Chiefs vs Steelers Week 4: Highlights, score and recap

Ben Roethlisberger threw five touchdown passes as the Pittsburgh Steelers rebounded in style to hammer the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4.

Ben Roethlisberger put up four touchdowns in the first half, amid an offensive explosion that saw the Pittsburgh Steelers win 43-14 once the smoke had cleared. It was the dream response to last week’s mauling at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.

As for the Chiefs, this is the second time head coach Andy Reid’s men have met an AFC playoff contender and lost. They lost by seven to the Houston Texans in Week 2, but this one will surely hurt more.

Reid saw a normally miserly Kansas City defense shredded by Roethlisberger and his receivers. Antonio Brown caught pair of touchdowns, while Markus Wheaton, Jesse James and Darrius Heyward-Bey also got on the board. Wheaton also snatched a two-point conversion pass in the opening quarter.

DeAngelo Williams went over in the fourth quarter to help the Steelers break the 40-point barrier. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce provided the slimmest of consolations for the Chiefs.

Roethlisberger’s arm won it before the break, but the second half was about Le’Veon Bell’s running. Back fresh after suspension, the most exciting runner in the league got used to contact again by punishing the Chiefs on several runs. Bell finished with 18 carries for 144 yards.

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But it wasn’t all about the offense for the Steelers, despite Roethlisberger’s aerial pyrotechnics. The Pittsburgh defense found its blitzing swagger again to swarm on Alex Smith and the Chiefs most of the night.

Smith was sacked four times, three by a dominant Cameron Heyward. He also threw an interception, while running back Spencer Ware lost a fumble.

Highlights

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Three Stars

1. Ben Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger torched the Chiefs, aided by a superb game plan from offensive coordinator Todd Haley. The core of the plan was to create mismatches against Kansas City’s reliance on man coverage.

Specifically, Roethlisberger and Haley were merciless about targeting isolated cornerback D.J. White. He was filling in for the injured Phillip Gaines, but the Steelers showed no quarter.

Instead, they went after every matchup featuring White lined up in single coverage. That he received so little safety help was an indictment of Chiefs defensive boss Bob Sutton. Yet, Roethlisberger’s ruthless precision would have been tough on any cover man.

He consistently chose the right mismatch to exploit and was unerring and decisive in the short game, as well as accurate deep. This was Big Ben at his absolute best.

2. Cameron Heyward

It was either going to be Stephon Tuitt or Heyward dominating against a KC O-line that’s struggled with talented defensive tackles all season. In the end, it was the latter who ran riot.

Heyward helped himself to a trio of sacks and also got his hands on a first-quarter screen pass. The tipped ball fell into the hands of Jarvis Jones and set up Pittsburgh’s second touchdown to stake the hosts into an early 15-0 lead.

Heyward stayed dominant, but he was helped by a more creative approach from defensive coordinator Kevin Butler. He moved Heyward around more often, shifting him outside an offensive tackle, putting him head up on a guard or on the shoulder of the center. Heyward even stood up and rushed out of certain sub-package sets.

The Chiefs never knew where No. 97 would be, and their blocking schemes were slow to adjust all night.

3. Antonio Brown

It’s not hard to identify what makes a good pro wide receiver. Size, speed and soft hands will take most wideouts far. Yet, it’s a little trickier to pinpoint what makes a great receiver — unless you happen to watch Brown go about his work. Then it’s easy to see not only what makes him great, but why Brown is the best receiver in today’s game, hands down.

Simply put, Pittsburgh’s premier pass-catcher does it all. He works the shallow zones, the deep middle and the vertical routes on the outside. He also takes bubble screens and swing passes out of the backfield. Brown will play flanker, split end and the slot.

But no matter the call or where he lines up, Brown is the easiest ticket to a big play in the league once he gets his hands on the rock.

Haley kept him on the move against the Chiefs, wisely avoiding too many one-on-one matchups with press cornerback Marcus Peters. Brown’s roving brief led to four catches for 64 yards and a pair of scores.

Just another masterful night’s work for the best in the business.

Next: Antonio Brown to wear Arnold Palmer cleats on Sunday Night Football (Photo)

Next Week

The Chiefs will head into a bye week, while the Steelers play host to the New York Jets in Week 5.