. It all worked out though.
I think it’s one of those things where AB and Ben are still working on rhythm for things like that timing pattern where the interception happened. Clearly a bad play be AB not committing to the slant as the play was designed.
I think it’s one of those things that gives you frustration and hope at the same time. Frustration since you’re dealing with an offense that continues to sputter unexpectedly even when it appears to be running at full steam, but hopeful in that stuff like that should only get better over the course of the season.
It’s one of those things where since they refuse to play meaningful preseason snaps (as meaningful as the can be anyway) you have to watch these growing pains as the season progresses.
As long as they keep getting stronger and are ready for the playoffs I suppose….
Agree with you about the TD play. Ben did everything wrong on that play. He stared down ABrown as soon as the ball was snapped, resulting in AB being double-covered. Then threw a ball that should have been intercepted.
The only reason the play went for a TD was because KC screwed up even worse. They missed an easy interception, then missed an easy tackle on AB when he caught the tip.
I don’t think I’ve read anywhere about the credit Andy Reid deserves for changing the whole dynamic of the game with his bonehead decision. How do you not make any game a one score game in that situation
Andy Reid, the answer to the question “which coach makes more mind boggling in-game decisions than Mike Tomlin?”
I would also argue that his decision not to challenge that possible touchdown reception was pretty dumb as well. It probably doesn’t get overturned, but they had the time outs, the score would have changed the entire dynamic of the game, and, as history shows, you just never know how these officials will rule in a replay situation. It was worth the gamble in my opinion. I yelled about it so much everyone must have thought I was a Chiefs fan by how disappointed I was in Reid’s decision.
AP
Can you imagine the abuse Reid is taking in the KC press and sports blogs this morning?
Lot;s of people in KC — practically the whole city and fan base — had KC beating the Steelers — soundly.
the thing is, the play worked ( almost ). The receiver caught the ball. Had a tight grip on it. Controlled the ball into his chest. Then somehow lost control after hitting the ground.
Agree with PatrickB: why not challenge the call?
From this morning’s Kansas City Star regarding Andy Reid opting to ‘go for it’ rather than kicking a field goal:
“But the game within the game also pivoted on a decision gone awry by coach Andy Reid, one that reiterates the remarkably thin and blurry line between success and defeat and perceived genius and dunce in the NFL.
“Reid is, in fact, an excellent coach who sometimes makes wrong decisions.
“That ?s what this one was, even if it ?s also easy to understand and sympathize with what he was thinking and even if sometimes the wrong choices work and the right ones don ?t.
“His adamant detractors will put this in the file of why they think he ?ll never win the big one.
“Others of us will just remember he isn ?t perfect and, gasp, sometimes makes decisions on instinct more than pure pragmatism.
“If the real world is anything like the press box, the moment was one of those where everyone had an opinion before the gambit.
“No fair to change your mind after the play ? even though its outcome, of course, is what you ?ll remember most.
“With the Chiefs trailing 12-3 early in the fourth quarter and facing fourth and 4 at the Pittsburgh 2-yard-line, astute colleagues on the left and right of me were equally divided on the cost-benefit analysis of going for it vs. kicking to cut it to a one-score game.
“But admirable as the audacity of going for it might be, the practical, logical thing to do absolutely was to kick.
“Because if you need two more scores on a day you ?ve had one in 45 minutes, best take the more sure thing.
“It still would have been the right way to go even if Demetrius Harris actually hung on to the ball long enough for it to be ruled a touchdown ? as he thought it was but Reid didn ?t.”
That’s a pretty good summary David.
“Genius” coaches don’t just find more success in those risky play calling situations. They go for plays that they have good reason to believe their personnel can succeed on. Reid, unfortunately for him, for the better part of 10 years now, seems to make the wrong decision in those instances.
And, again, if you’re going to make the call to go for it and the play is close, you at least should try everything in your power to get the call, namely, challenge that play.
Agree, Patrick. In fact, I thought it was a touchdown.
I couldn’t agree more.
You may not agree with the writer’s viewpoint, but that is an awesome piece of journalism.
David, not sure you can have 4th and 4 from the Pitt 2 yard line unless they are moving the chains inside the end zone.
LOL. Yeah, I scratched my head over that one too, Jim. Obvious typo. My post above was merely a ‘copy and paste’ from the Kansas City Star, which I just checked a couple of minutes ago. It’s been corrected to … “facing fourth and 2 at the Pittsburgh 4.”
Good call on the defense. I had a good feeling about them coming into this season, but did not expect this level of play. I think one of the contributing factors is that with the signing of Haden, the depth guys aren’t being exposed or being asked to do too much.
And what a play by Davis in the endzone. Everyone is talking about Brown, myself included, but Davis’s play was just as big.
There seems to be a bit of a love fest with Ben’s performance yesterday. I’m not quite sure I was watching the same game.
He was one extremely lucky catch ( on a poorly thrown ball) from losing a game with what would have been about 400 yards of offense and only 10 points on offense.
He needs to get better. The Chiefs were one of the worst defenses vs the rush and one can see why. They won’t be running over defenses like that every week.
Fish, the points equals stats equation follows Ben like a tail on a dog. I believe Nance and Romo used the stat line as the second half was about to begin as it would appear the Steelers have a three four touchdown lead. Instead their in a 12-3 dog fight with a team that had something like six yards at the half. How this continues, ?
This is the new Ben, I’m fearful. He is just off a little bit, but they are symptoms of age. Forcing balls. Throwing high. He also needs to start throwing the ball away more.
I am having a love fest with 180 rushing yards.
Something this team has been missing on a consistent basis.
Mark, the Chiefs were 27th in rushing defense coming into that game. I wouldn’t expect this to be the norm.
No love fest here Fish…I thought he made some plays to get them out of the shadow of their own end zone but there were still some poor decisions on his part, the TD to Brown the big one. It worked out but I think Ben is going to break out soon, just my opinion.
At least I’m not reading that he’s done this week….how many posted last week he’s done, he’s retired if he is thinking about retirement….blah, blah blah.
Where are those comments this week? I don’t think you were one of them but there were plenty.
I was one of them. I 100% overreacted. As always I admit when I’m wrong. I don’t have a lot of practice as I’m usually right.
Nice that you admitted you were wrong Chris….now, if you would just stop with telling us how you are right so often I think people would appreciate that fact. We know when you are right, you don’t have to tell us all of the time.
I don’t think anyone ever said you were not knowledgeable.
Participants,
Perhaps it’s just me, but it’s hard to tell if one is replying or starting a new comment, so a suggestion if I may ( if Kevin s ok with it)
Like we used to do back when Bob first started, if you could copy the comment or part of comment that you are replying to, and address the person by name, it may help dummies like me keep track of replied comments and original ones.
Thoughts?
Ignore my last comment. They do indeed indent on my PC, just not on my phone.
I believe that was the first time we heard Tony Romo in Pittsburgh this year. Wondering what people thought of him?
I listened to some clips of him in the first couple weeks of the season. He’s unbelievably good at determining what a play will be based on the defensive alignment. There’s a sizzle reel of him doing this and it’s uncanny. He has a smooth style and extremely knowledgeable. His transition has been virtually seamless.
I was much more impressed with his knowledge of the game than I expected, but man, his voice just grates on me. Nails on a chalkboard. Something with the timbre, maybe. It’s a bit high pitched, too.
It did further my belief that Cris Collinsworth is far and away the best color man in football broadcasting. He’s got the knowledge, he obviously does his homework and he’s got a great broadcast voice.
I suppose we will have Nantz and Romo again this week, with the game being switched an all, so I best get used to him.
I’m with you Fish. Very knowledgable, but as the game went on he just started delivering in a very animated voice that tended towards over the top.
Its his first year doing any of this, so I’m sure he’ll improve.
Other than that, he was as good as any other decemt announcer. I just don’t pay any of them enough mind to really hold any meaningful pecking order.
I’m not a fan of Romo’s commentating. He’s just non-stop constantly excited on every play no matter what’s happening. He makes a one yard gain sound like someone just made 20 yards.
Collinsworth drives me nuts. Count how many times he starts a sentence with either “Now there’s a guy…” or “Now here’s a guy…”
I hated Romo as a QB. I hate the Cowboys too, but Romo is excellent on these games.
I kind of like him…..he did screw up the Gilbert injury yesterday though. Gilbert went out early and Romo noted it early in the 2nd half….I think he said Gilbert had just gone out.
HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE road win
Huge
Love the smashmouth tone and tenor as well
Good to see it is back
Here we Go!
I think the AFC is wide open this year. I thought Kansas City was the clear favorite in the conference, but after yesterday’s game, I’m not so sure. New England looks vulnerable on defense. I can’t figure out the Steelers for the life of me…their “D” is playing better than I think we all expected, but Ben looks very average (and one could argue below average) to this point. As Fish noted, the Big Ben to AB pass could (and should) have been easily intercepted. As someone noted, why hasn’t Harrison been playing? Why aren’t the Steelers running the ball more when they are in the red zone and have first and goal? Why does Bryant claim he wants traded (as if the Steelers need another distraction…good grief)? Good win, but not sure what to feel with this team at 4-2.