KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Each week, our football staff at DK Pittsburgh Sports predicts the Steelers' game, and below are the picks for the AFC Wild Card game against the Chiefs, Sunday, 8:15 p.m., at Arrowhead Stadium.
For a full preview, check my Kickoff.
Dale Lolley (10-7): I don't think this will be a 36-10 blowout, but the Chiefs are the better team, right? As the Steelers' fans know all-too-well, the clearly better team doesn't always win (hello Chargers in 1994 and Patriots in 2001), but this is a battle-tested Kansas City team. The Steelers probably won't lose the turnover battle, 3-0, as they did the first time. That will keep things closer. But to win, they'd need to win the turnover battle, 3-0. Chiefs, 26-17
Ramon Foster (8-9): Najee Harris is running like the college kid that I saw. Straight downhill, not as much side-to-side. That's benefited him and the team, and that'll be crucial in the playoffs because teams aren't biting on the deep pass against Pittsburgh the way they used to. Anything can happen. But it's going to be tough against that opponent., Not just Mahomes but that defense, too. Chiefs, 24-14
Chris Carter (10-7): The Steelers definitely have something up their sleeves that will make this game more competitive than last time. The demeanor you've heard from Ben Roethlisberger, Diontae Johnson, Najee Harris and company strikes a different tone than their approach three weeks ago. Expect some turnovers and some splash plays to give the Steelers a fighting chance late, but Patrick Mahomes will be too good. Chiefs, 26-20.
Tom Reed (8-9): Don’t think this game is going to be the mismatch some are predicting. The Steelers have been in playoff mode for a month and found a way to win three of their last four games. It says here Miles Killebrew blocks another punt to keep it close. Ultimately, Mahomes will be too much. Chiefs, 24-18
Dejan Kovacevic (8-9): I was here three weeks ago. Travis Kelce wasn't. The Chiefs still won by a million. And really, Kansas City's performance was so thorough, so deflating from the Pittsburgh perspective, that -- hey, sorry -- I can't conceive of a reversal this swift, this dramatic. I just can't. Chiefs, 87-7
Let's have your picks in the comments!
