In a game that evoked memories of their 2018 Super Bowl run, the Chiefs endured a slow start before scoring an avalanche of points during Sunday night’s 42-21 win over the Steelers in the AFC wild card round.
Kansas City punted three times and committed two turnovers on its first five possessions. The Chiefs fell behind 7-0 when T.J. Watt returned Darrel Williams’ fumble 26 yards for a score. The score awakened the previously slumbering Chiefs, who proceeded to score touchdowns on six consecutive possessions. Five touchdowns came from the right arm of Patrick Mahomes, who threw for over 400 yards to send the Chiefs to the divisional round. It was a tough final game for Pittsburgh and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who once again showcased his resiliency by leading the Steelers on two late scoring drives.
The Chiefs took a 21-7 halftime lead on Mahomes’ 48-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce, who capped off the night by throwing a two-yard touchdown pass Byron Pringle. The Steelers’ offense finally woke up after falling behind 35-7, but it was too little too late.
Here’s a closer look at what transpired in Arrowhead.
Why the Chiefs won
Kansas City flexed its muscles on both sides of the ball. Its defense dominated the Steelers while giving their offense some time to warm up. Once they did, there was nothing the Steelers could do to stop the Chiefs’ offense, as Mahomes cut it loose while looking more like the player who won league and Super Bowl MVPs during his first two seasons. Kansas City received a virtuoso effort from Jerick McKinnon, who ran for 61 yards and caught six passes for 81 yards and a score.
Pittsburgh’s defense forced more turnovers, but Kansas City’s defense did everything else. They held the Steelers to just 44 first half yards and just two first downs. After stretching their lead to 28-7, Frank Clark’s recovery of Najee Harris’ first fumble of the season set up Mahomes’ touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill that essentially ended the game.
Why the Steelers lost
Pittsburgh’s offense couldn’t get out of its own way in the first half. They were unable to parlay their defense’s strong start, as the Steelers’ offense started the game with eight punts and Harris’ fumble five minutes into the second half. While it was a team effort, it was an especially rough start for Diontae Johnson, who had two drops in the first half while also committing a false start penalty. Johnson was able to bounce back when he caught the Steelers’ first offensive touchdown, a 13-yard pass from Roethlisberger with 4:15 left in the third quarter. James Washington caught what was likely Roethlisberger’s final touchdown pass with 7:36 left.
Defensively, the Steelers could not do anything to stop the Chiefs’ momentum once Mahomes got rolling. Many of their season-long issues, specifically open field tackling, reared its ugly head during the Chiefs’ scoring spree.
Turning point
The Steelers’ defense quickly allowed two touchdowns following Watt’s score off of Cam Heyward’s thunderous hit of Williams. Down 14-7 and with the Chiefs getting the ball to start the second half (the Steelers won the toss and elected to receive the opening…
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