Fansided

Chiefs, Steelers heating up while Seahawks faltering

By Matt Williamson

Dec 8, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) evades the tackle of Oakland Raiders fullback Jamize Olawale (49) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) evades the tackle of Oakland Raiders fullback Jamize Olawale (49) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 11, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) calls an audible during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. The Steelers beat the Bills 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) calls an audible during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. The Steelers beat the Bills 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh starting to roll

Things are going quite well for the Steelers right now. Pittsburgh has won four in a row, this latest one in Buffalo in very convincing fashion. Sure, the Steelers only won this game by a touchdown, but they were far and away the more dominant team on both sides of the ball. Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions and that made the game appear far closer than it probably should have been. Roethlisberger didn’t play a bad game and at least one of those turnovers was a communication issue, but in poor weather, this game once again belonged to Le’Veon Bell.

Bell has such a distinct patient style of running with a tremendous burst when he does finally decide to accelerate and is quite possibly the best receiving running back in the entire league. Bell finished this outing with just under 300 yards from scrimmage on 42 touches, including a whopping 38 carries on the way to setting a Steelers record for rushing yards in a game. It was very rare to see Bell being stopped for even a short gain as Pittsburgh’s blocking had their way with the Bills’ defensive front.

While it is troubling that Bell has touched the ball an amazing 140 times over this four-game winning streak, it is hard to argue with the formula or the success it is yielding for Pittsburgh. And DeAngelo Williams should return to the lineup soon to possibly ease Bell’s burden. But Mike Tomlin does have a history of running his lead back into the ground and being without said player for the playoffs. On defense, young talented players like Bud Dupree, Artie Burns and Sean Davis are stepping up big of late and Buffalo’s offense had very little room to operate.

As we saw, this is a much better unit with a healthy Ryan Shazier. After just recording 13 sacks in their first nine games, the Steelers have 18 in these last four. They have also held all four of their most recent opponents to under 100 yards rushing – and Buffalo was the best statistical rushing team in the NFL entering this game. Not only is Pittsburgh peaking at the right time of the season, but Denver’s loss in Tennessee also opens the door for a team in the AFC from outside the AFC West to end up with a wild card should the Steelers fail to win the North.

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