The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted little time working to rebound after an abysmal loss a week ago, looking to avenge their football demons by pouncing on the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, going up 29-0 by halftime.
Ben Roethlisberger has thrown four touchdown passes, two to Antonio Brown and one each to Darrius Heyward-Bey and tight end Jesse James. Le’Veon Bell has picked up 39 yards on six carries and another 15 yards on three receptions. Sammie Coates has caught another 40-plus yard reception in addition, adding a 48-yarder to his league-leading total of five through four games.
The defense has done well to boot, as evidenced by the scoreboard, with the Chiefs missing on a 49-yard field goal at the end of the half. A fumble recovery and an interception off a tipped pass add to two first-half sacks. The run defense has been on point, while Alex Smith‘s 131 yards were aided by some late-quarter prevent coverages.
Justin Gilbert was back to receive the opening kickoff, but he elected not to return it. A fake handoff to the back and wide receiver led to a screen to Bell for a nice gain with blocks up the field, one by B.J. Finney. From the 42, Bell was stopped up the middle after about two yards. Off play action, Roethlisberger found Xavier Grimble for a first down.
Bell was good for four yards off left guard. He picked up two yards on a pass four yards behind the line of scrimmage through contact. On third and four, Markus Wheaton was able to get behind the cornerback, who lost the ball in the air, with the receiver combing down with it for the touchdown, which went through review before it standing. Boswell’s extra point made it 36-0 on Roethlisberger’s fifth touchdown pass of the game.
Jordan Dangerfield tackled the back on a hard hit to the flat, but Artie Burns was called first for holding. Smith lost the ball initially on the following snap, but was able to regather himself and hit his target for a first down. From the 42, Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt converged for the Steelers’ third sack of the game. On second and 16, an illegal hands to the face penalty was declined off an incomplete pass. A false start added to the Chiefs’ misery. A running back screen picked up 14 yards, but they needed 21. Brown called for an early fair catch backed up inside his own 10.
Bell came alive on a couple back-to-back carries, but they ended up in a third-and-17 not long after. Bell picked up about 12 on the play, but the Steelers settled for a punt. Jordan Berry‘s punt went out of bounds at the 17 after 44 yards.
From the 17, Dangerfield made the tackle on a screen after three yards, and Maclin dropped the ball on second down. On third and seven, Knile Davis was able to pick up the first down, hit hard and sent spinning by Timmons. Davis dropped the pass that followed. Timmons and Gay kept Conley short of the first down. A false start backed them up, but Maclin moved the chains fourth down
Ware picked up a short gain up the middle. Burns was able to break up a deep pass against Hill with a nice pass breakup, but Conley picked up the first down a play later. Another reception by Maclin, followed by Wilson, set the Chiefs up with their first goal-to-go opportunity of the game.
Travis Kelce dropped a touchdown pass on second and goal. From the three, Smith’s pass was tipped by Burns. The third-string tight end dropped the fourth-down pass.
With the turnover on downs, the Steelers took to the ground with Bell, and Johnons lined up at fullback, for a carry to drain the clock to the end of the third quarter. Bell buried himself forward for two yards to open the fourth quarter when he saw there was no more to be gained. The screen pass to Coates went nowhere and Pittsburgh was forced to punt.
Kelce dropped another pass to begin the ensuing Chiefs drive. After a 17-yarder to Wilson, Smith went back to Kelce for a short gain, making a tackler miss to gain nine in all. Ware picked up the first down on the ground. Hill made a couple of acrobatic moves to get the Chiefs on the scoreboard with the nine-yard touchdown.
Roethlisberger overthrew a streaking open Coates on first down. Bell took a shot to the back on a five-yard pickup. Roethlisberger hit Coates this time on a long-developing play. Bell was good for about four yards on the next play. DeAngelo Williams made the quick pass over the middle for a short gain. Bell busted through the line for 44 yards to set up a first and goal. Roethlisberger misfired for Grimble on first down, but Williams walked in on second down to run up the score to 43-7.
Heyward got to Smith for the third time of the game on the opening play of the Chiefs’ next drive. Heyward made the tackle on Ware on the next play as well. Smith was chased out of the pocket on third down and threw the ball away. Brown fair caught the ball, again with room to run.
Bell was good for five yards, and then Williams picked up a couple to follow. Chris Hubbard snapped the ball right into his butt on third down, however. Why is he in at center? Seriously? Move Finney over to center and let Hubbard play guard. Come on.
Ware ripped off a big run late in the game. From the 13, Charles took a shot by Harrison after a yard. Burns was flagged for illegal contact on the next play. After two stops on first and second down, Javon Hargrave among others stood Ware up at the line of scrimmage. On fourth and goal, Kelce caught a garbage time touchdown for the sake of making the scoreboard look a bit more presentable, to produce a final score of 43-14.
