It was 10 weeks in the making, but the Kansas City Chiefs managed to get its first lead in regulation this season against the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night. Not that it really mattered. The first-place Steelers overcame an inspired Chiefs effort to win in overtime, 16-13.
Ultimately, Kansas City was again done-in Monday night by too many mistakes. Quarterback Matt Cassel did manage to wait until overtime to throw his lone interception, but it came deep in Chiefs territory and directly set-up the Steelers’ game-winning field goal. The Chiefs are now 1-8 and looking like a good bet to acquire this year’s No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, which is given to the team with the league’s worst record.
Kansas City will try and snap its six-game losing streak Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati, which is coming off an impressive 31-13 win over the New York Giants on Sunday, have been installed as a 3.5-point road favorite in the Week 11 NFL odds. The over/under is set at 44 points.
The fact Kansas City had not held a lead during the run of play this deep into the season is really one of the more mind-boggling statistics of recent times. It had been since 1929 that a team had gone eight-plus weeks without sniffing a lead. Remember, the Chiefs lone win this season came via an overtime field goal against the New Orleans Saints in Week Four.
The Chiefs have some reason for optimism this week. It’s defense—led by strong play from linebacker Derrick Johnson—held the Steelers to just 249 yards total yards and a single touchdown. Offensively, running back Jamaal Charles had another big night with 100 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
With that said, the Chiefs continue to see their chances derailed each week by untimely turnovers and other miscues. They will need to get those cleaned up if they are to have any chance of springing the upset against Bengals. That seems highly unlikely at this point in the season, so look for the Bengals to cover the spread as road favorites Sunday.
