Steelers D Stands Tall, Beat Chiefs: Post-Game Reaction

Dramatic irony.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, their drama has ended in tragic fashion for the last three seasons.  2014 in many ways wasn’t all that different than previous playoff-less years.  The defensive struggles, the offensive red-zone struggles, and the lack of a killer mentality against lesser teams.

How ironic, and fitting really, that the defense dug extra deep this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs and played a huge part in getting their team the win that launches them into the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

I guess you could say that this all started last week against the Falcons when the Steelers defense would bend on numerous occasions but not break.  The Falcons pushed and pushed, but the defense would not allow them to take over the game. The defense today would also bend but not break and giving the offense enough opportunities to put points on the scoreboard.

Emotions ran high on the field and on the sideline after what was blatantly a horrible horrible call.  We’re talking replacement ref level – like the Packers v Seahawk level.

The Chiefs would put together drives of 65, 61, and 72 yards in the first half alone, but the Steelers defense stood tough within their own 10 yard line all three times and kept the Chiefs out of the end zone.

The defense would bend but not break.

The Chiefs would drive 45 yards early in the 2nd half to the Steelers 25 and only get a field goal.  They would drive another 45 yards late in the 2nd half to the Steelers 5 and only come away with three points when they desperately needed seven.  The defense would bend but not break.

Jason Worilds, The Milk Carton Kid, showed up for two sacks, Cameron Heyward (your defensive MVP for 2014) and James Harrison credited with 1.5 a piece, and Stephon Tuitt (STEPHON FREAKIN’ TUITT!) gets credit with his first sack of what should be an illustrious career.  That’s six sacks on the day.  That’s a season high, obviously.  The defense was not always consistent in its pass rush, but boy, they seemed to get pressure at the exact moment they needed it most.

The secondary has been guilty of giving up a “big play” in seven of last eight games.  The secondary played soft against this Chiefs WR core, but would not give up the big play.  The biggest passing play from scrimmage for the Chiefs was a 33 yard catch and run from Albert Wilson.  Alex Smith threw for 311 yards, but kept the streak alive of not throwing a TD pass to his WR’s. No big plays.  The defense would ben but not break.

There were two big series that defined the game for this defense.  The first was at the end of the first half when the Chiefs went for the first on fourth down deep in Steelers territory.  Jamaal Charles got the call, and the Steelers stuffed his rear behind the line of scrimmage.  He lost a yard, and the Steelers took over on downs.  Huge momentum swing to end the half on what could have been either three more or even seven points.

Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback

(11) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker

(92) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The other big series for this defense came after the Steelers got a clear stop on 3rd down but William Gay received a Taunting penalty after Timmons tackled Chiefs TE Travis Kelce.  Emotions ran high on the field and on the sideline after what was blatantly a horrible horrible call.  We’re talking replacement ref level – like the Packers v Seahawk level.  The Chiefs moved the ball from their own 23 to the Steelers 28 in a matter of three plays (if you include the penalty).  The players were able to keep their emotions from clouding their focus and forced the Chiefs to kick yet another field goal.  Huge.

It’s exactly the kind of performance the offense needs from their defense to have enough time and opportunities to put points up on the board.

And, how about that offense?  They did just enough, were efficient enough, and put together four scoring drives – two that were very timely and put the Chiefs away.  It was nothing special or spectacular.  They acted with poise and made few mistakes.  They still just need to find a way to score on at least one of their first two drives of the game.

Heath Miller had six, and big, catches on the day.  The Chiefs had allowed an NFL-low 43 pass completions to tight ends coming into this game.  Kudos to Todd Haley and Ben Roethlisberger to find ways to exploit the middle of the field with some quick and some deeper hits to Miller.

The biggest blemish was on Marcus Gilbert.  Man, somebody give that guy a hug.  He’s had an up and down season after having a rough one in 2013.  Something tells me his troubles have nothing to do with leaving any playbook behind.  If it takes Mike Adams to come in as an extra “tight end” to help you out on the right side, then you are having a rough go of things.

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Without a doubt it was an emotional game.  They are running high with good mojo in Pittsburgh.  Circle the calendar for December 28th.  The Steelers will take on the Bengals at home for what is now essentially the AFC North Championship Game.  It will be a playoff atmosphere and a big time game.  While it’s expected that

will lay another egg in a situation like that, the Steelers defense will need to have a very similar performance that they had against the Chiefs this Sunday afternoon.

How ironic that the Steelers and their fans will be banking on this defense.  Maybe not dramatic irony – I’m sure the players realize the story of the 2014 defense and what they were able to achieve today.  So maybe it’s just ironic then.

Other game notes:

– Shades of 2005? Maybe not completely, but the Steelers were 11-5 that season and weren’t expected to do well let alone make the playoffs.  They ran the table as the 6th seed in a very competitive AFC conference.  The defense is nothing today like it was then.  Neither is the offense.  The coins are flipped for both sides of the ball this time around. Now, they very well could beat the Bengals and move higher in the seeding.  But, you get where I’m going with this…

– Dare I say that Gilbert has benefitted from TE Matt Spaeth being on the field? Looked like poo without him today.

– The fumble caused by Stephon Tuitt was a questionable one, but you have to admit that it was a great play either way.  This kid is getting better each week.  He’ll be special, don’t you worry.

– :sigh: Time for my referee rant.  They were just simply awful this Sunday.  I always say that I hate dogging on the refs and use them as an excuse for what transpires in a game.  Man alive they were simply stepping in it today, weren’t they?  The Chiefs Walker leg whip that was a no call and injured Ben’s knee.  The taunting call on William Gay that clearly had nothing to do with Kelce and everything to do with Timmons’ great play. I think Mike Mitchell, the King of Unnecessary Celebrations, was even wondering how the hell that was a taunting call.  Several bad spot calls.  The list goes on and on, and all of them kept KC in this game longer thant hey should have been.

– It will be refreshing when the Steelers get new announcers next week.  I don’t think my brain could handle another week of Greg Gumble and Trent Green.  Both are awful – especially Gumble who continues to get names wrong and is a complete homer.

– Defense looked pretty good without Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu on the field, didn’t they?

– One last nugget thanks to our friend Dejan Kovacevic: For first time since 1992, all three Pittsburgh teams qualified for playoffs in same year.

Next: Steelers Game Day Grub