NFL power rankings: 49ers stay even, Patriots fall entering Week 3

Tying the Browns to open up the season was weird, but Week 1 games can be weird.

But giving up a whopping 42 points at home to the Kansas City Chiefs is flat-out bad for the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially when they include six passing touchdowns from second-year Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

That’s insane.

True, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger bounced back nicely from his three-interception performance in Week 1, out-tossing Mahomes to the tune of 452 yards and adding three touchdowns of his own. Unlike Week 1, however, running back James Conner wasn’t able to get much of anything going. At least wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster did, however. So did tight end Jesse James.

Still, Pittsburgh’s offense felt out of sync for much of the game. And the combination of shoddy defense and a suddenly electric Chiefs offense meant the Steelers were forced to come from behind early and keep up the pace throughout.

In the end, it was a challenge head coach Mike Tomlin and Co. weren’t equal to.

It’s far too early to worry about the Steelers just yet. But the start to 2018 is concerning. Maybe this will be the game that convinces Pittsburgh to beg running back Le’Veon Bell to come back from his ongoing holdout.