PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are right where they expected to be heading into a vital three-week stretch that includes two games against the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens. They’re just not sure quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be along for the ride.
The Steelers survived a scare from lowly Kansas City on Monday night, winning 16-13 in overtime when Lawrence Timmons intercepted Matt Cassel on the second snap of the extra session and Shaun Suisham hit a 23-yard field goal one play later.
It took some of the sting out of watching Roethlisberger head to the locker room — and ultimately the hospital — with a busted right shoulder after getting slammed to the turf by a pair of Kansas City linebackers in the third quarter.
Coach Mike Tomlin declined to speculate on Roethlisberger’s status, though backup Byron Leftwich sounds like he’s planning to be pretty busy over the next few days.
“I don’t know the situation with Ben, but I got to make sure I’m ready if he can’t go,” Leftwich said.
The Steelers (6-3) have won four straight and can move into first place next week if they can beat the Ravens (7-2). The showdown takes on a different hue with Roethlisberger’s health in question.
“You obviously worry about it because that’s your starting quarterback, you want to see him out there,” Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison said. “But at the same point in time you’ve got a guy, two guys that are behind him can do the job just as well if not better.”
Roethlisberger completed 9 of 18 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown before leaving. Leftwich, playing for the first time in the regular season in nearly two years, completed 7 of 14 passes for 73 yards and led the Steelers to a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter.
“After four or five plays, it was like riding a bike,” Leftwich said. “I took a few hits. I hadn’t hit the ground in a while. It was a whole lot of things I hadn’t done in a while. It was good.”
Even if Roethlisberger was not. Tackle Max Starks didn’t think the notoriously gritty Roethlisberger was in any real danger when he stood up after getting sandwiched between Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.
“It didn’t seem like a tough hit ... but he came to the sideline and next thing you know he was gone,” Starks said. “I’m hoping it was nothing serious. Honestly it didn’t seem like it.”
While the Steelers ponder their postseason prospects with Roethlisberger uncertain, the Chiefs (1-8) are simply wondering when they’re going to win another game.
Jamaal Charles ran for 100 yards and a score but couldn’t stop Kansas City from dropping its sixth straight.
The Chiefs had their chances, taking their first lead in regulation all season in the first half then overcoming a series of embarrassing miscues to tie the game at 13 at the end of regulation.
Taking over at the Kansas City 20 with 1:51 remaining, Cassel led the Chiefs 52 yards — converting a fourth-and-15 in the process — to set up a 46-yard field goal by Ryan Succop as time expired.
“I thought our guys played and competed all night long,” Cassel said. “We went up against a good football team and unfortunately we weren’t able to pull it out in the end, but I thought the way the guys handled the environment of Monday Night Football was great.”
Kansas City’s only other victory this season came in overtime, a stunning upset in New Orleans in September. Any chance at a repeat faded when Cassel’s pass on the second play of extra period landed in the hands of Timmons, who returned it 23 yards to set up Suisham’s second game-winning field goal of the season.
It was sweet vindication for a Pittsburgh defense that allowed AFC lesser lights Tennessee and Oakland mount fourth-quarter comebacks earlier this season. Though the Steelers only managed to get the Chiefs — last in the NFL in turnover differential — to cough it up once, timing is everything.
“We got the one that count baby,” linebacker Larry Foote said. “We got the one that count. They did a good job tonight, but we got the one that was big time.”
NOTES: The Steelers have won 15 consecutive home games on Monday night ... Roethlisberger topped 1,000 career rushing yards with a 13-yard scramble in the first half ... Pittsburgh S Ryan Clark left the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
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NFL: Steelers season rests on the shoulder of Ben Roethlisberger
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