The likeliest way for the Steelers to beat Kansas City in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game is for the Chiefs to play horribly while the Steelers get lucky.
That’s not very likely.
If you’re looking for a more precise route — but one that’s even less probable — the Steelers must be able to run the ball.
Kansas City has an explosive, quick-strike offense. The Steelers need to shorten the game.
Short passes can’t substitute. Ben Roethlisberger averaged just 6.2 yards per attempt this season, the worst mark of his career. He averaged 4.5 yards per in the 36-10 loss at Kansas City on Dec. 26. The Steelers’ aerial attack is short and inefficient.
Rookie back Najee Harris never quits. But he goes into Sunday with a bum elbow. He’s questionable but figures to play. How much, how long and how well are in question.
The Steelers’ offensive line stinks. No further analysis is necessary.
The Steelers averaged the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL, 93.1 per game. Their per-carry average was fourth from bottom at 3.85. They had the fifth-least attempts at 411.
The Steelers can’t run the ball.
But they nonetheless must keep trying.
There is no alternative save Roethlisberger finding a fountain of youth to revisit his glory days instead of using his current method, scratching and clawing. Even then, he’d have to outscore Patrick Mahomes.
The Steelers can’t slug it out toe-to-toe with Mahomes. That would be foolhardy.
In addition to their rushing woes, the Steelers rank last in run defense.
When you examine the stats and rosters, it’s hard to believe the Steelers made the playoffs.
But that’s more an indictment of the NFL’s low quality than it is the Steelers.
Anything can happen on a given Sunday. That’s the Steelers’ biggest hope at Kansas City.
It’s also the longest of longshots.
