Mark Madden: How can the Steelers close the gap with Kansas City?

These last two weeks have been like fantasyland for Yinzer Nation.

Maybe the worst team of the Ben Roethlisberger era rode the quarterback’s scattered, almost random heroics to claim the AFC’s second-ever No. 7 playoff seed at the end of perhaps the most improbable Sunday in NFL history. It was truly amazing.

But the Kansas City Chiefs don’t care about that.

Steelers fans are happy now.

But let’s see how happy they are at 9:30 or 10 o’clock Sunday night. Kickoff is 8:15 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium.

It may not take that long. It didn’t take long Dec. 26, also at Kansas City, when the Chiefs scored on their first four possessions and had a 23-0 lead at halftime.

The only reason the final score wasn’t worse than 36-10 was because the Chiefs got bored. It was a mismatch then, a mismatch now.

The Steelers will benefit from the familiarity of having played Kansas City so recently. They will have learned something but not enough to make a drastic difference.

Defensive catalyst T.J. Watt was rendered ineffective by injury in the last meeting. But Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ perennial All-Pro tight end, didn’t play at all.

How can the Steelers close the gap that was so evident on Dec. 26?

They can’t. But let’s humor ourselves.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes could get hurt early. Or kidnapped between now and kickoff.

It’s hard to neutralize Mahomes.

Watt’s pressure is a key component of the Steelers’ defense. But his pursuit can’t allow Mahomes to get outside the pocket. Quarterbacks who do that have damaged the Steelers. Witness Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley rushing for 72 yards this past Sunday.

It would be great if Watt could get his first-ever playoff sack. He has none in two career playoff games. If he’s allergic to the postseason, Watt should get the Moderna booster.

It would also be great if the Steelers could avoid starting out horribly, as is their wont. Maybe they could even score a first-half touchdown, which the Steelers haven’t done in six of their last seven games.

Here’s betting Kansas City scores a first-half touchdown.

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The Steelers should be euphoric if the Chiefs don’t get in the end zone on their first drive. That must be avoided. If the Steelers win the coin toss, take the ball. Rallying from a deficit in the second half is unlikely. Play it tight in the first.

The Steelers need to run the ball at a decent level by way of shortening the game. They can’t, but still need to.

The Steelers must have zero turnovers, and Kansas City needs to commit two or three. If the Chiefs turn the ball over four times and the Steelers twice, the Chiefs would register more points off turnovers. The Steelers have got to protect the ball with 100% efficiency.

The synopsis described is veering off into fiction containing severe gaps in logic, not unlike the movie “The Replacements.” Why would Falco get cut when Martel crossed the picket line to play? Wouldn’t Falco just be the backup quarterback?

Roethlisberger could weave his magic. But the Chiefs aren’t Cleveland or Baltimore. It will take much more than a couple opportune possessions.

The Steelers’ chances will come down to Roethlisberger and luck. Mostly luck.

Talk strategy all you like. But who covers Kelce? Who covers Tyreek Hill?

Kansas City doesn’t prefer to run but can. The Steelers have the NFL’s worst run defense.

Mahomes is a former NFL MVP and in his prime.

Kansas City’s defense allows lots of yards but not many points. It has 29 takeaways, fifth-most in the league.

The Chiefs have been in the last two Super Bowls, winning one.

The Chiefs will win big. They’re favored by 12½, up from 11½. The latter point spread wasn’t enough to get many bettors to go with the Steelers. No realistic scenario points to the Steelers having a shot.

Then again, Jacksonville beat Indianapolis.

But the Chiefs aren’t the Colts.