First Call: Chiefs health update before Steelers game; Jaguars coach congratulates Mike Tomlin; Raven's respect for Big Ben

Monday’s “First Call” gives us health updates on the Kansas City Chiefs as the Steelers prepare for a postseason trip to Arrowhead Stadium.

The Jaguars coach has a shoutout for Mike Tomlin after his team’s surprising playoff assist on Sunday. A Ravens veteran has much respect for Ben Roethlisberger. A pair of former Steelers running backs find the end zone during regular season finales.

And Tom Brady makes Antonio Brown look foolish. As if A.B. doesn’t do a good enough job on his own.

Helping hand

When the Buffalo Bills helped the Steelers get into the playoffs at the end of the 2015 season, Rex Ryan and company received Primanti Bros. sandwiches.

How quickly can they get a shipment down to Jacksonville to thank the Jaguars for their stunning 26-11 upset of the Indianapolis Colts? Maybe toss in a few cases of Iron City. Whatever kind of Sarris Candy that they want. And as much Heinz ketchup as they could possibly handle.

After all, the Jags were 14.5-point underdogs at kickoff and they still managed to beat the Colts. If that didn’t happen, the Steelers wouldn’t have made the playoffs.

After the game, Jaguars coach Darrell Bevell had a shoutout for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. The two men were on the Minnesota Vikings staff together before Tomlin became head coach of the Steelers.

#Jaguars interim HC Darrell Bevell was told the #Colts are officially eliminated: “OK, great! So that’s what we were trying to do today!"

He also congratulated #Steelers HC Mike Tomlin. They worked together in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/EC9VsK04FQ

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 9, 2022

Bevell has been serving as an interim coach ever since the Jaguars fired Urban Meyer last month.

Appreciative of the rivalry

Veteran Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell played against Ben Roethlisberger multiple times over his 14 years in the NFL during his time with the Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals.

And Campbell tipped his hat to Roethlisberger for the second-half comeback the quarterback engineered to guide the Steelers to a 16-13 victory Sunday.

“We made it hard on him. We definitely made it hard on him, and he just kept coming. You have to respect the competitor,” Campbell said. “He’s a Hall of Fame player for that very reason, because when the game is on the line, that’s when his best football comes out. He made the plays he needed to.”

Campbell said Roethlisberger and the Steelers were simply better in the clutch than his Ravens were.

“It’s really a testament to them,” Campbell continued. “They made the plays, and we didn’t. ‘Big Ben’ is a legend for making plays in the critical moments. They have a chance to continue playing football, so it won’t be his last game after all. He’s a warrior.”

Campbell is a free agent this offseason. He’ll be 36 next year.

Something to watch

When the Steelers played the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 26, they got K.C. on a night when star tight end Travis Kelce missed the game because he was on the covid protocol list. All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill came off of it in time for the game but was limited, only catching two passes.

During the Chiefs’ Week 18 victory over the Denver Broncos (28-24), both Hill and Kelce appeared to get banged up. Head coach Andy Reid didn’t disclose what was ailing Kelce, who was seen limping on the sidelines, but said “he’s alright.”

As for Hill, he aggravated a nagging heel injury that has been bothering him for a while.

Also, running back Darrel Williams was injured on the final play of the first half. He didn’t return to the game due to a toe injury.

So much for that

Weird. Just a few days ago, a guy who knows everything about football told me that “Tom Brady can’t do (expletive deleted) by himself.”

Yeah. So much for that. Despite his Tampa Bay Buccaneers cutting receiver Antonio Brown this week, Brady still managed to put up huge numbers against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Brady was 29 of 37 for 326 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 41-17 victory. Even Brown’s old Steelers teammate Le’Veon Bell caught a touchdown pass.

.@LeVeonBell's first TD with the @Buccaneers! #GoBucs

: #CARvsTB on CBS
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/q1v0VuMr1K

— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2022

If Brady can even get Bell to contribute, I think he’ll be just fine without A.B.

The Bucs are the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and will host the Philadelphia Eagles next week in the first round.

While we are on the topic

Speaking of former Steelers, James Conner’s Arizona Cardinals lost to the Seattle Seahawks 38-30. But Conner scored twice during the contest.

Welcome back, @JamesConner_ pic.twitter.com/u6O03bnbEW

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 9, 2022

TOUCHDOWN MACHINE. @JamesConner_@AZCardinals take the lead!

: #SEAvsAZ on FOX
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WQTjP5ks2n

— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2022

Conner hadn’t played since Dec. 19 thanks to a heel injury. He eventually had to leave this game as well with a rib injury. The former Pitt Panther finished the season with 18 total touchdowns.

Another ex-Panther had a rough play, as punter Andy Lee botched this attempt deep in his own end.

First @travishomer4 brought the pressure, then he forced the fumble.

#SEAvsAZ on FOX pic.twitter.com/52rD6JW8uk

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 9, 2022

Despite the loss, the Cardinals are in the playoffs. They will visit Los Angeles and play the NFC west champion Rams next week in the first round.