Kansas City (2-2) at Pittsburgh (1-3)

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Steelers Break Down Chiefs' Defense

SCOUTING REPORT

Big Ben under pressure to improveKansas City has won two straight and veteran QB Damon Huard is getting the job done. He is making solid reads and coming up with big throws in critical situations. For the Chiefs, this marks the beginning of a tough, three-game stretch that could determine their playoff future. For Pittsburgh, the season is on the line this week. Baltimore and Cincinnati are creating a lot of separation at the top of the AFC North. Ben Roethlisberger is still struggling, but the Steelers don't have a lot of answers, so he must get better in a hurry.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
KAN	9-7	331	315	6-2	3-5	4-2	5-7
PIT	8-8	353	315	5-3	3-5	3-3	5-7
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Kansas City Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Cassel 55.0 2924 16 16 Croyle 57.5 230 2 0

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 66.6 4328 26 12 Dixon 46.2 145 1 1

Kansas City Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Charle... 190 1120 5.9 7 Johnso... 132 377 2.9 0

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 242 1108 4.6 7 Parker 98 389 4.0 0

Kansas City Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Chambe... 36 608 16.9 4 Bowe 47 589 12.5 4

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Holmes 79 1248 15.8 5 Ward 95 1167 12.3 6

Full Player Stats: Kansas City | Pittsburgh

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	KAN	321.0
	PIT	358.0
Yards Passing	KAN	187.5
	PIT	233.3
Yards Rushing	KAN	133.9
	PIT	124.5
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	KAN	328.9
	PIT	300.3
Pass Yds Allowed	KAN	208.4
	PIT	212.1
Rush Yds Allowed	KAN	120.5
	PIT	88.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Pittsburgh leads 2-1
Sep 14, 2003	KAN 41, @PIT 20
Oct 14, 2001	KAN 17, @PIT 20

Kansas City (2-2) at Pittsburgh (1-3) Sunday 4:15 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Ben Roethlisberger has nearly as many losses this season than in his first two years in the NFL.

Roethlisberger will try to snap a three-game losing streak Sunday when the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the Kansas City Chiefs, looking to snap an uncharacteristic three-game slide.

The youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl at 23, Roethlisberger entered the 2005 campaign with a 27-4 record, including playoffs.

But after missing the season opener due to an emergency appendectomy, Roethlisberger was shut out in a loss at Jacksonville and also struggled in losses to Cincinnati and San Diego.

"I can't tell you the last time I lost three games in a row," said Roethlisberger, who has zero touchdown passes and seven interceptions. "I feel like I have let my teammates down and let the fans down. I know I can play better and I know I will."

Roethlisberger continues to insist that he is not affected by his motorcycle accident in June or his appendectomy, but his quarterback rating of 41.7 indicates otherwise.

He appears to be lacking some of the mobility he displayed in his first two years in the league. In last week's 23-13 loss to San Diego, Roethlisberger was sacked five times.

Now Roethlisberger faces a defense that has yielded just 52 points in four games and features Ty Law and Patrick Surtain at cornerback. After tying for the league lead with 10 interceptions last season, Law has two this year.

The Chiefs have to be delighted with the play of Damon Huard, a career backup who has stepped in for injured starter Trent Green and posted back-to-back wins after a loss at Denver on September 17.

Huard has completed 73-of-104 passes for 769 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. In his first nine seasons, Huard started just six games - all with Miami in 1999 and 2000.

Green suffered a concussion in the season-opening loss to Cincinnati and may return October 22 against San Diego. New Chiefs coach Herman Edwards has managed to offset the loss of Green, but replacing Larry Johnson is another story.

That appeared to be Edwards' dilemma when Johnson suffered a neck strain after Arizona cornerback Antrel Rolle twisted his head by the facemask in the fourth quarter of last week's game. Johnson was down for several minutes before wobbling to the sideline.

However, the defending AFC rushing champion returned to practice this week and expects to play against the Steelers.

Huard passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns and Johnson caught six passes for 106 yards and a score in last week's 23-20 win at Arizona. However, Johnson was held to 36 yards on 16 carries and also may find rough going against Pittsburgh, which held San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson to just 36 yards on 13 carries.

After matching up against Antonio Gates last week, Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu will face Tony Gonzalez on Sunday. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Gonzalez has 666 career receptions for 7,982 yards with Kansas City.

The Steelers are 1-3 for just the third time in Bill Cowher's 15 seasons as coach. They trail Baltimore (4-1) and Cincinnati (3-1) in the AFC North.

The teams last met in 2003 before Roethlisberger arrived in Pittsburgh, and Kansas City rolled to a 41-20 victory. The Chiefs have not visited here since 1989.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Chiefs' Waters receives Man of the Year award

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed Sunday that Brian Waters of the Kansas City Chiefs was this season's winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

'He runs a tight ship'

When Todd Haley was introduced as the Chiefs' new head coach in early February, he joked that he was trying to loosen up, if only for the day.

Safety alert: Mike Brown making free-agent visit to Kansas City

One safety with Chicago ties is expected to announce his retirement today. Another will look for a new place to continue his career.

Still no Waters or Vrabel at Chiefs practice, but LJ returns

The Chiefs began another week of optional team practices without two important pieces, and how Kansas City ends this week could foretell whether key players on offense and defense have a future with the team.

Chiefs adjust to new roles in new defense

Turk McBride still feels himself inching toward the defensive line, home for so long, and the comfort his old position would bring.

Clock ticking on Chiefs contract

The game of chicken between the Kansas City Chiefs and state government has yet to scare away potential builders of a summer training camp facility in St.

Polamalu, Kemoeatu out against Packers

As expected, the Steelers will be without All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu on Sunday against Green Bay, and coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that left guard Chris Kemoeatu also will miss the game.

Ward helping out young receivers

Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.

Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle

Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.

Steelers players brighten some spirits

John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.

Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus

The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.

Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills

Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.