Steelers winless after Mahomes leads Chiefs to 42-37 victory
After their final score against the Cleveland Browns was a 21-21 tie, I admit the disappointment but had some serious disagreements with the bandwagoners who seemed like they were just waiting to trash the Pittsburgh Steelers about – anything. This week, after watching Patrick Mahomes carve up a Steelers defense that seemed half-asleep at times, I might have to give some “yinzers” a few points. Pittsburgh got into a shoot-out with the Kansas City Chiefs and usually the quicker, more accurate gunslinger comes out on top. While Ben Roethlisberger gave his best effort with a run and dive for the pylon in the fourth quarter to give the Steelers a shot, it was a wild west win for Kansas City at Heinz Field. No one who follows the Steelers can be optimistic, or even pragmatic, about that performance.
Give a ton of credit to Mahomes for walking into hostile territory and having a near perfect performance. The Steelers defensive backs did a lot to help him, and his numerous targets, have a landmark day. In the first quarter alone, Pittsburgh’s corners and safeties looked like their feet had been sprayed with stick’um instead of their hands. Slow in pursuit, slow to the ball, inconsistent coverage. They continued to allow the Chiefs to keep drives alive with poor tackling. Yes, I’ve heard the complaints and this game was an example of poor execution for sure.
The Steelers earned a sack, but otherwise spent the majority of their time on defense trying to figure out whether the Chiefs would cut them with the run or pass. This was more than just miscommunication; the Steelers defense was struggling in a big way to match up against a Kansas City offense that looked like they were ready to put up 100 points if they had to to earn the win.
I’ll still put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the players on the field, however, and not the coaching staff. Why? Because you can teach a guy to tackle, but you can’t make him run or pursue or wrap up when the time comes for him to perform on the field. No one – including coaches – can hand-hold grown men playing pro football once they’re on the field. Rant away because you’re unlikely to change my mind about that. Players have a job and they did not do it this week. That isn’t to say the entire defense was bad; several players had nice performances overshadowed by those who didn’t.
I will throw shade at Keith Butler, however, just a bit. I’m confused by how he used the different personnel packages available and even discouraged by the fact that he can not seem to motivate adequately. So, Keith, you’re on notice.
James Conner showed another level of toughness in Sunday’s game. He wasn’t given much of an opportunity to break out big in the run game by a very stingy Chiefs defense. Conner did show a ton of heart and grit in one touchdown run; he burst in and used a nice spin move to get the ball across the goal line. The second-year back also showed great concentration with a one-handed catch along the sideline that was just too close for him to get both feet inbounds. It’s hard not to get excited about how well the young running back has performed in the first two games of the season with three total touchdowns.
Extra effort for his 3rd TD of the season.
PIT 28 | PIT 28 pic.twitter.com/jUGVwNgAdr
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 16, 2018
Yes, Antonio Brown passed a milestone this week. Although he threw a bit of a fit on the sideline, frustration boiling over, he became the first NFL player, in the fewest number of games, to reach 700 receiving yards.
Roethlisberger nursed a sore elbow throughout the game, but his toughness was evident as he continued to battle in trying to get the Steelers offense points on the scoreboard after going down 21-0 to the Chiefs early in the game. Roethlisberger may not be the fastest runner, but knowing that the game was on the line he took off on foot and laid out for the pylon to give the Steelers a touchdown late in the game with an opportunity to win.
Them wheels though.
KC 42 | PIT 37 pic.twitter.com/GP3U2oC4G9
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 16, 2018
Tight end Jesse James and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster both went over 100 yards receiving on the day.
Danny Smith needs to get his special teams unit sat down for a good chew session, however. In fact, he needs to spit like Bill Cowher and throw some Gatorade jugs around the locker room. The performance by usually rock-solid Chris Boswell was poor. Jordan Berry didn’t help the team with short punts and only redeemed himself with one punt that pinned the Chiefs deep and set up a safety by the defense. Tyler Matakevich sealed the game as a loss when, in the waning seconds of the game, he roughed the kicker. The penalty kept Roethlisberger and company from getting back on the field for a last-second miracle play. Granted, there was no guarantee at that point that Pittsburgh could have done anything with 12 seconds on the game clock, but it was the kind of penalty that is absurd.
Cam Heyward was able to force a fumble just ahead of the Roethlisberger run touchdown (Anthony Chickillo recovered) that put a small breeze in the sails. A defensive safety also gave a tiny glimmer of a possible late recovery for a Steelers team on its heels most of the game.
This is a game the Steelers have got to look at one more time, on film, and then put to bed. They’re proving their detractors correct rather than looking like they’d like to go on a run for the Lombardi Trophy this season. Their record, after this loss, is 0-1-1. That’s just inexcusable. If the Browns game felt like a “loss”, this game had to feel like a punch to the gut.
