Steelers Escape Upset in Low Scoring Affair vs. Chiefs

Coming into week 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs were two franchises going in separate directions. Both were expected to be playoff teams heading into this season, as the Steelers were the defending AFC champs, and the Chiefs had won their division under new QB Matt Cassel and new coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel (previously of the New England Patriots). This season had panned out as expected for Pittsburgh thus far, as they'd notched just 3 losses and were battling with Baltimore for the division crown yet again. KC had been falling off drastically, with only 3 WINS, and season ending injuries to their star RB Jamaal Charles and Cassel himself. Now it was Pittsburgh native Tyler Palko under center for the Chiefs, against the vaunted Steeler D.

Despite the Steelers being heavy favorites, KC came out motivated as 3rd string RB Jackie Battle found some creases in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense, and the underrated WR Dwayne Bowe caught two key passes on the opening drive, as the Chiefs got out to a 3-0 lead. Pittsburgh answered back with a 74 yard drive and diverse play calling, until a Mewelde Moore fumble at the 8 yard line resulted in no points. The second quarter belonged to the Steelers, as they now had to work from behind as opposed to the normally hot start. The inexperienced Palko started to face pressure from the infamous Steeler blitz, and the result was back-to-back interceptions (The first to Ike Taylor, and the second to fellow local Ryan Mundy). Pittsburgh parlayed those KC blunders into 10 points, the first score on a Suisham field goal, and the second on a tip-toe 2 yard TD catch from the quiet Wesley Saunders after another miracle scramble from Big Ben.

> Find Pittsburgh Steelers hats & Merchandise online through Pro Football Fans for all your team gear!

The teams traded field goals as we went into the half with a 13-6 Steeler lead. The Steelers, though, didn't seem to have the killer instinct. As has been the case in Pittsburgh over the last few years, the undoubtedly inferior Chiefs, as many others do, had plenty of chances for the upset. The Steelers opened with a good drive, but Roethlisberger threw an INT in Chiefs territory to halt the progress. Their next possession went about the same, getting inside the KC 40 yard line, but having to punt. Despite Ben's solid day (193 yards, 1 TD/1 INT), Pittsburgh wasn't getting the points. The Chiefs opened the 4th quarter with a field goal on a solid passing drive, cutting the lead to 13-9. KC retained the ball with just over 4 minutes to play, as Palko took advantage of the Steeler secondary (who was without leader Troy Polamalu after a first half concussion). He drove them 47 yards, before an end zone pass to Bowe fell off his fingertips, into the waiting arms of Keenan Lewis for the game-sealing INT. The KC chance for a huge upset and to stay alive in their division race literally slipped through their fingers, as the Steelers breathed sighs of relief.

Antonio Brown was the receiving leader for Pittsburgh, with a quiet 81 yards. The homecoming type game for Palko was not to be, as he passed for just 167 and had 4 huge turnovers. The Chiefs still look to play spoiler to others as the Steelers look to get healthy and keep their feet on the gas for a full 60 minutes.

By Jason Burke
Pro Football Fans Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent