Unlike the relentless pressure of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Kansas City Chiefs' defense delivered targeted, surgical strikes—aiming straight at core players Roethlisberger and Brown. The entire approach and tactical setup were completely different.
JuJu: ! ! I'm open! Throw it here!
But...
That all depended on Roethlisberger actually seeing JuJu.
Roethlisberger was under siege, looking flustered and helpless. The Chiefs' three-man front line alone was crashing like tidal waves.
Edge rusher Williams stood firm like an anchor in the middle, commanding double-teams from two offensive linen, his pressure threatening to split the pocket at any mont.
Defensive end Bailey remained steady and composed—more of a strategic presence than a penetrator.
But it was defensive end Jones who erupted with fierce intensity. Every snap, you could feel his pressure coming like a storm.
Stalemate. Containnt. Oppressive force.
Yet with only three on the line, the Chiefs weren't blitzing—so the pressure never fully broke the pocket.
Still, the tension was suffocating. The pocket felt like it could collapse at any second, even if it held for now—like walking a tightrope in high winds.
Roethlisberger was under constant stress. Always wary of Jones' sudden surge, always watching for Houston to make a surprise move.
He beca jittery—paranoid. His vision was collapsing under pressure.
Instinctively, amid the chaos, he looked for Brown—his most trusted target. Even if the throw was off or poorly tid, Brown could often make magic happen.
JuJu?
Nowhere in sight. Literally out of his field of vision.
But even Brown was in trouble.
Cornerback Fuller, newly acquired this season, looked like a man on a mission.
Kendall Fuller—a player with sothing to prove.
A 2016 draft pick, only one year earlier than Lance. In college, he was a five-star recruit and considered one of the most promising cornerbacks in his class. Injuries derailed his rookie camp, dropping him from a projected first-rounder to a third-round steal by Washington.
His rookie season was marred by more injuries. The buzz around him faded.
His second year, however, he quietly shined. He beca the team's third corner and their top nickelback.
A nickelback—essentially the fifth defensive back—plays a hybrid role between corner and safety, often lined up inside to cover slot receivers or running backs.
This position showcased Fuller's explosiveness and quickness in the short passing ga.
But his size was a problem: 196 lbs, under six feet. In a league trending toward bigger, more physical corners, he was seen as undersized.
No accolades. No Pro Bowls. No All-Pro selections. When Kansas City traded Alex Smith to Washington and received Fuller as part of the deal, the move raised eyebrows.
Now, Fuller was desperate to validate Reid and Veach's faith.
When he learned he'd be covering Brown in the season opener, his resolve hardened. He wouldn't let the coaches down.
After all, a small corner against a big-ti wideout didn't sound like a fair matchup.
But this was where Reid and Sutton excelled. They didn't ask Fuller to shut down Brown—only to stay close and irritate him. The mont Brown beca the target, a safety and a linebacker would swarm in to help.
That was Fuller's specialty—
Like a relentless gnat.
And so, Pittsburgh's offense stumbled into a snare.
Did Tomlin have a plan?
Of course.
They'd prepared since the preseason. This was the opening drive of the season. The Steelers had tactics ready.
They carried a mission: to prove to the league—and to Bell—that their tough stance was grounded in belief, not bitterness.
Tomlin knew his team.
And he studied Kansas City's defense carefully—adjustnts and all.
So, he went for misdirection—leaning on the pass.
Many assud Pittsburgh's refusal to yield to Bell ant they believed their ground ga didn't need him. They expected flashy run plays to show they hadn't missed a step.
But Tomlin didn't take the bait.
A veteran of over a decade, he wouldn't get trapped in a petty pride match.
He wasn't just proving they could run without Bell—he aid to prove the offense could thrive without him at all. Bigger picture.
Tomlin masked his true plan—focused not on runs, but aerial attacks.
Not just the Roethlisberger-to-Brown connection—he diversified the routes. Despite the criticism, Roethlisberger's arm talent—especially on dium to deep throws—remained elite.
But...
The trap was set. And Tomlin walked right into it.
While trying to catch Reid off guard, he stumbled right into Sutton's perfect containnt.
Already reeling from the Chiefs' opening touchdown, the Steelers found their own offense stalling inside a box.
Despite grinding out two first downs, Pittsburgh soon faced their first three-and-out of the ga.
They never had a chance.
JuJu: ??? That's it? I didn't even touch the ball... and we're done already? …Damn.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon/michaeltranslates
Reviews
All reviews (0)