Homecoming for Palko: Steelers at Chiefs Preview

Well, so, the game is in Kansas City, which means it's not really a homecoming.  But, Palko is from here and that counts for something, right?

I have a feeling that Tyler Palko will not like facing the team he grew up rooting for.  If the Chiefs approach Sunday night's game with the same strategy on offense and defense that kept them competitive in the first half against the Patriots on Monday, the Steelers are going to destroy them.  Kansas City "went big" on defense, using their heaviest defensive linemen and they kept everyone in tight, playing mostly man to man.  They didn't blitz as much as the announcers let on, but they definitely brought pressure.  If they do that against the Steelers, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown will get behind the coverage and Ben Roethlisberger will torch them.

Basically, Marcus Gilbert needs to keep Tamba Hali from killing Roethlisberger and everything will be fine.  Kansas City's defense blows assignments, they don't tackle well, and they're not particularly fast.  Hali is their only weapon.  Double team him and you're good to go.  You can run on them, you can throw on them, you can run through them, and you can run by them.

Palko hung in there for a little while against New England, but he's ultimately not talented enough to win a big game against a good team.  He's a capable back-up, but the fact that the Chiefs signed Kyle Orton this week tells me that they don't see him as being the quarterback of the future.  I don't think ol' neckbeard will have enough practice time in to start on Sunday night, but he should be able to help them for the final five games of the season.

With the depth they have at running back: Jackie Battle, Dexter McCluster, and Thomas Jones, it's not unusual to see them split carries, but Jones usually gets the bulk of them.  None of these guys is going to bust the game wide open like Jamaal Charles.  Steve Breaston's from here, too, but he's also not a game breaker.  The only real weapon they have left on offense is Dwayne Bowe.  Put Ike Taylor on him with Ryan Clark helping out over the top and try to shut him out.  If the Steelers can do that, they'll stifle the Chiefs on offense.

On Monday night, the Chiefs varied formations, mixed in some wild cat, and had everyone shifting or in motion before the snap.  This led to some pre-snap penalties, but it also led to some confusion for the Patriots on defense.  They'll throw all the wrinkles and wacky formations they can think of at you, but it's ultimately just a gimmick and requires consistent execution to be sustainable.

Honestly, after watching them play on Monday night, I feel like an idiot for picking the Chiefs to win any games this year in Pick Em.  They're a bad, bad team.  Barring a special teams touchdown AND a defensive touchdown, I don't see them winning this game, or even keeping it close.  The Steelers are too talented, too motivated, and too well rested to lose this game unless something goes catastrophically wrong.

Prediction:
Steelers 31, Chiefs 10