The Chiefs visit town this Christmas for a pivotal Week 17 matchup, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Steelers.
After back-to-back blowout losses, the team desperately needs a win to halt the bleeding and regain momentum. The offense has struggled to find its rhythm since George Pickens’ injury, while the defense has been uncharacteristically underwhelming.
Turning things around won’t be easy, especially on a short week, but a win against the AFC’s top-seeded Chiefs could be the spark the Steelers need heading into the playoffs. On the flip side, a third consecutive loss could feel like the walls are closing in on the season.
Here are three critical areas the Steelers must focus on to stop the Chiefs and salvage their season.
Steelers offense must improve efficiency
Over the past two weeks, the offense has struggled, to say the least. Costly turnovers and a lack of balance have made their performance fall short, especially against some of the top teams in the league. Now, facing the back-to-back Super Bowl champions, it’s critical for this offense to step up and support a defense tasked with containing Patrick Mahomes.
If the offense doesn’t show signs of life, it’s hard to see them making much of a postseason run. Wednesday’s game needs to be a true team effort, with complimentary football on full display.
The offense must get back to effectively running the ball and utilizing play-action to open up the passing game. With the pending return of George Pickens, the offense should regain some of its explosiveness.
A stronger offensive showing will make time of possession vital in beating the Chiefs. One of the best ways to neutralize Mahomes is to limit his time on the field. The Steelers must sustain long drives that end in touchdowns, giving Mahomes fewer opportunities to work his magic.
More disciplined defense
The defense’s ongoing struggles with missed tackles and frequent miscommunication are becoming increasingly concerning, often leading to big plays or touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s defense will need to sharpen its discipline, especially against the likes of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, who are masters at exploiting defensive weaknesses.
Maintaining gap discipline, improving communication, and executing solid tackling will be crucial moving forward. Here’s hoping that for the third time, this defense can turn things around and rise to the challenge.
Attack the Kansas City tackles
Both starting tackles may not play, and even if they do, they’re not the strongest group. Regardless, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and the rest of the defense need to step up. Teryl Austin must do everything in his power to make Mahomes’ life miserable, especially by forcing him to move around on that injured ankle.
It’s frustrating how, in some games, the Steelers get creative with generating a pass rush, yet in other weeks, they don’t take any drastic measures. When facing the best quarterback in football, you have to throw everything—including the kitchen sink—at him to try to stop him.
If the Steelers can’t find a way to generate pressure, whether through blitzes, stunts, or other tactics, there’s no way they’ll win this game.
