The Kansas City Chiefs are often thought of as nothing more than a fluky, non-sexy team. No respect is given to them by the media and they aren’t viewed as serious threats, or as championship contenders. The boys in red won 12 games and sit atop the best division in football. Somehow, the general public still doesn’t considered them as a legitimate Super Bowl caliber team. That may, however, be about to change.
The Kansas City Chiefs: On the Edge of Glory
The game against the Pittsburgh Steelers could be the Chiefs turning point. If they can beat one of the most dangerous offenses in football, and the team that handed them their worst loss this season, they may garner some respect. This game is a big stage for the Chiefs. If they step up in primetime people will have to take notice.
The task of slowing down and competing with Steelers trio Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown has proven to be a monumental one this season. This game has almost a David and Goliath type of vibe to it. The Steelers represent a giant that seems entirely too daunting to stop, while the Chiefs will draw on a different type of strength to find the rock that will be Pittsburgh’s demise. There may be perhaps no better representation for the rock than a 5th round rookie out of West Alabama. The rookie in question? A man by the name Tyreek Hill.
Hill’s selection sparked outrage with fans due to a heinous past that included domestic abuse. The fan base has largely changed it’s tone toward him after the conclusion of the regular season. Hill has become a star. He found the end zone 12 times this year and he did it in every way imaginable. Six receiving touchdowns, three rushing, and three more off of returns. The former West Alabama Tiger’s impact on this team has been huge, something beyond measurables. He provided the spark they needed to be true contenders and opened up a new dimension for the team. This fifth-round rookie has the potential to be the key to a Super Bowl appearance because of his electric versatility. It’ll take more than this man to progress towards the goal, though.
Slowing the Pittsburgh Three
One of the most important things in order to win against Pittsburgh is going to be defense. The Chiefs are going to have to find a way to slow down the league’s best running back and wide receiver in Bell and Brown. If coach Andy Reid allows star cornerback Marcus Peters shadow Brown, that could be the answer for that piece of the puzzle. Bell is the more worrying of the pair. Kansas City’s wish defense hasn’t been great and Bell has been absolutely lights out. The task of stopping him would have been difficult even with the presence of middle linebacker Derrick Johnson, but his absence significantly weakens the unit.
Bell is almost certain to rack up big yardage. Red zone defense, something the Chiefs excel at, will be the key to minimizing the damage. If they can hold the Steelers to field goals and keep Bell out of the end zone, that’s their most realistic way to minimize his impact. That’s still no surefire task with Bell’s elite receiving and running abilities and the Chief’s will have to stay keyed in on him all game long. Stopping Le’Veon Bell could potentially decide this game.
Just as frightening as Bell and Brown is Big Ben Roethlisberger himself. If he’s got an open receiver, he can do big damage. What the Chiefs are going to need to do is keep him uncomfortable. The pass rush will need to be firing on all cylinders and getting after him to prevent big plays. Roethlisberger has been extremely mistake prone as of late as well, and the Chiefs are going to need to capitalize on that. The Steelers quarterback has thrown eight interceptions in his past five games. Ball hawks like Marcus Peters and Eric Berry may prove extremely dangerous for the quarterback, and this may be another pivotal factor of the game.
Victory Implications
If the Chiefs win this game, they may find football glory. The AFC Championship would be their next stop. Kansas City would face the New England Patriots, who were just exposed by the Houston Texans. The Texans kept it close all game long and even looked like they may grab the lead at some point. This proved that there is a formula to beating the AFC superpower. If the Chiefs can generate a pass rush similar to what Houston did and take advantage when Tom Brady makes a mistake, this is a highly winnable game. If the Chiefs win that one? Super Bowl appearance. Even an appearance on the biggest stage in football could entirely transform the way this team is viewed. The edge between overlooked and the glory of the title elite is where this team is currently standing.
