The week leading up to the Week 6 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs had to feel like a million years after Pittsburgh’s Week 5 dud against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and when the day finally came for the Steelers and Chiefs to kick off, the Steelers won the toss and wanted the ball. They wanted to make a statement.
Ben Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell were able to move the football on the Chiefs’ defense, but a sack on 3rd and 3 pushed Pittsburgh out of field goal range, instead requiring Jordan Berry to make an early appearance on the team’s first drive.
On the Chiefs’ first drive, the Steelers were first to score when an errant snap sailed over Alex Smith’s head and out of the end zone resulting in a safety, and a 2-0 Steelers lead. On the ensuing punt, Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster failed to field the punt, and it was recovered by the Chiefs, giving them great field position.
Despite the field position, the Chiefs had to settle for a 46-yard field goal to give them an early 1-point lead, 3-2.
On the Steelers next drive, it was Le’Veon Bell who ran the ball right down the Chiefs’ throats. They converted with big runs by Bell, and when Bell carried them on his back into the red-zone, it was more Bell as he punched the ball into the endzone for a touchdown. Giving the Steelers a 9-3 lead after the Chris Boswell point-after.
After forcing a Kansas City three-and-out, the Steelers were driving again, but on 3rd down Antonio Brown stopped his route, unbeknownst to Roethlisberger, and the pass sailed into Marcus Peters’ hands for the interception.
The Chiefs’ offense wasn’t able to do anything with the turnover, and hadn’t gained a first down with 9-minutes left in the first half. After being pinned inside their own one-yard line, the Steelers marched down the field, 99-yards, but were stoned when it mattered most, settling for a Boswell chip shot to extend the lead 12-3.
The 12-3 score carried into the second half, and the Chiefs, who started the 3rd quarter with the football; however, it seemed as if both teams were settling in as neither the Chiefs or Steelers were able to add points early in the 3rd quarter.
But the Chiefs offense would wake up to close out the 3rd quarter, driving into Pittsburgh’s red-zone for the first time in the game. With the ball inside the 5-yard line, the Chiefs had the chance to kick the field goal and make the game a one-score deficit, but Andy Reid chose to go for it, and failed.
Although Pittsburgh didn’t score on the ensuing drive, they flipped the field with more first downs before they punted the ball back to Kansas City. The high-powered Chiefs offense wouldn’t be shut out the entire game, and Alex Smith made a huge play down the sideline while escaping pressure to hit De’Anthony Thomas for a 57-yard touchdown, which made the score 12-10 with 6-minutes left in regulation.
The Steelers offense would get the ball back with a chance to seal the win for Pittsburgh, and they were able to drive down the field for a touchdown, but how they scored is worth noting. A third down Ben Roethlisberger pass looked to be intercepted, but went through the defender’s hands, and was caught one-handed by Brown and taken in for the touchdown, which made the score 19-10 with 3:24 left in the game.
Yeah... @AB84 caught that.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 15, 2017
PIT 19 | KC 10 pic.twitter.com/ZXcMejFEGh
The Chiefs didn’t go away without a fight, and drove with ease down the field, but had to settle for another Butker field goal to make the score 19-13 with 2:17 left in the game.
With both teams holding onto all three of their time outs, the Steelers would have to string out some first downs to win the game. However, it was James Harrison with a huge sack which essentially ended the game, giving the Steelers the win and the Chiefs their first loss of the season.
The Steelers are now 4-2, and will play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7.