Chiefs get chance to demonstrate progress

KANSAS CITY, MO. — Alex Smith endured watching film of the Kansas City Chiefs’ meltdown in Pittsburgh earlier this season “a bunch of times” this week, still trying to figure out where everything went wrong.

As if he hasn’t relived it enough in his nightmares.

Ben Roethlisberger threw five touchdown passes. Le’Veon Bell starred in his return from a three-game suspension.

The Steelers scored 22 first-quarter points, led 36-0 before the Chiefs finally scored and they proceeded to rout the eventual AFC West champions 43-14 that October night.

“It’s been a long time,” Smith said, “so they’ve changed. Over the course of the season, they’ve progressed and gone a certain direction. There’s a lot they change week-to-week.”

But the Chiefs (12-4) are a different team, too.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill has made a name for himself as one of the NFL’s most dynamic rookies, going from special-teams standout to offensive difference-maker.

Top pass rusher Justin Houston is also expected to be available after missing the first meeting while recovering from knee surgery.

Oh, and this matchup with the Steelers (12-5) will be at loud Arrowhead Stadium rather than Heinz Field, and a spot in the AFC title game awaits the winner.

“We got embarrassed in the first meeting,” Chiefs center Mitch Morse said, “and we had to come back and kind of take a step back and realize, ‘We’re a good football team.’ We had to understand where we were. We learned a lot from that game and we were able to take the next step.”

Indeed, the Chiefs ripped off five straight wins after that loss in Pittsburgh, a stretch that turned around their season.

They wound up overtaking Oakland for the division title on the final day of the regular season, earning a first-round bye and a home playoff game. The Steelers routed Miami last weekend to advance.

“I think a postseason challenge on the road is one thing,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “but at a legendary venue like that is something else. We’re excited about it. We respect it.”

But they aren’t going to be intimidated by a venue where the Chiefs have not won a playoff game since the 1993 season.