Wednesday, September 10, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Steelers vs. Chiefs, 1 p.m. Sunday, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970) and the Steelers Radio Network.

Sunday will mark the eighth consecutive time the Steelers will play the Chiefs in Kansas City. All of the games have come since Bill Cowher left as the Chiefs' defensive coordinator to coach the Steelers in 1992. Cowher's record in Kansas City is 4-3, including an overtime playoff loss in 1993. "It was nice the first couple of times going back there to see old friends," he said. "At some point, it gets old. I would love to introduce them to Pittsburgh. I guess one of these decades they will play here."

The Chiefs will play in Heinz Field next season, along with the other three teams in the AFC West Division. They last played in Pittsburgh in 1989. The 1 p.m. kickoff Sunday is different in one sense -- four of their seven previous regular-season meetings were played at night in Arrowhead -- three on Monday in '96, '97 and '98 and one on Sunday in '92. The Steelers were 3-1 in those games.

With his new role in the nickel defense and by replacing Joey Porter in the dime, LB James Farrior never left the field when the Steelers were on defense Sunday. He responded with a team-high nine solo tackles and 11 total, two tackles for losses and defended one pass. The coaches adjust the defensive statistics after reviewing tapes of the game, so Farrior's total of 13 tackles was off by two but still good enough to receive praise from his coach. "James played very well," Cowher said. "James has played very well from the middle of last season on. When he first came here, we kind of threw him in there into a defense he has never played before. He was put into probably the most difficult situation. There were some growing pains with that, as well. Right now he is playing so solid. He and Kendrell Bell inside, they complement each other so very well."

Other than LB Joey Porter, the only player's status in question for Sunday is RB Jerome Bettis, who has a groin injury. Both Cowher and Bettis said it is nothing like the injury that virtually ended his season after 11 games in 2001. "It is in a different spot," Cowher said. "The other ones were real high. This one is lower and in the quad area. With the old groin injuries, it is just kind of on the inside there, not way up in there." Three players are listed as probable: WR Plaxico Burress (quad), C Jeff Hartings (knee), TE Jay Riemersma (ankle). "Todd Fordham has the ankle, but he is fine," Cowher said. "He is working through it. He did not have setbacks at all the other day." Fordham was listed as probable last week.

Cowher said his cornerbacks must play the ball better than they did last week. Dewayne Washington was called for pass interference twice on three plays for 57 yards in penalties. Chad Scott was called for a 38-yard pass interference penalty.

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