Charles opened the scoring when ran 12 yards for a touchdown with 8:42 left in the first quarter. The run capped a four-play, 70-yard drive that was highlighted by Cassel's 38-yard pass to Tony Moeaki.

The Chiefs pushed the lead to 10-0 on Succop's 22-yard field goal that came 40 seconds into the second quarter. The kick came three plays after Allen Bailey recovered a fumble by Steelers running back Isaac Redman at the Pittsburgh 11-yard line.

The Steelers cut the deficit to 10-3 on Suisham's 35-yard field goal with 5:38 left in the half.

The last NFL team to play the first eight games of a season without a lead was the 1929 Buffalo Bisons. The only time the Chiefs were ahead this year before Monday was when Succop kicked a field goal in overtime to beat the New Orleans Saints 27-24 on Sept. 23.

The Chiefs, as has too often been the case this season, didn't make quite enough plays Monday.

"We can build on a game like this, but we have to find a way as a team to come up on the other side of this kind of game," Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali said. "Instead of being in the 'L' column, we have to be in the 'W' column."

Tomlin said of squeaking out a win against a 13-point underdog, "We'll take it. Such is life in the NFL. The guys made the necessary plays, particularly Lawrence Timmons, there for us in overtime."

NOTES: Kansas City placed defensive end Glenn Dorsey on injured reserve before the game with a calf injury and added cornerback Neiko Thorpe to the active roster from the practice squad. Dorsey, the fifth overall selection in the 2008 draft, played in just four games this season and was in on seven tackles. ... The Chiefs made wide receiver Steve Breaston a healthy scratch. Despite playing in each of the first eight games, Breaston has just six catches for 61 yards. ... Pittsburgh released nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu, its fourth-round draft choice this year, before the game to clear a spot on the roster for wide receiver David Gilreath, who was activated from the practice squad. Ta'amu returned to the Steelers on Oct. 30 following a two-game suspension imposed by the team. He was arrested on Oct. 14 after allegedly leading police on a drunken chase by vehicle and on foot through the streets of Pittsburgh. Ta'amu was charged with felony fleeing police, aggravated assault and aggravated assault by vehicle. ... Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown missed a game for the first time in his three-year career because of a sprained ankle. He was one of four inactive Pittsburgh starters, along with running back Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles), safety Troy Polamalu (calf) and offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle).