Coronavirus is lashing out against the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next opponent. We examine the local gambling line and project a winner between the Steelers and Chiefs.

Plus, the Ravens are protecting John Harbaugh’s two-point decision.

We welcome you to Tuesday’s “First Call.”

Of ‘Chief’ concern

Three high-profile Kansas City Chiefs have landed on the covid-19 protocol list in advance of their Sunday game against the Steelers.

One of them is star tight end Travis Kelce. In Thursday night’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, he had a career-high 191 yards receiving and caught the game-tying touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and the winner in overtime.

Previously, vaccinated players needed two negative tests taken 24 hours apart in order to return to play. Now, under revised NFL standards put in place last week, players are only required to test negative once before they can be activated off the reserve/covid-19 list.

Under the NFL’s revised protocols, which went into effect Monday, asymptomatic, vaccinated players can return in less than 10 days.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward and kicker Harrison Butker are two other Kansas City players who tested positive. All played last Thursday night.

Helping Harbaugh

The Baltimore Ravens’ Twitter account wasted little time before showing the world how much John Harbaugh’s players supported his decision to go for two points at the end of regulation.

Again.

Even though it didn’t work.

Again.

In the waning seconds of Baltimore’s game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Harbaugh decided to go for two points after a late touchdown from Tyler Huntley that closed the Ravens’ deficit to 31-30. They didn’t get it.

Defense comes up BIG!

The two-point try is NO GOOD!#GBvsBAL | #GoPackGo

FOX pic.twitter.com/1yqbLzZ3XG

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 20, 2021

That’s on the heels of the Ravens failing to convert a two-point conversion trailing 20-19 with 12 seconds left during a loss to the Steelers at Heinz Field on Dec. 5.

This close! @Steelers win 20-19. #BALvsPIT pic.twitter.com/hlDVeGV2Rw

— NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2021

Perhaps as a response to mounting criticism that Harbaugh is getting too greedy by going for two in the wake of Lamar Jackson pulling off a gutsy fourth-down conversion earlier in the season against the Chiefs, the Ravens tweeted out this “live-mic” video of players agreeing with Harbaugh’s decision to try the two-pointer again.

“That was the right move.”

Coach Harbaugh was Wired yesterday vs. the Packers as he talked with players about the decision to go for the two-point conversion at the end of the game. pic.twitter.com/0gaFqfKRw3

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 20, 2021

Just because the players want to do something doesn’t mean it’s the right call. In this case, though, given quarterback Aaron Rodgers was on the other sideline and the Ravens were playing with a backup quarterback, I can see both sides of this argument.

But I maintain that the conventional extra point was the proper route to go in Pittsburgh.

I demand a recount!

Claims of voter irregularities have been reverberating for a while now.

But forget what you may read about the American presidential election in 2020. Let’s talk about a vote of significantly more importance: the Pro Bowl.

According to Steelers.com, Pro Bowl voting ended last week and three Steelers players led the AFC in voting at their individual positions. The fans’ votes count for ⅓ of the overall votes, with players’ and coaches’ votes each making up ⅓ as well.

Outside linebacker T.J. Watt led the NFL and AFC in votes at his position, something he did from the time the voting opened until it closed.

Given his 17½ sacks so far this year, that makes sense. But if you told me which other players led their positions when it came to fan voting, I would’ve been stunned silent.

Return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud was first in the AFC and finished second overall in the NFL in fan voting. Punter Pressley Harvin also finished first in the AFC in the voting and second overall in the NFL as well.

Let’s be honest, Harvin has been massively disappointing as a rookie. In terms of net punting, with a 38.1 average, he’s 26th in the league. McCloud’s 9.1 yard average on punt returns is just sixth in the league, and his 22.4 yards per kickoff return is nothing to write home about.

Cameron Heyward finished third overall at defensive tackle. Minkah Fitzpatrick was seventh overall at free safety.

Rookie running back Najee Harris is the only player on offense who finished in the Top 10 in fan votes at his position. He was third.

The Pro Bowl roster will be announced at 8 p.m. Wednesday on the NFL Network.

Get in now

The gambling line for Steelers versus Titans slid toward the Steelers more and more as last week advanced.

Tennessee started as a 2.5-point favorite, but the Steelers ended up being favored by 2 points at kickoff. I said take the Steelers to cover and to take the under on the BetRivers’ stated projection of 43 points. Both of those predictions hit as the Steelers won 19-13.

Now let’s see if I can double down.

This week, the Steelers (7-6-1) are somehow slated as only a 9.5-point underdog against the 10-4 Chiefs. That strikes me as a honey pot. I think the Steelers will lose big and the Chiefs will cover that number easily. The over-under is 45.5 points.

Take the over. The Chiefs may hit that total themselves.

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