november 23, 2009 news clippings - national football...

November 23, 2009 News Clippings

Pittsburgh Steelers

SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL

Steelers Report Card: Game 10 vs. ChiefsGerry Dulac grades Steelers 27-24 loss to the Chiefs Monday, November 23, 2009 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 398 yards and three touchdowns, but his two second-half interceptions led to 10 points, even though the first wasn't his fault. His ability to escape pressure in the first half led to two touchdown passes, none better than when he ducked under DT Ron Edwards on a 10-yard TD to Heath Miller.

Running Backs

Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 41 of his 80 yards in the second half, but to average less than 4 yards per carry against the 27th-ranked rush defense isn't good enough. However, he also caught four passes, including an 8-yard touchdown, and made what looked like would be a game-saving tackle on a 96-yard interception return.

Wide receiver

WR Hines Ward had 10 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown and TE Heath Miller had seven catches for 95 yards and a TD. He also had a 41-yarder on the 95-yard TD drive. However, the game began to turn when Miller let a pass skip off his hands that was intercepted and led to the Chiefs' first offensive TD at the start of the third quarter.

Offensive line

Three holding penalties, a false start and three sacks against a team that had only 12 sacks all season. And 114rushing yards on 31 attempts is the fewest total against the Chiefs since Week 3. Roethlisberger was not sacked in the first half and usually had plenty of time to throw. But he also had several unlikely escapes.

Defensive line

Jamaal Charles had only 58 yards on 17 carries, the 28th regular-season game in a row the Steelers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher, but 33 of his yards came in the second half. He also had a big 10-yarder, his longest of the game, on their first play of overtime. Still, the line did its job, and NT Casey Hampton even had one of the five sacks against QB Matt Cassel.

Linebackers

After giving up a 19-yard swing pass on the first play, the defense held the Chiefs to 28 yards the rest of the half. That, though, all changed in the second half when the Chiefs had 235 yards. LaMarr Woodley had two sacks, but he let TE Leonard Pope get behind him for a touchdown. Lawrence Timmons' sack/fumble led to the final TD.

Defensive backs

Too many gaffes, too many big plays and one big missed tackle. Ryan Clark got beat for a 47-yard pass, dropped an interception and missed the tackle on the 61-yard catch-and-run by Chris Chambers that set up the winning FG. That was set up when CB Ike Taylor dropped an interception on the previous play.

Special teams

There are no words to describe the ineptitude of the kickoff coverage unit, which allowed its fourth touchdown return in the past five games. A holding penalty by newcomer Donovan Woods wiped out a 26-yard punt return by Stefan Logan, who also had a 17-yard return to the Chiefs' 46 to set up a TD. Logan missed not one, but two tackle attempts on the touchdown return.

Coaching

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11/23/2009http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09327/1015620-66.stm

Mike Tomlin took the blame for the loss, saying the team was unprepared, undisciplined and allowed another kick return for a touchdown. What's more, the defense allowed pass plays of 30, 47 and 61 yards in the final 16 minutes. And there was confusion on the last pass because the secondary members never got the defensive call.

Gerry Dulac can be reached at [email protected].

Ed Bouchette's blog on the Steelers and Gerry Dulac's Steelers chats are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.

First published on November 23, 2009 at 12:00 am

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Gerry Dulac's Two-Minute DrillGame 9 vs. Kansas City Chiefs Monday, November 23, 2009 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons forces a fumble by the Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel yesterday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Game ball goes to: QB Ben Roethlisberger

Even though his two interceptions led to 10 points, Ben Roethlisberger passed for 398 yards, his second highest total of the season, and made several amazing plays to escape pressure and duck tackles on touchdown throws to Heath Miller and HinesWard. It even looked as though he was going to lead the Steelers to another comeback victory until he was accidentally kneed in the head by Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson on the fourth play of overtime and had to be replaced by backup Charlie Batch.

The countdown

A quick look at the top performances from yesterday's game:

1. Miller's one mistake: On a day when he caught seven passes for 95 yards and a 10-yard TD, Heath Miller's game-changing moment was probably the catch he didn't make against the Chiefs. Leading 17-7, Miller let a pass skip off his hands that was intercepted by LB Andy Studebaker and led to a Chiefs TD and kept them hanging around. "It's on my shoulders," Miller said of the loss. "I didn't make the play. I felt like it was a battle from then on."

2. Timmons' strip sack: The biggest of the five sacks against Matt Cassel appeared to be when Lawrence Timmons forced a fumble that James Harrison recovered at the Kansas City 27. The Steelers needed just five plays to make it 24-17 with 8:35 left.

3. Super Bowl flashback: Chiefs LB Andy Studebaker looked like James Harrison in the Super Bowl when he returned an interception 94 yards to the Steelers' 8. But Rashard Mendenhall saved a touchdown when he ran him down to make the tackle.

4. Another scoring return: For the fourth time in five games, the Steelers allowed a kick return for a touchdown when Jamaal Charles went 97 yards with the opening kick. That set a team record and tied an NFL mark for most allowed in a season.

5. Lance's Long play: Chiefs WR Lance Long had only two catches for 37 yards, but it was his 30-yarder on third-and-9 that kept alive the tying 91-yard scoring drive. "He found one of the few soft spots in our defense," said CB Deshea Townsend.

Inside the numbers: 8

That's the number of games in a row in which the Steelers have allowed a scoring return for a touchdown. Their four kick returns for touchdowns account for more scoring returns than 27 of the league's 32 teams

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What was he thinking?

If the Steelers appeared confused or looked out of position on Chris Chambers' 61-yard catch-and-run that set up the winning field goal, they were. At least three members of the secondary said they didn't hear the defensive call when the Chiefs went without a huddle. Still, safety Ryan Clark had a chance to tackle Chambers near the Steelers' 35 and failed to do so. "I got to make that tackle," Clark said. "That is a tackle I make every game. I had an opportunity to make the tackle and I didn't. That's what I get paid for."

Overheard

"I take responsibility for that performance. I have to have this football team better prepared to play. We're capable of much more than that. That is not us. That won't be us. But it was today."

-- Coach Mike Tomlin

X's and O's

The No. 1 mantra of Dick LeBeau's defense is to prevent the big play, something the Steelers do as well, if not better, than any team in the league. But, in the final 16 minutes, they allowed completions of 30 and 47 yards on back-to-back plays on the tying 91-yard touchdown drive, then a 61-yarder in overtime to set up the winning field goal. "That's something we strive for and today we were unsuccessful," said safety Tyrone Carter, starting for injured Troy Polamalu. "We gave up some big plays."

Up next

at BALTIMORE RAVENS, 8:30 P.M. SUNDAY: The Ravens are coming off a 17-15 defeat to Indianapolis, their fifth loss in seven games. The Steelers have won the past three meetings, but are 1-5 in past six games in Baltimore.

Gerry Dulac can be reached at [email protected].



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Steelers Notebook: Roethlisberger says he's OK after hit Monday, November 23, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger walks off the field with Dr. James Bradley (right) and Dr. Tony Yates yesterday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who left yesterday's game in overtime after taking a blow to the head, appeared to be lucid in the Steelers' locker room after their 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Needless to say, it was a concussion-oriented thing, so I doubt he was going to come back into the football game," coach Mike Tomlin said.

However, Roethlisberger said in the locker room that while he did not know if he received a concussion or not, he felt OK.

Roethlisberger left the game with 12:21 remaining in overtime after he scrambled and was sacked near midfield. Linebacker Derrick Johnson's knee hit Roethlisberger in the head as the quarterback hit the ground.

Charlie Batch entered the game at that point, the first time the veteran backup has taken a snap since the 2007 season.

Starting left guard Chris Kemoeatu also left the game with a sprained MCL in his right knee. A similar injury kept safety Troy Polamalu out for four games but offensive linemen normally can return more quickly because of the nature of the position.

A measure of retribution

Todd Haley could not have asked for a better moment as Kansas City's rookie head coach. An Upper St. Clair High School graduate and former Steelers ballboy, Haley's Chiefs opened the season with five consecutive losses.

But with his dad, former Steelers player personnel director Dick Haley, wearing a Chiefs jacket in attendance, young Haley's team won its second consecutive game and third in the past five.

"They're the model for what we're striving to get to and that's something that's been going on for a long time, since I've been a young kid in Pittsburgh," Haley said.

Haley was the offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals last season and talked last week about how difficult it was to see the Steelers mount that final drive to beat them in Super Bowl XLIII.

He got some payback yesterday, and he also nearly saw an identical play to the one that helped beat his Cardinals in the Super Bowl when James Harrison returned an interception 100 yards in that game for a touchdown. Yesterday, linebacker Andy Studebaker intercepted Roethlisberger 2 yards deep in the end zone and returned it 94 yards to the Steelers' 8, where Rashard Mendenhall tackled him .

"I wish Studebaker would have scored on the interception," Haley said. "That would have been full retribution. I was thinking I'd finally be able to put that interception return away."

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Sitting it out

Yesterday's inactives:

Steelers -- S Troy Polamalu and DE Travis Kirschke because of injuries, FB Carey Davis, G Kraig Urbik, OT Tony Hills, DE Sunny Harris, WR Shaun McDonald and No. 3 QB Dennis Dixon.

Chiefs -- LB Mike Vrabel and G Andy Alleman, both starters; CB Donald Washington, RB Dantrell Savage, LB David Herron, LB Justin Rogers and TE Jake O'Connell.

Offense finally scores

When Hines Ward caught Roethlisberger's 8-yard touchdown pass for a 10-7 lead late in the first half, it ended a stretch of nearly 86 minutes (85:50) in which the Steelers' offense did not score a touchdown. It hadn't gotten six since Ward scored in the final minutes at Denver Nov. 9.

"I thought we drove the ball pretty well," Ward said, "but we dropped some balls, got stripped, had penalties, you can't do that."

Flagged

Yesterday's eight Steelers penalties were a season-high. They hadn't had more than six in any game this year.

Sad sacks

The Steelers allowed three sacks, meaning they've allowed Roethlisberger to be put on the ground at least three times in seven consecutive games.

Auspicious debut

Kansas City linebacker Studebaker yesterday became the first player from Wheaton College to start an NFL game, and it was a pretty impressive start. He intercepted two passes.

No happy returns

With yesterday's 97-yard touchdown run on the opening kickoff by Kansas City's Jamaal Charles, the Steelers have been burned by touchdowns on returns in eight consecutive games, four on kickoff returns in the past five games. Two of the others came on interception returns and the other on a fumble.

Unfinished business

Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor has a long history of playing great coverage and putting himself in position to make an interception only to drop the ball. It happened at the worst possible time yesterday -- in overtime -- when he couldn't hang on to a Matt Cassel pass at the Steelers' 23. On the next play, Cassel threw a 61-yard pass to wide receiver Chris Chambers to set up the winning field goal.

"If I make that play, it might have been a different game," Taylor said. "That's what I'm sitting here telling myself. Doesn't matter if you have great coverage. It's all about finishing."

For more on the Steelers, read the new blog, Ed Bouchette On the Steelers at www.post-gazette.com/plus. Ed Bouchette can be reached at [email protected]. Gene Collier and Ron Cook contributed to this report.



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Steelers Nation invades Arrowhead StadiumMonday, November 23, 2009 By Robert Dvorchak, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Peter Diana / Post-Gazette

Steelers offensive linemen Chris Kemoeatu, left, and Willie Colon head past fans as they make their way to the field with the rest of their teammates yesterday in Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY -- Consider the weekend events arranged by the Kansas City Steelers Fan Club at its headquarters atJohnny's Bar in Overland Park, Kan.

In an earlier time, Overland Park was the starting point of three great routes west -- the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails. Over the weekend, it seemed like all roads led back to Johnny's because of the Steelers fans who came from far and wide to encourage their team against the Chiefs.

"It's like being back home in Pittsburgh," said Bob Hite, a fan club member who is general manager of the local Doubletree Hotel. "No other team has a fan base like the Steelers."

Indeed. The Chiefs play in a stadium called Arrowhead, and highway signs refer to places in Missouri and Kansas. But it sure had the look and feel of Heinz Field West yesterday, at least it did before the Steelers lost a 27-24 shocker in overtime.

That's part of the mystique of the Steelers. The fan base openly unfurls its towels and battle flags to rename whatever enemy territory with a simple proclamation: You're In Steelers Country.

When the TV cameras find Terrible Towels in an opponent's stadium, announcers marvel that Pittsburgh fans travel well. They do, but that's only part of the story.

John Supp of the South Hills organized a trip for 27 people to attend the Kansas City game.

"It's a chance to go places and be with friends. This is the 14th city I've seen," he said. "People are galvanized by the Steelers. On the way out, we were talking about the tough economic times, and how everyone's working harder these days.

"The Steelers are recession-proof. If you still have two nickels to rub together, you're coming on this trip. If you have to give up everything else, you're coming on this trip. People have a lot of pride in their city. We're not a bunch of transients. It's a tight town. Are we going to be unhappy if they lose? Yes. But will we support them no matter what? Hell, yes."

On the other hand, the nation's heartland is home to a number of transplanted Pittsburghers. But of the 270 or so members of the Kansas City Steelers Fan Club, only about 70 have ties to Western Pennsylvania. The others, like club president Ed Kovac, grew up watching the Steelers and adopted them as their own.

"I have a picture of me when I was 4 years old dressed in Steelers stuff," he laughed. "I don't consider myself a convert. I've been a fan all my life."

Through the local fan club, a party was arranged on Saturday, complete with pierogies and Iron City beer. Four busloads of amped-up fans made the trek from Johnny's to Arrowhead.

With the Steelers in town, the weekend felt like part Thanksgiving, part Christmas and part reunion, particularly for the Leo Gaertner family.

Two brothers came up from Austin, Texas, to hook up with another brother and their dad, Leo, a West View native who lives

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in Cooke City, Mont., on the edge of Yellowstone National Park. In their group was Bill Anderson of Wichita, Kan., who was attending his first NFL game.

"My wife and I go to Yellowstone to watch wolves, and we got to know Leo Gaertner. Before you know it, he had us at the Steeler bar in Montana, so here I am," Mr. Anderson said.

Observing predators in packs requires a different mind-set than viewing football, and it was the Steelers who had a bite taken out of them yesterday.

A victory celebration had already been planned, but the stunning loss took the joy out of the afternoon. Still, those who came through the doors at Johnny's included fans from Arkansas, California, South Dakota, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas and across the Rio Grande from Monterrey, Mexico.

"It's amazing to me. These fans sort of come out of nowhere," said Amber Barnes, general manager at Johnny's.

Jerry Plantz, a local journalist and South Side native, marveled at the number of people who have no formal ties to Pittsburgh but who follow the Steelers.

"For some of them, the only thing they know of Pittsburgh is the view from the blimp. It's amazing. They're die-hards, too," he said. "There are pockets of fans all over the place. The fan club has outgrown a couple of places so far. I guess we'll have to get a convention hall next."

Kansas City was an attractive destination for a number of reasons, not the least of which was availability of tickets. The Chiefs don't sell enough season tickets to sell out, but they do recognize the law of supply and demand. Anyone who wanted a ticket to the Steelers game also had to buy a $100 ticket to the Seahawks-Chiefs pre-season game.

Other tickets could be bought easily on-line or through scalpers. There were almost as many empty red seats at Arrowhead as there were red-clad Chiefs fans.

For their part, the players find a measure of comfort in knowing that they will have visible and vocal support, no matter where they play.

"It makes you feel like you have home field advantage on the road," said defensive lineman Chris Hoke.

"One of the reasons we're so lucky to be playing for the Steelers is that no matter where we are on the road, we feel the love from Steeler Nation," added defensive end Brett Keisel. "I can't tell you how many road games we played when our fans are more into the game than [home team] fans."

The loyalty of the fans in black and gold brought a smile to nose tackle Casey Hampton's face.

"You get spoiled by it," he said. "A few years back, we were playing in Dallas and I was taken to the locker room after I got hurt. I heard this eruption, and I figured Dallas had done something. But what happened was, Kimo [von Oelhoffen] had picked up a fumble. I thought it was their fans going crazy."

The buses ferrying fans from Johnny's to the game and back was a microcosm of the black and gold fan base.

Marilyn Turner, who moved to the Kansas City area from Canonsburg, maintains her roots to home through the Steelers.

"Even if you leave there, you still consider it home. There's so much pride in being from there," she said. "Pittsburgh defines who we are -- the work ethic, the importance of family."

Becky Robinson, a Charleroi native, came to Kansas City by way of Fort Worth, Texas, where she runs the local fan club.

"We tried to get tickets to a Heinz Field game, which is impossible. So we drove the 81/2 hours to get here," she said. "To me, the Steelers are like family. We eat, we drink, we watch football and the stadium is like a big living room. Rooting for the Steelers isn't a hobby. It's a lifestyle. It's ingrained."

One of the more garish vehicles in the stadium parking lots yesterday belonged to Darrell Earnhart of Fayetteville, Ark., who became a Steelers fan after meeting his fiancee, Erie native Wendy Palmer. In a sea of red, his jeep was a bold yellow adorned with hypocycloids and Steelers flags.

"People ask me why I root for Pittsburgh if I live in Arkansas," he said. "I always ask them, 'Why not be a fan of the greatest team on earth?' "



Robert Dvorchak can be reached at [email protected].






Steelers upset by Chiefs, 27-24Monday, November 23, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is pressured by Chiefs defensive linemen Ron Edwards and Tamba Hali.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sometimes, Super Bowl hangovers do not occur at the start of the season. They sneak up on a champion and clamp it upside the head when it least expects it.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger left the game yesterday with a slight concussion, and his team departed Arrowhead Stadium with one giant headache after it dribbled away a 27-24 loss in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The high wire the champs have been straddling this season finally gave way. They fell and they fell hard to a Kansas City team that had won only four of its previous 34 games after rookie Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime.

The Steelers' second consecutive loss dropped them to 6-4 and left them wondering about themselves for the first time in a long while.

"Each person has to look at themselves," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "We're all into it, coaches included; they're just as much involved as we are."

Indeed, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin took the blame for what he called a team not prepared.

"I take responsibility for that performance," Tomlin said. "I have to have this football team better prepared to play."

The Steelers outgained the Chiefs (3-7), 515 yards to 282, but the Steelers were done in again by turnovers, squandered chances in the red zone and what has become high comedy, another kickoff return for a touchdown against them. It was the fourth in five games, tying an NFL record for a full season.

Kansas City's Jamaal Charles returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score. Those changes the Steelers made a week agoto their kickoff team? It looked as though they inserted Moe, Larry and Curly -- the Three Stooges.

"Man, special teams haven't helped us very much lately," linebacker James Harrison said.

Help never arrived for the Steelers yesterday in many forms.

Roethlisberger, who threw for a season-high 398 yards (32 of 42), tossed three touchdown passes, to Ward for 8 yards, Heath Miller for 10 and to Rashard Mendenhall for 8. But the normally sure-handed Miller also let one pass go through his hands as the Steelers seemed ready to put the game out of reach in the third quarter.

Leading 17-7 at halftime, the Steelers were poised to stretch their lead with a first down at their 48 on the opening drive of the second half.

Roethlisberger threw a perfect pass to Miller over the middle but the ball went through his hands at the 36 and popped up into the hands of Chiefs linebacker Andy Studebaker, making his first pro start because Mike Vrabel was hurt. The Chiefs'

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drive after the interception ended with Matt Cassel (15 of 30, 248 yards) throwing a 21-yard touchdown to Leonard Pope and the game was on at 17-14.

A distressed Miller -- who otherwise had a big game with seven catches for 95 yards and his touchdown -- took the blame for letting the ball and the game get away.

"I thought we ended the first half well," Miller said quietly. "We're driving down the field and I don't make the play and practically handed the ball to the other team. I felt it was a battle from there on in."

He had more company than the Steelers would have preferred. The Steelers drove again to a first down at the Chiefs' 10 in the third quarter. But Roethlisberger was hit when he tried to pass to an open Ward in the left corner of the end zone, and the ball fluttered into Studebaker's hands again 2 yards deep. He returned it 94 yards before Mendenhall made a saving tackle at the eight.

Succop tied the score with a 27-yard field goal at 17-17 and this most unusual contest entered the fourth quarter.

"Those first three or four drives in the third quarter left that team back in the game and gave them a chance to stick around," Ward said.

The Steelers' defense, though, finally forced a big play when Lawrence Timmons sacked Cassel, who fumbled. James Harrison recovered at the Kansas City 27, and five plays later Mendenhall caught a touchdown pass that gave them a 24-17 lead with 8:35 to go.

Just as quickly, the Chiefs struck back and shocked the NFL's second-ranked defense in doing so. The defense that prides itself on not allowing big plays gave up two of them on that drive -- consecutive passes by Cassel of 30 yards to Lance Long and 47 to Chris Chambers. Charles then caught a 2-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 4:54.

It seemed this growing nightmare might end when Ward called tails correctly on the coin flip and the Steelers began the first drive of sudden-death at their 20. They reached their 49 when, on second-and-3, Roethlisberger was sacked and injured and center Justin Hartwig also was called for holding.

Charlie Batch, though, came on to play for the first time since the 2007 season and rifled a pass to Santonio Holmes of 17 yards to give the Steelers a first down at the Kansas City 43. That became a third-and-2 at the 35 and Mewelde Moore ran a sweep toward the right end that lost 3 yards.

Tomlin elected to punt rather than try what would have been a 56-yard field goal.

Four plays later it was over, on the play after cornerback Ike Taylor dropped what would have been an interception at the 23.

The Chiefs had a third-and-5 at their 35 and Steelers defensive backs later said they did not get the play call before the snap. Cassel threw a short pass over the middle to Chambers, who ran toward the right sideline. Clark had a shot at him near the 30and missed and Chambers made it to the 4 for a 61-yard gain.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley did not hesitate. He sent Succop, the last player drafted this year, onto the field and he kicked the ball and the Steelers home.

"We play like we played today, you deserve to lose," said nose tackle Casey Hampton, who had one of his team's five sacks.

"You play like that, that's the outcome."

For more on the Steelers, read the new blog, Ed Bouchette On the Steelers at www.post-gazette.com/plus. Ed Bouchette can be reached at [email protected].



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Pittsburgh natives proud of win over Steelers

By John Grupp TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, November 23, 2009

KANSAS CITY — Chiefs offensive line coach Bill Muir, who was born in Pittsburgh, gave a special thanks to coach Todd Haley after the game.

"He said, 'In 32 years in the NFL, I've never beaten the Steelers,' " Haley said. "That's from a Western Pa. guy who's been wanting to beat the Steelers for a long time. It's a nice win for all of us."

Actually, one of Muir's teams did beat the Steelers more than a quarter-century ago. In 1983, New England won, 28-23, at Three Rivers Stadium when Muir was an offensive line coach for the Patriots. He was 1-8 against the Steelers until Sunday.

· If you thought Chiefs linebacker Andy Studebaker's 94-yard interception return from the Kansas City end zone to the Steelers' 8-yard line looked a bit familiar, you weren't the only one. Chiefs coach Todd Haley was the Cardinals offensive coordinator during James Harrison's record-breaking interception return in Super Bowl XLIII.

"I wish Studebaker would have scored on the interception," Haley said. "That would have been full retribution."

· Three weeks after getting cut by the Chargers, wide receiver Chris Chambers caught four passes for 119 yards, with a 47-yarder during San Diego's game-tying drive in the fourth quarter and a 61-yarder to set up the game-winning field goal in overtime. It was Chambers' most productive regular-season game since Dec. 3, 2006, when he was playing for the Miami Dolphins.

John Grupp can be reached at [email protected] or 412-320-7930.

Images and text copyright © 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.

Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from Trib Total Media

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11/23/2009http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/print_654534.html

Milestone fails to appease Steelers' Miller

By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, November 23, 2009

KANSAS CITY — Heath Miller set a personal record on a day in which he caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Yet the Steelers' tight end couldn't stop thinking about the pass he didn't catch following a 27-24 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday.

It came on the third play of the third quarter when Miller couldn't hang onto a Ben Roethlisberger pass and resulted in an interception near midfield.

Seven plays later, the Chiefs scored the touchdown that allowed them to trim the Steelers' 17-7 halftime lead to three points.

"It was a good ball," Miller said. "It hit me in the hands. It's a play I've got to make."

Miller has caught 54 passes this season — six more than the career high he established in 2008. It puts him on pace to exceed 86 catches this season.

Not that the big numbers he put up against the Chiefs nor the new standard he set for himself was much consolation to Miller after the Steelers lost their second consecutive game.

"I was way below the standard," Miller said of his play. "That's unacceptable."

• Chris Kemoeatu sprained his knee in the Steelers' 27-24 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the starting left guard did not play after halftime.

Coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that Kemoeatu sustained a medial collateral ligament sprain.

"I don't know the extent of the injury," Tomlin said. "We will see when we get back."

Strong safety Troy Polamalu missed four games earlier this season with a similar injury.

Rookie Ramon Foster, who signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent, played in place of Kemoeatu.

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Aside from Kemoeatu, who has started 29 consecutive games, and Roethlisberger (head), Tomlin said the Steelers didn't have any injuries of note.

• Charlie Batch completed 1 of 2 passes for 17 yards after taking over for Roethlisberger on the Steelers' only possession in overtime.

Playing in a regular-season game for the first time since December of 2007, Batch completed a 17-yard pass to Santonio Holmes to put the Steelers' on the Chiefs' 43-yard line.

The Steelers had to punt when the drive stalled on the Chiefs' 38-yard line.

"It's unfortunate to go in (to the game) in that situation, but you've got to go in there and try to make plays," Batch said. "That's what I tried to do."

• Polamalu (knee) and defensive end Travis Kirschke (calf) didn't play yesterday because of injuries.

Joining them on the Steelers' inactives list were wide receiver Shaun McDonald, fullback Carey Davis, offensive tackle Tony Hills, guard Kraig Urbik, defensive end Sunny Harris and quarterback Dennis Dixon.

• By throwing for 398 yards yesterday, Roethlisberger tied a Steelers record for most 300-yard passing games (four) in a season. He shares the record with Neil O'Donnell (1995) and Tommy Maddox (2003). Roethlisberger has the Steelers record for most career 300-yard passing games (11) ... The players were given today off, and they won't report back for practice until Wednesday ... Hines Ward has now caught at least one pass in 172 consecutive games.

QUOTABLE

"The team that played better won. To sit here and say the Kansas City Chiefs are a better football team, that would be hard. That might make me a jerk, and I don't mean to be, but I still like our chances when we play against the Chiefs." — Steelers free safety Ryan Clark on losing to a team that entered yesterday's game with a 2-7 record.

DIGITS

173 — Passing yards quarterback Matt Cassel had on the Chiefs' final four possessions of the game.

248 — Cassel's total passing yards yesterday.

Scott Brown can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.



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Chiefs' Haley gains small bit of vindication

By John Grupp TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, November 23, 2009

KANSAS CITY — Maybe the Steelers need to stop playing against coaches who used to root for them.

Kansas City rookie coach and Pittsburgh native Todd Haley earned the most rewarding victory of his young career and, for at least one week, silenced his critics with the Chiefs' 27-24 overtime victory over the Steelers.

One week after Cincinnati Bengals' coach and Fort Cherry native Marvin Lewis guided his team to an upset at Heinz Field, another Western Pennsylvania native stunned his hometown team.

"Not a lot of games have been won around here," Haley said of a franchise with zero postseason wins since 1993. "It's painful for all of us. It's nice to get a little reward against a team like that."

The victory at an Arrowhead Stadium with seemingly as many Steelers fans as Chiefs supporters provided some atonement for Haley, 42, a Steelers ball boy when his father, Dick, was building the Super Bowl champions of the 1970s as one of the league's top personnel men.

"They fought like a team that's kind of desperate," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "They looked good today."

Aside from a lousy record, Haley's first season included a Twitter salvo from Larry Johnson, who publicly questioned his coach's football experience. Haley played golf, not football, at Upper St. Clair High School and in college at North Florida.

Haley's coaching decisions in a 37-7 loss Oct. 25 to the San Diego Chargers were ripped by the Kansas City media. Since then, Johnson was released and the Chiefs have won two of their past three games — or as many as last season under Herm Edwards during a 2-14 disaster.

"You obviously need some positive reinforcement for as hard as these guys work," Haley said. "You just need some positive results or otherwise you're just talking into air. You're telling them and telling them, and you're almost putting on an act. You need to see some results, and today we saw some results."

It was a special day for Haley for many reasons. The Chiefs' game program featured photos of himself and his father, the man who taught him the game

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through years of film study and minicamps. The younger Haley gained a measure of revenge — albeit tiny — for his loss to the Steelers as the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator in Super Bowl XLIII.

"Getting a win like this for Coach against the Steelers is big for him," said Chiefs linebacker Andy Studebaker, who had two interceptions. "Bigger than he will probably let on."

Added quarterback Matt Cassel, "Throughout the week, you could tell it was an important game for him."

The win means Haley likely will be spared the hot seat entering his second season, something that looked likely during the Chiefs' 1-6 start.

Haley said he is trying to model the Chiefs after the way the Steelers run things.

"You have to keep the message consistent," he said. "That is the key. When times are tough and people aren't real happy with you, you can not deviate with what you know is right."

John Grupp can be reached at [email protected] or 412-320-7930.



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Kick coverage continues to burn Steelers

By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, November 23, 2009

KANSAS CITY — So much for taking the high road.

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, after seeing the special teams allow yet another kickoff returned for a touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, finally said what has been on the minds of his teammates and coaches for much of this season.

"That shouldn't happen," Ward said.

Opponents have returned four kickoffs for touchdowns against the Steelers this season, including touchdown returns in each of the past two games.

When Jamaal Charles returned yesterday's opening kickoff for a 97-yard score, it was the first kickoff returned all the way by a Kansas City player since Dante Hall did it against Philadelphia on October 2, 2005.

For the Steelers, it was simply business as usual.

"Giving up four special-teams touchdowns in one season, 10 games? I don't know. I know if I were playing special teams I would do something about that," Ward said. "That's never happened in the 12 years I've been here to give up this many touchdowns on special teams."

Special-teams co-captain Keyaron Fox was short on potential solutions to fix the kickoff-return team.

"After you get (four) returns run back on you, it's not a fluke anymore — it's a problem. We've failed to fix that problem so far," Fox said. "We've put our team in some bad situations when at the start of the game we give them momentum like that. We never, really fully recovered from that."

Unlike some of the other kickoffs returned for touchdowns this season, several Steelers player had a legitimate chance to tackle Charles but failed to take him down.

Once in the open field, Charles pulled away from his remaining pursuit for an easy score.

"I can't say it's a scheme problem. We had two guys get to him, I think they got their hands on him. We missed some tackles," Fox said.

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When asked how to fix the problem, Fox was left searching for answers.

"I don't know," he said. "This is my first time ever having to deal with consistent runbacks like this. Usually, you just give more effort and get more practice in, which we did. Still having the same problems."

John Harris can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.



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Roethlisberger's condition to be determined


KANSAS CITY — Medical tests will determine whether Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's head injury in Sunday's overtime loss will keep him out of next weekend's showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.

Roethlisberger left yesterday's game on the Steelers' only possession of the extra quarter after getting kneed in the helmet by Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson at the end of run.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger sustained a "concussion-oriented thing." Tomlin said Roethlisberger probably would not have returned to the game if the Steelers had taken possession again.

"He took a blow," Tomlin said. "We will have more information as we proceed."

Roethlisberger showered and dressed with teammates, an indication the injury did not require immediate medical attention. He did not talk to reporters after the game.

Roethlisberger has had two concussions in NFL play — in October 2006 against the Atlanta Falcons and in December 2008 against Cleveland — plus one in a June 2006 motorcycle accident, in which he also had facial injuries.

A concussion diagnosis would require him to pass a battery of tests this week before getting medical clearance to play against the Ravens.




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Harris: Steelers pick a strange time for run

By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, November 23, 2009

KANSAS CITY — The defending Super Bowl champions are waging an internal war on offense.

On the one hand, the Steelers now fancy themselves as a passing team that ranked No. 8 in the NFL at better than 253 yards per game entering Sunday's disaster against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Before leaving with a concussion-type injury, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger passed for 398 yards and three touchdowns.

On the other hand, the Steelers remain an enigma on offense because they appear to be torn between becoming a dominant passing team while attempting to remain true to their successful history as a power-running team.

It was during crunch time of yesterday's shocking 27-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs that the Steelers picked a strange time to return to their offensive roots.

A third-down sweep by running back Mewelde Moore on the Steelers' only possession in overtime — one play after Rashard Mendenhall rushed for an 8-yard gain — resulted in a three-yard loss against the league's No. 27-ranked rushing defense.

Not wanting to gamble on fourth-and-5 from the Kansas City 38 following Moore's unsuccessful run, the Steelers punted, playing the percentages and turning the game over to their defense.

It seemed like a smart move — considering the Steelers' defense had gone 12 consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown until the third quarter of yesterday's game.

Ultimately, it backfired for coach Mike Tomlin.

If Roethlisberger described his performance in last week's loss to Cincinnati as him having a "bad day," Tomlin took having a "bad day" to a whole new level yesterday.

"I take responsibility for that performance," Tomlin said after Kansas City drove downfield and kicked the winning field goal. "I have to have this team better prepared to play ... We tried to get a perimeter run to get down inside that (field-goal) range, and we got dropped for a loss."

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It wasn't so much that the Steelers ran the ball on third-and-2 when they've made a habit this season of passing the ball all over the lot, particularly on traditional running downs.

Simply put, giving the ball to Moore in that situation was a strange call by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

Although Moore is the team's surest-handed running back, he ranks third behind Mendenhall and Willie Parker in terms of getting outside and turning the corner.

Throwing the ball to Moore, who leads Steelers running backs in receptions this season, would have been a higher-percentage call.

"Whatever B.A. (Arians) calls, we have to execute the play," said Hines Ward, who led the Steelers with 10 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. "We can second-guess ourselves, but we're not going to point fingers. Third-and-3, third-and-2, I like our chances with our running backs.

"We called a toss sweep. With the crowd noise, you want to make sure you get everybody out and blocking. I cracked down on the end. Tone (Santonio Holmes) got the linebacker. Usually, when Tone and I got that, we usually get that play. That was a crucial play."

I asked right tackle Willie Colon if the offense is struggling to find the proper mix between the pass and the run.

"It's a lot more complicated than that," Colon said. "Right now, we've just got to find a rhythm, and we've got to execute better."

The Steelers ran 31 times for 114 yards and passed 44 times for 401 yards. More than 500 yards of total offense still wasn't enough to beat one of the league's weakest teams.

In back-to-back losses against Kansas City and Cincinnati, the Steelers have attempted 84 passes compared with only 49 running plays.

That's why it was so shocking to see the Steelers run Moore on a sweep on their biggest offensive play of the game.

John Harris can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.



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Chief concern: Steelers stumble, fall in K.C.


KANSAS CITY — Following perhaps the most unexpected loss of the Mike Tomlin era, a come-from-ahead defeat against a team that had not won at home this season until Sunday, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton said what had to be going through every mind in a hushed and cramped visiting locker room.

"There was no doubt in my mind we were going to win," Hampton said.

The Steelers didn't just drop a 27-24 overtime stunner to the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday. They also lost Ben Roethlisberger on the first possession of overtime when the franchise quarterback took a knee to the head.

Roethlisberger likely wouldn't have returned even if the defense hadn't given up a 61-yard reception to Chris Chambers. The catch-and-run set up a 22-yard game-winning field goal by Ryan Succop.

The Steelers squandered a 10-point halftime lead and lost despite outgaining the Chiefs by more than 200 yards.

After failing several times to put away the Chiefs (3-7), the Steelers find themselves at a crossroads.

They are 6-4 with a trip to Baltimore looming on the schedule, and their margin for error for reaching the playoffs has shrunk considerably over the past two weeks.

If the Steelers miss the postseason, as they did the last time they were defending Super Bowl champions, they will look back on the Chiefs' game with supreme regret.

"There were many opportunities to secure the outcome of that football game, whether it was in overtime or regulation," Tomlin said after the Steelers lost consecutive games for the second time this season. "We didn't. They did."

The game had a little bit of everything, including the expected — the Steelers gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown for the fourth time in five games — and the unexpected. That included a dropped pass by the normally sure-handed Heath Miller on the Steelers' first possession of the second half.

It resulted in a game-changing interception by Andy Studebaker, a Division III

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Wheaton (Ill.) College product who had two picks in his first NFL start.

Yet, even after that special teams breakdown and two Roethlisberger interceptions in the second half, the Steelers looked like they were going to escape Kansas City with a victory.

Then, the defense decided it also wanted to assist on Kansas City's first win in 2009 at venerable Arrowhead Stadium.

The Steelers allowed the Chiefs to drive 91 yards on eight plays in the fourth quarter and tie the score, 24-24. In overtime, they yielded the longest pass play of the game on a short crossing pattern to Chambers.

It came after Ike Taylor almost intercepted a deep Matt Cassel pass — and after the Chiefs went to a no-huddle approach.

The element of surprise worked as the Steelers were confused following the defensive call that came late from the sidelines.

They also missed several tackles after Chambers caught the third-and-5 pass and wasn't taken down until he was close enough for the Chiefs to win the game with a Succop chip shot.

Perhaps outside linebacker James Harrison summed up the loss best when he said, "We had some mental lapses on defenses, too many turnovers and we started off fighting an uphill battle."




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Monday November 23, 2009

Madden Monday: Tomlin deserves blame, too By: Mark Madden Beaver County Times

Call the Steelers what they are: Poorly coached.

The 2009 season is a replay of 2006, with laziness, sloppiness and smug self-belief resulting in unforgivable losses and, ultimately, a Super Bowl hangover, albeit one that took slightly longer to throb.

In 2006, the Steelers lost to putrid Oakland in Week 8 to drop to 2-5 and out of contention. It took until Week 11 this time, and while Sunday’s overtime defeat at wretched Kansas City left the Steelers at 6-4, there’s no minimizing the damage it did to their playoff hopes, let alone their psyche.

Signs of decline have been there: Penalties, drops, unnecessary displays of negative emotion, inconsistency and carelessness. The offense can’t find an identity. The defense stinks when Troy Polamalu can’t play.

But special teams are a truly damning microcosm, especially the slapstick incompetence displayed on kickoff coverage.

Allowing four touchdowns on kickoff returns in the same season — in FIVE GAMES! — is something the worst high school teams don’t do. Cutting Arnold Harrison and replacing him with Donovan Woods on kick coverage apparently didn’t solve the problem, as if anyone thought it would.

Releasing Harrison was unfair and capricious. If fingers got pointed at anyone, it should have been special teams coach Bob Ligashesky. Harrison was 1/11th of the problem. Ligashesky oversees the problem. Ligashesky and his assistant, Amos Jones, should be fired.

But head coach Mike Tomlin should take a long look in the mirror, too. If he took personal responsibility for kick coverage this week, supervising it at practice and involving himself to the hilt, he failed. If Tomlin left it totally in the hands of Ligashesky and Jones, he was negligent.

Tomlin won a Super Bowl in his second season. But he doesn’t know everything.

Allowing a kick-six in the game’s first 16 seconds was damaging beyond description. It put the Steelers in a deep psychological hole and gave the Chiefs hope. Don’t give a 2-7 team hope. It was the one thing that couldn’t happen, and it did. It had to be prevented, and it wasn’t.

The Steelers lose games they shouldn’t. They struggle to win games that should be much easier. This season has seen them consistently play down to — or below — the level of the opposition. That’s Tomlin’s fault.

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The defense, meanwhile, is a sham, a statistical fraud, all over the NFL leader board but unable to get key stops or takeaways and vulnerable to big plays at inopportune times. How does Chris Chambers turn a little flip from Matt Cassel into a 61-yard catch-and-run death sentence?

Steel Curtain? Saran Wrap Curtain, more like.

The drop in quality on defense during Polamalu’s absences is frightening. In the five games that saw Polamalu not play at all, the Steelers got a grand total of three takeaways, including just one interception. They are 2-3 in those contests, including a drab 28-20 win at Detroit.

Does defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau dial down the aggressiveness when Polamalu is out? Perhaps it happens organically, with foes less frantic when Polamalu and his freelancing aren’t a constant threat. Whatever the reason, it tastes vanilla.

It’s hard to pin much criticism on offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. The Steelers outgained Kansas City 515-282. The pass/run ratio was 60/40, not only acceptable but common. Some of Arians’ key calls are certainly head-scratchers, like that pitch to Mewelde Moore on third-and-2 in OT.

A team as talented as the Steelers loses to a team like Kansas City for one of two reasons: Bad luck or poor preparation.

The Steelers weren’t that unlucky. Hang that loss on Tomlin. His honeymoon as Steelers coach is over.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM

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Bires: no guarantee of playoffs By: Mike Bires Beaver County Times

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Wallace Gilberry (92) and defensive end Alex Magee (71) sack Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the final drive in the fourth quarter of play at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Sunday, November 22, 2009. The Chiefs defeated the Steelers 27-24. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT)

KANSAS CITY — In the visitor’s locker room at Arrowhead Stadium, it looked like death warmed over.

In one corner, Santonio Holmes just plopped down in his stall, gazing gloomily into space.

A few feet away, there was Heath Miller, looking as dejected as he’s ever been since coming to the Steelers.

In the training room was Ben Roethlisberger, still glassy-eyed and shaking off a throbbing headache, the result of late-game concussion.

In another corner of the Steelers dressing quarters were the defensive backs who got scorched for a handful of late game-turning plays. One of them, free safety Ryan Clark, suggested that “(The media) will blame that on Troy, too.”

On one hand, Clark is right. Of the Steelers’ four losses this season — including a mind-boggling 27-24

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overtime decision Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs — Polamalu didn’t play.

The all-star safety missed two three-point losses earlier in the year in Chicago and Cincinnati with a sprained knee ligament. He basically missed the last two losses, too. Last week, he was rendered inactive after suffering another knee sprain in the first quarter in a home loss to the Bengals. He wasn’t in uniform Sunday either.

Surely, Polamalu is missed but he can’t be blamed for this debacle in Arrowhead. The Steelers still had superior talent. They should have routed the Chiefs, who were only 2-7 and 10-point underdogs.

Instead, the Steelers self-destructed.

Last week against the Bengals, the Steelers were beaten by a better team.

This time, they beat themselves.

They were gashed by Jamaal Charles’ 97-yard touchdown return just seconds in.

Rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace lost a fumble after a 33-yard reception.

Miller missed a catch-able pass that turned into a momentum-changing interception.

Roethlisberger threw a red-zone interception after marching the offense 64 yards to the Chiefs’ 10-yard line. That pick was returned 94 yards to set up a Kansas City TD.

In many ways, the loss in Kansas City was similar to the Steelers’ Sept. 27 loss in Cincinnati.

At halftime at Paul Brown Stadium, the Steelers led 13-3 and had a 258-91 edge in total yards.

At halftime Sunday at Arrowhead, the Steelers led 17-7 and had a 279-47 edge in total yards.

In both of those losses, the Steelers got the ball back on the second half kickoff, only to turn the ball over on Roethlisberger interceptions that weren’t his fault.

In Cincinnati, Holmes ran the wrong route to allow an accurately thrown pass to be returned for a TD.

In Kansas City, Miller’s miss turned the tide.

“When you let a team hang around like that, you give them a chance,” Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said.

Against the Chiefs, the Steelers had a 515-282 advantage in total yards and a 44:07 to 22:25 edge in time of possession, and still lost.

In the gloomy Steelers locker room, Miller promised to keep the faith.

“We are a resilient team,” Miller said. “I know two losses in a row are never easy to swallow. But it’s not over.”

No, it’s not over in the slumping AFC North, but at this stage of the season, the Steelers don’t appear to



have what it takes to make it back to the Super Bowl.

Unless they quit self-destructing, they will not make the playoffs.




Rewind: Game 10 By: Mike Bires Beaver County Times

THE HERO

Chiefs wide receiver Chris Chambers, who was acquired in a trade from San Diego three weeks ago, caught four passes for 119 yards. His third catch, a 47-yarder in the fourth quarter, set up the game-tying TD. His 61-yarder in overtime set up the game-winning field goal. It was Chambers’ first 100-yard receiving game since Sept. 23, 2007 when he played for Miami.

THE GOATS

Take your pick: the Steelers’ kickoff-return team, which allowed a touchdown for the fourth time in the last five games; tight end Heath Miller, whose bobble of a third-quarter pass inside Chiefs’ territory was intercepted and changed the game’s momentum; or the Pittsburgh defense, which allowed the Chiefs to score the final 10 points on a 91-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter and a 76-yard field goal drive in overtime.

THE PLAY OF THE GAME

In his first career start, second-year linebacker Andy Studebaker intercepted two passes, both in the third quarter. The first clanged off Miller’s hands. On the second, Studebaker picked off Ben Roethlisberger’s throw 2 yards deep in the end zone and returned it 94 yards to the Steelers’ 8-yard line. So instead of the Steelers getting points, the Chiefs wound up kicking a field goal that tied the score 17-17.

THE BIG NUMBERS

279-47: That was overwhelming edge the Steelers had in total yards in the first half. For the game, the Steelers had a 515 to 282 edge, but still lost.

UP NEXT

The Steelers travel to Baltimore next Sunday night where they’ll take on their most hated rival. The Ravens dropped to 5-5 by losing to unbeaten Indianapolis. But they’ll be playing at home again. And they’ll have their backs to the wall in a rivalry game.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Obviously, things didn’t go as expected in K.C. The Steelers (6-4), reigning Super Bowl champs, saw their playoff hopes take a hit by losing to a team they had no business losing to. But that’s what happens when teams lose the turnover battle and allow a 97-yard kickoff return. Fortunately for the Steelers, the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals (7-3) also lost Sunday to a bad AFC West team, the Oakland Raiders (3-7).

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Notebook: Another kick in the gut By: Mike Bires Beaver County Times

UNDER COVERED

Once again, the kickoff coverage unit let the Steelers down.

For the fourth time in the last five weeks, the Steelers have allowed an opposing return specialist to score.

In Sunday’s loss at Kansas City, it happened on the opening kickoff when Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs’ starting RB, scored on a 97-yard return.

“We better fix that problem,” said linebacker Keyaron Fox, one of the Steelers assigned to cover kicks. “We put our team in a bad situation today.

“I can’t say it’s the scheme,” Fox added, “because we had some guys get their hands on him.”

TAKE A KNEE

LG Chris Kemoeatu is the latest Steeler to go down with a knee injury. He left the game after the first series in the second half.

The injury didn’t seem serious as Kemoeatu walked around with an ice bag wrapped around his knee. But Tomlin said that Kemoeatu suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament, the same injury that sidelined SS Troy Polamalu for four games earlier this year. Polamalu missed Sunday’s loss in Kansas City with a sprain posterior cruciate ligament.

Kemoeatu’s place was taken by undrafted rookie Ramon Foster.

STARKS REMINDER

Also on the injury front, LT Max Starks had to leave the game briefly in the second half with an apparent lower leg injury. When Starks and Kemoeatu were both out, the Steelers were forced to use a make-shift offensive line.

Right guard Trai Essex moved to left tackle, Doug Legursky came off the bench and played right guard while Foster was playing left guard.

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Miller, Roethlisberger: Day to remember, forget By: Mike Bires Beaver County Times

KANSAS CITY — For Ben Roethlisberger and Heath Miller, it was a milestone Sunday.

But neither celebrated.

Roethlisberger threw for 398 yards — the fourth-highest total in Steelers’ history — and three touchdowns at Arrowhead Stadium. But when he walked off the field, he did so dazed and dejected with a towel draped over his aching head.

The star quarterback didn’t even finish the 27-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs (3-7) after taking a knee to the head on the Steelers’ only possession in OT.

Roethlisberger, who tied a team record with his fourth 300-yard game this season, did not speak to reporters after the game.

“Needless to say, it was a concussion-oriented thing,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

Meanwhile, Miller established a personal single-season high for receptions by catching seven passes for 95 yards. The Steelers’ highly-regarded tight end now has 54 catches on the season. In just 10 games, he’s already surpassed his previous single-season high (48 in 2008).

But after the stunning loss to the Chiefs, Miller said he was to blame.

“It came down to me making a play when I had a chance to, and I didn’t,” he said.

Miller was talking about a pass that he let slip through his hands early in the third quarter. The Steelers (6-4) were leading 17-7 at the time and were moving into Kansas City territory when Miller couldn’t hang on to an accurately thrown ball by Roethlisberger.

Linebacker Andy Studebaker, starting in place of injured Mike Vrabel, caught the carom and turned the tide. Seven plays later, the Chiefs scored to make it 17-14.

“That’s unacceptable,” said Miller, usually a sure-handed receiver. “I had the ball in my hands. We’re going down the field, but I miss the ball and they’re going the other way. That gave them the momentum. That falls on my shoulders.”

The Chiefs tied the game 17-17 late in the third quarter after Studebaker stopped a Steelers’ scoring threat with an interception 2 yards deep in the end zone. His 94-yard return set up a field goal.

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Both teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Then in OT, the Chiefs won it.

The Steelers had the ball first, but couldn’t score.

On the fourth play of the extra session, Roethlisberger was nearly knocked out when he was sacked by Studebaker and linebacker Derrick Johnson. Roethlisberger was hurt when struck in the head by Johnson’s knee.

Backup Charlie Batch replaced Rothlisberger, but couldn’t move the Steelers into field goal range.

When the Chiefs got the ball, they quickly moved into field goal range with a 61-yard completion from quarterback Matt Cassel to wide receiver Chris Chambers.

On the next play, rookie Ryan Succop, the last player taken in this year’s draft, booted a 22-yard game-winning field goal.

“You have to tip your hat to the Chiefs because they played well enough to win,” Tomlin said. “But that’s not what we’re capable of. That’s not us. And it won’t be us. But that was us today.”

Tomlin would not speculate if Roethlisberger will play this coming Sunday in Baltimore against the Ravens (5-5).

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They've been down this road before 11/23/2009 3:31 AM KANSAS CITY, Mo. - When you dominate a game as much as the Steelers did Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, you're supposed to win.

Not every once in a while. Not most of the time. You're supposed to win all of them.

How lopsided was this game?

Pittsburgh finished with 515 yards of offense. Kansas City had 282, with 61 coming on a pass from Matt Cassell to Chris Chambers in overtime that set up Ryan Succop's 22-yard game-winning field goal in the Chiefs' 27-24 victory.

The Steelers also held an amazing 44:07 to 22:25 advantage in time of possession. They seemingly moved the football at will.

But the one area Kansas City dominated was the turnover battle. The Chiefs had one. The Steelers had three turnovers.

Pittsburgh's turnovers - particularly the last two - came at bad times.

Add in the obligatory kickoff return for a touchdown against the Steelers and you've got the ingredients for a good upset.

Pittsburgh's second turnover came on the opening drive of the third quarter. A pass tipped off the hands of tight end Heath Miller and into those of Kansas City linebacker Andy Studebaker.

The Steelers led 17-7 at the time, but the Chiefs turned the good field position - the Pittsburgh 38-yard line - into a touchdown when Cassel tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Leonard Pope. That made the score 17-14.

"I feel like it was a battle from then on," Miller said.

The Chiefs treated it as such. The Steelers, meanwhile, continued to keep the Chiefs in the game.

Later in the third quarter, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted again by Studebaker. But this one was even more damaging, as it came two yards deep into the end zone and was returned 96 yards to the Pittsburgh 8. Three players later, Succop had kicked a 27-yard field goal. Instead of leading, the Steelers were tied at 17-17.

Then, the defense faltered. After Roethlisberger threw a short touchdown pass to Rashard Mendenhall to put Pittsburgh back in front, Kansas Citybegan a drive at its own nine with 8:35 to play.

Eight plays later - including a 30-yard pass to Lance Long and a 47-yard bomb to Chambers - the Chiefs had again tied the game.

The Steelers made too many mistakes and wasted too many opportunities.

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"We were doing the things teams do when they don't win games," said Miller. "You do that enough, you're not going to win."

If the Steelers and Chiefs played 100 times, Pittsburgh would likely win 95 of them. Sunday was not one of them. It leaves the Steelers in a bad spot at 6-4 with six games remaining and losers of two straight.

"We've all added to it, coaches included," said wide receiver Hines Ward. "We're all involved. We've got to come back and finish these last six games strong, not worry about the playoffs or anything.

"Right now, we don't know where we are. We've got to watch film evaluate it and move on."

When the Steelers reached this point in 2005, then-head coach Bill Cowher told every player to grade himself to see what he could do to make the team better.

The Steelers won their final four regular-season games, then won four in a row in the playoffs.

That soul-searching time is here for this team, but does it have the same moxie?

"I think we do," said Farrior.

We'll see soon enough.

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at [email protected] Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

Page 2 of 2They've been down this road before

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Bad start, worse finish for Steelers 11/23/2009 3:31 AM KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On a day in which anything that could go wrong, went wrong, the Steelers snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory.

Pittsburgh turned the ball over three times, set an NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown allowed on special teams or defensive returns, and lost, 27-24, in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

And this one went bad from the opening kickoff.

Long before Kansas City's Ryan Succop stepped onto the field to kick his game-winning 22-yard field goal in overtime, the Steelers' special teams had another meltdown.

This one came on the opening play of the game, as Jamal Charles zigged and zagged his way through the Pittsburgh coverage unit for the fourth kickoff return for a touchdown against the Steelers in five games. It also was the eighth consecutive game in which the Steelers have given up a touchdown on a kick or defensive return, a dubious NFL record.

"That was bad," said Steelers linebacker James Farrior. "It was tough getting put in that situation, but it's a 60-minute ballgame. We had to play the rest of the game and you can't let that kind of play affect how you play."

The Steelers (6-4) seemingly did, and blew an opportunity to draw even with Cincinnati in the AFC North. Cincinnati (7-3) was upset, 20-17, by Oakland.

While the kickoff-coverage unit made yet another mistake, it was hardly the only one for the Steelers.

Leading 17-7 with the football to open the second half, the Steelers had fought hard to regain the momentum.

But it was all gone in one play.

Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 398 yards before suffering a slight concussion and leaving in overtime, threw a pass on the third play of the second half that deflected off the hands of tight end Heath Miller and into the arms of linebacker Andy Studebaker at the Kansas City 36-yard line.

The Chiefs converted that turnover into a score, a 21-yard TD pass from Matt Cassel to tight end Leonard Pope.

"Not only do I not make the play, I hand the ball to the other team," Miller said.

Later in the quarter, the Steelers drove to the Kansas City 10. But Roethlisberger was hit as he tried to pass to Hines Ward in the back of the end zone and Studebaker again intercepted, this time two yards deep in the end zone.

Studebaker returned the interception to the Pittsburgh 8, but the Chiefs (3-7) could not get into the end

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zone and settled for a 27-yard field goal that tied the score at 17-17.

The Steelers caught a break on Kansas City's next possession as Cassel was sacked by linebacker Lawrence Timmons and fumbled. James Harrison recovered at the 27 and Roethlisberger threw his third TD pass, this one to Rashard Mendenhall, giving Pittsburgh a 24-17 lead.

But Cassel wasn't finished. On Kansas City's next possession, he connected with Lance Long for a 30-yard gain. Then, he threw 47 yards to Chris Chambers on the next play, setting up a two-yard TD pass to Charles made it 24-24 with 4:54 remaining.

"I've got to hand it to (Cassel), the kid's a fighter," said Chiefs coach Todd Haley. "It's nice to get a little reward against a team like that."

The Steelers won the coin toss in overtime, but Roethlisberger took a knee to the head from linebacker Derrick Johnson on a scramble and had to leave the game.

Charlie Batch replaced him and threw a 17-yard pass to Santonio Holmes to the Kansas City 43 and Mendenhall carried for an eight-yard gain on second-and-10. Mewelde Moore, however, was dropped for a three-yard loss on a third-down sweep, taking the Steelers out of any chance for a game-winning field goal.

"It was a good play," said Ward. "Santonio and I got our blocks, but we got stopped short."

That would prove critical as Cassel found Chambers - who has been with Kansas City for only two weeks after being released by San Diego - over the middle on third-and-five from the 35. Chambers broke free down the sideline for a 61-yard catch-and-run to the Pittsburgh 4, setting up Succop's game-winner.

"I'll take responsibility for that performance," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "We're capable of much more than that. You've got to tip your hat to the Chiefs because they played well enough to win. But that's not what we're capable of.

"We were highly penalized. We turned the ball over in the red area. We gave up big plays. We gave up a kick return. When you do those things, regardless of time of possession or any of those things, you open yourself up to defeat."

Odds and end zones

Guard Chris Kemoeatu left with a knee ligament on the second play of the second half and did not return. He was replaced by rookie Ramon Foster. ... Roethlisberger's 300-yard game was his fourth of the season, tying Neil O'Donnell (1995) and Tommy Maddox (2003) for the most in a season in team history. ... Ward's 100-yard game was the 24th of his career, one behind John Stallworth for the most in team history.

Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

Page 2 of 2Bad start, worse finish for Steelers

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Bad start sets the tone in loss By: MIKE CIAROCHI Herald Standard

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The game couldn't have started much worse for the Steelers.

Jamaal Charles took the opening kickoff back 97 yards for a touchdown and the Steelers offense opened with a three-and-out that included a holding penalty on Hines Ward.

The kickoff return was the fourth of the season against the Steelers and all four have come in the last five games.

Kansas City's first punt was downed at the Steelers' 2-yard line, so the Steelers started their second possession 98 yards away from the end zone.

Ben Roethlisberger passed deep to Mike Wallace, who caught the ball, but had it stripped away and recovered by Brandon Flowers at the Chiefs' 41-yard line.

After their third possession moved to the Chiefs' 35-yard line, a false start penalty was followed by a holding penalty. On fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs' 26-yard line, Rashard Mendenhall kept the drive alive with a 3-yard gain.

Jeff Reed got Pittsburgh on the board with a 36-yard field goal early in the second quarter to cut KC's lead to 7-3.

Even when Stefan Logan got a good punt return, it was nullified by a holding penalty and the Steelers were backed up to their 5-yard line.

Roethlisberger finally got the offense going with a 41-yard pass to Heath Miller on a busted play and hit him again at the 6-yard line for a first-and-goal.

Roethlisberger capped the drive and put the Steelers ahead, 10-7, with an 8-yard scoring pass to Hines Ward. That play came 5:32 before halftime.

On their next drive, Roethlisberger ducked under a sack and passed to Miller for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 17-7 at halftime.

And by halftime, the bad start was nothing but a memory. The offense put up 247 yards (221 passing by Roethlisberger) and the defense limited KC to 47. The Chiefs had only three first downs at the break.

But because of the touchdown return of the opening kickoff, the Chiefs were still in the game, despite the disparity in numbers.

MILLER TIME: Miller set a career high with his 49th catch of the season. It came on the Steelers first touchdown drive. He finished the day with 7 catches to bring his season total to 54. Miller was also responsible for a Roethlisberger interception when a pass bounced up and into the arms of linebacker Andy Studebaker.

CHIEFS CAPITALIZE: Kansas City made the most of Roethlisberger's interception, marching 62 yards on 7 plays. Matt Cassel capped the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Leonard Pope to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 17-14.

KEMOEATU INJURED: Guard Chris Kemoeatu suffered a knee injury on the Steelers first possession of the second half and did not return. Ramon Foster replaced him. Coach Mike Tomlin said Kemoeatu suffered an MCL sprain.

STUDEBAKER AGAIN: Studebaker intercepted his second pass off Roethlisberger, who was hit just before throwing. He returned the second pick to the Steelers' 8-yard line, but the Steelers defense limited KC to a game-tying field goal by Ryan Succop. His 27-yard kick made it 17-17 with five seconds left in the third quarter.

BEN TIES RECORD: Roethlisberger tied a Steelers record with his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season. Neil O'Donnell set the mark in 1995 and Tommy Maddox tied it in 2003. Sunday was Roethlisberger's team-record 11th career 300-yard passing effort. Roethlisberger passed for almost 400 yards (397), but was injured in overtime. Tomlin didn't know the extent of it after the game, but described it as a "concussion-type" of injury.

November 23, 2009

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Chiefs' 27-24 OT win shocks Steelers By: HERALD STANDARD STAFF Herald Standard

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - When the last player drafted in 2009 trotted onto the field, the best team of 2008 was doomed.

A few minutes after Ben Roethlisberger wobbled off the field Sunday with a possible concussion, Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime and the Kansas City Chiefs snapped a team-record 10-game home losing streak with a 27-24 victory over the stunned Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chris Chambers' 61-yard catch-and-run set up Succop, and "Mr. Irrelevant" booted through the game-winner for the Chiefs (3-7), whose stadium was crammed with tens of thousands of towel-waving fans of the Steelers (6-4).

Roethlisberger had thrown for 398 yards and three touchdowns when he apparently took a knee to the helmet while being sacked by Derrick Johnson and gave way to Charlie Batch. Coach Mike Tomlin said he was not certain how severe the injury might be.

"He took a blow, needless to say, it was a concussion-oriented thing so I doubt he was going to come back into the football game," Tomlin said. "I don't have a lot of information in terms of where he is or his level of availability. We will have more information as we proceed."

Just before Chambers' big play, Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor dropped a possible interception.

"This job is not for the faint of heart," said a beaming Todd Haley, the Chiefs' rookie coach.

Matt Cassel had a horrendous first half, passing for only 35 yards on four completions. But he came through in the final two quarters and overtime, finishing with 248 yards and two touchdowns.

"I've got to hand it to (Cassel), the kid's a fighter," said Haley, who grew up accompanying his father to Steelers training camp, where the elder Haley worked as a personnel executive. Haley lost to Pittsburgh in last year's Super Bowl when he was Arizona's offensive coordinator.

The Chiefs faced third down when Cassel connected with Chambers, who was signed three weeks ago off waivers from San Diego. He went 61 yards before he was pushed out of bounds at the 4.

Succop, the final player drafted in April, came in and clinched the Chiefs' first home victory in more than a year. Succop also had a 27-yarder that tied it 17-all in the final seconds of the third quarter.

It was the second loss in a row for the Steelers, who have fallen twice to division rival Cincinnati and were without injured Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu. Defensive end Chris Kemoeatu also went out with a knee injury.

In regulation, the Steelers (6-4) had the ball for almost 19 minutes longer than the Chiefs (3-7) and outgained them 463-206. The Chiefs stayed in it with Jamaal Charles' 97-yard return of the opening kickoff and Andy Studebaker's 94-yard return of an interception.

"I think we lost the momentum in the third quarter with all the turnovers and stuff like that," said Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who had 10 catches for 128 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown. "When you let a team hang around like that, you give them a chance. When you give them hope, they thrive off the crowd noise. They took it into overtime and did what they had to do."

Studebaker, making his first NFL start, picked off Roethlisberger's pass 2 yards deep in the end zone in the third quarter and motored to the Steelers 8 before running back Rashard Mendenhall dragged him down.

"Once I picked it off, 100 yards looked like a long way," he said. "It was a fun play."

But Cassel was sacked twice in the next three plays, and the Chiefs had to settle for Succop's 27-yarder.

Roethlisberger's 8-yard touchdown pass to Mendenhall gave the Steelers a 24-17 lead a few minutes later after the Steelers recovered Cassel's turnover at the 27.

But back came KC, playing without suspended wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Cassel hit Lance Long for 30 yards and Chambers for 47 to set up a 2-yard TD pass to Charles that tied it 24-all with a little under 5 minutes left.

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Cassel also had a 21-yard TD pass to Leonard Pope early in the third quarter.

Charles, who got the Chiefs' first rushing touchdown of the year the week before, got their first kickoff return for a TD in four years. He took the opening kickoff at the 3, started left and then veered right and was hardly touched. It was the fourth time in five games Pittsburgh yielded a kickoff return for a touchdown.

It was the Chiefs' first home win, and first win over an opponent with a winning record, since they beat Denver in the fourth week of the 2008 season. It was the first time they'd posted back-to-back wins since Oct. 14-21, 2007.

"To do it against the defending Super Bowl champions is a great feeling," said Succop. "A lot of hard work has gone into it and our coaches and players and everybody has really bought in."

November 23, 2009

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November 23, 2009

N.F.L. to Shift in Its Handling of Concussions

By ALAN SCHWARZ

In a shift in the National Football League’s approach to handling concussions, the league will soon require

teams to receive advice from independent neurologists while treating players with brain injuries, several

people with knowledge of the plan confirmed Sunday.

For generations, decisions on when players who sustain concussions should return to play have been made

by doctors and trainers employed by the team, raising questions of possible conflicts of interest when coaches

and owners want players to return more quickly than proper care would suggest.

As scientific studies and anecdotal evidence have found a heightened risk for brain damage, dementia and

cognitive decline in retired players, the league has faced barbed criticism from outside experts and, more

recently, from Congress over its policies on handling players with concussions.

The league and Commissioner Roger Goodell have insisted that the N.F.L.’s policies are safe and that no

third-party involvement is necessary, pointing to research by its committee on concussions as proof. But after

an embarrassing hearing on the issue before the House Judiciary Committee last month in which the league

was compared to the tobacco industry, the N.F.L. seems to have begun to embrace the value of outside

opinion.

“I don’t want to call it forced, but it’s been strongly urged because of the awareness of the issue these days,”

Chester Pitts, a lineman and union representative for the Houston Texans, said in a telephone interview.

“When you have Congress talking about the antitrust exemption and them calling them the tobacco industry,

that’s pretty big. But it’s a good thing it’s transpiring.”

The league spokesman Greg Aiello offered no details of the new guideline, first reported Sunday on Fox’s

N.F.L. pregame broadcast, like when it will go into effect, how the independent doctors will be identified and

compensated, or even whether their input must be followed.

But Mr. Goodell, interviewed Sunday on the NBC program “Football Night in America,” referring to the use

of independent doctors for concussion cases, said: “As we learn more and more, we want to give players the

best medical advice. This is a chance for us to expand that and bring more people into the circle to make sure

we’re making the best decisions for our players in the long term.”

George Atallah, the players union’s assistant executive director for external affairs, said in an e-mail message

that his organization had been speaking with N.F.L. officials for two weeks about implementing some sort of

independent scrutiny for players who receive concussions — perhaps including an outside doctor present at

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11/23/2009http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/sports/football/23concussion.html?ref=football&pa...

every game. He said that the union’s medical director, Dr. Thom Mayer, “has personally approved and

reviewed doctors for roughly one-third of the teams,” suggesting that the union would cooperate on the

program.

Mr. Atallah said he did not know when the policy might take effect.

Mr. Atallah added that the union had pushed for the program “with the hope that this example spreads to

every level of football.” More than 1.2 million teenagers play high school football every fall, with many getting

seriously injured by playing through concussions or not having proper medical care for them.

At the House Judiciary Committee hearing on football brain injuries last month, several members of

Congress portrayed Mr. Goodell and the league as impeding proper player care and obfuscating the long-

term effects of concussions. The league and a co-chairman of its committee on brain injuries, Dr. Ira Casson,

have consistently played down studies and anecdotal evidence linking retired N.F.L. players to brain damage

commonly associated with boxers and dementia rates several times that of the national population.

Regarding the care of current players who sustain concussions, in 2007, the league enacted measures that

required all players to undergo baseline neuropsychological testing and then be retested before being cleared

to play; forbade players who were knocked unconscious to return to play the same day; and set up a hot line

through which players could report being pressured to play against a doctor’s advice.

The hot line was in response to the story of Ted Johnson, a former New England Patriots linebacker who said

he was coerced by Patriots Coach Belichick into playing too soon after a concussion, and sustained a more

serious injury that led to a debilitating case of postconcussion syndrome. (Belichick denied the accusation.)

Requiring an independent doctor at games or for follow-up consultation would protect against similar

incidents that players say are less overt but nonetheless prevalent in a league without guaranteed contracts.

An independent doctor cannot address what many experts consider the primary area needing reform: the

tendency of players who sustain concussions to hide them from medical personnel and endanger themselves.

Even Sean Morey, a special-teams player for the Arizona Cardinals who is a co-chairman of the union’s

committee on brain injuries, admitted this season that he played a game despite a concussion.

Consulting doctors beyond the team does not necessarily solve all of the league’s conflict-of-interest issues.

And it is unclear how guidelines would define who is an independent expert.

The most prominent current — and instructive — N.F.L. concussion is probably that of the Philadelphia

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook. He sustained one major injury Oct. 26, was held out of the next two

games by team doctors, and then sustained another concussion Nov. 15.

Given that repetitive concussions are known to cause far more damage than single injuries, the Eagles sent

Westbrook to well-regarded concussion specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center last week

for a third-party examination. Complicating matters could be that the Pittsburgh group includes the Steelers’

team neurosurgeon as well as the league’s director of neurological testing.

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of 3N.F.L. to Shift in Its Handling of Concussions - NYTimes.com


The Huddle: The latest word on NFL news, notes and buzz

Chargers: Broncos' Josh McDaniels said 'We own you' before Sunday's game

Donovan McNabb mum on postgame pep talk with Jay Cutler

Nov 23, 2009

Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger says he doesn't think he suffered concussion 12:22 AM

Comment Recommend

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger said he did not think he suffered a concussion after being driven from Sunday's loss in Kansas City with a head injury.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin called the injury a "concussion-oriented thing," though there was no definite word on the extent.

"He took a blow," Tomlin told reporters. "We will have more information as we proceed."

Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he didn't think he suffered a concussion and felt OK. Backup Charlie Batch finished the overtime loss to

the Chiefs.

The Steelers play the Ravens next Sunday night. PFT reported on Sunday night that Roethlisberger had no memory loss or nausea after the hit. -- Sean

Leahy

Tags:NFL Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger Mike Tomlin PreviousChargers: Broncos' Josh McDaniels said 'We own you' before Sunday's game

NextDonovan McNabb mum on postgame pep talk with Jay Cutler

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When the last player drafted in 2009 trotted onto the field, the best team of 2008 was doomed.

A few minutes after Ben Roethlisberger wobbled off the field Sunday with a possible concussion, Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime and the Kansas City Chiefs snapped a team-record 10-game home losing streak with a 27-24 victory over the stunned Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chris Chambers' 61-yard catch-and-run set up Succop, and "Mr. Irrelevant" booted through the game-winner for the Chiefs (3-7), whose stadium was crammed with tens of thousands of towel-waving fans of the Steelers (6-4).

Roethlisberger had thrown for 398 yards and three touchdowns when he apparently took a knee to the helmet while being sacked by Derrick Johnson and gave way to Charlie Batch. Coach Mike Tomlin said he was not certain how severe the injury might be.

"He took a blow, needless to say, it was a concussion-oriented thing so I doubt he was going to come back into the football game," Tomlin said. "I don't have a lot of information in terms of where he is or his level of availability. We will have more information as we proceed."


"This job is not for the faint of heart," said a beaming Todd Haley, the Chiefs' rookie coach.

Fast Facts

• Ryan Succop's 22-yard field goal in overtime lifted the Chiefs and helped them pass their win total from last year.

• The Steelers allowed the opening kickoff to be returned for a touchdown and have now allowed a return TD in an NFL-record eight straight games.

Associated Press

Cassel Cracks Steel Wall

After a slow start in the first half, Matt Cassel led the Chiefs to a comeback win with a strong second half and overtime performance. While Cassel struggled with accuracy all game, his 10.7 yards-per-attempt in the second half and OT helped stretch the Steelers' defense for two touchdown passes.

Cassel By Half1st half 2nd/OT

Comp-att 4-10 11-20 Yards 35 213TD-Int 0-0 2-0Passer rtg 50.0 125.6

-- ESPN Stats and Information

Page 6 of 9Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - Recap - November 22, 2009 - ESPN

11/23/2009http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=291122012

• Kansas City snapped a 10-game home losing streak.

• Ben Roethlisberger threw for 398 yards, the third-highest total of his career.

• Kansas City's Chris Chambers had 119 receiving yards, his 1st 100-yard game since Week 3 of the 2007 season.

• Rapid Reaction

-- ESPN Stats & Information


"I've got to hand it to [Cassel], the kid's a fighter," said Haley, who grew up accompanying his father to Steelers training camp, where the elder Haley worked as a personnel executive. Haley lost to Pittsburgh in last year's Super Bowl when he was Arizona's offensive coordinator.

"It's nice to get a little reward against a team like that. I thought the guys really showed heart and guts," he said.

The Chiefs faced third down when Cassel connected with Chambers, who was signed three weeks ago off waivers from San Diego. He went 61 yards beforehe was pushed out of bounds at the 4.


It was the second loss in a row for the Steelers, who have fallen twice to division rival Cincinnati and were without injured Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu. Guard Chris Kemoeatu also went out with a knee injury.

In regulation, the Steelers (6-4) had the ball for almost 19 minutes longer than the Chiefs (3-7) and outgained them 463-206. The Chiefs stayed in it with Jamaal Charles' 97-yard return of the opening kickoff and Andy Studebaker's 94-yard return of an interception.

"I think we lost the momentum in the third quarter with all the turnovers and stuff like that," said Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who had 10 catches for 128 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown. "When you let a team hang around like that, you give them a chance. When you give them hope, they thrive off the crowd noise. They took it into overtime and did what they had to do."


"Once I picked it off, 100 yards looked like a long way," he said. "It was a fun play."



But back came KC, playing without suspended wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Cassel hit Lance Long for 30 yards and Chambers for 47 to set up a 2-yard TD pass to Charles that tied it 24-all with a little under 5 minutes left.




"To do it against the defending Super Bowl champions is a great feeling," said Succop. "A lot of hard work has gone into it and our coaches and players and everybody has really bought in."

Game notes The Steelers have given up a fumble, interception or kick return for a touchdown in eight consecutive games. ... Roethlisberger's big game followed one of his worst, when he threw for 174 yards and had a 51.5 passer rating against Cincinnati the week before. ... The Chiefs had not won back-to-back games since beating Cincinnati and Oakland on Oct. 14-21, 2007.

Page 7 of 9Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - Recap - November 22, 2009 - ESPN

11/23/2009http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=291122012

NFL GAME FLASH

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.(AP) When the last player drafted in 2009 trotted onto the field, the best team of 2008 was doomed.

A few minutes after Ben Roethlisberger wobbled off the field Sunday with a possible concussion, Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime and the Kansas City Chiefs snapped a team-record 10-game home losing streak with a 27-24 victory over the stunned Pittsburgh Steelers .

Chris Chambers ' 61-yard catch-and-run set up Succop, and ''Mr. Irrelevant'' booted through the game-winner for the Chiefs (3-7), whose stadium was crammed with tens of thousands of towel-waving fans of the Steelers (6-4).

Roethlisberger had thrown for 398 yards and three touchdowns when he apparently took a knee to the helmet while being sacked by Derrick Johnson and gave way to Charlie Batch . Coach Mike Tomlin said he was not certain how severe the injury might be.

''He took a blow, needless to say, it was a concussion-oriented thing so I doubt he was going to come back into the football game,'' Tomlin said. ''I don't have a lot of information in terms of where he is or his level of availability. We will have more information as we proceed.''


''This job is not for the faint of heart,'' said a beaming Todd Haley, the Chiefs' rookie coach.


''I've got to hand it to (Cassel), the kid's a fighter,'' said Haley, who grew up accompanying his father to Steelers training camp, where the elder Haley worked as a personnel executive. Haley lost to Pittsburgh in last year's Super Bowl when he was Arizona's offensive coordinator.

''It's nice to get a little reward against a team like that. I thought the guys really showed heart and guts,'' he said.

The Chiefs faced third down when Cassel connected with Chambers, who was signed three weeks ago off waivers from San Diego. He went 61 yards before he was pushed out of bounds at the 4.


It was the second loss in a row for the Steelers, who have fallen twice to division rival Cincinnati and were without injured Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu . Guard Chris Kemoeatu also went out with a knee injury.

In regulation, the Steelers (6-4) had the ball for almost 19 minutes longer than the Chiefs (3-7) and outgained them 463-206. The Chiefs stayed in it with Jamaal Charles ' 97-yard return of the opening kickoff and Andy Studebaker 's 94-yard return of an interception.

''I think we lost the momentum in the third quarter with all the turnovers and stuff like that,'' said Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward , who had 10 catches for 128 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown. ''When you let a team hang around like that, you give them a chance. When you give them hope, they thrive off the crowd noise. They took it into overtime and did what they had to do.''


''Once I picked it off, 100 yards looked like a long way,'' he said. ''It was a fun play.''



But back came KC, playing without suspended wide receiver Dwayne Bowe . Cassel hit Lance Long for 30 yards and Chambers for 47 to set up a 2-yard TD pass to Charles that tied it 24-all with a little under 5 minutes left.




''To do it against the defending Super Bowl champions is a great feeling,'' said Succop. ''A lot of hard work has

Page 1 of 2Steelers vs. Chiefs - Recap - November 22, 2009 - NFL - Football - SI.com

11/23/2009http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2009/11/22/3411_recap.html

gone into it and our coaches and players and everybody has really bought in.''

NOTES: The Steelers have given up a fumble, interception or kick return for a touchdown in eight consecutive games. ... Roethlisberger's big game followed one of his worst, when he threw for 174 yards and had a 51.5 passer rating against Cincinnati the week before. ... The Chiefs had not won back-to-back games since beating Cincinnati and Oakland on Oct. 14-21, 2007.

© 2009 STATS LLC

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Page 2 of 2Steelers vs. Chiefs - Recap - November 22, 2009 - NFL - Football - SI.com

11/23/2009http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2009/11/22/3411_recap.html

november 23, 2009 news clippings - national football...

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