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by Luke Shanno

Kansas City, MO – The Chiefs capped a dramatic comeback at Arrowhead with a 22-yard FG from rookie K Ryan Succop to register a 27-24 OT win vs. Pittsburgh. The game-winning score with 8:28 left in the extra session was set up by a 61-yard pass from QB Matt Cassel to WR Chris Chambers to get to the four-yard line.

Pittsburgh won the overtime coin toss and was driving before QB Ben Roethlisberger was knocked out of the contest. QB Charlie Batch came in for the Steelers, and Pittsburgh’s drive was thwarted when LB Jovan Belcher dropped RB Mewelde Moore for a three-yard loss on third and two from the Kansas City 35-yard line. The Chiefs took over at their own 20-yard to begin the game-winning scoring march.

Kansas City was outgained in total yards (515 to 282), passing yards (401 to 214), rushing yards (114 to 68) and time of possession (44:07 to 22:25). Kansas City’s defense forced three takeaways, including two INTs from LB Andy Studebaker, who was making his first NFL start in place of an injured LB Mike Vrabel.

RB Jamaal Charles jump-started the contest for Kansas City, returning the opening kickoff for a 97-yard TD to give Kansas City a 7-0 lead a mere 16 seconds into the game. Then the Steelers would register 17 unanswered points to set the stage for a dramatic second half. CB Brandon Flowers forced Kansas City’s first takeaway of the game when he stripped Steelers WR Mike Wallace, but the Chiefs couldn’t capitalize and were forced to punt.

Roethlisberger opened the Steelers ensuing drive with a 33-yard pass to WR Hines Ward. The Steelers made it to the Kansas City 34-yard line where they faced a key fourth and one. Mendenhall gained four yards to keep Pittsburgh drive alive. K Jeff Reed then booted a 36-yard FG to narrow the Chiefs lead to 7-3. After another Kansas City punt, Roethlisberger orchestrated a 95-yard scoring drive that featured passes of 41 and 16 yards to TE Heath Miller. An eight-yard TD pass to Ward gave the Steelers the 10-7 lead with 5:32 left in the first half.

The Chiefs punted again on their next possession and Roethlisberger promptly answered with another scoring drive. A 10-yard TD pass to Miller gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead heading into halftime. Pittsburgh got the ball to start the second half, but a Roethlisberger pass was picked off by Studebaker, giving the Chiefs possession at their own 38-yard line. This time Kansas City capitalized on the turnover as Cassel orchestrated a seven-play drive that culminated with a 21-yard TD to a wide open TE Leonard Pope in the right flat. That score closed the Pittsburgh gap to 17-14. Both teams would go three and out on their next possession, setting the stage for one of the game’s pivotal plays.

With the Steelers setting in first and goal at the 10-yard line, Studebaker recorded his second interception of the day as he picked off a Roethlisberger pass two yards deep in the end zone and returned it 94 yards to the Pittsburgh eight-yard line before he was eventually chased down by RB Rashard Mendenhall. That set up a 27-yard FG from Succop to knot the score at 17-17 with 0:09 left in the third quarter.

The Chiefs defense forced the Steelers to punt once again, but Kansas City would commit its only turnover of the game on its next possession. Cassel was sacked by LB Lawrence Timmons and lost the ball. LB James Harrison recovered the fumble at the Kansas City 32-yard line, and Roethlisberger wasted little time cashing in. An eight-yard pass to Mendenhall gave Pittsburgh a 24-17 with 8:35 left in regulation.

But Cassel and company would answer with their most impressive drive of the day. Faced with third and nine at the 10-yard line, Cassel hooked up with WR Lance Long for a 30-yard game and followed that with a 47-yard ball to Chambers, moving the ball to the Pittsburgh 13-yard line. Charles rushed for a first down to the Steelers two-yard line and then grabbed a two-yard shovel pass from Cassel on the next play to tie the score at 24-24 with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter.

On Pittsburgh’s next possession, S Mike Brown dropped Roethlisberger for a 13-yard sack on third down, forcing the Steelers to punt. Kansas City’s couldn’t move the ball on its ensuing possession and Pittsburgh’s next drive ended with a sack by DE Alex Magee. The Chiefs got the ball back with 0:22 remaining in regulation and ultimately opted to take their chances in the extra session.

Pittsburgh won the overtime toss and began moving downfield before Roethlisberger exited the game. The Steelers eschewed a 53-yard FG attempt and punted, setting the stage of Kansas City’s game winning drive in OT.