If you thought Pittsburgh’s two losses to Cincinnati or their early season give-away in Chicago were ugly defeats, this particular Steelers team on Sunday could’ve borrowed a line from Bachman-Turner Overdrive:  “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

The Steelers found a way to eclipse the ugliness of any losses in recent memory, falling in overtime to the undermanned and underwhelming Kansas City Chiefs. These were the same Chiefs who just last week released their top running back and suspended their top wide receiver. 

While the victory was huge for Kansas City (who now own a two-game winning streak for the first time since 2007) it was demoralizing and debilitating on a number of levels for the Steelers. Not even the news that the AFC-North leading Bengals were stunned by the Oakland Raiders could ease the pain of this defeat. Well, maybe that helped a little...good to know the Bungles are back.

This loss was far worse than the other three blemishes on Pittsburgh’s record, which now stands at a precarious 6-4. Quite simply, the Chiefs were a terrible team, arguably the worst on the whole schedule if you erase Cleveland from the board. Kansas City came in ranked near the bottom of the league in total offense, total defense, total wins and total continuity. Before Sunday, their only two victories came against Oakland and Washington, two other clubs involved in a tight nine-team battle for next year’s No.1 overall pick.

The Steelers did so many bad things on Sunday, it’s difficult to pick just one that doomed them. Donavan Woods, their newest addition to shore up the beleaguered kickoff team, made his impact felt early. In fact, it was on the game’s first play that he failed to tackle yet another opposing returner who eventually found the end zone. Woods later chipped in with a holding penalty on a punt return. Perhaps coach Tomlin will spare him the fate of Arnold Harrison, who was recently exiled to the Browns.

The defense played generally well and was even dominant at times, but continued a disturbing trend of failing to get a stop when they need to late in the game. It’s one thing to allow Brett Favre and the Vikings to drive down the field in the fourth quarter; it’s quite unacceptable to give up a 91-yard drive to Matt Cassell and the Chiefs to tie the game.

As for offensive rhythm, that has become an oxymoron in Pittsburgh. Despite another huge game from Hines Ward and a rejuvenated red zone offense, they still came up short in big moments and made some head-scratching mistakes.

Heath Miller uncharacteristically allowed a pass to bounce through his hands for a pick. Roethlisberger uncharacteristically threw a pick in the red zone under heavy pressure. Mike Wallace uncharacteristically fumbled after a long catch. And so on. 

This loss also overshadowed what may have been the finest game of Rashard Mendenhall’s young career. He had 116 total yards of offense, a modest number to be sure, but made his presence felt all over the field.

It’s clear that he is the best option among the running backs to both carry the ball and pick up the blitz. He showed that he can be a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. He also made what should have been the play of the game when he valiantly ran down Chiefs defensive tackle Andy Studebaker inside the five yard-line at the tail end of a 94-yard interception return.

In the extra frame, even with Charlie Batch coming into the game ice-cold and flinging a pinpoint first-down pass, the Steelers managed to screw up their only overtime possession. Whether it was Batch or Bruce Arians who changed the final third down play from a pass to a run we may never know, but it turned a makeable (or at least attempt-able) 53-yard field goal into a too-risky 55-yarder, forcing the punt.

In the end, almost fittingly, cornerback Ike Taylor was betrayed by his hands. These are the same hands that have cost him countless interceptions and at least a couple Pro Bowl berths over the course of an otherwise standout career. Taylor appeared to make a fine play on a deep ball, but he couldn’t control it all the way to the ground. One play later, Chris Chambers took advantage of what appeared to be a confused Steelers defense and galloped 61 yards to the 3. Ball game.

So now the season comes down to the first of two gladiator games in Baltimore. It will be a rematch of the 2008 AFC Championship game, and it might as well be an elimination game for each team. The frustrated Ravens have lost narrowly to the Colts (by 2), Patriots (by 6), Bengals (by 3) and Vikings (by 2). They are due for a win over Pittsburgh after going 0-for-3 last season.

The intensity for this rivalry game, already at a fever pitch, will be ratcheted up another notch. This does not bode well for the team whose quarterback recently sustained what looked like a nasty concussion.

A loss in Baltimore doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the line for the Steelers, whose unexpected life-raft came from the Raiders. It would be close, however. The flood waters are rising, and Pittsburgh will be swimming upstream from here on out.

But as for the 2009 season being completely over?  Hopefully, we ain’t seen nothing yet.