The Pittsburgh Steelers had high hopes heading into 2017. Hopes of another AFC North crown, another playoff berth, but more importantly, a first round bye in the AFC Playoffs. Some went as far as to saying the only way the Steelers would be successful would be if the road to Super Bowl 52 ran through Heinz Field, clearly as the No. 1 seeded team in the conference.
Here we are, 5 weeks into the season, and those hopes seem as dim as ever. At a time when many would suggest the Steelers should be 5-0, the team is reeling with a 3-2 record after suffering horrible losses to the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. For all these reasons, and many more, the Week 6 game vs. the Chiefs in Kansas City will be crucial for the Steelers’ reaching their playoff goals.
Why is this Chiefs game so important?
- AFC Matchup: Losing on the road to an NFC opponent isn’t as big of a deal when compared to losing to an AFC Powerhouse. If the Steelers can find a way to win in Week 6, not only would they hand the Chiefs their first loss of the season, but they would possess the coveted head-to-head matchup in case of a tie at the end of the regular season.
- Bounce Back Game: The Steelers need a big performance, in a big way. Not just the team, but Ben Roethlisberger too. After a 5-interception game in Week 5, going up against the Chiefs won’t be easy, but would make a bounce back extremely gratifying. Roethlisberger typically plays well against the Chiefs, and hope remains for the offense to finally start clicking.
- Keep the narrative going: We all heard it all the time. The Steelers play up, and down, to their competition. When going against the Chiefs, the lone undefeated team in the NFL, there is no bigger matchup than this one. If focus and attention to detail is an issue with lesser teams, that shouldn’t be the case this week.
- Keep pace: Despite a not-so-great start, the Steelers are still right in the mix in the mediocre AFC. A win in Week 6 will put the Steelers at 4-2 heading into Week 7, and sitting pretty among the AFC’s best. However, drop this game and you are suddenly looking at an uphill battle, and help, when it comes to reaching their postseason goals.
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This game is important, but fans need to realize there are also still 11 games on the schedule. This Chiefs game could be a turning point for the black-and-gold, but it also wouldn’t be the end of the world if the Steelers lost this game. The goal has always been home field advantage, but getting a ticket to the dance should be the first goal, and let the rest of the chips fall where they may.
I discuss each of these factors, key injuries and factors in this game in depth in the above podcast for your listening pleasure. Give the 13-minute podcast a listen, you won’t regret it!
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