Recreation throughout the sport: Wilson vs. Chiefs' blitz bundle – Steelers.com

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Few NFL defensive coordinators get as a lot respect from opposing groups as Kansas Metropolis’s Steve Spagnuolo.
For good cause. Spagnuolo has now coordinated the defenses for 4 Tremendous Bowl winners, three with the Chiefs and one with the New York Giants. And this season, the Chiefs (14-1) have relied extra on their protection to win video games than maybe at some other time within the Patrick Mahomes-Andy Reid period, as Kansas Metropolis is holding opponents to 18.5 factors per sport, third-fewest within the NFL.
However the Steelers may need one thing of an ace up their sleeve this season on the subject of going through the Chiefs. Quarterback Russell Wilson has squared off towards a Spagnuolo-led protection 5 earlier occasions in his profession. And whereas Wilson’s file is simply 2-3 in these video games, he is accomplished 101 of 154 passes for 1,012 yards with 11 landing passes and 4 interceptions, posting a passer score of 97.1.
Wilson understanding Spagnuolo’s unique strain seems could possibly be the important thing to the Steelers (10-5) beating the Chiefs when the 2 meet Wednesday at Acrisure Stadium in a Christmas Day sport.
“I feel ‘Spags’ is among the all-time nice defensive coordinators,” mentioned Wilson. “You consider the issues he is been capable of do. I’ve a lot regard for him. I’ve gone towards him so much (over) the years. And I bear in mind even after I was in Seattle and went towards him, we performed the Chiefs and all that. He simply does a extremely good job of blending it up and difficult the protection to blitz us so much and to do various things.
“So, it makes it actually difficult for us as an offense, and we have got to do our job.”
The Steelers must win their remaining two video games to clinch the AFC North title and assure themselves an extra house sport within the playoffs.
Additionally they need to wash away the stench of back-to-back losses on the street the previous two video games in Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Going through Spagnuolo’s protection will not make that a straightforward activity. However getting prime extensive receiver George Pickens again from damage would assist that immensely.
Pickens has missed the Steelers’ previous three video games with a hamstring damage, however was a full participant in follow on Monday, the crew’s remaining full follow earlier than Wednesday’s sport.
“Clearly he is been our main wideout; been one the higher wideouts across the league the entire season,” mentioned offensive coordinator Arthur Smith of Pickens, who leads the Steelers with 55 receptions for 850 yards. “That actually helps. You need your greatest guys on the market in the event that they’re obtainable, and so if he can go, it will be good to have him again.”
Past merely having one of many NFL’s prime deep threats again, having Pickens on the sector towards the Chiefs would possibly significantly have an effect on how a lot blitzing Spagnuolo calls. The Chiefs blitz on almost 31 p.c of performs, second solely to the Vikings this season.
Kansas Metropolis will put a bunch of gamers on the line of scrimmage and make the quarterback determined who’s coming and who will not be. However having Pickens, the most effective contested-catch gamers within the league, obtainable would possibly dissuade the Chiefs from attacking fairly as a lot in that trend.
“George is a particular participant, man. He is been particular for us all 12 months,” Wilson mentioned. “In my view, he is the most effective receivers within the Nationwide Soccer League, indisputably. The issues that he can do with the soccer, his catching radius is outstanding. So I feel the very best factor that he brings is he strikes worry within the protection.”
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Wilson additionally has been superb when blitzed this season. Per Professional Soccer Focus, he has a 113.3 passer score when blitzed this season, whereas his score when not blitzed is 97.4.
That could possibly be vital for the Steelers on this sport, simply as a lot as Wilson’s familiarity with taking part in towards the Chiefs in every of the earlier two seasons whereas with the Denver Broncos.
Included in these was a 24-9 win over the Chiefs through which Wilson threw three landing passes and no interceptions.
With a brief week for each groups earlier than taking part in, Wilson’s data of what Spagnuolo likes to do and the way he tries to disguise his seems could possibly be essential.
“I feel you undoubtedly examine what you have achieved,” Wilson mentioned. “We beat them final 12 months. I feel that I used to be lucky to throw just a few touchdowns on them, they usually’re a extremely good protection. They do not hand over a lot. They do a extremely good job. They’re one of many prime defenses within the Nationwide Soccer League, however we have got to be able to play our greatest sport, and we respect who they’re and what they’ve achieved. They clearly received two Tremendous Bowls within the final couple years.”
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