Chiefs break losing streak with 23-13 win over Steelers

During their 5-game losing streak, the Chiefs have lost in all sorts of ways, from the unmitigated blowouts (Aaron Rodgers’ five-touchdown performance for Green Bay), to the heartbreaking (Jamaal Charles’ fumble vs. Denver) to the absolutely soul-crushing (Charles’ ACL tear and the blown 14-lead vs. Chicago).

But against a very-good Pittsburgh Steelers team on Sunday, they showed the kind of fortitude they had not in previous weeks, as the Chiefs – who never trailed – were buoyed by big plays from their veteran Pro Bowlers on defense and some encouraging efforts from their youngsters on offense to close out the Steelers in a 23-13 win before a crowd of 76,365 at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs’ started the game strong, jumping out to a 3-0 lead courtesy of a 30-yard field goal by Cairo Santos. The Steelers threatened to seize the lead on their next drive, when they marched all the way to the Chiefs’ 6-yard line. But on third-and-2, running back DeAngelo Williams dropped a pass near the marker, and kicker Chris Boswell converted a 24-yard field goal that tied the score heading into the second quarter.

The Chiefs got the ball right back and went on another march, this time making it all the way to the Steelers’ 4-yard line. But on third-and-goal, Charcandrick West – who has replaced Charles in the starting lineup – was stuffed on a run up the middle, and Santos again kicked a field goal, this time from 22 yards out, to give the Chiefs a 6-3 lead.

The Chiefs’ defense came up big on the next drive. Pittsburgh marched all the way to the Chiefs’ 32-yard line on fourth-and-1, but Williams was stopped short of the marker by outside linebacker Dee Ford on an inside run, forcing a turnover.

From there, the Chiefs put together another drive that ended in – you guessed it – a field goal in Steelers territory. Santos’ 27-yarder gave the Chiefs a 9-3 lead with 1:05 left.

But the Chiefs’ defense wasn’t done yet. Three-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker Derrick Johnson jumped high in the air to snare a Landry Jones pass on the Steelers’ ensuing drive, setting up a 54-yard field goal attempt by Santos with 11 seconds left. But the kick was off the mark, and the score remained 9-3, Chiefs, heading into halftime.

Neither offense could get anything going early in the third quarter, but the Chiefs’ defense again provided a spark when Johnson tipped a pass by Pittsburgh quarterback Landry Jones that was intended for receiver Antonio Brown. Safety Ron Parker ripped it out of Brown’s grasp, and five-time Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry caught the deflection for the interception.

The turnover provided the Chiefs’ offense with some momentum, as they promptly mounted a 9-play, 53-yard scoring drive that included big completions to young receivers Albert Wilson and Chris Conley, who had to step up with Jeremy Maclin sitting due to a concussion. The drive was capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by West, who finished with 110 yards on 22 carries. The run also marked his first career touchdown.

The Steelers bounced back, though, based on the strength of their passing game. After Jones completed a 41-yard pass to Brown, he hooked up with Martavis Bryant a few plays later for a 19-yard touchdown up the left sideline. The Chiefs challenged the play – Bryant was juggling the ball some toward the end of the catch – but the play stood under further review, cutting the Chiefs’ lead to 16-10 with 1:40 left.

The Chiefs opened their next drive with an 11-yard run by West, but saw their momentum halted when left tackle Eric Fisher – who ran over to yell at cornerback William Gay after he saw Gay twisting West’s ankle after the play – was whistled for taunting. Three plays later, the drive was over.

Pittsburgh countered by going to their bellcow back, Le’Veon Bell. And Bell – who got the ball on three of their next four plays – delivered, breaking a 42-yarder up the left sideline.

But when the Steelers put themselves in a third-and-7 situation a few plays later, the Chiefs’ defense again made a play, as five-time Pro Bowler Tamba Hali recorded his second sack of the season to force a field-goal attempt. Boswell converted from 36 yards out to cut the deficit to 16-13 with 10:22 left.

At that point, the Chiefs were certainly in danger of blowing the game, much as they did against Denver and Chicago. But the Chiefs’ much-maligned offense would come through.

After quarterback Alex Smith converted a third-and-4 with a gorgeous pass deep over the middle to tight end Travis Kelce, which went for 26 yards, West broke off a hard-charging, 36-yard run that gave them the ball at the Steelers’ 16. Four plays later, Smith found rookie Conley for a 6-yard touchdown — the first of Conley’s career — that gave them a 23-13 lead with 5:04 left.

The Steelers desperately needed a score, but the Chiefs’ defense again came up big, as Hali recorded his second sack of the day and forced a fumble, which was recovered by defensive tackle Jaye Howard to give the Chiefs the ball back with 2:11 left.

The Chiefs managed to run out the clock from there and pick up their first win in over a month. With the win, the Chiefs improved to 2-5 heading into their game next Sunday against the Detroit Lions, which will be held in London.

This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Chiefs break losing streak with 23-13 win over Steelers."