AFC Playoffs: Steelers @ Chiefs II

[WindyCitySteel]

JuJu practicing, Edwards-Helaire and Tyreek not.

[feltdizz]

The game day thread is going to be insane. So many times people declared the season over last week… lol.

[feltdizz]

Digging into the old Steelers KC playoff games, I noticed that KC’s one win against us in OT was lead by none other than Old Timer - Joe Montana.

Seems poetic that an old guy would win this matchup again. Just a different old guy on a different team this time around.

wasn’t it a blocked punt in OT?

Can’t remember.

[feltdizz]

Yep. But at least we get the chance to try.

Hoping that we can keep in close and Steelers our way to victory.

Exactly.. when people said we didn’t deserve the playoffs or didn’t want to see us make it. Crazy talk. I bet those people will watch it even though they shouldn’t if they truly didn’t want to see us in it.

I’ll always be up for one more game. I bet the Colts, Denver, Baltimore and Chargers fans all wish they had a chance to see their teams play this weekend.

[SteelBucks]

The game day thread is going to be insane. So many times people declared the season over last week… lol.

Nah. I think of it as bonus football considering all of the crazy things that had to happen for us to get into the playoffs.

As Ben said, “Let’s have some fun”. We’re playing with house money at this point and extending Ben’s career a few quarters (hopefully longer).

[flippy]

wasn’t it a blocked punt in OT?

Can’t remember.

I remember NOD got us ahead and up a TD in the 4th Q. Then Montana took the Chiefs down the field and brought them back for a tie.

I don’t remember how it finished in OT other than KC won by a FG.

It felt like a Ben finish. Tie it up at the end of regulation then get a FG in OT.

[Northern_Blitz]

Exactly.. when people said we didn’t deserve the playoffs or didn’t want to see us make it. Crazy talk. I bet those people will watch it even though they shouldn’t if they truly didn’t want to see us in it.

I’ll always be up for one more game. I bet the Colts, Denver, Baltimore and Chargers fans all wish they had a chance to see their teams play this weekend.

Hopefully Najee can channel his inner Bell. Because Bell was very good against KC IIRC.

We need a great rushing attack this week to have a chance I think.

[hawaiiansteel]

[SteelBucks]

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out Sunday.

That’s a bit of good news.

[NorthCoast]

Shotgun vs undercenter snap splits:

	Shotgun	Under center
PIT	77%*	23%	*tied for 4th in the NFL
KC	77%*	23%
Undercenter	Run	Pass
PIT	80%*	20%	* #1 in the NFL
KC	72%*	28%	* #8 in the NFL
Shotgun	Run	Pass
PIT	30%	70%
KC	26%	74%

So it seems both the Steelers and Chiefs are lopsided in their use of shotgun vs under center (for ref. TB is 49/51 split). Add to this the fact that Roethlisberger doesn't throw the ball much when he goes under center (true PA vs RPO). With his bad knees I guess this shouldn't be too shocking but it does make it easier on defenses knowing they don't need to worry much about the pass when he goes under center.

[Flasteel]

Shotgun vs undercenter snap splits:

	Shotgun	Under center
PIT	77%*	23%	*tied for 4th in the NFL
KC	77%*	23%
Undercenter	Run	Pass
PIT	80%*	20%	* #1 in the NFL
KC	72%*	28%	* #8 in the NFL
Shotgun	Run	Pass
PIT	30%	70%
KC	26%	74%

So it seems both the Steelers and Chiefs are lopsided in their use of shotgun vs under center (for ref. TB is 49/51 split). Add to this the fact that Roethlisberger doesn't throw the ball much when he goes under center (true PA vs RPO). With his bad knees I guess this shouldn't be too shocking but it does make it easier on defenses knowing they don't need to worry much about the pass when he goes under center.

Looks like a perfect opportunity to run some play-action with Ben under center. I think we need to not only give them different looks than our tendencies on certain down and distances, but give them some familiar looks and hit 'em with the okie-doke.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Shotgun vs undercenter snap splits:

	Shotgun	Under center
PIT	77%*	23%	*tied for 4th in the NFL
KC	77%*	23%
Undercenter	Run	Pass
PIT	80%*	20%	* #1 in the NFL
KC	72%*	28%	* #8 in the NFL
Shotgun	Run	Pass
PIT	30%	70%
KC	26%	74%

So it seems both the Steelers and Chiefs are lopsided in their use of shotgun vs under center (for ref. TB is 49/51 split). Add to this the fact that Roethlisberger doesn't throw the ball much when he goes under center (true PA vs RPO). With his bad knees I guess this shouldn't be too shocking but it does make it easier on defenses knowing they don't need to worry much about the pass when he goes under center.

Interesting, I would not have thought that almost one quarter of the snaps are under center. I wonder what it looks like if you take out kneel downs and snaps by MR when he started the Detroit game.