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BY PETE SWEENEY
By this point, Kansas City has grown accustomed to its wacky schedule.
The fact that the Chiefs would be playing every day of the week except Tuesday has been a recurring storyline, one they have impressively managed en route to its league-leading 14-1 record.
The latest installment comes on Wednesday, as Kansas City takes on Pittsburgh with four days of rest. To handle the quick turnaround, Chiefs coaches studied Steelers tape before the team took on the Houston Texans, then returned to the offices right after the win.
"We had a little bit of a jump-start," began head coach Andy Reid on Monday, "but we did come back here and take a peek at them."
Should Kansas City win the game, it all will be worth it. Not only would they clinch the playoff bye; they would also earn a mini-bye - a four-day weekend heading into Week 18.
Here are the three things I'm thinking about heading into Chiefs-Steelers:
In the short term, I think the No. 1 matchup to watch is TJ Watt against the Chiefs' right tackle - whoever that may be.
The Chiefs aren't alone in their injury woes, with former NFL defensive player of the year TJ Watt currently pushing through an ankle injury he suffered on December 15. Still, even an ailing Watt poses a significant challenge for Kansas City, given its inconsistent tackle play this season.
Against the Texans, starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor played 54 snaps before giving way to a knee strain. He was replaced by second-year lineman Wanya Morris, who has had an up-and-down year, mainly at the left tackle position.
Morris performed admirably in relief.
"[Morris has] done a good job with that," said offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on Sunday. "It's important that these guys - as they go through the ebb-and-flows of the season and game-by-game is [that] they stay locked in [and] they stay focused. I think most importantly, more than anything, is that they understand that we always are supporting them and we need to be coaching them and still be tough on them but also have that 'one play away' mentality, and you saw that [Saturday]. Wanya's done that this whole time and he came in and played well. He just needs to keep growing, and he will - he's young, and I think we all just need to keep that in perspective."
Taylor was a limited participant in the Chiefs' only full practice of the week on Monday - but it remains to be seen if he will suit up against Pittsburgh. Regardless of whether it's Taylor or Morris, containing Watt will be a key to victory.
Watt leads the Steelers with 47 pressures. Next is Alex Highsmith (39), who lines up almost exclusively opposite the left tackle. With D.J. Humphries still out of practice, Joe Thuney should once again be expected to play there.
"I thought the whole offensive line did a great job, and that's a really good defense - a really good pass rush, especially," said quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Monday. "I thought Joe did a great job, especially. I thought Joe did a great job. It's remarkable what he can do at every single position on the offensive line. He doesn't have a huge personality outside building... and so people don't really recognize how special of a football player he is. He did it in New England, and he's done it here for a lot of Super Bowl football teams, and it truly is a credit to him and the work ethic he puts in every single day."
Here is a preview of this week's Editors Show featuring Pete Sweeney and John Dixon.
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