The situation subtly shifted.
However, the advantage still belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Let's not forget, the Kansas City Chiefs' offense had also hit a slump, every inch of their skin and every cell painfully learning from the Steelers' veteran defense. The young offense was getting a harsh lesson.
So, the Steelers' three-and-out merely bought the Chiefs a brief window to breathe. Whether they could reverse the tide still hinged on how the offense performed next. The pressure was very much on.
To be honest, Mahomes was feeling a little lost—
Sometimes he reminded himself to play the game by the coaches' book; but in the heat of the moment, his old college habits crept back. Conflicting instincts wrestled in his head, and the offense began to stutter.
Logic told him: stay calm, stay composed, go step by step.
But that was clearly easier said than done.
Instinctively, Mahomes turned and saw Lance, laser-focused.
That steadied him a little. Whatever they were facing, they were in it together. What he needed now was focus—focus, and more focus.
Indeed, Lance was deep in thought, trying to figure out how to adjust the game plan.
Usually, when a defense leans toward stopping the pass, the ground game has opportunities; when it clamps down on the run, the passing lanes open up.
But the Steelers weren't like that.
They were gutsy enough to allow Mahomes more mobility, strengthening their pass defense without loosening up against the run. They targeted Mahomes' youth and inexperience, using their well-honed maturity and guile built over a decade to outclass the young star.
So, was there a solution?
In simple terms, it fully utilizes the quarterback's running ability—a hallmark of mobile QBs, perfect for turning tight situations into gains.
Few people knew Mahomes had wheels, too.
Sure, he was a traditional pocket passer—his deep-ball accuracy made his college reputation. But his athleticism was elite, and he could absolutely run. That's why, during the offseason, the QB coaches had started refining that part of his game—
Much like Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers is also a pocket passer, known for his throws. But when pressed, his legs are just as dangerous—what makes him truly terrifying.
The Chiefs hadn't pulled that card yet.
First, Mahomes was still young, just beginning to shape his NFL identity. Reid didn't want him to lean on physicality. In this league, a quarterback lives or dies by his arm.
Second, Reid understood the risk. Mobile QBs take more hits. He didn't want Mahomes—still raw—rushing headfirst into NFL contact. That's college ball stuff.
He'd already been working to eliminate Mahomes' habit of looking for flashy deep shots after his second read—exciting but reckless. That had to go.
The last thing Reid wanted was for Mahomes to revert to his old college style.
Third, it was a secret weapon. Reid didn't want to show his hand too soon.
In contrast, the Steelers had already emptied their playbook.
But Reid still had cards left—and he believed in Lance and the team.
Reid believed in the long game. Not just the coaches, but the players needed to learn to think—not just beat the Steelers, but grow past every obstacle. Each challenge was a learning opportunity.
So, the Chiefs hadn't used the read-option yet.
And the pressure naturally fell on Mahomes and Lance.
Lance kept thinking. How could he break through?
The Steelers' game plan for him was clearly well-studied—
They went rare: a five-safety scheme, with Burnett specifically assigned to shadow Lance.
But unlike Fowler's one-on-one with Brown, Burnett wasn't meant to stop Lance outright—just to delay him, slow his first step. Once Lance lost his speed edge, the rest of the defense closed in.
They weren't worried about Lance becoming the next Bell on the ground.
Because no matter how he tried to read, adjust, or search for space—Burnett would be there, haunting him.
Lance couldn't help but suspect: was this Tomlin's loud message to Bell?
Was he showing the league how to defend Bell—using Lance as the example?
But doubt aside, Lance had another thought:
Over the last few seasons, everyone studied Bell. Everyone tried to shut him down. From a tactical standpoint, he remained a headache. A single safety couldn't solve the problem.
He bounced lightly in place. Relaxed.
He thought—it's time to test the results of all that offseason work.
Surely Tomlin didn't think Lance and Watt spent the offseason just chatting and splashing around in the pool?
Own 17-yard line. 1st and 10.
The Steelers were still fully locked in. Their special teams had nailed a good punt, pushing the Chiefs' start point back several yards.
This was Mahomes' second drive of the half—and the field position still sucked.
The air was smoldering—
The Chiefs tried to ride the wave of energy to rally.
The Steelers just wanted to snuff it all out.
Mahomes called the snap and wasted no time, immediately handing off to Lance. The Chiefs played it safe with a ground start—no need to force anything.
Just as predicted—Tomlin once again outfoxed Reid in the tactical duel.
Heyward jumped the snap and rushed in hard.
But this time, it was a bit different.
Usually, Heyward would smash the guard or tackle head-on. But now, he was gunning for the QB. A shift. He sidestepped the tackle's block, used the momentum, and shot along the edge of the pocket.
Only this time, the target wasn't the quarterback—it was the running back.
Heyward had made these tackles dozens of times. A cruel grin crept across his face—
But before the smile could bloom—he froze.
He hadn't even opened his arms when a red blur zipped under them, a streak too fast to catch.
Too slow—Heyward couldn't stop. He whiffed completely.
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