5 issues we discovered from the Chiefs’ Christmas Day win over the Steelers

When the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs walked into Acrisure Stadium on Christmas Day, the first objective was to assert the AFC’s No. 1 postseason seed with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However there was extra on the road than that. In a welcome departure from the Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas Raiders one 12 months in the past, the sport turned out to be a one-sided contest. The defending champs rolled to a 29-10 victory, proving that it’s going to take much more than a mediocre playoff group to dethrone the NFL’s present king.

Listed here are 5 issues we discovered from the Chiefs thumping the Steelers.

1. The Chiefs aren’t paper kings

Photograph by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos

Kansas Metropolis was enjoying on just some days’ relaxation towards the second playoff group in two weeks. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was solely every week faraway from spraining his ankle. The group was with out go rusher Chris Jones — its greatest defensive participant — and was fielding an offensive line that was persevering with to battle.

In such circumstances, a standard NFL group would possibly look drained and sluggish — and battle to get going. However the Chiefs aren’t regular. Trying very very like a group that had been there earlier than, Kansas Metropolis began quick, took management of the sport and by no means relinquished it.

It was simply the form of efficiency we should always count on from a group in search of its third consecutive Tremendous Bowl title. As regular, this battle-tested group had its finger proper on the heartbeat of the season — and is now peaking at precisely the correct time.

2. With no Chris Jones, there’s no run protection

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We knew the Steelers had been going to run the ball towards the Chiefs. It’s what they do.

Coming into Wednesday’s recreation, Pittsburgh ranked tenth in common dashing yards at 130 per recreation. Whereas some higher dashing groups (just like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens) have had little success whereas attempting to tote the rock towards Kansas Metropolis, Pittsburgh ran everywhere in the Chiefs’ protection, averaging 6.5 yards per try because it claimed 202 yards.

A part of this may be attributed to the Steelers enjoying from behind. Kansas Metropolis most well-liked to emphasise its go protection moderately than stack the field towards the run. Nonetheless, it’s routine for the Chiefs to play with a lead.

The large distinction on this recreation was being with out Jones. Whereas he’s generally criticized for his run protection, his influence on it goes past tackling opposing operating backs. Since he’s double-teamed on virtually each down, his teammates are free to run downhill and make performs on the ball.

The Chiefs missed No. 95 within the center. However he’s anticipated to be again for the playoffs.

3. The group didn’t do Harrison Butker any favors

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It’s by no means good when your placekicker — who’s already struggling as he comes again from surgical procedure — has to try two additional factors from 48 yards. However the Chiefs dedicated two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on landing performs, placing Butker in simply that state of affairs — and for the second time in three weeks, Butker missed a kick.

After his earlier miss — a chip shot towards the Cleveland Browns — particular groups coordinator Dave Toub insisted it was a course of error that was not related to Butker’s knee damage. If that’s true, Toub and his assistants have just a few weeks to knock the rust from Butker’s leg earlier than the playoffs.

Nevertheless it’s occurred, Butker simply doesn’t look proper — and within the postseason, he should be locked in.

4. The Jaden Hicks ascension is upon us

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For the third straight week, the Chiefs’ rookie security stepped as much as make a giant play on protection — this time breaking apart a deep fourth-down go towards the Steelers’ star large receiver George Pickens. Over the past month, Hicks’ efficiency on the sector (and his enjoying time) have been on the rise. We’ve now reached the purpose that Hicks has grow to be one of many protection’s prime gamers.

In latest weeks, second-year security Chamarri Conner has struggled. So we’ve to wonder if the Chiefs will want to play Hicks after Conner clears the concussion protocol. When Hicks is paired with fellow safeties Justin Reid and Bryan Prepare dinner, the Chiefs have a trio of hard-nosed safeties who could make performs everywhere in the area.

5. The deep ball isn’t useless

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This season, quite a bit has been made concerning the Chiefs’ passing recreation missing explosion. So that you would possibly assume that by favoring a faster West Coast-style passing assault to offset points on the offensive line, the deep ball would possibly — as soon as and for all — be useless in Kansas Metropolis.

However the reverse is definitely true. One of many main rules of the West Coast offense is that the fast passing recreation forces defenses into single-high secondary seems to be. As soon as the opponent is compelled to commit an additional defensive again to the road of scrimmage to cease the bubble screens and fast slants, the offense can hit them excessive with the deep ball. That’s precisely what the Chiefs did towards the Steelers.

With Xavier Worthy’s emergence as greater than a gadget deep-shot artist — and with Hollywood Brown returning to the lineup — Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have numerous levers they will pull to arrange explosive performs within the passing recreation.

That is going to be enjoyable to look at.