Steelers vs. Chiefs: Pittsburgh Won't Fall Prey to Trap Game in Kansas City

The Pittsburgh Steelers have shown themselves to be vulnerable to lapses in focus and intensity this season, especially on the road, though even a half-wakeful effort should be enough to escape Kansas City with a win over the troubled Chiefs on Sunday night.

The Steelers have shown significant vulnerability away from Heinz Field, having logged two of their three losses on the road along with subpar performances in Indianapolis, Arizona and Cincinnati.

Arrowhead Stadium tends to be one of the more difficult places in the NFL to play, though the Chiefs have done plenty on their own to make visitors feel welcome there this season. KC has lost three of its five home games thus far by a combined score of 89-20.

And that was before Matt Cassel became the latest Chief to be lost for the season. Now, Todd Haley's team will be left to hold down the fort with Tyler Palko under center and, if things get really bad, Kyle Orton taking over after less than a week spent in town. The team got an unwelcome taste of Palko's putridity this past Monday night, when he managed just 230 yards and three picks against the Patriots.

Keep in mind, New England's pass defense is the worst the NFL has to offer this season. And if Palko couldn't hit his mark over the likes of Kyle Arrington and Phillip Adams, how can he ever hope to fit anything in without Ike Taylor, William Gay and the Steelers third-ranked pass defense?

Don't even get me started on how the Chiefs are going to cover speedsters like Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown on defense. The only way KC will have any chance in this game is if Tamba Hali and Glenn Dorsey can get consistent pressure on the statuesque Ben Roethlisberger, who's been the single-most sacked quarterback in the NFL this season.

Other than that, the Chiefs can only pray that the Steelers will stumble over their own feet coming off a bye and with another important divisional tilt against the Bengals on tap for Week 13.

Which is to say, this one could get ugly in a hurry.