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Chiefs vs. Steelers 2012: ‘You knew that was going to happen’

The Kansas City Chiefs took their first lead of the season and held a Pittsburgh Steelers offense with an injured quarterback in check, but still fell short in overtime after a Matt Cassel pick gave the opposition great field position for a game-winning field goal.

The Kansas City Chiefs played what might have been their best game of the season, pushing the Pittsburgh Steelers into overtime, but lost in predictably crushing fashion when Matt Cassel tossed a pick early in the extra session, allowing for a Shaun Suisham field goal to give the Steelers a 16-13 win.

The Chiefs, now 1-8, had a rare opportunity for a win; as noted in Arrowhead Pride's as-it-happened game review, their 7-0 advantage on a Jamaal Charles touchdown was the team's first in-game lead of the year, as their only win came on a last second field goal against the New Orleans Saints. The windy and rainy conditions in Pittsburgh hampered both team's attacks - advantage Kansas City - and Ben Roethlisberger had to leave the game in the third quarter, with Byron Leftwich unable to lead the team to any touchdowns after coming on as his replacement.

But it still wasn’t enough for Kansas City to pull the upset; overtime came, and it was over in under a minute. As Chiefs blogger Joel Thorman noted in the title of his his postgame recap, the team had been Cassel’d.

Even though the Chiefs hadn’t turned it over all game, you knew that was going to happen. You knew knew it. The way this season has gone, I’m surprised (Lawrence) Timmons didn’t take it back for a pick-six.

I wasn’t even really mad when it happened. Normally I’d be fuming at the Chiefs quarterback. But at this point in the season I’m just waiting for the Chiefs to screw up. Of course Cassel threw an interception. Of course the Chiefs lost to the Steelers. That’s what’s supposed to happen, right?

Cassel was a pitiful 11-for-26 with 154 yards and no touchdowns, just the one pick. Charles had 100 yards on the ground on 23 carries, but the Chiefs’ defense kept them in the game, limiting Pittsburgh to combined 16-for-32 passing and only 3.3 yards per carry on the ground.

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