What: Steelers (3-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
When: 4:25 p.m.
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.
TV-Radio: KDKA Channel 2; WDVE 102.5-FM, 970-AM ESPN Pittsburgh.
When the Chiefs have the ball…
Key Performers: QB Alex Smith, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce, LT Eric Fisher, RT Mitchell Schwartz
Who’s hot (or not): Hunt, a third-round draft choice from Toledo, leads the league with 609 yards rushing, a 6.3-yard average, seven runs of 20 yards or longer and three runs of 40 yards or longer. He also has 16 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns, ranking him second among non-kickers in the league with 36 points. He started his career with a flurry, too, becoming the first player in history to have a touchdown of 50+ yards in each of his first three games.
What’s been working: Since Hunt lost a fumble on the very first play of the season opener in New England, the Chiefs have not had a turnover in 294 offensive plays. But they have had a few good bounces, recovering six other fumbles. Smith has been very efficient, completing a league-best 76.6 percent of his passes and not being intercepted in 158 attempts. But he has been sacked 17 times already, compared to just 28 all of last season.
Game plan: The Chiefs will likely throw a lot of different looks and offensive formations to start the game, just as they did in last season’s divisional playoff game, when they needed only six plays to score on their opening possession. It will be up to the Steelers to adjust and settle down against a team that will try to keep them off balance and strike with big plays by Hunt and Hill, who have combined for five plays of 52 yards or longer, three for touchdowns.
Keep an eye on: Kelce took a helmet shot to the head in last week’s victory against the Texans and has been in concussion protocol. Kelce had 15 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown in two games before he was injured. If he can’t play, the Chiefs will use two tight ends to replace him, Demetrius Harris and Ross Travis. They combined to catch five passes for 47 yards against the Texans. Kelce had 10 catches for 100 yards and one touchdown in two losses to the Steelers in 2016.
When Steelers have the ball…
Key performers: DE Chris Jones, DE Allen Bailey, OLB Justin Houston, ILB Derrick Johnson, CB Marcus Peters
Who’s hot (or not): The Chiefs lost one of their best players and emotional leaders when All-Pro safety Eric Berry sustained a season-ending injury in the season opener in New England. His absence, along with CB Steven Nelson (IR), has created a big void in the back end of the defense. Without those two starters, the Chiefs have given up seven passes of 40 yards or longer, most in the league. Those long passes presumably led to a sideline blowup by Peters directed at defensive coordinator Bob Sutton.
What’s been working: Houston, who had a team-record 22 sacks in 2014, is back in full form as an elite pass rusher after starting just five games in 2016. He leads the team with 5½ sacks, even though he has been dropping into coverage and playing the run more. Houston has battled injuries the past two seasons but still registered 7½ sacks in 11 games in 2015 and four in five starts last season. Houston missed practice early this week with calf spasms.
Game plan: If the Chiefs look at what the Jaguars did against the Steelers, they will probably clutter the box and try to stop Le’Veon Bell, who had 15 carries for 47 yards. However, the Chiefs are tied for 20th in the league in run defense, allowing an average of 118 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry. That is a significant number for a team that has had the lead for 14 of the 20 quarters played. Plus, Bell rushed for 170 yards on 30 carries in last year’s playoff game in Kansas City.
Keep an eye on: In the past two games, Terrance Mitchell has actually been the Chiefs’ best cornerback. Mitchell was the third corner last season who started two games but became the starter this year when Steven Nelson was placed on injured reserve. Mitchell got picked on repeatedly by Tom Brady in the season opener but has since settled down and played very well, probably better than Peters the past two games. He has seven passes defenses in the past three games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Steelers’ biggest concern is keeping Hill contained as a punt returner. He already has an 82-yard TD return this season and ranks first in the AFC with a 12.5-yard return average. In 2016, Hill led the NFL with 592 punt-return yards, a 15.2-yard average and two TD returns. Hill was held to 20 yards on two punt returns at Heinz Field during the regular season and four kick returns for 72 yards in the playoff game at Arrowhead. … Kicker Harrison Butker was signed two weeks ago after Cairo Santos was waived injured. After missing his first field-goal attempt against Washington, Butker has made seven in a row, including the winning 43-yarder against the Redskins. … Punter Dustin Colquitt is 13th in the AFC in average (44.2 yards) but tied for last in the conference in net average (37.6).
To win, the Chiefs must …
Fail Bell. He had a big passing grade in two games against the Chiefs in 2016, rushing for 314 yards on 48 carries.
Have Hill thrill. He uses his speed to produce six touchdowns of at least 68 yards in the past nine regular-season games.
Use Peter(s) principle. The Pro Bowl CB will likely shadow Antonio Brown, who leads the league with 40 catches, including an NFL-best eight of 20 yards or longer.
To win, the Steelers must …
Hunt Kareem. The defense ranks 28th in the league against the run after allowing 220 and 231 yards rushing in two of the past three games.
Make sure Houston isn’t a problem. When healthy, the four-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker is as disruptive as any edge rusher in the league.
Tomahawk the ball. The Chiefs have not turned the ball since the first play from scrimmage in the season opener, despite six fumbles.
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com
First Published: October 12, 2017, 4:30 p.m.
Updated: October 13, 2017, 4:14 a.m.
