Chiefs 29, Steelers 10
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, that sucked, to be blunt. Not the type of ball we want to play, and really kind of eerily similar to our last performance in that we're not doing the fundamental things well enough. We're turning the ball over. We're not getting turnovers. That hasn't been a recipe for us, but it has been of late. Minus 2 or whatever we were in this game, you're not giving yourself a chance, particularly turning the ball over in the red zone.
We had balls on the ground early. We had a ball on the ground on the punt team early. We didn't cover it. We had a ball tipped up in the air. They could have provided our offense a short field; we didn't catch it. We're not being opportunistic on the defense our the special teams side when given an opportunity. We had balls on the ground in terms of opportunities a week ago that we didn't capitalize on, and then we're not securing them on offense.
You're running on the beach when you're performing like that, coupled with lack of situational play making, red zone, defense, making people settle for field goals as opposed to touchdowns. The games are going to look like that. We've got to score more than 10 points against an outfit like that.
So you can look at it from a lot of angles. The bottom line is junior varsity is not good enough. We've got to own that. But we've also got to look at what it is we need to do different. We're not going to continue to do the same things and hope for a different result. That doesn't seem sharp to me. So we're going to take a hard look at this. We've got a couple extra days before we get back into it. We're going to take a look at it and make whatever necessary changes we need to make in the totality of this thing, because again, that doesn't feel good. It doesn't look good. That's just the truth and reality of it.
Cam Heyward had an ankle injury but he was able to get back into the game. Don't have a lot of information about any other potential injuries. We'll probably have more the next time we get together.
Questions?
Q. You just mentioned about what you do to get out of this little skid that you're in.
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, it's fundamental things, man. We've got to look at ourselves and own it. Obviously we've got to be committed to making whatever changes necessary in an effort to improve the outcome. It's as simple as that.
Q. You guys said before this streak, this stretch of three games, that you would learn a lot about yourselves as a team in these three games. What have you learned?
MIKE TOMLIN: I don't remember saying that. I'm focused on what transpired today, and as I mentioned, it was not good enough.
Q. In the pass rush game in the absence of Jones, did Kansas City compensate with anything different schematically that might have thrown your guys off up front?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, they ran some nickel three-three, but we anticipated that, obviously. We knew his availability might be in question, so I don't know that it was anything that was a shock, to be quite honest with you. We just didn't perform well enough.
Q. What is so difficult about Mahomes to try and defend him?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, he's a quality player. What can be said about him that hasn't been said in terms of his talents and his knowledge of the offense, his relationship with his eligibles, his understanding of where people are, et cetera. But when you think about today, man, I think about the short fields we gave them. The first touchdown drive was 40 yards. We turned the ball over in the second half. I think it was a 20-something yard drive in that half.
I know a guy like him with his talent level and resume, you can't give him short fields and things of that nature. That's where my energies are, what we can control what we do, respectfully.
Q. A lot of your offensive plays seem to be taking a long time to develop. Why is that and what can be done about it?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, I don't know what specifically you're referring to. I probably need a little bit more detail. But obviously we're not performing to the level that we'd like. We're not executing to the level that we would like.
Q. In the first half Najee Harris has seven carries for 21 yards, Jaylen Warren had eight carries for 71 yards. Just wondering why they wouldn't stick with the hot hand going into the second half?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, we had every intentions of doing so. Whether you're talking about those guys or anyone else, the bottom line is when you're not operating the way that we are, nobody gets to do what it is they desire to do. I'd like to get George Pickens more touches, et cetera.
But again, we need to look at all of those things, because again, we're not going to continue to go through the same process and hope for a different result.
Q. You said that there were things in this game that were eerily similar to last week. Has this team regressed the last two, three weeks?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, you could say that if you so choose, but I just tend to look at performances and what we're doing and what we're not doing. We regressed in terms of our turnover culture. In terms of maintaining possession of the ball and getting the ball, we've been a plus group in most instances, and that's really been a catalyst for us in terms of the games unfolding the way that we desire, the last two weeks in particular we haven't been plus in that area, we've been minus in that area, so the results are what they are.
Q. How do you get back to that culture?
MIKE TOMLIN: Fundamentals, man. We don't blink. But again, as I mentioned, in terms of the schematics, in terms of the division of labor, I'm open to whatever change is necessary in an effort to change the outcome.
Q. You mentioned last game that you had a problem with the way the tight ends were being covered. This game Kelce was open quite often. How does something like that happen?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, some of the instances that he was open we were in zone defense, and you give credit to them and Mahomes in terms of diagonals and coverages. We were spinning the dial. We were playing some man, we were playing some zone, we were pressuring some, and most of the instances that he caught the ball, which is their norm, he is a zone killer. When in zone, he gets the ball, in a lot of those instances we were in zone.
Q. Do you feel like you lost control of the position you were in in the division?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, control can be talked about, but the bottom line is we're just not performing well enough. I'm less concerned about control of the division and more concerned about the quality of our performance at this juncture.
Q. What gives you confidence that you can get this train back on the tracks?
MIKE TOMLIN: Because it's what we do. It's what I love to do. Even on days like today. I love the game. I love working with that group in there. We're not performing the way that we need to. We'll stay down and keep working.
Q. To add to the disappointment, when you see fans leaving early in the fourth quarter, how does that add to what happened today, and does that add maybe fuel to the fire for next week?
MIKE TOMLIN: To be honest with you, my focus is on the field, and I missed that.
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