SCOUTING THE CHIEFS
Last meeting
Chiefs beat Steelers, 42-21, on Jan. 16, 2022, in a playoff game at Kansas City
Key matchup
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes vs. Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Steelers have acknowledged communication problems in their defense during losses the past two weeks, and between veteran Mahomes and offensive-savvy coach/play-caller Andy Reid this would not be a good week to be lacking in assignment football.
Key injuries
The Steelers are expected to be without starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) but are likely to welcome back some or all among receiver George Pickens (hamstring) cornerback Donte Jackson (back), defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (groin) and safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) from recent absences of varying lengths.
Chiefs All Pro defensive tackle suffered a calf injury during a win at the Houston Texans on Saturday but indications were he will likely play Wednesday. A pair of starting-caliber offensive tackles — D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and Jawaan Taylor (knee) are on the injury report.
Series record
Steelers lead 23-14
Series notes
The most recent regular-season meeting between the teams came three weeks prior to the postseason game in January 2022. It also was in Kansas City and also was a Chiefs victory, 36-10. … The playoff game was the final career appearance by longtime Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. … Counting the playoffs, the Chiefs have won all three meetings against the Steelers since Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018. The Chiefs have averaged 40 points in those games and have an average margin of victory of 17.2. … The Steelers had won six of seven against the Chiefs before Mahomes took over for them. … After losing to the Chiefs once during each of the first two seasons following the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, the Steelers won 13 of 16 in the series between 1972-1992. … Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 5-5 in head-to-head matchups with Reid, including 4-4 during the regular season and 4-4 since Reid has been with the Chiefs.
Notable
Kansas City can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win. The Steelers could by the end of the day wrap up the AFC North title if they win and the Baltimore Ravens lose at the Houston Texans. … The Chiefs are on one calendar year with only one loss. They fell at home to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day 2023 but won the final two games of that regular season, swept four postseason games en route to winning Super Bowl LVIII and are 14-1 this season. … Kansas City’s lone loss was Nov. 17 at the Buffalo Bills. … The Steelers have lost two consecutive and are hoping to avoid a three-game losing streak in December for the second year in a row and fifth time in seven seasons. … The Steelers have lost five of their past six games played on three days’ rest dating to the 2019 season.
Fantasy tip
No team in the NFL has allowed more receiving yards to tight ends this season than the Chiefs (1,090). Only three teams have allowed more opponent tight end catches (94). Tight end Pat Freiermuth leads the Steelers in receiving touchdowns with six, and three other tight ends on the roster have a touchdown catch this season. Steelers tight ends account for nine touchdowns.