NOTHING TO LOSE FOR PITTSBURGH

Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger are brutally honest about the Steelers’ chances of advancing past the wild-card round of the playoffs, especially given the Chiefs humiliated them just a few weeks ago in Arrowhead Stadium.

First, the Pittsburgh coach: “I don’t know how much you learn from it, to be quite honest with you. They smashed us so definitely,” Tomlin said of the first meeting. “More than anything, this is like a reboot.”

Then, the quarterback: “We probably aren’t supposed to be here,” Roethlisberger said. “We probably are not a very good football team. Out of 14 teams that are in, we’re probably at number 14. We’re double-digit underdogs in the playoffs.”

You almost wonder whether the Steelers will even show up tonight.

But they need only look at their own postseason history to know there’s always a chance. The likely retiring Roethlisberger was a secondyear pro in 2005 when the Steelers parlayed another wild-card berth into a Super Bowl triumph.

Few folks back then expected a team featuring the retiring Jerome Bettis to make such an inspired playoff run.

“We’re probably 20-point underdogs,” Roethlisberger said, “and we’re going against the No. 1 team that’s won the AFC the last two years — arguably the best team in football, we don’t have a chance. So let’s just go in and play and have fun.”

The Steelers received an unexpected boost on Saturday when they activated wide receiver Juju Smithschuster off injured reserve.

Smith-schuster hasn’t played since injuring his right shoulder during a victory over Denver on Oct. 10. He underwent surgery a few days later and was expected to be lost for the season.

Instead, Smith-schuster returned to practice this week, wearing thicker shoulder pads in an effort to protect his right shoulder. His teammates raved about his

No. 7 Pittsburgh (9-7-1) at No. 2 Kansas City (12-5)

Today:

Line: ⁄2

How the Steelers can win: They’re playing with house money because everyone expects the Chiefs to win. Forcing turnovers is huge; for instance, Steelers upset Tennessee by winning the turnover battle, 4-0.

How the Chiefs can win: Take advantage of that porous Pittsburgh offensive line. Let Patrick Mahomes and his receivers overwhelm the Steelers with that blistering speed, just as they did in a 36-10 win a few weeks ago.

Sam Framer’s pick: The Chiefs have set aside the turnover problems they had earlier in the season, and they have too much firepower for the Steelers.

CHIEFS 30, STEELERS 17

5:15 p.m., Ch. 7/39 Chiefs by 121

conditioning, and his presence gives the seventhseeded Steelers (9-7-1) a much-needed set of sure hands and — potentially — a physical blocker in the running game as they try to upset the second-seeded Chiefs (12-7) tonight.

Not only have the Chiefs won the past two AFC titles, they’ve been to the past three championship games, and they’re fresh off a record sixth West division title. The organization that once went nearly three decades without winning a home playoff game has now won five in a row, thanks to a bevy of talent surrounding Pro Bowl QB Patrick Mahomes.

“I think the first thing you realize is that at any moment, one play can change the entire game,” Mahomes said. “It’s like that in the regular season, but the playoffs, it even goes to another level. One play can end your season or keep it going.”