The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle or nephew Warren might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 17 against the Chiefs. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Seven years ago we started our Christmas morning with Renegade and the Steelers won, so we started our Christmas morning this morning with a Renegade as well
• I am on the record for saying I hate Thursday NFL football, but I hate Wednesday NFL football even more.
• Chiefs will kickoff. Can the Steelers get off the snide and score a touchdown on their opening drive? Or will it be another Matt Canada special?
• Steelers with a good play on first down, but on 3rd and two Russ drops the ball while trying to spin out of the pocket. Luckily he was able to get back on it and the Steelers will punt. Why am I not surprised with this start?
• Big return on the punt in Kansas City starts in Steelers territory. Awful start by the Steelers. What else is new.
• Steelers give up an 8-yard run on first down and the Chiefs are already in field goal range.
• Kansas City faces a 4th and 1 and line up to go for it. But now have called a timeout.
• Mahomes is coming back out. KC going for it on 4th down.
• Another run and they pick it up easily.
• Nate Burleson is talking like the Chiefs are the only team that use pre-snap movement to see what the defense is doing. What a joke.
• The Steelers defense gives up the touchdown. They are continuing in their pathetic ways.
• After a penalty, Butker misses the extra point. Chiefs 6, Steelers 0.
• Najee gets the Steelers initial first down of the game.
• Russ takes another sack. The offensive line is not doing his job and Russ is being careless.
• On 3rd and 18 if Russ throws the ball where Pickens would have a chance to catch it he maybe draws the flag but that throw wasn’t close enough. Steelers to punt.
• For the second week in a row Mark Robinson knocks the punt away, and the Steelers aren’t able to recover it. I think that will probably set the tone for this game.
• When the Chiefs score on this drive not getting that fumble will loom even larger.
• Steelers get the Chiefs to 3rd and 11. Soft zone and let them complete it?
• They end up completing it for a first down but there’s a flag. Long discussion means that it will go in the Chief’s favor, and it does.
• Followed by a big play. Chiefs are in the red zone. Steelers defense just keeps shooting themselves in the foot.
• The Steelers defense is again just shredded. Chiefs score another touchdown. I have too much stuff I would rather do on my Christmas than to sit and watch this garbage. Chiefs 13, Steelers 0.
• I told you that the Steelers not getting on that fumble would come back to haunt them.
• This defense couldn’t stop a bunch of middle schoolers right now.
• Why is Patterson still returning kicks? He is so slow.
• Nice to have George Pickens back.
• Jaylen Warren into the red zone.
• Jaylen Warren into the end zone, but a flag on Mount Washington for holding.
• The very next play Russ throws an interception in the end zone. Russ tried to force it there.
• On third down the ball was tipped. Patrick Queen had the chance to intercept it and it went right through his hands.
• Finally the end of another brutal first quarter for the Steelers. Chiefs 13, Steelers 0.

2nd Quarter

• Steelers cross midfield.
• Russ looks antsy in the pocket, and looks unwilling to hit his check downs.
• Steelers face a third and eight at the 21. Muth with the catch down to the six. First and goal.
• Russ on the bootleg gets into the end zone. Chiefs 13, Steelers 7.
• 3rd and 6th and it is a wide open pitch and catch for the first down.
• Another 15-yard pass. The Steelers defense just can’t get stopps consistently.
• Chiefs with a third and four. The Steelers hold them a yard shy, but I think the Chiefs might go for it here.
• Wide open Kelce. Luckily there was a flag on the Chiefs.
• The Chiefs send the punt team out, but the Steelers didn’t act like they believed them and didn’t send their punt team out. Steelers end up having to call a timeout.
• Steelers gain one on first down with a pass and predictably go to a run on second down. Now face third and seven.
• Russ scrambles for the first down.
• On third and three the Steelers hand it to Cordarrelle Patterson who gets nowhere near the first down. Steelers to punt.
• The Steelers get lucky as the Chiefs had 12 guys on the field and the penalty gives the Steelers a first down. They need to make them pay for that.
• The Steelers just give away a first down play to get to the two-minute warning and will face second and 10+.
• Steelers face a third down and nine. Pass falls incomplete. Russ had a window but threw it late in my opinion.
• Steelers did nothing with the extra set of downs.
• With a minute to go in the half will the Steelers go prevent and give up points?
• Minkah makes the tackle short of the sticks on third down. KC to punt.
• That will not be a catch by Mike Williams as the second foot down was the same as the first.
• That’s the half. Chiefs 13, Steeler 7.

3rd Quarter

• The Steelers allow the Chiefs to return the second half kickoff out near the 35. Should have just booted it through the end zone.
• Soft zone gives up 12 yards on the first play.
• Two plays and the Chiefs are in Steelers territory. Looks an awful lot like early in the first half.
• Another easy pitch and catch for 15 and the Chiefs are down to the 15.
• The defense keeps them out of the end zone. Chiefs to try a field goal. It’s good. Chiefs 16, Steelers 7.
• And the first play for the Steelers in the second half is a sack.
• Catch by Najee for 1 yd. 3rd and 15 for the Steelers. This will probably not be converted. I stand corrected as Calvin Austin makes the first down plus one.
• Russ hit as he throws. Steelers face a third and nine.
• Russ avoids the sack and scrambles for the first down.
• Nice catch and run by Jalyen Warren and the Steelers are in the red zone.
• That could have been a big play on the screen to Najee, but Dan Moore whiffed on his block.
• Third down and five and Russ takes another sack. The line isn’t blocking well and Russ looks very skittish. Steelers will attempt to field goal.
• The kick is good. Chiefs 16, Steelers 10.
• Russ has been sacked four times in this game. And pressured a whole lot more.
• On second and 14 the Chiefs with a quick hitter that gains 19.
• Kansas City’s first down there was not a catch, but they go quickly and the Steelers do not challenge it.
• And then the Steelers decide to not even cover Travis Kelce. If the defense can’t get off the field in the first five or six plays, they turn into trash.
• Chiefs are in the red zone. It does no good for the offense to drive the ball to try to keep the Steelers close if the defense can’t stop them and keep them from getting points.
• Mahomes comes to the line, looks at the Steelers defense, recognizes what they are doing, and just takes the snap and throws it right out to Kelce for an 8-yard gain. I do not understand what the defense is doing.
• First and goal from the two for the Chiefs.
• That’s the end of the third quarter. Chiefs 16, Steelers 10, but the Chiefs are about the score another touchdown.

4th Quarter

• One play and the Chiefs score. Chiefs will go for two. They do not convert. Chiefs 22, Steelers 10.
• The Chiefs have had two drives in the second half and have scored points on both.
• Wow, that was a risky pass late from Russ.
• And Russ is sacked on second down. I just wanted to see the Steelers put up a fight in this game.
• Muth is fighting for extra yards, fumbles the football and the Chiefs recovered. This game is going to get out of control now.
• Giving you all the heads up that if the Chiefs score a touchdown here I may end this article earlier than expected because I have Christmas dinner to prepare.
• Kelce wide open again. How are they not covering him? Now they are inside the 15.
• Kelce wide open in the end zone. I’m going to work on Christmas dinner. The Steelers defense isn’t going to show up today why should I sit here and write about it.
• To add insult to injury Cam Heyward is down on the field.
• The Steelers make mistakes and Kansas City capitalizes. Kansas City makes mistakes and the Steelers can’t even recover the ball to try to capitalize.
• The extra point is good. Chiefs 29, Steelers 10. Steelers outscored 13 to 3 so far in the second half.
• So I continue to watch the game while working on Christmas dinner. Over the last 9 minutes nothing of consequence really happened other than the Steelers having a penalty to run out the clock inside the 10-yard line.
• Thank goodness that debacle is over. I hope everyone’s Christmas is better than the Steelers game was today. Final score Chiefs 29, Steelers 10.

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me so I can ready myself for the Week 18 game against the Bengals. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.