I’ve had some interesting conversation with Steelers fans since Sunday’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs. I know there was some concern over the defense, and yes, they gave up a touchdown late, yet, still persevered against the AFC West champions to secure a date with destiny against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game this upcoming Sunday.

Many are concerned that the Patriots offense is better than Kansas City’s: that might be true.

Then again, it might not matter.

One of the better interactions I had with one fan, nailed the situation: Brady doesn’t have to go down.

He just has to feel the pressure.

Like the Week 7 match-up with New England, the Steelers only got to the quarterback one time last Sunday. However, Chiefs QB Alex Smith was still feeling pressure.

One of the oft-criticized plays of the game, at least by KC fans, is Alex Smith “missing” WR Tyreek Hill who was “wide open”.

I’m about to blow this one up, because Hill has seperation, but long after Smith is capable of doing anything about it.

Chiefs fans were critical of the All-22 clip of Smith moving out of the pocket, to his right (and away from Hill) when they felt he had a “clean” pocket and could’ve made this play.

I don’t think the answer is that easy: see for yourself.

Hill sprints in a straight line down the numbers, and what looks like, past Sean Davis.

Even color commentator Chris Collinsworth gushed during the game, saying Smith missed a big one.

But did he?

This is going to get some replay from yinz, because you’re going to want to watch the moment Smith leaves: Davis is reading the quarterback, and thus doesn’t aimlessly wander downfield to cover Hill, whom Smith is going to have a lot of trouble throwing to moving right to left and across the field… way down the field.

Had Smith stayed in the pocket a second or two later, he could have connected with Hill; but that’s not to say Davis would have let Hill go either.

Oh, and that pressure those fans claim Smith wasn’t feeling, is easily illustrated by one James Harrison hitting the massive hole left by KC’s offensive line at full speed.

Smith stays, he gets hit.

Well, he got hit anyway, so perhaps he should have… is that their argument?

This is how pressure can affect a game. The Steelers had yet to sack Smith, who is a fairly mobile quarterback. He throws it away and the Chiefs face a 3rd-and-16 from their own 19.

Whom do they decide to go after on this play?

Let’s test the rookie corner, Artie Burns.

Burns was often criticized for his tackling in pre-and-post draft analysis, plus during the preseason. He has since picked up his game, and shows it as Andy Reid dials up a screen to try and confuse the rookie.

In fact, the Chiefs may have confused themselves: who didn’t think this was going to be a screen pass? Even Mike Mitchell (single-high safety near the 35) recognizes this play right away, but it’s Burns who blows up Jeremy Maclin‘s block and makes the tackle on Tyreek Hill.

I’m wondering if that qualifies Artie Burns (“Burns) as a “Killer B”, since that appears to be the trend with Chris Boswell potentially being added to that list.

If not, we might want to consider Bud Dupree (“Bud”), who has been having one of the best streaks of any defender in the league right now. Even though he doesn’t get the sack on this play, he helps another streak: that of Ryan Shazier‘s 4 straight games with an interception.

Chiefs RT Jah Reid barely makes contact with Dupree, who uses technique rather than a bull rush to get around the tackle, and hit Smith as he’s throwing.

Shazier makes a center field catch, and the rest is history. (But it is a beautiful play to watch, by Dupree.)

The one sack the Steelers do get, is by their all-time sacks leader who, on this play, ties the franchise’s postseason mark of 11 (held by LaMarr Woodley).

Guess who Harrison beat?

Eric Fisher.

Think that wasn’t a prelude to the holding call which negated Kansas City’s chances of tying the game late in the fourth quarter? (Think again!)

Harrison doesn’t even have to dip to get around the tackle in this play. The loss of six yards forces to punt.

 

Now if Chiefs fans want to complain about any play, this would be the one. In a play similar to the one where Tyreek Hill appeared open, the Chiefs set up a bunch formation on their left side. Kelce is covered, as is Spencer Ware, who runs a wheel route. The Steelers only send 3 this time, dropping Lawrence Timmons and Bud Dupree into coverage.

For whatever reason, Alex Smith sense Stephon Tuitt‘s presence, but overreacts, and takes off running right toward Timmons and Dupree. With visions of Matt Moore dancing in his head, Smith ducks out of bounds, shy of the down marker.

Smith fails to see Chris Conley come clean across the formation. For what it’s worth, I’m not sure if Smith doesn’t want to take shots down the field, or feels the coverage will get to Conley; he was certainly far more open than Hill was (in my opinion).

Smith could’ve also stuck with Ware, who may have been one of his initial reads (it’s hard to tell, as he is looking at Kelce, but was playing his eyes off of his receivers all night). Ware continues to run his route, actually crisscrossing with Conley.

Either player could’ve made a play, but for our sake, let’s be glad that the “boogie man” was felt by Smith and he tucked and run with the ball.

Overall, the Steelers still held their opponent near their 8-game winning streak average of 16.6 points per game. I felt they did just enough to get the job done, forcing turnovers when necessary and locking down the fort several times throughout the game.

There’s a lot of promise, and be sure, a lot of film to review, in order to fix any mistakes the Patriots will attempt to exploit this Sunday. Given the mistakes are on the Steelers film as well, it’s better that KC was unable to capitalize on them, and now they’ve been exposed for Pittsburgh to path.