NFL: 5 Things We Learned from Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs just finished up a wild game at Arrowhead Stadium.

Pittsburgh was able to come away with a 13-9 victory over the punchless Chiefs in a defensive battle.

The game ended when Tyler Palko threw an interception into quadruple coverage, effectively ending the Chiefs' season.

We learned a few things from this game. Here they are.

Tyler Palko Is Not a Capable NFL Quarterback

Sunday night, the Chiefs threw Tyler Palko into the fire to play against the team he grew up watching—the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Palko couldn't do anything all night long, finishing with three interceptions and no touchdowns on 18-of-28 and 167 yards.

At one point, coach Todd Haley was calling screens and bubble routes just to get Palko's confidence up to the point of being able to complete a pass at this level.

Kansas City gave their backup, Palko, every chance to win the starting job, but he just couldn't do it—it's Kyle Orton time.

Dwayne Bowe Has Given Up on His QB, His Team and the 2011 Season

There's no excuse for the display of apathy that Dwayne Bowe put on national television on Sunday night.

Bowe was an enigma last year, leading the league in touchdown catches and helping his Chiefs to a playoff berth.

This season, though, Bowe has shut down completely and given up on his team and especially his quarterback.

On one of the last plays of the game, Bowe didn't even make an attempt to catch (or bat away, at the least) a pass in his area, leading to a game-ending interception.

This was a recurring theme through the night, as Bowe would routinely not make any effort to make a play.

What happened to last year's leader in touchdowns?

The Steelers Need To Find Their Offensive Identity

Every now and again, Ben Roethlisberger will make a dazzling play and complete a great pass for a touchdown, evading rushers and extending the play.

The problem, though, is that this is usually a result of bad route combinations in the play call.

If Pittsburgh truly wants to become a passing team, they need to utilize different levels of the field, allowing Roethlisberger a more-defined read progression.

It's nice to watch "Big Ben" dance around in the pocket, but if the Steelers want to put up more than 13 points, it's time to delve into the complexity of the NFL passing play call.

Antonio Brown Has Arrived

Antonio Brown is officially the Steelers' second-best wide receiver, and he had a fantastic game against the Chiefs, catching four passes for 81 yards.

On the season, he's been a reliable target with 44 catches for 626 yards and a touchdown, providing a great weapon for Ben Roethlisberger when the defense brackets Mike Wallace.

Brown is another speedy Steeler wideout, like Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders—Pittsburgh seems to be moving toward a spread-out, speed-look in the passing game.

It's time to recognize that Antonio Brown is just beginning a nice, long career as a big-play threat in the black and yellow.

The Chiefs Have a Playoff-Caliber Defense Even without Eric Berry

It's a scary thought—the Chiefs only allowed 13 points to the Pittsburgh Steelers despite the absence of Eric Berry.

The team lacks a pass-rusher opposite Tamba Hali, but the secondary is truly tremendous and made it hard for Ben Roethlisberger to throw the football down the field all night.

Kansas City kept Mike Wallace in check, allowing the receiver only 17 yards on two catches, while gobbling up Rashard Mendenhall when the Steelers ran the ball.

The Chiefs will have a very good defense next year with Eric Berry—it remains to be seen what the team can do on offense, though.