News

STEELERS 16, CHIEFS 13, OT

Steelers’ record: 6-3
One year ago: 6-3
Series record (including playoffs): Steelers lead, 19-10

STORYLINE
This was the occasion of the Steelers’ first Monday Night Football game at home since 2008, and they had not lost one of these since 1991 against the defending champion New York Giants. The Chiefs didn’t figure to put up much of a fight, but then again neither did the 2009 version that upset the Steelers, 27-24, in overtime in Arrowhead Stadium.

INJURY UPDATE
Immediately after the game, Coach Mike Tomlin said, “On the injury front, Ryan Clark is being evaluated for a concussion. We don’t have definitive information on that at this time. It happened too late in the game. Ben [Roethlisberger] has a right shoulder that’s being evaluated. We don’t know the status of that as we sit here right now. Obviously, those two men are critical to our efforts here moving ahead.”

STAT THAT STANDS OUT
The Steelers are now 24-5 at home on Monday nights. Chuck Noll was 9-5; Bill Cowher was 11-0; and Mike Tomlin now is 4-0.

WHAT WENT RIGHT
* The Chiefs used their AFC-best running attack to carve out one first down on the game’s opening possession, but then on a third-and-4, Brett Keisel broke through to sack Matt Cassel to force a punt.

* On a third-and-goal from the Steelers 3-yard line on the first play of the second quarter, LaMarr Woodley shed a block by TE Steve Maneri and dumped Jamaal Charles for a 1-yard loss. The Chiefs settled for a field goal and a 10-0 lead.

* It was a first-and-goal from the Chiefs 7-yard line when Ben Roethlisberger attempted a fade to Mike Wallace in the back corner of the end zone. Wallace initially caught the ball with one hand and brought it into his body where he held the ball between his knees for the touchdown that tied the game, 10-10, with 3:16 left in the first half.

* It took Byron Leftwich a little bit to get accustomed to playing in a regular season game, but on a third-and-9 late in the third quarter he threw a perfect strike to Emmanuel Sanders for a 31-yard catch-and-run out to the Pittsburgh 46-yard line.

* With the Steelers holding onto a 13-10 lead, Matt Cassel tried to go deep down the field to Jonathan Baldwin. Ike Taylor was able to contest the ball when it arrived, and he was able to work it loose to cause an incompletion about 40 yards down the field.

* On a third-and-1 with just under eight minutes to play, Will Allen came up and stopped Peyton Hillis for no gain to force the Chiefs to punt.

WHAT WENT WRONG
* The Steelers came out throwing on their first possession, and after a 20-yard completion to Heath Miller, Ben Roethlisberger went to Emmanuel Sanders down the right sideline but safety Eric Barry got a hand in to jostle the ball loose and cause an incompletion.

* The Chiefs took their first lead of the season by going 70 yards in four plays, and missed tackles by the Steelers were a contributing factor. On a pass to TE Tony Moeaki, 15 of the 38 yards came after Ryan Clark missed a tackle, and then on the 12-yard touchdown run by Jamaal Charles, Will Allen had a shot at bringing him down but did not.

* It started as a first-and-10 for the Steelers at their own 29-yard line, and then after a holding penalty on Willie Colon, and then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Colon “for cursing at an official,” the Steelers were facing a first-and-29 from their own 9-yard line. Isaac Redman then took the handoff and fumbled while trying to get extra yardage, and Allen Bailey recovered at the Pittsburgh 10-yard line.

* It was second-and-5 from the Chiefs 45-yard line when the Steelers finally got a shot at a play down the field. Mike Wallace was behind safety Kendrick Lewis, but he and Ben Roethlisberger were unable to hook up at the Kansas City 2-yard line and the pass fell incomplete.

* On the first third down of the second half, Ben Roethlisberger was sacked and in the process it appeared he was hit on the right wrist by OLB Justin Houston’s helmet. Roethlisberger went into the locker room to be evaluated. The injury actually turned out to be to Roethlisberger’s right shoulder.

* It was fourth-and-15 for the Chiefs from their own 45-yard line. They had no timeouts and there were 22 seconds left when Matt Cassel found Dwayne Bowe deep down the middle of the field for a 27-yard gain to the Steelers 28-yard line. On the next play, Ryan Succop kicked the tying field goal.