The Pittsburgh Steelers came out of this sloppy Monday night football game with a win in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs 16-13. But the biggest story may be the injury to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who ended up leaving the game in the third quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. He did not return to game.
Both teams came out fired up for this primetime game on Monday night as the Chiefs got the scoring started in the first quarter on their second drive. Tight end Tony Moeaki caught a big completion for 38 yards to the Steelers 25-yard line. Two plays later, running back Jamaal Charles ran it in for a 12-yard touchdown to put the Chiefs up early. That was their first lead of any game this season.
The Steelers looked flat the next drive going three-and-out. The Achilles heel for any team is turnovers and running back Isaac Redman did just that with a fumble which gave the Chiefs the ball at the Steelers 10-yard line. Their defense was able to keep the Chiefs out of the end zone, but a field goal by Ryan Succop put them up 10-0.
Roethlisberger took control of the next drive after a penalty on the Chiefs kickoff going out of bounds putting the Steelers on their own 40-yard line. With a short field they were able get enough yardage to get into field goal range, kicker Shaun Suisham put the Steelers on the board with a 35-yard field goal to make the score 10-3 Chiefs.
The Steelers defense came back on the field and shut down the Chiefs once again to give the ball back to the offense. Roethlisberger and the offense began with the ball on the 50-yard line and for the first time in a while, attempted a deep pass to Mike Wallace which was broken up. Jonathon Dwyer took them to the Chiefs 21-yard line that led to Roethlisberger passing 1,000 rushing yards in his career with a 14-yard run to set up first and goal. The next play after a timeout, Roethlisberger threw to the corner of the far end zone to Wallace who made a tough catch to tie the game at 10-10.
To begin the second half, the Steelers had the ball which would end up being the last series for Roethlisberger who got hurt after getting sacked on third down of the first series of the third quarter. After landing hard on his throwing shoulder he did not come back into the game. This meant that quarterback Byron Leftwich for the first time this season and lead the offense.
The Chiefs came back with a strong drive that took more than five minutes off the clock taking the ball all the way down to the Steelers 15-yard line to attempt to take back the lead. Succop lined up for a 33-yard field goal which missed wide right keeping the score tied.
Leftwich went under center for the first time this season and his first play was a deep ball to Wallace which was overthrown. His next pass attempt was a called fumble on the field that resulted in a touchdown for the Chiefs, but was called back after a review was an incomplete pass. The Steelers had a fourth and one at midfield, but Redman was stuffed at the line giving the Chiefs the ball with great field position. The Steelers defense stepped up again forcing another three and out.
The Steelers after forcing the Chiefs to punt were pinned back to their own 14-yard line for another drive led by Leftwich who threw his first completion to Emmanuel Sanders for 31 yards getting them to their own 46-yard line. Suisham was able to give the Steelers the lead 13-10, after penalties on the Chiefs put them in field goal range.
Much of the fourth quarter was quiet for both teams until the Chiefs offense came onto the field with under two minutes to play. Cassel was able to lead them 52 yards down field to get into field goal range to tie the ballgame. Succup hit a 46-yard field goal with time expiring in regulation to tie the game 13-13 and take the game to overtime.
The Chiefs won the coin toss and received the ball to being overtime though it was short lived. Cassel on the second play of overtime was intercepted by Lawrence Timmons at his own 28-yard line. Timmons took the ball all the way to the Chiefs five yard line setting up the winning 23-yard field goal for Suisham to make the score 16-13.
On the offensive side of the ball before Roethlisberger got hurt, he completed 9 of 18 pass attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown. Leftwich was able keep the offense under control completing 7 of 14 pass attempts for 73 yards. Dwyer was the lead running back tonight with 19 carries for 56 yards his longest run for 17 yards. Heath Miller was the leading receiver with four catches for 47 yards.
The defense was able to step up on numerous occasions led by Timmons, who not only had the interception in overtime, but added four solo tackles and seven total tackles in the game. Though they did hold the Chiefs to only 13 points in the game, they did allow Jamaal Charles to run for 100 yards on them and allowed a total of 290 yards.
The biggest news besides the overtime victory is the health of Roethlisberger. Latest reports say that he will get an MRI on his shoulder and further tests. There has been no news of yet on any return or extent of his injury.
This will be a big week for the Steelers as they will have to prepare for their biggest rival the Baltimore Ravens (7-2) with or without Roethlisberger. They will next play on Sunday night at Heinz Field at 8:20PM.
Photo Credits: NFL.com
