Kansas City
Chiefs

Since then, it's been a roller coaster for the Chiefs as Haley and general manager Scott Pioli go about trying to rebuild a franchise that 10 years ago was one of the most successful in the NFL.

The roster has been and continues to be churned. Three of the team's best players from 2008 are gone, as tight end Tony Gonzalez was traded to Atlanta, running back Larry Johnson was released and since signed with Cincinnati and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has been suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the performance enhancing drug standards.

The talent brought in to replace or compliment players such as Gonzalez, Johnson and Bowe has been suspect or found wanting.

The Chiefs are 2-7 and the heat is on Haley. His every move, decision and words is being dissected by the fans and media. Because of the team's record, those moves, decisions and words are drawing heavy criticism.

When he and assistant head coach Maurice Carthon got into "a discussion" last Sunday in Oakland, the television cameras caught them exchanging unpleasantries that made lip readers in the audience blush.

"I've been told by a professional I'm a crisis personality, so I need crisis around me to be at my best," Haley said with a smile. "I just think that's good as long as nobody's taking it the wrong way or nobody is stewing over it for days on end. I think it's healthy because there is a lot of pressure on all these guys and you've got to let some of that out. We let it out plenty and sometime it gets caught and sometimes it doesn't.

"I think (Sunday) our staff was the most efficient that it's been top to bottom getting through the game. It's all been a process for us also. We've shifted guys downstairs and upstairs and been tinkering trying to get the right mix. But I felt like it really was our most efficient day as a staff."

It's all part of the on-the-job training for Haley. Being the man in charge is not something that can be learned as much as experienced. Upon the hiring of Pioli and Haley, team chairman Clark Hunt made much about the Chiefs having a young triumvirate to run the show into the future; they are all in their earlier 40s. It's like giving the teenager the keys to the family car. There are going to be dents, there are going to be blown tires and it's a situation filled with peril and worry.

"I had all the answers when I was an assistant," Haley said. "I think I've tried to be open and forthright that I don't have all the answers. I feel like I've tried to apologize when I've been wrong or said something that wasn't correct, or something that wasn't inappropriate. I've always tried to do that with my players, coaches and everybody involved.

"This is a hard job. It's a big job and I'm finding my way through it. I would hope that nobody thinks that I'm arrogant in going about the job. I'm fighting for my life really, to be honest, and that's the way I feel each and every day. I'm trying to get this thing going and trying to be me. I haven' been characterized as being arrogant, at least to my face that I know about. I try not to appear arrogant in any way because I don't feel arrogant.

"Every day is a new day and every game is a new experience ... since we're talking about Mo Carthon, he always makes the statement that the problem of knowing everything (is) you can't learn anything new. I always try to think about that. We don't have all the answers and I don't ever try to act like I have all the answers or even think I have all the answers."

SERIES HISTORY: 26th regular-season meeting. Steelers lead series 17-8. The last time these teams met was October 2006, when Pittsburgh slapped the Chiefs 45-7 at Heinz Field. The last time they played each other at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs grabbed a 41-20 victory in September 2003. Overall, the Steelers are 9-4 in Kansas City, including an overtime loss in the 1993 AFC playoffs.

--The Steelers have the best winning percentage of any AFC team in Kansas City, going 9-4 in the regular season for a .692 percentage. Jacksonville (2-1, .667) and Indianapolis (7-4, .636) are the only other AFC teams that have played in K.C. more than once who have winning records against the Chiefs in Kansas City.

--The matchup with the Steelers is the first in Todd Haley's head coaching career against the team of his youth. As the son of former Pittsburgh player personnel director Dick Haley, Todd Haley spent a lot of time around the Steelers teams of the late 1970s and 1980s. On game day, he started with water boy duties, moved on to handling towels and eventually became a ball boy at Three Rivers Stadium.

--These teams faced off during the 1993 AFC playoffs, one of only two postseason games played in Arrowhead Stadium. In that wild-card round game, the Chiefs beat the Steelers 27-24 in overtime. QB Joe Montana led the K.C. offense to a game-tying touchdown to send it to overtime.

--One of the most memorable games in the Chiefs-Steelers series was played 23 years ago at Three Rivers Stadium. In the final game of the 1986 season, Kansas City beat Pittsburgh 24-19, scoring all their points on special teams. They returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, a blocked field goal for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a TD and a FG. Pittsburgh had an edge in offensive production, 515 yards to 171. The victory allowed the Chiefs to make the '86 AFC playoffs, ending a 15-year postseason drought.

BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- The number of victories that all six quarterbacks who will be dressed for Sunday's game between the Chiefs and Steelers have in Arrowhead Stadium. K.C. starter Matt Cassel is 0-4 in the building and backup Brodie Croyle is 0-3. Pittsburgh starter Ben Roethlisberger has never played at Arrowhead, and backup Charlie Batch is 0-1, that loss coming in a start with Detroit in 1999. Third stringers Matt Gutierrez and Dennis Dixon have not played.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I have the ability, I have the will and I have the want. I can make plays. Give me a chance." -- Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles on his desire to get more opportunities in the offense.

Chambers has moved into one starting spot, and the snaps for Bowe's spot figure to be divided by Bradley and Wade. Long is viewed only as a slot receiver, when the offense goes to three wideouts.

PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES

--OLB Mike Vrabel missed his second practice of the week on Thursday and it's growing more unlikely that the veteran will play on Sunday against Pittsburgh. Vrabel suffered a left knee injury in last Sunday's game against Oakland. The fact he did not return to that game was evidence enough of how serious the injury might be. If he can't play, it will be the first time Vrabel has missed a game in six seasons.

--RG Andy Alleman is very questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers as he missed a second practice on Thursday. Alleman's problem is a knee injury and while it's not considered serious, it's likely to keep him out Sunday.

--RB Dantrell Savage missed a second day of practice this week because of a sprained ankle, and that diminished his chances of playing against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Savage suffered the injury last Sunday in Oakland and has largely pedaled the stationary bike since then. He had been returning punts and getting some opportunities in the third down defense.

--ILB David Herron was back practicing with the Chiefs on Thursday, improving his chances of being on the field this Sunday against Pittsburgh. Herron missed last Sunday's game in Oakland because of a knee injury. His contributions in the kicking game will be welcomed when he's prepared to play.

--OL Wade Smith has been working at right guard this week and is the likely replacement for injured Andy Alleman. Smith has been very busy in the last month, filling in at various times at center, guard and tackle.

--OLB Andy Studebaker, the pride of Division III Wheaton College, will likely get the starting spot of the injured Mike Vrabel in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. Studebaker was selected by the Eagles in the sixth-round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent time that year on the Philly practice squad before he signed with the Chiefs in November '08. He's 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds and is 24 years old.

--WR Bobby Wade has been inactive the last two games, but he'll be back on the field this Sunday against Pittsburgh. Wade also figures to be back returning punts. He's averaged 8.5 yards a return on 16 returns this season.

--FB Tim Castille has been added to the Chiefs' roster and there's a chance he may be active for Sunday's game. Castille played last year for the Arizona Cardinals, where Todd Haley was the offensive coordinator. Haley likes the versatility that Castille can bring to the offense, playing as a big halfback (238 pounds) or at fullback.

GAME PLAN: The Chiefs were very fortunate last Sunday to find a team that was willing to make even more mistakes than they did. The problems that have bothered the Chiefs all season reared their ugly heads again with minus-yardage plays on offense and big plays allowed on defense. Still, they were able to beat Oakland, due largely to the fact that the Raiders are even more dysfunctional than the Chiefs.

They do not have that same situation this week. Yes, the Steelers are disappointed in their 6-3 record, but they have the type of team that will take advantage of every mistake the Chiefs make. It figures to be a game with one of two storylines. One, the Chiefs drag the Steelers down to their level and put themselves into a position to win the game. Two, the Steelers stomp on the Chiefs' neck early and often and win a blowout victory.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Chiefs LT Branden Albert vs. Steelers OLB James Harrison. The Chiefs have had problems protecting Matt Cassel all season. The job gets even tougher in this game, especially for Albert. The second-year blocker will see a lot of last year's defensive player of the year in Harrison. With a quick, powerful burst off the line, Harrison is one of the most explosive defensive players in the league. Albert must find a way to slow him down.

Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers vs. Steelers WR Santonio Holmes. The Super Bowl MVP is following up with an impressive season, catching 43 passes for an average 15.8 yards per catch. More remarkable is that 39 of those catches have produced first downs. Flowers was tested deep last week by the Raiders and proved capable of keeping up with speedy receivers on a post-pattern. The chances are very good he will see more of that against the Steelers.

INJURY IMPACT: The Chiefs have two key injuries that they are watching this week and could affect their ability to play against the Steelers. OLB Mike Vrabel's injured knee does not appear to be a long-range problem, but it could keep him off the field for a week or two. If that's the case, the K.C. defense loses its most consistent and productive player.

On offense, RG Andy Alleman is nursing a knee injury and that could limit his availability for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. Alleman is now the starter after Mike Goff went to the injured-reserve list with a shoulder problem. If Alleman can't play, the Chiefs' offensive line depth takes a real shot. Wade Smith would move into the starting lineup.