KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger are brutally trustworthy concerning the Steelers’ probabilities of advancing previous the wild-card spherical of the playoffs, particularly given the Chiefs humiliated them just some weeks in the past in Arrowhead Stadium.
First, the Pittsburgh coach: “I don’t understand how a lot you be taught from it, to be fairly trustworthy with you. They smashed us so undoubtedly,” Tomlin stated of the primary assembly. “Greater than something, this is sort of a reboot.”
Then, the quarterback: “We most likely aren’t purported to be right here,” Roethlisberger stated. “We most likely usually are not an excellent soccer workforce. Out of 14 groups which might be in, we’re most likely at quantity 14. We’re double-digit underdogs within the playoffs.”
You nearly ponder whether the Steelers will even present up Sunday night time.
However they want solely have a look at their very own postseason historical past to know there’s at all times an opportunity. The probably retiring Roethlisberger was a second-year professional in 2005 when the Steelers parlayed one other wild-card berth into their most-recent Tremendous Bowl triumph.
Few people again then anticipated a workforce that includes the retiring Jerome Bettis to make such an impressed playoff run.
“We’re most likely 20-point underdogs,” Roethlisberger stated, “and we’re going in opposition to the No. 1 workforce that’s gained the AFC the final two years — arguably the most effective workforce in soccer we don’t have an opportunity. So let’s simply go in and play and have enjoyable.”
Certainly, the Steelers (9-7-1) are taking part in with nothing to lose whereas the Chiefs (12-5) carry the burden of hefty expectations.
Not solely have they gained the previous two AFC titles, they’ve been to the previous three championship video games, they usually’re recent off a file sixth West division title. The group that after went almost three many years with out successful a house playoff recreation has now gained 5 in a row, because of a bevy of expertise surrounding Professional Bowl quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“I believe the very first thing you understand is that at any second, one play can change your entire recreation,” Mahomes stated. “It’s like that within the common season, however the playoffs, it even goes to a different degree. One play can finish your season or maintain it going.”
The Chiefs had been downright dominant throughout the center a part of the season, when a protection that was among the many worst within the league did an about-face. However they stumbled down the stretch, shedding in Cincinnati of their penultimate recreation — costing them an opportunity of getting the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field benefit all through the playoffs.
They nonetheless get to begin at Arrowhead Stadium. However somewhat than spend this weekend resting up for the divisional spherical, they get to face the nothing-to-lose Steelers on Sunday night time.
“Proper now it’s all Pittsburgh,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated. “It takes each little bit of effort proper now to be prepared for this workforce.”
Post a Comment