Steelers-Chiefs: Poor Play Calling Costs Steelers Win Again

For the second week in a row, coaching blunders have cost the Pittsburgh Steelers a victory, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

While the players on the field made mental mistakes, from the opening kickoff, the coaching decisions have put the Steelers in the hole they may not be able to overcome once December starts.

The Steelers special teams remained a joke, allowing ANOTHER kickoff to be returned for a touchdown, their fourth this year and third in three games.

Arnold Harrison was the sacrificial lamb this past week, bringing Donovan Woods up from the practice squad.

Mike Tomlin said he did not want to put a band aid on the problem, even though a band aid may have been enough to keep the Chiefs from returning the opening kickoff for a score and a 7-0 lead, 16 seconds into the game.

Stefan Logan again did not break a kick off, keeping the Steelers from great field position.

Defensively, the Steelers played well. But in over time, when the Steelers were not set when Kansas City hiked the ball, a pass was completed to the Steelers four yard line setting up a field goal, no further than an extra point, which gave the Chiefs the win.

Once again Bruce Arians put the Steelers in a bad position in over time.

After the Ben Roethlisberger injury, Charlie Batch was brought in and made a 19 yard completion to bring to Steelers near field goal range. On 3rd-and-2 from the Chiefs 35 yard line, instead of running Rashard Mendenhall up the middle, Arians called a sweep to the right.

The result? A loss of two yards, taking the Steelers out of field goal range and forcing the punt.

Mendenhall did a great job in short yardage against the Chiefs. Why would they not run the ball up the middle, and bring in Jeff Reed for a long field goal attempt? Even if they would have called a QB sneak, Reed still would have been in range to make a field goal.

Again play calling cost the Steelers the game, and have now brought the wild card field closer to the Steelers.

With six games to play, the Steelers will now have to battle the Broncos, Chargers, Ravens, Texans, and Jaguars for the two final playoff spots.

With Bruce Arians calling plays, the Steelers have a lot to overcome.