Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
If the Steelers are going to pull off the upset, it is going to take a Christmas miracle.
The Pittsburgh Steelers face the biggest challenge of the season on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City has won seven in a row and has done it with a balance of run and pass on offense as well as an improving defense. What do the Steelers have to do if they want to pull off this huge upset?
Here’s how to make sure you don’t miss today’s game.
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Here is everything you need to know so you can watch, listen to or stream this week’s Pittsburgh Steelers game. Time is running out for the Steelers to salvage an up-and-down season. This week the Steelers are in Kansas City trying to slow down the red-hot Chiefs. Their playoff hopes are running out and the Steelers are desperate.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)
Kickoff: Sunday, December 26, 4:25 p.m. ET
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Weather: Temps in the upper 50s but windy
National television: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
Online: You can also tune in online with NFL Game Pass and FuboTV (try it for free).
Radio: Westwood One and Steeler Nation Radio will have the game, as well as WDVE 102.5 FM & WBGG 970, AM local.
You can also follow the game with us @TheSteelersWire and of course here on Steelers Wire with our live updates during the game, along with highlights of all the key moments from this week’s game. Join us straight after the final whistle for more in-depth coverage, injury updates, and analysis of all the action.
The Chiefs could have their best wide receiver and tight end back this week.
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According to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs will be close to full strength when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Schefter reported on Saturday that star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been cleared from the Reserve/COVID-19 list and will be available on Sunday.
It is also assumed the Chiefs will activate tight end Travis Kelce on Saturday in anticipation of him passing his COVID-19 test on Sunday. A negative test Sunday morning means quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have a full arsenal of offensive skill players. The best chance the Steelers had to steal a win here was if Hill and Kelce didn’t play. But with both of the Chiefs top offensive weapons in the fold, the Steelers defense is going to be pushed to the limits.
Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill has been cleared to play Sunday and Travis Kelce “still has a shot” but still has not been cleared, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 25, 2021
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Pittsburgh signed Corliss Waitman to replace Pressley Harvin III this week.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently flying to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs but before takeoff, they made multiple roster moves. The key one being the signing punter Corliss Waitman to the 53-man roster. Waitman will replace Pressley Harvin III who lost his father on Saturday and will not travel with the team.
Pittsburgh also announced several other key moves. The team has activated swing lineman J.C. Hassenauer from the Reserve/Injured list. The team also elevated running back Trey Edmunds, linebacker John Simon and offensive lineman Rashaad Coward as COVID-19 roster replacements. By rule, all three players will revert back to the practice squad automatically after the game.
Waitman wasn’t the only punter the Steelers signed. The team also added Cameron Nizialek as extra insurance this week with Harvin out.
We have made multiple roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. @BordasLawhttps://t.co/h78XRo6TS5
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 25, 2021
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Pressley Harvin III will not travel with the Steelers this week.
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Pittsburgh Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III will not be making the trip to Kansas City with the team this weekend to take on the Chiefs. The rookie shared the tragic news on Saturday that his father had passed away on Christmas morning.
The Steelers were able to make arrangements last week for Harvin’s father to come to Heinz Field and watch his son play one final game. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Harvin and his family and we hope Harvin can take some time and grieve the loss of his dad without worrying about football.
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The Steelers will be shorthanded this week against the Chiefs.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers put out their game status report for this week’s showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. Pittsburgh has ruled out linebacker Buddy Johnson (foot), tight end Pat Freiermuth (concussion) and defensive end Chris Wormley (groin) this week.
This doesn’t include the handful of players still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The team has until Saturday to activate players but as of now, offensive tackle Zach Banner, linebacker Marcus Allen, running back Anthony McFarland Jr., defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs and linebacker Devin Bush are all out for the game against the Chiefs as well.
Pittsburgh did get some good news with the return of nose tackle Montravius Adams. He should be able to fill in nicely with Buggs and Wormley both out. Rookie defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk should get the start opposite Cam Heyward as well.
The absence of Freiermuth means Zach Gentry will get the start and be backed up by Kevin Rader.
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Steelers add two more to Reserve/COVID-19 list.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have added two more players on the active roster to the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Joining defensive tackle Montravius Adams is inside linebacker Marcus Allen and offensive tackle Zach Banner. Both players had positive tests.
Banner has had little impact on the offense since coming off IR. There was a thought Banner could play himself back into the starting lineup after returning but it hasn’t happened yet.
Allen is largely a special-teams player but has seen some reps on defense in recent weeks as the Pittsburgh coaches look for answers as to how to stop the run.
The Steelers are preparing to take on the Kansas City Chiefs this week, who have their own host of COVID-19 concerns.
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The Steelers protected four players, including Karl Joseph, for their Week 16 brawl with the Chiefs in Kansas City.
The NFL carried over some successful rules from the 2020 season, including practice squad protections. Teams can protect up to four of the most valued players on their practice squad each week, preventing them from being signed by other teams.
Teams that play on Sundays can designate protected players each Tuesday at 4 p.m. Teams that play on Mondays designate players each Wednesday. Protected players are not eligible to sign with another team until after that week’s game.
Here are the four players the Pittsburgh Steelers protected on their practice squad for Week 16 versus the Kansas City Chiefs:
The Steelers might not see Tyreek Hill this week.
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Things aren’t looking great for the Kansas City Chiefs this week. First, it was reported that Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce was headed to the Reserve/COVID-19 list Now ESPN’s Adam Schefter is adding three more Chiefs including star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the list.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to head out to Kansas City for a huge AFC showdown this weekend. I’m sure the Steelers defense would love to face a Chiefs offense without Kelce and Hill in the lineup.
The only player on the Steelers active roster currently on the Reserve/COVID-19 list is defensive tackle Montravius Adams.
More COVID issues in KC, which is becoming this week’s hot spot.
Chiefs’ WR Tyreek Hill, CB Rashad Fenton and TE Blake Bell are being placed on Reserve/COVID, sources tell @adamteicher and me.
Other players likely coming but as one source said, “it’s a mess.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2021
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Steelers currently 9.5-point road underdogs to the Chiefs
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The road to the playoffs in the AFC for the Pittsburgh Steelers gets no easier this week. Last week the Steelers took on the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans and this week the Steelers go on the road to take on the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs have the best record in the AFC, are currently No. 1 overall seed, and are hitting their stride on offense and defense. Meanwhile, the Steelers are struggling mightily on both sides of the football and are relying on splash plays and impressive individual effort to squeak past teams.
This disparity is why the sportsbook at Tipico has the Steelers as 9.5-point road underdogs to the Chiefs.
The Chiefs are currently No. 6 in the league in scoring offense and No. 3 in yards. Meanwhile, the Steelers offense is No. 21 in both points and yards. If the Steelers have another great game in them this season, this is the week to use it.
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