Steelers Throwback Thursday: Dupree and Shazier combine efforts for win at Arrowhead
Steel City Underground presents “Steelers Throwback Thursday” featuring plays from recent seasons which you may have forgotten about! Now we’re “bringing them back!”
Playing at Kansas City’s home, Arrowhead Stadium, is never easy. Going back to the Steelers Divisional Round playoff game in the 2016-2017 season was just as difficult.
The game was filled with excitement, anticipation, frustration, and everything in-between, and may be best known for the Steelers offense’s lack of being able to score a touchdown. Fans were already on edge, knowing that the team had its struggles on the road throughout Mike Tomlin’s tenure as head coach.
Playing at Arrowhead Stadium, in a game which was delayed by the weather forecast and pushed from its original 1 pm start to a primetime kickoff, made everyone concerned. In fact, the later start time became more of an issue following the game, where Coach Tomlin’s words were captured for the world to hear by a controversial Antonio Brown Facebook Live video.
With that behind them, the Steelers rolled into the latest Divisional Round start time in modern NFL history with a chip on their shoulder. They had just decimated the Miami Dolphins at home with a 30-12 Wild Card win and looked to make it twice as nice by adding a second victory on the season against the Chiefs, whom they beat 43-14 in Week 4.
However, with each failure to score a touchdown on offense (each which resulted in a Chris Boswell field goal) the Chiefs remained in the game. Boswell kicked, and kicked, and kicked his way into NFL history by booting a total of six field goals through the uprights: a postseason record.
The rest of the game was then securely placed on the shoulders of the Steelers defense, who did their best to contain any threat of Alex Smith‘s offense from taking Pittsburgh out of the playoffs in much the same way Peyton Manning had during the same round a season earlier.
Kansas City became the first team to score an opening-drive touchdown on Pittsburgh’s defense all year, but the Steelers clamped down with Bud Dupree providing pressure, and Ryan Shazier picking off a pass.
The Steelers were clutching to a two-point in the second quarter and were in need of a big defensive play… when they got one from a pair of their young stars, Bud Dupree and Ryan Shazier.
Dupree comes off of the edge to hit Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith as he attempts to throw a pass. The lame duck throw sends the ball skyward, as Shazier makes the centerfield catch for the interception.
Unfortunately, Ben Roethlisberger had a pass batted in the air, and taken away on the ensuing drive, keeping the Steelers out of the end zone and off of the scoreboard.
The game remained close, but Pittsburgh’s defense forced another turnover, this time scooping up a fumble by Chiefs RB Charchandrick West. Chris Boswell would kick his record sixth field goal of the evening, putting the Steelers up eight points.
The defense then sputtered, allowing the Chiefs to score a touchdown: all that Kansas City had to do was execute a two-point conversion and the game would be tied. And they did.
However, Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher held James Harrison, backing KC up ten yards and allowing the Steelers to stop their second try for two.
The Steelers would get the ball back with 2:38 left on the clock, and masterfully move the ball enough yards to keep it ticking. A clutch Antonio Brown third down catch secured the team’s first AFC Championship appearance since the 2010 season.