Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers lose to Chiefs in home opener Sunday

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(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH — UPDATE 4:25 p.m.

The Steelers have lost to the Chiefs, 42-37.

ORIGINAL STORY:

It's only Week 2 of the NFL season but there's plenty on the line in the Steelers home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs this afternoon.

Mainly, will Ben Roethlisberger play after missing two days of practice with an elbow injury he suffered on the next-to-last play against the Browns?

Roethlisberger returned Friday afternoon as a "full participant," but that isn't worrying his teammates.

JuJu Smith-Schuster expects Roethlisberger to be "out there playing with our boys," the receiver said. "I think that's what he's going to do."

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That would be a welcome sight for the Steelers as Roethlisberger is 7-0 in games following a 3+ interception performance.

Le'Veon Bell is still not with the team, however, James Conner filled in more than adequately in the season opener with 192 total yards on 36 touches. Conner hasn't had that many carries since 2014 when he was at the University of Pittsburgh.

"He gets better with use," Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said. "He works into it."

On the other side of the field, the Steelers will have their hands full with second year quarterback Pat Mahomes, who was brilliant last week against the Chargers. Mahomes threw four touchdowns on the way to a 38-28 win in Los Angeles.

Mahomes, who has a strong arm, routinely tries to push the ball down the field which causes all kinds of issues for opposing defenses.

The Steelers are likely going to be without top cornerback Joe Haden (hamstring) and possible Artie Burns who was listed as "questionable" on the team's injury report Friday afternoon.

No matter how things line up, one thing is for certain, the Steelers must protect the ball and stay away from another six turnover game like they had last week against the Browns.