The Kansas City Chiefs came into Acrisure Stadium on Christmas day 2024 and delivered a 29 to 10 drubbing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This marked Pittsburgh’s third consecutive loss to an NFL heavyweight team, it ruined the franchise’s perfect record in Christmas games and, worse yet, ceded the lead over the AFC North to the Baltimore Ravens.
- The loss itself wasn’t entirely unexpected.
The Chiefs after all are 2 time defending Super Bowl Champions. But way in which the team lost was sobering, because for the first time in a very long while, the Steelers looked completely choto.
“Choto” is of course Argentine slang for “coming up short,” but using it carries a distinct anatomical connotation, which we can all agree is appropriate.
Russell Wilson is sacked. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
Steelers Begin by Breaking the 1st Rule of Playing Mahomes
“When you’re playing Patrick Mahomes, you have zero margin for error.” My friend Matt C. Steel has been hammering this point when writing about how the Steelers must approach team building in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era.
So while Jaylen Warren bobbling the opening kickoff in the end zone had no practical impact on the game, one had to wonder if it was a harbinger of things to come – and indeed it was.
- The Steelers started with a 7 yard strike to Pat Freiermuth – Good
- Najee Harris followed with a 1-yard run – Not so good
- Russell Wilson got sacked for an 11-yard loss as he recovered his fumble – Bad
- Corliss Waitman only manages a 40 punt – Not so good
- Nikko Remigio returns the punt for 25 yards – Bad
Only one minute and thirty five seconds had elapsed. The score remained 0-0, but the Steelers had managed to make 5 errors on 3 offensive and 2 special teams plays.
I guess the fact that Patrick Mahomes required 8 plays to get Kanas City his first score does go to show that the principle that it is easier to tear down that it is to build applies to football.
On their next drive the Steelers actually showed a little life with a 10 yard Najee Harris run. But that was unfortunately scuttled by another Russell Wilson sack. This time Corliss Waitman boomed off a 58 yard punt. And Mark Robinson forced Nikko Remigio fumble, yet once again the Steelers couldn’t recover.
- On his next go-around, Patrick Mahomes only needed 7 plays to add another touchdown.
And it was here that the Steelers would make their “final” stand against the Chiefs, as a 41 yard hook up to George Pickens and authoritative runs by Jaylen Warren had the Steelers knocking at the door Kanas City’s 8.
- Warren ripped off another decisive run to reach the end zone.
- But a Darnell Washington penalty took that off the board.
- Russell Wilson tried to force it to Pat Freiermuth, but got picked off by Justin Reid
Two minutes and sixteen seconds remained in the first quarter, and the Steelers were already down 14-0 and the game was already over for Pittsburgh. Technically you could argue that the Steelers were still in it until Freiermuth’s fumble early in the 4th quarter.
But for all practical purposes, it was clear very early on that the Steelers were going to come up painfully short against the three time champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Let’s look at why.
Offense Needs More than George Pickens
After the game Matt C. Steel wrote extensively on Steel City Insider about what ails the Steelers offense. In Matt’s view over-reliance on the shot gun has ill suited the Steelers during this 3 game run.
Instinct tells me that there’s a lot of merit to Matt’s argument from a technical, X’s and O’s perspective. Practically, I suspect he’s missing the point.
- The Steelers simply don’t have enough talent on offense.
- Scheming can’t make up for it, at least not in championship-level matches
The offensive line got manhandled. The group is young. They may “get there.” But they is not ready for prime time.
The offense also lacks dynamic playmakers in the passing game. George Pickens is a “Play Maker” albeit one who brings a lot of baggae. Pat Freiermuth is a “play maker.” Calvin Austin could develop into a “play maker” or perhaps even a “Play Maker,” but he’s not quite there yet.
Russell Wilson, at age 36 can still play winning football. Perhaps even he can even play championship football. But he can’t carry this team by himself. And frankly he’s hurt the team when he’s tried.
Justin Reid intercepts Russell Wilson. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
After 15 games it is clear that the Steelers run focused offense is focusing on the wrong running back.
Najee Harris, by all accounts, goes out of his way to piss off the press when the cameras aren’t rolling. Because of that he took some unwarranted criticism over the last two seasons. But as he closes out his fourth year, Najee Harris simply isn’t consistent enough to be a feature back in this offense.
Omar Khan and Andy Weidl showed they understand that when they declined to pick up his 5th year option. The coaches would be wise to follow suit by shifting carries from Harris to Warren for the duration of the season.
Damning Day for the Defense?
Much has been made of the Steelers league-leading investment in the defense, in the form of blue chip contracts for T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick – among others. This investment of salary cap space flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that in the 2020’s, the NFL is all about offense.
Pittsburgh has gambled that focusing on defense will allow the Steelers to go toe-to-toe with the Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jacksons and Patrick Mahomeses of the NFL.
- Well, they did do it against Jackson the first time they faced him
- They were missing 4 starters for the game against Hurts and the 2nd game against Jackson
- But they were at full heath against Maholmes
And Maholmes not only dominated the Steelers, he made it look easy. “Easy” as in he made it look like he was Ricky Steamboat going up against Mr. X at the Mid Hudson Civic Center in a 1980’s Saturday morning Championship wrestling match up.
- Yes, there’s a reason why Patrick Mahomes is 15-1 seeking his third straight Super Bowl.
But that’s precisely the point. If Mahomes the measuring stick then the Steelers are indeed choto.
Very very choto.
