Chiefs returner leaves his Hall-mark

Monday, September 15, 2003

By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With so many Elvis impersonators taking part in a pregame skit at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs used the occasion to deliver their own rendition of "Return to Sender." It came in varying forms, but it came much too often for the Steelers, who got all shook up from the proceedings.

It wasn't Dante Hall's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that did in the Steelers. That came in the first quarter, and it energized the Chiefs the way a soup bone excites a hound dog. But the Steelers were still leading, 10-7.

And it wasn't Jerome Woods' 46-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter that proved to be heartbreak hotel for the Steelers, though it did give Kansas City a 10-point lead.

In the end, the play that left the Steelers crying in the chapel was a 45-yard punt return by Hall that, were it not for the efforts of rookie cornerback Ike Taylor, would have been the third scoring return of the game for the Chiefs. It came at the start of the third quarter, after the Steelers thought they had put themselves back in the game with Jeff Reed's 51-yard field goal before halftime, and it led to the touchdown that effectively finished off the visitors in a convincing 41-20 Chiefs victory.

Oh, don't be cruel.

"We always talk about that first series in the second half being so important," coach Bill Cowher said. "We go in with a little momentum at halftime ... regardless of everything that took place, we were down by seven points with a half to play. We felt pretty good about that."

And, just like that, the Steelers were deflated.

Hall's return, which came after a 33-yard punt by Josh Miller, gave the Chiefs possession at the Steelers' 7 and set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Priest Holmes that gave Kansas City a 34-20 lead. Holmes would add another touchdown run -- a 31-yarder in the fourth quarter -- to finish off the scoring, but the damage had been done.

"It just re-established the tempo," Cowher said.

"The first five minutes of the second half, that's what dictates momentum for the second half," running back Jerome Bettis said. "Now we're behind the eight ball. It's tough, especially when you're playing away from home."

"If we don't give up the big plays, it's a totally different ball game," wide receiver Plaxico Burress said.

But the Steelers gave up way too many, which explains how they were able to limit the Chiefs to 124 yards passing and still surrender 41 points -- the most they've given up on the road since Cowher took over in 1992.

The Steelers had several chances to get back in the game, including driving to the Kansas City 5 on the series after Hall's return. But because he thought the Steelers needed to score touchdowns, Tommy Maddox tried to force a throw in the end zone to tight end Jay Riemersma that was intercepted by Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber.

"When they're at home, and they've got the momentum going their way, it's tough to turn it to your advantage," guard Kendall Simmons said.

The Steelers thought they might have put themselves in an enviable position before halftime when Maddox quickly drove the team 38 yards to the Kansas City 33, setting up Reed's 51-yard field goal. That whittled the Chiefs' lead to 27-20. Despite all their problems, the Steelers were only a touchdown from tying the score.

But on the first series of the second half, Maddox was sacked on third-and-8 by Chiefs nose tackle Ryan Sims, who ran around center Jeff Hartings. That brought on Miller, who delivered a low punt to Hall, a Pro Bowl return specialist who returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns in 2002.

Hall took the punt on the run and started down the left sideline. The only person to have a play was Miller, and he got picked off by Chiefs running back Omar Easy. While he waited for another block, Hall was dragged down from behind by Taylor, who never quit on the play.

"There was a great block on the left and once I saw it, that sprung me and I was off," Hall said. "What can I say? They did a great job. We challenged [the special teams] this week and we got it done."

That was Hall's version.

The Steelers had another perspective.

"It wasn't a good punt by Josh," Cowher said. "I can't fault the coverage teams. I thought the first kickoff coverage we had a breakdown, but that was not a good punt."

"He's an awfully good returner and I tried to hit a good ball," Miller said. "I tried too hard and instead hit a lousy ball. They took advantage of it and that was that."

Miller laid on the ground after the play was over, woozy from being hit on the head. But it was the Steelers who were knocked senseless by the return.

Miller returned to the game.

The Steelers never did.

"I wouldn't say it took the wind out of our sails," Miller said. "But that probably gave them a lot of momentum."

Even Elvis left the building after that.

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