Without a doubt, this was the most grueling and stifling game of Lance's short two-season football career, surpassing even last year's clash against Louisiana State University.
Lance was thoroughly suppressed from all directions.
The game itself was unappealing—perhaps even ugly.
The Pittsburgh Steelers showcased their defensive prowess right from the start, recording a safety by sacking Alex Smith in the end zone.
For Lance, this was a first.
A safety, where the defensive team tackles the quarterback in their own end zone, not only grants the defensive team two points but also gives them possession of the ball.
This opening shock from the Steelers' defense set the tone for the game.
Offensively, the Steelers didn't employ fancy tactics. They stuck to simple plays: passes targeting Antonio Brown or runs by Le'Veon Bell. It was a repetitive strategy, but it worked because quarterback Ben Roethlisberger excelled at exploiting openings.
Though a traditional pocket passer, Roethlisberger's towering frame—6'5" (196 cm), 240 pounds (109 kg)—made him a unique presence on the field, earning him the nickname "Big Ben," a nod to London's iconic clock tower.
Big Ben's style shaped the Steelers' offense: slow, heavy, and inefficient at times, grinding through the mud to advance. But one lapse in concentration from the opponent often led to devastating results.
Particularly, Roethlisberger's deep throws were a lethal weapon, capable of striking from afar with precision.
Thus, despite their limited tactics, the Steelers methodically wore down the Chiefs, dragging the game into their preferred style of trench warfare.
By the fourth quarter, with six minutes left on the clock, the statistics told the story:
Bell: 32 carries for 179 yards and 1 touchdown.Brown: 7 receptions for 104 yards.
Simple and effective. The Steelers relentlessly used these two key players to torment the Chiefs' defense and impose their own rhythm on the game.
This was Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's expertise. In his 11th season with the team, Tomlin's understated demeanor often belied his ability to secure wins.
On the other hand, the Chiefs struggled in this slugfest. This was not Reid's forte, and the discomfort was evident throughout.
Defensively, the Chiefs couldn't contain Bell and Brown. They often needed two or three defenders to cover them, leaving gaps that Roethlisberger skillfully exploited. Without star safety Eric Berry, who was out for the season, the Chiefs' pass coverage and midfield defense noticeably suffered.
Offensively, the Steelers' Pro Bowl cornerbacks, Mike Hilton and Joe Haden, shut down both Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, leaving Smith with no viable targets.
For the first time this season, Smith's completion rate plummeted below 50%, exposing his weakness in long passes.
Astonishingly, by the fourth quarter, the Chiefs' leading receiver was running back Kareem Hunt, with 7 catches. Hill and Kelce, usually the primary targets, were practically invisible, crippling the Chiefs' offense.
This left all the pressure on Lance.
The Steelers, aware of the Chiefs' limited passing threat and reliance on Lance's running game, could easily predict Reid's strategies.
Time after time, Lance was tackled immediately upon taking the ball, facing direct collisions or double-team blocks with no room to maneuver. The Steelers easily saw through fake pass plays, rendering them ineffective.
It was tough—unbearably tough.
This meant Lance had to rely on power to push through, but that wasn't his strong suit. Despite training to model his game after Marshawn Lynch, developing the necessary muscle and strength takes time—lots of time.
Reid recognized Lance's struggles and tried using Hunt to mix things up, which led to Hunt's 7 successful receptions as a surprise weapon. But it wasn't enough. The Steelers' defense still pummeled Hunt, leaving Reid no choice but to turn back to Lance.
At least Lance could still use his agility and adaptability to buy time.
Although Lance recorded the worst stats of his career, he still managed to rush for 77 yards and score a rushing touchdown—practically carrying the team on his back.
But he couldn't carry them alone.
And so, the scene unfolded.
Defense. Punts. Field goals.
This was the rhythm of the game. Both teams were bogged down, unable to break the stalemate. But the Steelers, masters of defensive grinding, controlled the tempo just enough to keep the upper hand.
A two-point gap—just one possession away—still left hope for the Chiefs. Yet, this was the Steelers' bread and butter.
Last season's playoffs had played out similarly, with the Steelers eliminating the Chiefs in a grueling 18–16 contest.
Analysts had pointed out that the Chiefs lacked the explosiveness to break stalemates in tough games. Although they seemed to have addressed this issue earlier in the season, the Steelers were exposing the same flaw once again.
In situations , all it took was one explosive play from Roethlisberger—
"Oh my God, oh my God!"
"Roethlisberger escapes an all-but-certain sack from Justin Houston and goes for a deep throw—unbelievable!"
"Brown! Antonio Brown!"
"Brown gains the upper hand against Chiefs backup safety Eric Murray in their one-on-one matchup."
Antonio Brown: a wide receiver with four First-Team All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl nods, and a spot on the 2010s All-Decade Team. Widely regarded as the league's best receiver.
Eric Murray: drafted in the fourth round at pick 106 last year, making his first career start in this game.
The disparity was glaring.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Steelers' explosive potential revealed itself.
"Oh my God, Roethlisberger fires a 50-yard bomb toward the end zone just before losing balance. Brown and Murray are neck-and-neck!"
"Brown pulls ahead and snatches the ball right over Murray's head."
"Good heavens, touchdown!"
"Roethlisberger connects with Brown on a 51-yard deep pass for a touchdown. Facing a 3rd-and-6, the Steelers find their explosiveness and extend their lead."
Arrowhead Stadium fell silent as hearts sank into despair. The crowd was left stunned, unable to process what had just happened.
Bart clenched his fists in triumph, barely stopping himself from jumping out of his seat:
I knew it! I knew it! This time, I was right!
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