TEAM GRADE: OVERALL: A
QUARTERBACK: A
The most important thing Ben Roethlisberger did was not commit a turnover for the third game in a row. He set a good tempo early with a perfect 44-yard pass to Martavis Bryant that led to a field goal and made big third-down conversion throws in the fourth quarter after getting leg-whipped. The touchdown throw to Antonio Brown was all him.
RUNNING BACKS: B-
The Chiefs did a good job negating Le'Veon Bell, especially in the pass game. Bell had only one catch for 9 yards, a season low, but managed to scrape out 63 yards rushing on 20 carries despite not having a run longer than 7 yards. But he also converted several short-yardage runs, including a 1-yard touchdown.
WIDE RECEIVERS: B
The Chiefs took away Roethlisberger's check-downs to Bell, forcing him to look elsewhere. Bryant had only one catch, but it was a big one - a 44-yard catch on the first series. Antonio Brown had seven catches, including his 12th touchdown reception, and broke his franchise record for receiving yards in a season. Heath Miller was big with seven catches, including another key third-down conversion.
OFFENSIVE LINE: B
Roethlisberger continues to get good protection up front. He was sacked just once and, not surprisingly, by league-leader Justin Houston. RT Marcus Gilbert returned after missing three games and did a nice job on Houston. So did C Maurkice Pouncey on NT Dontari Poe. The biggest gaffe was by G Ramon Foster, who took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a field goal that gave the Chiefs great field position.
DEFENSIVE LINE: A
The Chiefs had the No. 2 red-zone offense in the league, but the defense held them to three field goals and a big fourth-down stop inside the 20. Cam Heyward was a big reason, getting 1½ sacks, three QB hurries and dominating the line of scrimmage. DE Stephon Tuitt had a sack and forced a turnover fumble with a big hit on Jamaal Charles. Their best performance of the season.
LINEBACKERS: A
This group accounted for five of the six sacks on QB Alex Smith. Jason Worilds had two, including a big third-down sack that forced a field goal. James Harrison had 1½ sacks to go with a couple of pressures and tackles for losses. Throw in Lawrence Timmons with 13 tackles and a big fourth-down stop at the 12 and you have a grand performance.
SECONDARY: C
It was a typical West Coast showing by Smith, who passed for 311 yards despite having just one completion longer than 19 yards. He picked apart the defense with 12 passes of between 10-19 yards, but struggled with completions in the red zone. William Gay got a bad penalty for taunting after a big third-down stop, keeping alive a Chiefs field-goal drive.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
It was not a good first-half for special teams, not after a 34-punt by Brad Wing set up a field-goal drive and a fake field goal gave the Chiefs three more shots from the Steelers 6. But, in a tight game, the coverage units were solid enough not to allow a return longer than 29 yards. Shaun Suisham kicked two more field goals and Wing responded with a 56-yarder on his only other punt.
COACHING: A
Not too many people thought the Steelers defense would win a game this season, but this is one time when it did. Six sacks and so many big plays in the red zone made it look like old times for the Steelers. But, even though there is more to accomplish next week, winning three in a row to secure a playoff spot for the first time in three years is an important step for a franchise wanting to be relevant again.
READ MORE: Highlights on the Steelers blog
First Published: December 22, 2014, 4:17 a.m.
Updated: December 22, 2014, 4:24 a.m.
