Steelers vs. Chiefs -- Week 10

Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Grass, outdoors)

When: Monday, 8:25 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Spread: Steelers by 12.5.

Forecast: Rapidly declining temperatures, falling from an afternoon high in the mid-60s and into the 40s through the game. There is a 50 percent chance of showers.

Records: Chiefs (Overall: 1-7, AFC West: 0-3); Steelers (Overall: 5-3, AFC North: 1-0)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 27, 2011: Steelers 13, Chiefs 9; Nov. 22, 2009: Chiefs 27, Steelers 24. Series record: Steelers lead 18-9, though evidenced by the last two meetings it’s a far closer series lately than normally necessary.

What matters: The Chiefs haven’t owned a lead for a regular-season second yet this year, and the Steelers came off a 14-point, fourth-quarter rally of the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants –- their third consecutive victory. So this appears to be a certain mismatch. But appearances can be deceiving. The Steelers remain banged up, with the running back situation containing a few fellows who might benefit from a week off. . . especially with Baltimore coming twice over the next three weeks.

Who matters: Let’s start with offensive coordinator Todd Haley. He exited Kansas City midway through the 2011 season under vexing circumstances -- wire taps? -- and entered a Steelers’ offensive situation that continues to improve with each 2012 month. Is he psyched for a chance at the Chiefs? His players openly talked about noticing a difference in his emotion this past week, but Haley pooh-poohed such chatter. The Steelers’ run defense also must play well, if not better: Jamal Charles poses a challenge like nobody they’ve seen since Oakland’s Darren McFadden shredded them in September, and assuredly Ray Rice and Baltimore will take notice.

Key matchups: Wide receiver Emanuel Sanders, fresh from a $15,000 personal fine (and $35,000 team fine) for an apparent fake cramp late at Cincinnati, will start against cornerback Javier Arenas in place of Pro Bowler Antonio Brown and his high ankle sprain. The Steelers’ running game by committee need to fare well against the Chiefs’ run defense. They have the past three weeks, averaging 155 yards per game amid the three-game winning streak. Isaac Redman bulled for a career-high 147 last week in New York, and he plus third-down back Baron Batch are the healthiest of a crew still missing Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) but getting back Jonathan Dwyer (quad) and rookie Chris Rainey (ribs). As part of that running attack, rookie right tackle Mike Adams must continue not only his stellar run blocking, but improve in pass protection -- though he’s fortunate that the more troublesome Tamba Hali manning the outside linebacker spot on the opposite side of the Kansas City defense.

Injuries of note: Once again, the Steelers have a laundry list. Pro Bowlers Brown and Troy Polamalu (calf) plus starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert (foot) are out. Mendenhall, who has played but two games all season, is deemed doubtful and likely will miss his seventh game. Dwyer and Rainey are deemed probable.

Inside stuff: The Steelers’ identity has clarified. They want to grind out the run and the clock, they want to keep Ben Roethlisberger clean and free to throw for 250 yards or so, and they want to return to their pressuring defense. The defense either played so well that it put the clamps on Eli Manning and Co. last Sunday, or Manning and the Giants are struggling so much that they truly could do no better than 1-for-6 passing for 1 yard on third downs. The Steelers’ front seven still needs to show more oomph against the run and in its all-important pass rush. Expect Sanders to return punts again in Brown’s absence; he had a return of 63 yards late last week in New York.

Connections: Haley vs. general manager Scott Pioli -- the latter fired the former after compiling a 19-26 record between 2009-2011 as the Kansas City coach. Chiefs receivers Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa) and Steve Breaston (Woodland Hills High) come from Pittsburgh-area football hotbeds.

Stats you should know: The Steelers last week held Manning to 125 yards passing, his fewest since late in the 2008 season. . . Rainey collected 173 yards on five kickoff returns before getting hurt last Sunday, the fifth-highest total by a Steelers returner since 1941. . . Ike Taylor’s 131 games are the longest consecutive streak of games played by a current NFL cornerback. . . The Steelers are 6-0 in Heinz Field on Monday Night Football.

Looking ahead: The Steelers play in another primetime game, their last on the schedule this regular season, on Nov. 18 against AFC North rival Baltimore –- the first of two meetings over three weeks’ time. Kansas City plays at Arrowhead Stadium for the ensuing three weeks, starting with the AFC North’s Cincinnati.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Chiefs 13.

Follow Steelers reporter Chuck Finder on Twitter @CBSSteelers and @cfinder.