Chiefs LB Expects Steelers To Run The Ball "Whether They Have Success Or Not" On Christmas

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered two devastating losses in a row against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens. They are only compounded by the fact that the Steelers were scheduled to play three games in 10 days. After playing the Eagles and the Ravens six days apart, they will face the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. The Steelers need to do things differently than they have been to find success against the Chiefs. However, Kansas City's linebacker Nick Bolton said that he expects more of the same from the Steelers. 

Bolton was drafted in the second round by the Chiefs in 2021 and has helped them win two Super Bowls. Recently, he spoke with the media in preparation for the Christmas Day game and was asked what about Pittsburgh stands out. 

"A lot, they do a lot of different things," said Bolton. "Use tight ends; they get big men to run the football. Honestly, one of the things that sticks out is that they're not that much in yards per carry, but yards per game; they're pretty up there in the league. It kind of shows the framework of their team, and they're going to run the football whether they have success or not, and they're going to lean on that."

He isn't wrong. It is no secret that the Steelers have always favored a run-heavy offense. That did not change with the hiring of Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith. Through 15 games, they rank 11th for yards per game on the ground. They have 1,890 yards rushing total this season and 12 rushing touchdowns. 

When Russell Wilson was finally able to take over for Justin Fields in Week 7, most expected the Steelers to rely more on their passing game, however, the Black and Gold stayed true to their roots and continued to lean on running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. While the Steelers run game hasn't always been pretty, it generally helps the offense find balance and keeps opposing defenses honest. 

Through the first 15 games, Harris has been the team's rushing leader with 238 carries for 933 yards. Warren, who missed a couple of games with an injury, has had 103 carries for 419 yards. It should surprise no one that Fields is third in rushing for the team, with 62 carried for 289 yards. However, Smith has involved as many players as possible and has spread the ball to eight different runners. 

The Steelers have played twice before on Christmas Day. In 2016, they beat the Ravens 31-27; in 2017, they beat the Houston Texans 34-6. The Chiefs have played four previous Christmas Day games, including their 20-14 loss against the Las Vegas Raiders last season. 

The Future For Steelers' Najee Harris Is Still Uncertain

When the Steelers drafted Harris in the first round in 2021, many fans were unhappy with the decision. That debate hasn't quelled even though Harris has had three 1,000+ yard seasons since suiting up for the black and gold, and he is on par to do it again this season. 

Despite that, Pittsburgh chose to decline his fifth-year option before the start of the season, which means he will be a free agent after the 2024 season ends. This has created a new debate among fans: should they offer him a new contract?

That debate was fueled by his fumble (which was credited to Wilson) in the loss to the Eagles. Many felt he should be benched for it. However, Harris doesn't typically fumble. Since arriving in Pittsburgh, he has only had five fumbles. As a rookie, he went 430 touches without a fumble. While he didn't get benched, he has seen a reduction in snap counts in favor of Warren over the past few games. 

Do the Steelers run the football, whether it is working or not? Is that a good or bad thing? Click to comment below. 

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