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Steelers eke by turnover-prone Chiefs

Nov 28, 2011 - 5:47 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Keenan Lewis' interception with less than a minute to go in the fourth sealed a defensive 13-9 victory by the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Steelers' defense forced four turnovers overall in the contest, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Ben Roethlisberger, who was playing with a broken thumb in his throwing hand, completed 21-of-31 passes for 193 yards with the game's lone touchdown and an interception for Pittsburgh (8-3), which is tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the top spot in the AFC North.

"It's tough because it's kind of a mixed feeling type thing," Roethlisberger said. "You're happy to get the win, but you're disappointed at the way your offense played. The defense stepped up huge for us today."

Tyler Palko went 18-for-28 through the air for 167 yards and three interceptions in his second career start.

Dwayne Bowe caught a game-high seven passes for 69 yards and Ryan Succop made all three of his field goal attempts for Kansas City (4-7).

Trailing 13-9 with 4:12 left in the game, Kansas City took over on offense at its own 30. After Palko converted a third-and-short with a six-yard pass to Jon Baldwin, the Chiefs were faced with a 4th-and-7 near midfield.

Palko was able to keep the Chiefs' hope for a game-winning drive alive when he hit Bowe over the middle for a nine-yard catch.

But after converting another third down to move deeper into Pittsburgh territory, Palko floated a pass for Bowe too high, allowing Lewis to pull in the game-clinching pick.

"In the end we had a chance there, moving the ball across the 50 and into their territory," Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said. "When you turn the ball over four times you generally don't have a chance in the end."

The Chiefs opened the game with an 11-play drive down to the Pittsburgh 23, highlighted by Palko's 25-yard strike to Bowe. But the drive stalled there and Kansas City settled for a 41-yard Succop field goal.

Pittsburgh drove down to the Kansas City eight on the ensuing drive as Roethlisberger picked up chunks of yardage through the air, but Mewelde Moore had the ball punched out from behind on a rush and the Chiefs recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback.

Five plays later, Palko mishandled a snap and the Steelers' Brett Keisel jumped on the loose ball at the Kansas City 38.

Pittsburgh could not turn the favorable field position into points, though, and had to punt the ball back to Kansas City.

The Chiefs then committed their second turnover in as many plays when Palko's deep pass down the left sideline was intercepted by Ike Taylor and returned to the Kansas City seven.

The Steelers could not push the ball into the end zone and Shaun Suisham's 21- yard field goal tied the game at three early in the second quarter.

Yet another Palko interception on Kansas City's next play from scrimmage gave Pittsburgh the ball at the Chiefs' 24-yard line. This time Roethlisberger was able to capitalize when he side-stepped a rush and floated a pass to the back of the end zone for a two-yard score to Weslye Saunders.

Succop and Suisham traded 49-yard field goals in the final five minutes of the second to make it a 13-6 game at the half.

Roethlisberger was intercepted by Travis Daniels on the opening possession of the third quarter and Kansas City took over at its own 39, but the Chiefs managed just one yard and had to punt

Each team then traded kicks for the next four touches until the Chiefs took over at their own eight.

Palko hit Bowe for a 17-yard gain on the first play and the Chiefs slowly marched to midfield before Baldwin hauled in a 20-yard catch on a back- shoulder fade on the left sideline.

But the drive stalled at the Pittsburgh 22 and Succop's 40-yard field goal capped the 13-play drive and brought Kansas City within four with 7:11 to go.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 18-9...The Steelers improved to 14-9 coming off their bye week...Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall finished with 17 carries for 57 yards, giving him 3,013 rushing yards in his career...Pittsburgh went 3-for-11 on third downs, while Kansas City converted 6-of-15 opportunities.