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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, November 23, 2009

Chiefs beat Steelers in OT; Big Ben hurt


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kansas City's Ryan Succop, left, kicked a 22-yard field goal in OT to beat Pittsburgh, 27-24.

CHARLIE RIEDEL | Associated Press

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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 yesterday 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.

"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.

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. Guard Chris Kemoeatu also went out with a knee injury.

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