JEFF ALLEN GAME PREVIEW: KANSAS CITY at PITTSBURGH
In what might very well be an AFC playoff preview, the 2-1 Kansas City Chiefs travel to Pittsburgh to take
on the 2-1 Steelers in this week’s Sunday night game on NBC. The Chiefs bounced back from a poor
road effort at Houston to roll the Jets 24-3. In that game, the KC defense forced eight turnovers including
six Ryan Fitzpatrick interceptions. Pittsburgh was beaten up 34-3 by the Eagles in Philly in last week’s
state championship game. The Men of Steel get Le’Veon Bell back from a three game suspension and
he’ll play a huge role in Pitt’s success from here on out.
Except for a short period mid-week where the number hit five, there has been very little movement in the
Pittsburgh -4.5 opener. The total opened up at 47.5 and has been as low as 46.5 but most shops are
dealing 47 at this writing. Weather could be an issue with light rain in the forecast for the entire game.
Temperatures projected in the mid-60s for this 8:30 PM kickoff.
This is the same Alex Smith led Chiefs team we’ve seen the last couple of years since Andy Reid took over,
rock solid defense with a game manager on offense that doesn’t make mistakes. That said, KC off to a
slow start on offense where they are a perfectly balanced No.21 running the football, No.22 throwing the
football and No.22 overall in total offense. Despite geting eight turnovers last week, the offense could only
account for six points (two defensive scores) and that was a drive of 35 yards.
The Steelers have to be scratching their heads wondering when the last time they were manhandled like
they were against the Eagles. Philadelphia whipped the Steelers in every conceivable way going wire-to-
wire in an easy win. Pitt gets their lynchpin back here with Bell. Dangelo Williams has done a nice job
filling in for Bell during his injurs and suspensions. Williams averaged just 2.9 yards per carry the last two
games. Bell also opens things up more for the Roethlisberger /Antonio Brown connection.
The Chiefs snapped a four game series losing streak witha 23-13 win (Landry Jones at QB) at Arrowhead
last year. Kansas City hasn’t won here since 1986 and figures to get a riled up Steeler outfit here. AFC West
teams on the road in non-division games are 7-3 this year, 4-2 as dogs.The Chiefs have not been a good
dog going 1-5 L6 overall. Pitt rocks an 8-2-1 ATS run over over their L11 home games. Edge Pittsburgh.