Mike Tomlin wasn’t within the temper to get right into a semantic argument.
Sure, the Kansas City Chiefs have performed a ton of shut video games this season.
But the concept that two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champions are by some means extra gettable than they have been? That is a nonstarter for the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach.
“I suppose I don’t understand how dominant they have to be,” Tomlin stated. “I imply, they’re 14-1.”
Even throughout a season during which the Chiefs usually have appeared odd as a lot as they’ve appeared extraordinary, a victory in both of their closing two video games would guarantee them of home-field benefit all through the AFC playoffs of their bid to change into the primary staff within the Tremendous Bowl period to win three straight titles.
They’re going to get their first crack on Christmas Day in Pittsburgh. Playing on a holiday is hardly new for Kansas Metropolis. Doing it in the midst of the week although?
“It was positively thrilling till I spotted it was on Wednesday,” Mahomes stated with amusing.
Oh, and on a streaming platform, too. The assembly marks the tip of a brutal stretch for each groups that required them to play 3 times in 11 days.
The excellent news? After being on Netflix, they will get to chill out. How restful every staff’s break will likely be, nevertheless, possible depends upon the end result.
With a Chiefs victory, Mahomes and his creaky ankle and most of their different regulars would possibly get two-plus weeks off forward of the divisional spherical.
The Steelers (10-5) haven’t got that luxurious, not after consecutive lopsided losses to Philadelphia and Baltimore dropped them right into a tie with the Ravens atop the AFC North.
Nonetheless, beating Mahomes for the primary time in 4 tries would go a good distance towards restoring a number of the swagger that is seeped out whereas getting bullied by two of the league’s elite.
“I believe that chance to play on Christmas Day, play the defending world champs and who they’re and what they’ve completed, it’s a terrific alternative for us,” Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson stated. “And actually is a testomony to who we could be.”
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown gave what had been a middling Kansas Metropolis offense a jolt final week in his regular-season debut, catching 5 passes for 45 yards. He had missed the whole season after hurting his shoulder through the first recreation of the preseason. Brown’s presence additionally took a number of the consideration away from first-round decide Xavier Worthy, a fellow speedster, who had seven catches for 65 yards and a landing in one of the best recreation of his profession.
“We’ll get (Brown) concerned increasingly more because the season goes on,” Mahomes stated.
The Steelers are hoping extensive receiver George Pickens will likely be obtainable after he missed the previous three video games with a balky hamstring.
Pittsburgh’s offense has struggled to generate a lot downfield with out its main receiver. Wilson is averaging 167.7 yards passing with out Pickens, in contrast with 271 yards when the 6-foot-3 Pickens is within the lineup.
“He’s among the best receivers within the Nationwide Soccer League, no doubt,” Wilson stated of his 23-year-old teammate. “The issues that he can do with the soccer, his catching radius is outstanding. So I believe one of the best factor that he brings is he strikes worry in that protection.”
A worry that is been missing with out him.
Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce has simply two landing receptions this season, his most up-to-date coming Nov. 10 towards Denver. Meaning the four-time All-Professional has failed in six consecutive video games to get the one TD catch he wants to interrupt a tie with Tony Gonzalez (76) for the franchise report. Kelce has 89 catches for 739 yards this season.
The Chiefs began All-Professional left guard Joe Thuney at sort out for the second straight week towards Houston, and the consequence was one of the best safety Mahomes has had all season. However then proper sort out Jawaan Taylor damage his knee, and that compelled the Chiefs to place Wanya Morris — who had misplaced the left sort out job — into the lineup.
In the meantime, the Chiefs are nonetheless hoping that former Professional Bowl left sort out D.J. Humphries will get better from his hamstring harm in time for the playoffs.
“It’s necessary that these guys — as they undergo the ebb and flows of the season and recreation by recreation — is that they keep locked in, they keep targeted,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy stated. “We at all times are supporting them.”
Pittsburgh’s protection has been battered bodily and mistake-prone mentally of late. The Steelers have given up greater than 400 yards in consecutive video games for the primary time since 2019, and now they must discover a solution to shore all the things up on brief relaxation towards a quarterback who has thrown for 14 touchdowns in three video games towards Pittsburgh.
Tomlin expressed disgust about giving up a pair of landing passes to tight ends towards the Ravens, with a scarcity of communication being on the heart of the issue on each performs. Tomlin stated it is just too late within the season for that to be occurring and challenged his veteran-laden group to tighten up.
“It’s irritating however, on the identical time, we’re human,” linebacker Patrick Queen stated. “That is while you’re imagined to taking off as a protection, not falling again.”
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